Most homeowners opt for tile flooring in their bathrooms, and it is no surprise why. Tiles have an impeccable resistance to water, are highly durable, and are easy to maintain.
Appearance is also a selling point for tile flooring, but this doesn’t mean you can just install any type of tile in your bathroom; you need to do some necessary research.
What is the best type of tile for a shower? The best type of tile for a shower includes ceramic, porcelain, stone, vinyl and linoleum tiles. These tiles are designed to deal with moisture and humidity better than other tiles.
Whether you want a simple tile flooring for your bathroom or an elaborate shower wall, here’s a guide to help you with decision making.
Read: How to retile a shower floor
What is the Best Type of Tile For a Shower?
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When choosing the best tile for a shower wall or flooring, there are certain important factors you have to put into consideration.
Some of these factors include appearance, the size of the tile, its durability in a wet environment, and how easy it is to maintain. You can also consider the tile rating as it affects the grout application.
The common types of tiles used in shower spaces include natural stone, glazed porcelain, and ceramic materials. They each have their own unique features that make them stand out individually.
You want to keep in mind that certain types of wall tiles are not suitable in the shower. One of such types is the metal tiles that do not fare well in damp locations, as well as mosaic sheets that are covered with lots of grout lines; these types of tiles can only be used sparingly or as a feature strip.
Here is the best type of tile for a shower; these tiles are designed to deal with moisture and humidity better than other types of tiles.
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are the most common type of tiles used in bathrooms. They have been used in showers for decades and can be used as a flooring option for any part of the home. They, however, tend to be slippery, so you need to pay close attention to the surface texture and size.
Mosaic tile is a ceramic tile that is great for a shower, and they are available in a wide range of colors and designs.
Ceramic tiles are super easy to cut, and you can opt for tiles on a mat for easy installation. Ceramic tiles can be used for both shower floors or walls; just keep its slip resistance in mind.
Read: Does ceramic tile needs to be sealed?
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are also similar to ceramic and are often found in sinks, tubs, and other home goods. Both tiles are made from a clay mixture, but porcelain is fired at a higher temperature than ceramic; this makes porcelain considerably stronger.
Porcelain also has a through-body construction; this gives the tiles an added advantage as chips or cracks are unable to cause a color change in the floor.
Porcelain is another type of tile that can be used in the shower, but it is also slippery, and there isn’t a large range of selection available.
Installing porcelain tiles is also quite complicated, and you may need to hire a professional, something you want to keep in mind if you want to follow the DIY route.
Read: How to clean unglazed porcelain tile
Stone
To add a unique touch to your bathroom, you can install stone tiles on the walls and floors of your shower stalls, but you would need to seal the floor regularly.
There are numerous styles of stone tiles that can be used in bathrooms, such as marble, travertine, slate, granite, and limestone.
Stone tiles are, however, not available in a wide array of colors compared to ceramic tile, but they have a wide range of textures and patterns to choose from.
However, Stone tiles are expensive to install and require more care and maintenance, but it adds a distinct touch to your bathroom.
Read: Pros and cons of pebble stone shower floor
Luxury Vinyl Tile
LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tile may not be made for use in showers, but they hold up just fine. It adds a touch of new life to any boring bathroom floor, and you have an unlimited style option to choose from.
Luxury vinyl can be used to create a wood-like tile look or a pale natural marble floor, and this it does at a fraction of the cost of traditional alternatives.
Vinyl tiles Are easy to install but not as durable as stone or ceramic and would require sealing frequently.
Is vinyl flooring good or bad?
Linoleum Tile
Linoleum is made from an eco-friendly and biodegradable material; it is considered a classic compared to vinyl tiles and is very popular in bathrooms but is not commonly found in shower floors.
Linoleum tiles are inexpensive and available in solid shades, with intricate patterns, bold colors, or a light texture. They are resistant to water, but you need to ensure the seams are properly sealed.
Read: How to clean discolored linoleum flooring
Conclusion
There isn’t necessarily a best type of tile for a shower walls or floors, although there are certain types of tiles that are best suited for moisture-prone areas like the bathroom, like ceramic, porcelain, or stone.
Appearance, tile size, level of resistance against moisture, and how easy it is to maintain are some of the few factors to consider when choosing tiles for the shower.