Abstract: A method and article of preparing a synthetic solid surface material having a simulated burled wood effect in a pattern therethrough comprising the steps of: preparing a matrix of isophthalic polyester resin, alumina trihydrate (ATH), iron oxide pigments and pearlescent mica pigments, mixing said matrix completely in a vessel, catalyzing said matrix with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) in said vessel, placing said vessel containing said matrix into a vacuum for removing any trapped air in said matrix, removing said matrix from said vacuum, preparing a burling effect material which comprises polyester resin, ATH, iron oxide pigments, and pearlescent mica pigments wherein said iron oxide and pearlescent pigments are chosen to simulate the color of the grain of a wood to be simulated and are generally a darker color than said matrix and said burling effect material has a specific gravity slightly less than the composition of said matrix, catalyzing said burling material with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEK