It’s no secret—we here at Countertop Solutions love home design that incorporates lots of natural stone. Versatile, durable, and totally timeless, natural stone is a fantastic option for bringing class and elegance to almost any room in your home . . . including your bathroom!
Showers tiled with natural stone are growing ever-more popular. They’re gorgeous, adaptable, and much more flexible design-wise than plastic or vinyl. But is natural stone really the best material to be using in such a high-moisture environment? Is it even possible to craft a safe, maintainable shower out of natural stone?
The short is yes: It’s 100% possible to create a shower you’ll love using natural stone. However, there are just a few facts you should take into consideration when deciding whether a natural stone shower is right for you.
Types of Stone Used in Showers
You can use just about any type of natural stone in showers! While slate tile is a popular choice, we also love the luxurious appearance of bright white marble and the earthy, soothing vibe of granite.
Performance of Natural Stone in Showers
The biggest thing to keep in mind when it comes to how your stone will hold up in the shower are safety and durability. Choose sleek, smooth tiles for the shower walls, but look for texture and slip-resistance for the shower floor. Recognize that maintaining your natural stone shower will require somewhat regular resealing if you want to keep your stone looking good as new.
Texture & Grout
Speaking of smooth versus textured stone, think long and hard about how cleanable the stones you’re choosing will be. Textured stacked stone may be beautiful, but it’s virtually impossible to keep soap, hair, and residue out of all those nooks and crannies. Similarly, opt for smaller amounts of grout to keep your daily shower maintenance to a minimum.
Maintenance of Stone in Showers
As mentioned, long-term maintenance of natural stone showers requires that you have your stone resealed somewhat regularly. For most homes, this means once per year, but this can vary based on the type of stone you’ve used. Look for a penetrating sealer rather than a topical sealer to best protect your stone and minimize flaking over the course of use.
Questions? Get in touch with us.
Our team of experts would be happy to walk you through the process of planning your new stone shower, or any other home renovation project you may have in mind. Reach out to us here, and someone will get in touch with you ASAP. Looking forward to hearing more about your project!