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Whether building your bathroom from scratch or simply updating the tile, one of the best things you can do is use granite for your shower walls. This stone has many advantages, including durability, natural beauty, and environmental benefits. Many homeowners have begun to choose granite as their material of choice for shower walls. This article will discuss granite tiles and slabs, the pros and cons of granite for the bathroom. 

Advantages of Granite for Shower walls

Check out these reasons below that explain why granite is an excellent option for shower walls. 

Design Versatility 

Granite comes in a variety of colors and styles. You can choose options that suit your needs and your bathroom's decor. If you don't like the color or style of the natural granite stones in your shower, you can always have them covered with another material to match the rest of the room.

Granite is available in a wide range of hues, from the palest gray and pinkish-gray to black and dark green. It also comes in more than one style, with many different textures and patterns on offer. The natural look of granite provides a modern update to any space while still maintaining traditional elegance. Consider polished shades to rustic tones and multi-toned granite for a unique and beautiful look.

No Grout Lines

Granite for shower walls does not require grout because its surface is naturally non-porous. You do not have to worry about the porous grout material trapping dirt and bacteria over time as it can with tiles. In addition, granite does not require sealing because its surface is naturally sealed, so you will never have to worry about mineral buildup or the formation of mold on its surface.

Easy Maintenance 

You won't have a lot of work cleaning your granite shower walls. But you will need to wipe them down with a damp cloth from time to time. Granite is stain-resistant and does not require unique cleaning materials.

Durability 

Granite has a very high durability rating. It can last for decades without chipping or cracking, even when used in harsh environments like whirlpools and steam showers. In addition, it is resistant to heat caused by hot water and steam and common household chemicals such as toothpaste and hair products. Made from a type of natural quartz, granite is a strong stone with a special sheen. It's also non-porous, so it doesn't have any trouble keeping water from getting in and ruining the material. However, if you're going to install one of these floors in your bathroom, the following are some precautions that you need to take:

• You should also know that granite is porous, which means that it will absorb water if you aren't careful.
• Make sure that when your granite shower or bath counter is installed, you seal the surface with professional-grade silicone mastic.
• There are all sorts of cleaners on the market, but most of them contain harsh chemicals or acids that can end up damaging your shower floor. Before you decide which cleaner to use, make sure it's safe for natural stone surfaces and that it won't damage the material in any way.

Rustproofing

One obvious concern with bathroom materials is how easily they rust when exposed to water regularly. While most stone surfaces are relatively impervious to water damage, some materials corrode more readily than others. Granite's ability to resist corrosion from repeated exposure to water gives it an advantage over many stones with lower resistance ratings.

Stain Resistance 

Much like its corrosion resistance, granite is very difficult to stain. Most substances that come into contact with the stone tend not to penetrate very far into the surface before drying, making them easy to remove. This trait helps granite maintain its fresh appearance for years without requiring frequent cleaning or refinishing.

Because stains can be particularly hard to remove once they have penetrated deep within a porous surface, this property gives granite a distinct advantage over materials such as marble which have been known to discolor from exposure to even mild substances permanently.

Light Reflectivity

Granite is a relatively light-reflective material, helping it maintain a clean and bright appearance without regular cleaning or buffing. In contrast, materials such as marble or glass tend to absorb the light around them, often requiring high maintenance applications of waxes and polishes to keep them looking their best.

Disadvantages of Using Granite for Bathroom Walls

Granite, like other building materials, has its cons. Some reasons that deter away people from using granite include the following:

• Granite is an expensive material: Granite is costly compared to other materials used for designing bathrooms, such as marble.
• Difficult to repair: If granite chips, then repairing them requires special skills and tools.
• It traps dirt: Since granite has a rough surface, dirt particles get stuck quickly on its surface because they cannot be removed with a single wipe from a clean cloth soaked in water.

Granite Tiles VS Granite Slab Walls for Showers 

There are many facets to consider when deciding which type of wall material will work best for your home. Here we'll look at granite as a material and how it affects the durability, installation costs, and maintenance required for walls made from either slabs or tiles.

Cost

In terms of cost, there's no doubt that you'll likely pay more for a wall constructed from individual stone slabs than one containing manufactured tiles. Size can also affect prices - wider slabs tend to be more expensive than narrow ones due to their increased weight. Depending on how much granite is needed, the price can vary considerably - if you're covering an entire wall with large pieces of stone, the initial bill is several times greater than if you opt for much smaller tiles.

Installation

Tiles are easier to handle and install since they're lightweight and can easily be cut down as needed. One of the most significant factors in installation times is how large the stone pieces are - if you opt for larger pieces, such as those found in a wall made from slabs, it will take more time and labor to put them up. This issue applies even if you have people helping - their muscles alone won't support a piece that weighs more than a few dozen pounds.

Versatility

Both types of granite walls offer aesthetic value, but slabs have obvious advantages due to their greater size. Smaller pieces simply won't allow enough versatility when decorating. It's also possible to create different arrangements with slabs since they're not limited by the dimensions of an individual tile, making it easier for homeowners to play around until they find the optimal design.

Durability

Slabs are normally considered more durable than tiles, but this isn't always true. There are certain products made from granite that will last longer than others, depending on their composition. Installing grout between individual stone pieces can help reduce their exposure to water which can cause severe damage over time. Manufacturers improve durability by adding resins and other materials during production, although this adds extra costs to your initial purchase price.