Natural Stone or Tile

To All:

We are going to redo our master bathroom shower and bathroom floor. Everywhere we go we get different answers. We are looking for something that looks great and natural, is easy to keep clean and that will look great for years. Everywhere we go there is a different answer. Some sat porciline, b ut it just does not look natural. Some say marble, some travertine, some slate (too dark). We have looked into the quartz and corian showers but they look like the fiberglass shower surrounds. Does anyone have any ideas??? Also how did you prepare the stone? and what is the upkeep? I do not want anything that will stain.

  1. Which is better slate, marlbe, or tracertine for the bathroom? (we are looking for light colors)
  2. What size of tile should go on the shower floor. We have been told to install 2 by 2 or 1 by 1 inch tile. The other day on the HGTV channel they showed 12 by 12 inch tiles on the shower floor. Which one is correct? 3. Is there a list of grades for natural stone? The reason I am asking this we have seen marble as low as .99 per square foot and as high as .99 per square foot. It could be the stores we have visted that have a difference in prices?
Reply to
jpnavr
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Nothing is "correct", it's personal preference. The larger the floor, the more you will probably prefer larger tile sizes. I don't like 12x12 unless the area is fairly large, otherwise you get too many cut tiles which just doesn't look very good. You might also try some different patterns with 3x6 tile (brick, herringbone, etc.) 4x4 or 6x6 would both probably look good. Smaller tile might too, in the right circumstances.

Reply to
jeffc

Then you don't want marble/travertine ________________

Marble and travertine are basically the same mineral though created in different ways. Marble is generally a bit harder/denser than travertine but that varies with where each came from (source, not store).

Of those three, slate is by far the better choice for hardness and stain resistance. Not all slate is black or dark grey. There are, of course, other natural stones...sandstone, quartzite, granitic variations, etc.

You should also consider how much traction is provided by whatever you choose. Personally, I would use tile...if you like a stone look, there are tiles that mimic it quite well. ____________________

Neither is "correct". Small tiles are easier to conform to the compound slopes of the floor; if using large tiles, they can either be laid so that edges follow the four lines from shower corners to drain (which results in a diamond effect) - OR - they can be laid square to the walls and cut at the slope lines.

Reply to
dadiOH

All such natural stones are porous and will pick up dirt and stains permanently. The lighter the more visible and heartbreaking.

Travertine is truly beautiful when new, but to actually use it is to spoil that beauty. Save it for walls that nobody touches.

Your easiest solution is to change your aesthetics to perceive porcelain tile as beautiful. Use it on the floors and wet areas, and decorate elsewhere with natural stone. The contrast can itself work well for looks.

Reply to
Richard J Kinch

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