The Best Shower Tiles: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Option for Your Bathroom
Have you started brainstorming ideas for your bathroom remodeling project? If your project involves redesigning your shower, one of the first categories that you’ll come across is tile types. With so many different options to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and struggled to narrow down the best choices for your bathroom and the look that you’re trying to achieve. To help take the guesswork and uncertainty out of choosing the right tile, our team at Total Restore has created this informative guide that covers the best tile for showers. You’ll learn all about the various types along with the advantages and disadvantages that come with each. Let’s get started!
Factors to Consider When Choosing Shower Tile
Before we dive into the different types of shower tiles, it’s important to consider a number of factors in order to make the right decision for your bathroom. Armed with the right information, you can achieve the look you want without encountering any surprises or difficulties.
- Budget – A good first step when choosing shower tile is to determine your budget. If you’re simply trying to transform the outdated or worn-out look of your shower, there are plenty of cost-effective options that will get the job done including porcelain or glazed ceramic. For a truly luxurious look and feel, homeowners can consider more distinctive options like natural stone, granite, or travertine. Either way, it’s smart to determine your budget before you start shopping.
- Maintenance & Upkeep – Different types of materials offer various levels of difficulty when it comes to upkeep and cleaning. Grout lines, the distance between two tiles, are necessary to accommodate for changes in humidity, temperature, and natural movement of the structure. Grout lines require frequent cleaning in order to combat mildew and mold growth. Materials like slate are much easier to clean compared to the intricate and irregular lines of natural stone. Also related, any damage that occurs will be more expensive to repair on high-end materials. Consider the use and priorities of your shower when choosing materials.
- Shower Use – Consider who and how frequently your remodeled shower will be used. Older individuals, small children, or those with mobility issues will benefit from non-slip materials like slate or travertine. A shower that’s seldom used by adults requires less forethought when it comes to the durability and slipperiness of the surface.
Top 6 Shower Tile Options
Porcelain
Advantage: Moisture Resistance
Boasting an outstanding water absorption rate of less than 1%, porcelain is an outstanding choice for homeowners looking for moisture resistance and simple upkeep for their remodeled shower. In addition to their resistance to moisture, porcelain shower tiles are great for budget-conscious individuals due to their low cost. Offered in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors – porcelain tiles are an excellent all-around tile for your shower remodeling project.
Slate
Advantage: Durability
Searching for a slip-resistant solution for your shower? Due to its natural non-slip texture, slate is an excellent choice for shower floors and trim. It also offers a unique finish due to natural variations in each shower tile. Better still, it’s on the affordable side in terms of material choices. Durable, anti-slip, and cost-effective are just three of the impressive characteristics of slate tile.
Ceramic
Advantage: Affordable Style & Function
Similar to porcelain, ceramic tiles are easy to maintain and clean. You’ll also enjoy the freedom to create an eye-catching look with the wide availability of different colors and sizes. Whether you want to change the existing color scheme or adapt to the current look, ceramic tiles are a versatile option that offers a mix of affordability and durability.
Natural Stone
Advantage: Distinctive Look & Feel
Unmistakable in appearance, natural stone is the ultimate choice for creating a spa-like look and feel for your shower area. Their organic rounded texture can be soothing to your feet while shower wall cascade flowing water in an effortless fashion. However, natural stone is on the higher end of the price spectrum so be sure to budget accordingly. Their intricate, uneven nature also makes them more challenging to clean and maintain.
Travertine
Advantage: Textured Finishes
If you’re unfamiliar, travertine is a variant of limestone that’s formed by mineral deposits in naturally occurring springs. Tumbled travertine is a more rough and rugged exterior, great for non-slip surfaces like shower floors. It does require regular sealing to protect its moisture resistance but it’s a quite durable material that’s a great choice for adding an attractive look to your shower.
Granite
Advantage: Customized Look Without Grout
One of the most popular natural stone options, granite can be cut to size in order to achieve the look you’ve always wanted. Due to its porous nature, granite requires yearly sealing to prevent moisture. However, its distinctive look adds a tasteful contrast against other materials. Since it can be quite slippery when wet, granite is best used for shower walls alongside a different material for the shower floor.