How to Choose the Perfect Floor for Your Shower
From glass to pebbles and everything in-between, this handy guide will help you pick the best material for your shower floor
Sam Ferris
15 April 2016
Houzz Contributor. I have more than seven years of experience in the design industry, including residential renovation, cabinet, and flooring design. I currently work for RVK Architecture, a professional design firm that delivers successful architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture solutions to public and private clients.
Houzz Contributor. I have more than seven years of experience in the design industry,... More
Whether you’re in the middle of a bathroom renovation or at the initial planning stages, you shouldn’t forget about your shower floor. While it’s easy to focus on the style and colour of your bathroom space, the shower floor is an important detail. Not knowing the cost, slip resistance and upkeep of what you’re buying can send your investment down the proverbial drain. To help you decide on the best option for your shower, here are some common types of flooring and the reasons for and against choosing them for your home.
Marble
Marble is a soft stone with an even softer look. The two most popular finishes are polished (classic gloss) and honed (matt finish). The swirls of grey and cream can make you swoon, and its popularity isn’t fading.
Pros The biggest advantage of marble is, naturally, its beauty. It’s luxurious, elegant, timeless and romantic all at once. Marble is also surprisingly versatile. It can be made in many different shapes, from metro and herringbone designs to basket- weave and standard 10cm x 10cm tiles.
Cons Marble scratches and it stains. This may not seem like a big deal, but a shower space gets covered with soap and suds, which can leave a filmy substance on the surface over time. A good sealer is a must. Honed marble has better scratch resistance than the polished variety. In general, marble’s slip resistance isn’t the best compared to tumbled travertine or porcelain tiles. It’s also one of the more expensive options.
Bring a luxe feel to your décor with touches of marble
Marble is a soft stone with an even softer look. The two most popular finishes are polished (classic gloss) and honed (matt finish). The swirls of grey and cream can make you swoon, and its popularity isn’t fading.
Pros The biggest advantage of marble is, naturally, its beauty. It’s luxurious, elegant, timeless and romantic all at once. Marble is also surprisingly versatile. It can be made in many different shapes, from metro and herringbone designs to basket- weave and standard 10cm x 10cm tiles.
Cons Marble scratches and it stains. This may not seem like a big deal, but a shower space gets covered with soap and suds, which can leave a filmy substance on the surface over time. A good sealer is a must. Honed marble has better scratch resistance than the polished variety. In general, marble’s slip resistance isn’t the best compared to tumbled travertine or porcelain tiles. It’s also one of the more expensive options.
Bring a luxe feel to your décor with touches of marble
The many shapes and styles of marble allow you to create brilliant texture-on-texture contrast. This traditional shower space complements the brick wall tiles with a basket-weave patterned floor, which adds subtle contrast.
Travertine
It’s hard not to find a style of travertine you’ll love, whether it’s chiselled, honed, polished or tumbled. This natural stone has the best of nature’s creams, browns, greys and golds, all packaged into chic designer tiles.
Pros Homeowners love travertine, and not just because of its veins and swirls. They appreciate its slip-resistance, particularly that of tumbled travertine, and how long it lasts.
Cons Travertine is porous, so you could find yourself in hot water if you forget to seal it. It’s recommended that you seal it every one to two years. The other main concern is staining. Anything other than a mild detergent can affect the surface. Be careful how you clean it and be mindful of the soaps and shampoos you use.
It’s hard not to find a style of travertine you’ll love, whether it’s chiselled, honed, polished or tumbled. This natural stone has the best of nature’s creams, browns, greys and golds, all packaged into chic designer tiles.
Pros Homeowners love travertine, and not just because of its veins and swirls. They appreciate its slip-resistance, particularly that of tumbled travertine, and how long it lasts.
Cons Travertine is porous, so you could find yourself in hot water if you forget to seal it. It’s recommended that you seal it every one to two years. The other main concern is staining. Anything other than a mild detergent can affect the surface. Be careful how you clean it and be mindful of the soaps and shampoos you use.
You can install travertine on your shower floor in a variety of sizes, including standard 30cm x 30cm tiles, 10cm x 10cm squares and 5cm x 5cm mosaics.
This traditional shower has 10cm x 10cm travertine tiles on its floor and walls, which create depth and interest.
Glass
Cool, clean and contemporary, glass mosaics can add a little colour or a stroke of glossy white to your shower floor.
Pros Looking for something low maintenance? Then glass may be the floor for you. It’s super-easy to clean – just grab some glass cleaner and a cloth and give it a quick wipe down. Its translucent surface will make your shower space feel light and open, and it almost always looks high-end.
Cons Quality glass can take a toll on your wallet. And, unfortunately, glass feels as sleek as it looks: its slip-resistance is minimal, which could be a deal-breaker. Older or very cautious homeowners should seek something with a good grip if they’re set on a glass shower floor.
Cool, clean and contemporary, glass mosaics can add a little colour or a stroke of glossy white to your shower floor.
