Hi…
Saw a picture of a fancy shower done in what looked like slate tile and it got me thinking about the bath we plan to build in our new house this spring.
Anyone have views on what tile would be ideal in a shower? I want something nice, but not the most expensive. The slate looked good, but I wonder what they used on for the shower floor given the rough texture of slate.
Also, I’ve been told that tile was the worse thing to use in a shower because eventually it will leak. Is that true??
Thanks for your views!!!
Replies
I think the rough texture of slate would be ideal on a shower floor. If you think it would be too rough, you can also get honed slate, ground flat but not polished. It might be harder to get an exact color match between the rough walls and the smooth floor unless you got some of the wall tiles custom ground. But contrasting colors could also be a design feature.
On a roof, slate can last 150 years or more, although admittedly most places don't get rain 3 or 4 times a day.
I've never seen any, but it wouldn't surprise me to find out you can get ceramic tile patterned like split slate.
For myself, if I wanted a stone shower I'd save my pennies until I could afford granite.
"Also, I've been told that tile was the worse thing to use in a shower because eventually it will leak. Is that true??"
I hope not. I'm building one as you read this. The tiled shower is a bizarre construction conundrum. Start with a slope layer of sand mix concrete, a coat of roofing adhesive, a plastic barrier folded at the corners, the final base of sand mix concrete, and all sorts of reinforcing metal to hold the mess together. Then of course is the tile grout layer that you step on. Of course the sidewalls fit in there with a prescribed method too.
There are structural foam slope basins you can buy. The curb and the basin are pre made to match your designed size area. The price is about 150 to 300 bucks for the average 4x4 shower with a 2 sided curb. You still have to put down the liner, top bed, etc. I stuck with the usual home made slope bed.
I've consulted the tile store tech weenies (denigration based on the fact that some know nothing except color), the tile book put out by the Taunton press (excellent*), and more than one handout given at the tile places. All are the same type of construction. Construction is based on lots of dissimilar materials with dissimilar expansion rates and plans to catch the drips from the layer above.
It ain't pretty. I'm following the suggested rules but it is strange to put so much effort into a design that seems doomed to fail. Yes I mean that word. No matter how rigid you make the structure out of wood the fact is that humidity will make expansion and contraction of the framing rend a crack at the corners.
Now balance that against the ugly reality of a fiberglass or composite base. They look temporary from day one. They decay over time and become the first remodeling project in your new building.
I picked tile and hope for the best. Mine is new construction too. Moisture absorption is probably the only concern, at least if you will let it freeze by shutting down the building for a period of time. For that, porcelain tile tend to be the best at avoiding the absorption of water. Ceramic and natural stone are second and third. Which is which depends on the type of natural stone.
Who says faith is confined to church?
*exception to that thought is where they construct a curb out of 3-2x4's, skin it with chickenwire, then put a 1/2 inch coat of sandmix concrete later to tile with thinbed mortar. It may work, but I can't conceptualize why it wouldn't pop off like a scab. The book should be consulted if you are planning to do it yourself. It is really a great source of knowledge on tiles (selection) and how to put 'em in play.
Edited 10/25/2002 5:26:50 PM ET by Booch
Edited 10/25/2002 5:28:11 PM ET by Booch
here's a pic of a slate shower I recently got around to scanning in......12 x 12 slate tiles...floor and walls.....1 1/2 thick slate for the shower bench and threshold.....regular 1x1 ceramic tiles for the shower floor....with a custom fit slate "picture frame" detail around the square floor drain.
The bullnosed slate was made on site with a grinder and a belt sander.
Might give ya some ideas....and tile only leaks if done wrong......or a step is skipped.
Jeff
..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life.............
Here's a pretty good shot of the drain detail......pre-grout.
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life.............
Slate is a poor choice for a shower. It is rough, porous, and will stain easily. It will require intense upkeep. But it will not leak, because you will have a professional install a pre-slope, a quality pan membrane according to the TCA Rules, and a mortar floor with a 2 part shower clamping drain, right?
Here is a thread from a BB Group to which I belong on the same subject.
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=3410
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1927
"because you will have a professional install a ..."
Who's father are you? Sorry to be so blunt but yeesh. That condescending phrasing only passes in Russia, Boris.
hey...yer right booch....I agree with you......I'm gonna tell him to have a diy failure screw it up!
What's with these professionals that charge money to do things right just because they're legally liable anyways?
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
Have to add this thought just because it fits so well right now.
"Go ahead and try it. Remember the Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals."
;-)
true....but there are very few rivets in a properly constructed shower pan...............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........