Materials and finishes

Natural stone in bathrooms: beautiful and demanding

Where jobs go wrong

Weight matters on walls and timber floors, the substrate specification changes with stone.

Stone brings variation no printed tile matches, and it comes with sealing, weight and staining responsibilities.

What to weigh up

  1. 1

    Most stone is porous and needs sealing before grouting and periodically afterwards, particularly in shower zones.

  2. 2

    Weight matters on walls and timber floors, the substrate specification changes with stone.

Questions we get asked

Is limestone suitable in a shower?

It can be with correct sealing and maintenance, but it is less forgiving than porcelain.

Will stone stain?

Acidic products can etch some stones; the cleaning routine has to match the material.

Not sure which option suits your property?

Most of these decisions come down to what is behind the wall and under the floor. A site visit settles it quickly.