Pebble Shower Floor Pros and Cons You Should Know 2023

Pebble Shower Floor Pros and Cons You Should Know!

Are you aware of the pebble shower floor pros and cons? For decades Sandstone tiles have been the standard for practical flooring for bathrooms. They come in a wide assortment of colours, cost a lot and are easy to maintain.

Like every other interior design trend, they’ve slowly faded out of style.

The most recent trends in flooring tiles for 2021 include:

Large-format tiles;

The grout lines are minimal to create an even appearance of the floor

Wood-like tiles;

Unique tile shapes, such as hexagons;

Travertine and marble floors;

Plastic tiles that look like natural materials.

Another option for getting an entire shower floor is pebble. It is a natural material that is robust and attractive for nature lovers.

This will help you decide whether this is the best option for your bathroom.

Pebble Shower Floor Benefits

Before we look into the advantages of pebble for your shower flooring, let’s look at what it is.

Pebble is a smooth, small round stone found at beaches and rivers. This natural substance is easily available in large quantities and can last for years.

In addition to being eco-friendly through the use of Mother Nature’s resources, there are numerous other benefits to this construction material.

Amazing finish

Pebble stone provides a natural look to your bathroom and has a design that is reminiscent of natural water. If you’re looking for your house’s natural look and appreciate pebble’s simplicity, it could be an ideal choice.

Easy to do

Are you a DIY type of person? That means the pebbles in your shower won’t be a major issue. If you pick the pebble from the riverbank, you’ll need time to collect every single one. The next step, fixing the pebbles onto the floor, requires patience but is relatively easy.

Affordable

Other essential supplies besides the pebbles include grout sealer, grout and work tools. There is no need to buy costly and heavy tools like tile cutters. This means that fixing flooring will remain minimal.

Non-slippery

Water and floors are only some of the best combinations. However, certain kinds of flooring are more secure than other types. Pebble floors will provide solid foundations and avoid injuries. This is especially important for older people and children.

The therapeutic effect

Walking on pebbles without shoes is an extremely healthy activity. It’s like a massage to stimulate various reflexogenic points in your soles. It’s unnecessary to take a trip to get that massage; you can have an enjoyable foot massage each day when you shower.

Are pebble shower floors comfortable? It is dependent on the level of sensitivity to your feet. If you love walking around without shoes on the beach, then you’ll appreciate this type of flooring.

Durable

Pebble floors will wear down slowly and get scratched. The flooring won’t need replacement. Small repairs like reapplying sealant could be required every couple of years.

Pebble shower floor disadvantages

Be cautious not to be too enthusiastic. Before you begin the installation of the pebble shower floor, You must consider the disadvantages related to this kind of flooring:

Very high maintenance

Cleaning the shower floor with pebbles is more challenging and swift than cleaning the tiled floor. Washing the floor after each shower is important to ensure it’s durable. The force of rubbing on the floor could cause the grout to break off and need frequent repairs.

Requires expertise to ensure the perfect result

Water might be seeping through if you fail to complete your pebble flooring perfectly. As time passes, the floor is likely to rot or even erode. In the meantime, standing water may be a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and mould.

It might cause injury to your feet.

If you must be more cautious about avoiding sharp stones on your floor, Your feet may hurt. You may need to wear shoes during showering to prevent discomfort, for those who are a little sensitive prefer an easy pebble shower floor.

Problems with water retention

Since the floor is uneven, water could get stuck between pebbles. The dirt can build up there, and mould could also form. If you decide to build your pebble floor, you must be cautious about the angle of the floor and the arrangement of the stones.

Not compatible with hard water

Does it matter if you reside in a region with hard water? Do pebbles in the shower make it difficult to remove?

The answer is yes. The hard water emulates chalk on your floor when you don’t wash it often. This brings you back to your requirement to dry your floor after every shower and it’s not exactly a pleasant experience.

How do I do pebble shower floor installation?

When you consider the advantages and disadvantages of a pebble shower floor, it isn’t a big deal to set up but it does require some attention. It will last more time than installing tiles and will require the steps below:

Analyzing the floor underneath

The flooring on which you place the pebbles must be strong, waterproof and has a more steep slope than other flooring. These are crucial in order to prevent water from getting underneath the pebbles.

Making the flooring

Clean the floor thoroughly and dry it. It is recommended to create tiny dents in it to ensure the floor will stick on the floor’s foundation.

Applying Thinset

Thinset can be described as an adhesive created by mixing cement, water along with fine sand. This mix will hold your pebbles firmly attached on the base.

The pebbles can be applied

Start at the end of the longest distance away from the shower’s door or entry. The pebbles must connect in a manner that makes them appear natural. It is possible to practice the placement of pebbles prior to taking them apart.

filling in gaps between pebbles

Utilize the smaller size of pebbles (optional) and Thinset , and let the floor dry for at least 24 hours.

The application of a layer sealer

The sealer must be applied to the entire floor including the pebbles as well as the Thinset. The sealer layer keeps the pebbles and grout from absorbing the color of grout.

Grouting application

Mix the grout with water until you have an even-smooth mixture. Place the grout in a uniform manner on the floor. Within 20 mins, wash off any excess grout using a damp cloth. Repeat the cleaning process so that you don’t have to apply the grout again on the floor. It should rest for at least up to 24 hours.

Sealer application

Apply the sealer’s final coat on the floor of the pebbles and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Also, you will need to seal the floor at least every six months.

End Line

The concept of building pebbles for shower floors could be very appealing. Many people are enthusiastic about the idea of making it their own. You can already imagine the pleasure of making a floor using your own hands, and then having people admire it.

But, we felt that this floor type has more disadvantages than advantages. It’s not expensive and simple to construct however the downsides can be a bit overwhelming. Some of the cons are constant maintenance, frequent repairs as well as the need to dry it off after every use. Additionally, pebbles might not be a great option when the rest of the bathroom is decorated in an entirely different design.

There are some situations where having a floor made of pebbles is an excellent idea. For instance, at your holiday home. or at the guest house you host. This kind of flooring is ideal for bathrooms where the shower isn’t frequented. Install one if you reside in a dry climate where water evaporates quickly off the bathroom’s surfaces. Pebble floors are not suitable for most living spaces.

Do you like the concept of a floor made of pebbles?

However you must consider that your experience with pebble shower floor pros and cons made you look for a different option. One option is through Pebble Tiles. They mimic pebbles, but do not have any disadvantages. They can be installed like any other tile and have the advantages and functionality of traditional tiles.