Using split face slate in a shower

8 years ago

Hello, I really want the attached look to my new shower but I can't find any product that looks like the feature wall that can be exposed to water. The split face slate tiles can't be grouted so should I have a membrane fitted to that wall first? Any ideas?

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Johannes Hearn

8 years ago

Hi,

My personal advice would be to use a porcelain split face tile instead. These have the appearance of the real thing but can be grouted and are designed for wet environments. Whilst it is possible to use split face slate successfully, it is also very hard and unless done perfectly will result in nothing but heartache.

Check out
http://www.mosaictileshop.co.uk/ceramic-porcelain/vesuvius-splitface-effect

There are other manufacturers and suppliers too so shop around, but these were e first guys I found selling the particular colour ranges I think you would be interested in.

Let me know how things go. Hope this was helpful.

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Comments (11)

alant1000
8 years ago
Hi I've got natural stone Quartz split face in my bathroom but away from water as the stone is porous and not possible to seal. I did not need any membrane underneath. I know that there are some decent replica versions out there, maybe try somewhere like fired earth.
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You're more than welcome! I'm glad I could be of some help. (I have a feeling that Topps have some deals on at the moment too!) Regarding the use with water, I think it depends how close the water is going to be to the tiles? Ours aren't in direct contact... - they do get splashed however, we used a waterproof matting underneath (which you can also buy from Topps) As it is a natural stone it doesn't require a sealant, but you could as a precaution, we did, and have had no problems at all... they don't even require that much cleaning which helps in a bathroom as they are a dark stone but also because they do wear very well- so very low maintenance! We used a slate protector - which you can also buy from Topps. They will also send you samples (which they refund if you order the tiles) but I always find it helps visiting the showroom and seeing them in situ. Let me know how you get on! Holly
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Hi there, sorry to hear about the problems you've had. Ashton's have given good advice, and the flex-seals are a good option to reduce your risks of leaks further. I too would be interested to know what tray you used? The quality of trays can vary hugely, and over the years we've narrowed down what we use to a few suppliers we trust. It is not until you come to fit or, indeed, still later that you find that "bargain" was actually an expensive mistake. I'd echo mayfly's advice too - by splitting all the elements of your bathroom (different products from different suppliers, different builders/tilers etc), you leave yourself open to escalating problems with everyone blaming everyone else. If you go to a single independent, they'll put together a package based on products and tradesmen they trust, and if anything goes wrong you only have to deal with one company, and they'll normally move heaven and earth to fix it. And their tradesmen & suppliers will move heaven and earth to sort it too - they won't want to risk losing all that repeat trade where they might walk away from a single difficult job. It might look as though the up front price is a little higher than doing it all yourself, but when things go awry you may find it is a false economy. I hope you get the problem sorted and good luck with the kitchen too!
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Dear all, If you want to add a bathroom, you have to start there and work everything else round it. The reason for this being that you usually have to feed into the existing soil pipe. The soil pipe in this case is on the left hand outside wall. Without knowing if you can put another one on another outside wall ie the rear, which is probably unlikely, you have no option but to place a bathroom as close to the entrance on the left as possible. Obviously you could change the system in the new bathroom to a macerator style toilet, and technology has come a long way with regards those, but they are not for everyone. It may be possible to change the shape of the kitchen, remove the back entrance and push the front wall back, ( maybe not, as i presume it's instrumental in holding up the mezzanine ) If it were possible in theory:- You could - move the kitchen wall back to make more room in the lounge. Add a bathroom with pocket doors ahead of you when you come in and split the lounge down the middle. You could also have a pocket door entrance from the bedroom to the bathroom jack and jill style. That bedroom would also get the balcony.
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See if you can add a hinged return panel onto one/both of the walk-in screens. This will add extra length to the screen whilst making it possible for you to get in and out of the shower. A lot of companies to a hinged panel for their wetroom screens for this reason. It won't stop all the water splashing out but would be better than it is now. The tiles don't look right in my opinion either. Did you take advice from the retailer? can you get them to help you out?? If not, you can either board over the shower area with a waterproof boarding like Nuance Bushboard or retile. https://www.bushboard.co.uk/nuance/nuance
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susienew
Original Author
8 years ago
That looks a pretty good compromise Johannes, thank you
susienew
Original Author
8 years ago
What do you think would work on the other two walls? I was thinking large charcoal tiles, pretty much as in the pic. The only real difference is the shower, as I'm going with a traditional style from Clearwater.
PRO
Johannes Hearn
8 years ago
Hi there,

So this is where we start to go from the practical to the individual.