Pros Looking for something low maintenance? Then glass may be the floor for you. It’s super-easy to clean – just grab some glass cleaner and a cloth and give it a quick wipe down. Its translucent surface will make your shower space feel light and open, and it almost always looks high-end.
Cons Quality glass can take a toll on your wallet. And, unfortunately, glass feels as sleek as it looks: its slip-resistance is minimal, which could be a deal-breaker. Older or very cautious homeowners should seek something with a good grip if they’re set on a glass shower floor.
Glass mosaics can blend colours together with an iridescent, glossy or matt finish. The mosaic floor in this Mediterranean-style shower gives the space a designer feel and complements the muted green wall tiles.
Mad about glass? See more ways to include it in your home
Mad about glass? See more ways to include it in your home
Porcelain
Now here’s a shower floor that just might have it all. Made with a dense clay body, porcelain tiles are durable and waterproof, and will last for decades.
Pros Porcelain is very versatile. It can survive detergents, scratches and long-term water exposure. It can also be finished to have an authentic wood, stone or marble appearance. And the very best part? It accomplishes all of these things without being high maintenance. You’ll enjoy cleaning it (or rather the lack of cleaning it).
Cons Grout can be a problem. Rectified porcelain can keep the lines of grout small, but the grout will still need to be cleaned. Porcelain can also become quite slippy if it doesn’t have a textured surface.
Now here’s a shower floor that just might have it all. Made with a dense clay body, porcelain tiles are durable and waterproof, and will last for decades.
Pros Porcelain is very versatile. It can survive detergents, scratches and long-term water exposure. It can also be finished to have an authentic wood, stone or marble appearance. And the very best part? It accomplishes all of these things without being high maintenance. You’ll enjoy cleaning it (or rather the lack of cleaning it).
Cons Grout can be a problem. Rectified porcelain can keep the lines of grout small, but the grout will still need to be cleaned. Porcelain can also become quite slippy if it doesn’t have a textured surface.
Wood
Wood can bring warmth and elegance to your shower floor. It also enables you to create a flat, smooth shower entry.
Pros Wooden shower floors have a sleek, minimalist look that’s perfect for contemporary spaces. They sit slightly above your shower base and have slats, which allow for good draining if they’re installed correctly. Moisture is less likely to fester. Wood also wears well if you maintain it (be sure to follow the instructions on how to seal it).
Cons Long-term exposure to moisture can cause wood to warp, discolour and fade. You won’t have direct access to your shower drain, either, so it may get yucky in the long run. Not surprisingly, wood can also be costly.
Wood can bring warmth and elegance to your shower floor. It also enables you to create a flat, smooth shower entry.
Pros Wooden shower floors have a sleek, minimalist look that’s perfect for contemporary spaces. They sit slightly above your shower base and have slats, which allow for good draining if they’re installed correctly. Moisture is less likely to fester. Wood also wears well if you maintain it (be sure to follow the instructions on how to seal it).
Cons Long-term exposure to moisture can cause wood to warp, discolour and fade. You won’t have direct access to your shower drain, either, so it may get yucky in the long run. Not surprisingly, wood can also be costly.
Pebbles
With a soothing touch and an organic look, pebbles can make any bathing experience feel refreshing.
Pros The texture of pebbles offers sufficient slip resistance because of the grip it provides to your feet. Just as with other natural stones, you can’t beat their one-of-a-kind beauty. And there might not be an easier way to bring a sense of the spa experience to your bathroom.
Cons There’s a lot of grout to clean, and it’s a large part of a pebbly floor’s aesthetic. While slipping isn’t a concern, the hard, rocky surface is. It can hurt your feet and be difficult to stand on while you’re showering. In areas with hard water, a chalky film can develop on the surface of pebbles, which will require daily cleaning.
With a soothing touch and an organic look, pebbles can make any bathing experience feel refreshing.
Pros The texture of pebbles offers sufficient slip resistance because of the grip it provides to your feet. Just as with other natural stones, you can’t beat their one-of-a-kind beauty. And there might not be an easier way to bring a sense of the spa experience to your bathroom.
Cons There’s a lot of grout to clean, and it’s a large part of a pebbly floor’s aesthetic. While slipping isn’t a concern, the hard, rocky surface is. It can hurt your feet and be difficult to stand on while you’re showering. In areas with hard water, a chalky film can develop on the surface of pebbles, which will require daily cleaning.
Flat-surface pebbles are a great solution if you’re keen on the look of pebbles, but are worried about how they’ll feel under your feet. You’ll still have to clean the grout, though.
TELL US…
What material would you prefer for your shower floor and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What material would you prefer for your shower floor and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Not at all. Use grout that is pre-sealed
Great! Thank you for your reply!
I am primarily concerned about slip-and-fall
accidents in the shower will all those hard edges and surfaces. I use 1”x1” textured porcelain tile on the shower floor with sanded grout. More grout=more traction when wet.