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Pebble Shower Floor Pros and Cons You Should Know!
Do you know the pebble shower floor pros and cons? For a long time, using sandstone tiles has been the standard for practical bathroom flooring. They come in various colors, cost a lot, and are simple to maintain.
Like every other interior design trend, they’ve slowly faded out of style.
The most recent trends in floor tiles for 2021 are:
Large-format tiles;
Lines of grout that are minimal for a uniform appearance of the floor
Wood-like tiles;
Unique tile shapes like hexagons;
Floors made of marble and travertine;
Plastic tiles that look like natural materials.
Another option for getting unique shower flooring is pebble. The natural stone is robust and attractive to those who love nature.
This will allow you to decide whether this is the best option for your bathroom.
Pebble Shower Floor Benefits
Before you learn about the benefits of pebble for your shower flooring, let’s look at what the material can do.
Pebble is a tiny, smooth round stone that can be found along beaches and in rivers. Pebble is an organic substance easily available in large quantities and can last long.
Apart from being environmentally friendly through the use of the resources that Mother Nature provides, there are numerous benefits of this material for construction:
Amazing finish
Pebble stone will give a natural design for your bathroom with a style that resembles natural water. The pebble is the best option if you want an organic feel to your house and prefer simplicity.
Easy to do
Are you a DIY type of person? That means the pebble shower floor issue is fine for you. Gathering the pebble by yourself from the riverbank will take some time to collect the entire amount. The next step, putting the pebbles on the floor, requires patience, but it is easy.
Affordable
Other essential supplies, aside from the pebbles, are grout sealer, grout, and other tools for work. There is no need to buy expensive and heavy equipment like tile cutters. This means that the cost of repairing floors will stay lower.
Non-slippery
Flooring and water aren’t the best combinations. But, certain types of flooring are safer than other types. A pebble flooring will ensure your feet’ safety and prevent injuries. This is especially important for older people and children.
Effect of therapeutic
Pebbles that you walk on are extremely beneficial exercises. It’s like a massage stimulating various reflexogenic points in the feet’s soles. It’s okay to take a trip to experience this. You can get an enjoyable foot massage each when you shower.
Are pebble shower floors comfortable? It is dependent on the level of sensitivity that your feet have. If you like walking in the open air, you’ll appreciate this type of flooring.
Durable
Pebble floors are prone to wear less easily or get scratched. The flooring is unlikely to need to be replaced. Only minor repairs, like applying sealant, might be required every few years.
Pebble shower floor disadvantages
Stay calm. Before you begin the installation of the pebble shower floor, it is important to consider the disadvantages that come with this kind of flooring:
Maintenance high
Cleaning the shower floor with pebbles is more complex and quick than cleaning a tiled floor. Washing the floor with water after each shower is important to ensure it’s durable. The force of rubbing on the floor may cause grout to fall off and require regular repairs.
requires expertise to ensure an ideal finish
If you complete your pebble floor, you could avoid water leaking. As time passes, the floor beneath will decay or become brittle. Additionally, standing water can become a breeding place for bacteria and mold.
It might cause injury to your feet.
If you’re not vigilant enough to stay clear of sharp pebbles that fall on your floors, the feet of your feet could be injured. It’s possible to wear a pair of shoes during showering to prevent discomfort. Those who are particularly sensitive choose the shower floor with a flat pebble.
Problems with water retention
Since the uneven floor is, water may get stuck between the pebbles. Dirt could build up, and mold may also grow. If you decide to build your pebble flooring, you need to be extremely aware of the slope of the floor and the arrangement of the stones.
Not recommended for hard water
Does it matter if you reside in an area that has hard water? Do pebbles in the shower make it difficult to clean?
The answer is yes. The hard water emulates chalk on your floor when you don’t wash it frequently. That brings you back to your need to dry your floor after showers which isn’t a pleasurable experience.
How do you install pebble shower floors?
If you consider the advantages and disadvantages, considering the pros and cons, pebble shower flooring isn’t a big deal to set up, but it does require extra care. The process will take more time than installing tiles and will require the steps below:
Examining the floor beneath
The flooring on which you put the pebbles should be waterproof, thick, and have a higher slope than another. These elements are essential for preventing water from getting underneath the pebbles.
The floor is being prepared.
Clean the floor thoroughly and dry it. It is recommended to create tiny dents to ensure the floor will stick to its foundation.
Applying Thinset
Thinset can be described as an adhesive created of cement, water, and fine sand. The mixture will keep the pebbles that are attached to the concrete foundation.
The pebbles can be applied.
Start at the end of the longest distance from the shower door or the entrance. The pebbles need to connect so that they make them appear natural. You can test the placement of pebbles before taking them apart.
filling in gaps between pebbles
Utilize small pebbles (optional) and Thinset, and let the floor dry for at least 24 hours.
Application of the first coat sealer
The sealer must cover the floor, including the pebbles and the Thinset. The sealer layer keeps the pebbles and grout from absorbing the color of the grout.
Grouting application
Mix grout and water until you have an even-smooth mixture. Spread the grout evenly over the floor. In 20 minutes, wash off any excess grout using an aqueous cloth. Repeat the cleaning process so you don’t have to apply the grout again on the floor. It should rest for at least 24 hours.
Sealer application
Apply the sealer’s final coat on the floor of the pebbles and allow it to dry for 24 hours.
It is also necessary 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 making their floors. You can already imagine the pleasure of making a floor with your hands and your friends being amazed.
This floor type has more negatives than advantages. It’s cheap and simple to construct; however, the drawbacks can be overwhelming. Some cons are regular repairs, high maintenance, and the requirement to dry it out after each use. Pebbles can also not be a great option when the rest of the bathroom has the same design.
In some situations, having the floor made of pebbles is a great idea. For instance, at your holiday home. Perhaps in your guest house. This flooring is perfect for areas where the shower is rarely used. Install one if you reside in a dry climate in which water evaporates easily from the surfaces of your bathroom. Pebble floors are only suitable for some living spaces.
Do you like the idea of a pebble-like floor?
But it would help if you considered that your experience with pebble shower floor pros and cons made you look for an alternative. One option is in Pebble Tiles. They resemble pebbles but without the disadvantages of pebbles. They are laid like any other tile and have the advantages and functionality of traditional tiles.
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