Let me begin to explain that I am an engineer by trade. Not a designer - although I build hotels so I have a slight design flare. If I were designing this bathroom, the stone/charcoal effect may be nice, but it has been done before several times. In other words, it's getting old.

Personally I would go for an opposing look similar to the metal COR TEN

http://www.onlytiles.co.uk/corten-a-brown-porcelain-floor-and-wall-tile-sample/

This look provides enough of a contrast to create that "look at me" effect. It does however depend on the rest of your bathroom design. So to answer you completely I would need to asses what you are thinking of in the rest of the bathroom and house.
PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello Susienew, Must say that's a fabulous idea and pic! Love it!! So as with all stone or marble in bathrooms (maybe not slate) tend to be porous, so need to have a sealant and anti mould treatment. You can buy bottles of these which you roll on with a little sponge roller.. I have used marble so with Slate it may be slightly different.. I'd ask the supplier for any differing requirements there.

I had the tiles done and then these treatments over the entire space where stone is used (to be on the safe side)... I think you can get special grout too- again maybe something different is needed.. and speak to a good bathroom fitter.. There are also specifics when putting in wet rooms.

I also found that having a nice metal squeegee which you run over the tiles after showering is a good idea. These tiles are quite easy to find, I had a friend who had a few in her bathroom. Have a bit of a research and go and have a look in a tile shop too. Also good idea to get samples and see what colour you like.. I do think if you are able to do something like the image, I would say go for it!!

I think they are fantastic, and you can mix these with smooth stone if you didn't want to tile the whole area like that. : ) )
PRO
Anita Bourne t/a DefinitiveInteriorDesign.com
8 years ago
Hi Susie, I created a split face effect just like this in a large open shower using 900 x 900 riven slate tiles and had a stone mason cut them into 50mm strips (see Dulwich Bathroom on my website). The walls and floors were tanked with 2x coats of a thick waterproof solution and a waterproof swimming pool adhesive and grout were applied to the tiles laid in a random floorboard arrangement, make sure your tiler knows not to lay in a brickwork arrangement, looks awful! Good luck.
PRO
Reed Harris Tiles
8 years ago
Hi Susie,

You've got some very good advice here and at the end of the day it's your choice. There are porcelain tiles available which mimic the split face effect but they do have very tight joints which can be difficult to grout and so are not really recommended for wet areas either. A good way of avoiding water seeping through would be to get you tiler tiler to use a waterproof coating such as Ardex WPC but you will still possibly have the issue with the grout.

I'm not sure where you live but we are in a hard-water area so any tiles with texture, used in a wet area are much more difficult to keep clean and limescale will build up quite quickly.

Hope that helps and do let us know what you decide to do.

Karen
susienew
Original Author
8 years ago
Morning all, the limescale point is a worrying one Karen. I live in London where we have hard water in abundance!! I was planning to go with the split face porcelain lookalike as suggested in this thread. Is that likely to suffer badly from scale? I wonder if there's something I can coat it with before it's used?
PRO
Reed Harris Tiles
8 years ago
We're in London too, so I know what you mean. Have you actually found your tiles already? If so have a look at them to see how they are made up. The issue with the split face is that the individual pieces which make up the whole tile, protrude at differing depths which means that water can accumulate on the little ridge at the top of each small piece. Some people aren't bothered about the additional amount of cleaning required but others steer well clear. You can seal them with a porcelain sealer but you can't prevent the water sitting on the ridges.
susienew
Original Author
8 years ago
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Using split face slate in a shower

Johannes Hearn

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Using split face slate in a shower

Johannes Hearn

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