A pebble shower floor, often known as a river rock floor, is a low-cost and visually appealing choice for a bathroom renovation.
Some individuals have gone to nearby rivers to collect stones, which has saved them a lot of money on material costs.
Many elements will influence whether a pebble shower floor is suitable for your bathroom, and each material has pros and cons.
If you are on the fence about whether to install a pebble shower floor, here are some pros and cons that may help you come to a decision.
Pebble Shower Floor Pros
Attractive
Pebble stones provide a realistic finish to your bathroom, imitating a natural river.
If you like a natural atmosphere in your house and prefer simplicity, pebble might be a wonderful choice.
Affordable
The supplies required to build a pebble tile floor are rather inexpensive since you will only need the pebbles, grout, a sealant, some tools, and thinset.
If you want to save money on installation, you may even pick the stones yourself from areas such as riverbanks and beaches.
Durable
You don’t have to worry about the surfaces of pebble tiles or genuine pebbles wearing or scratching because they’re simply rocks in the bathroom.
If you drop something heavy on the pebble floor, you may just damage one or two stones that require very little repair.
Easy To Install
If you collect the pebbles manually from the riverside, it will take some time to collect them all. The following step, repairing the stones on the floor, takes patience but is not difficult.
Placing the pebbles adjacent to each other on the floor is an important component of the installation procedure. Aside from that, all you need is a set of hands to create a gorgeous pebble bathroom floor.
Feels Nice
Walking on stones barefoot is a highly beneficial habit. It works similarly to a massage in that it stimulates numerous reflexogenic sites on the soles of your feet.
You don’t have to travel on a trip to accomplish it; you can have a foot massage whenever you take a shower.
Are pebble shower floors relaxing? It is determined by the sensitivity of your feet. This style of floor will appeal to those who prefer walking barefoot on stones outside.
Not Slippery
With bathroom falls on slick floors being prevalent and resulting in serious injuries, having a bathroom floor that naturally avoids falls is a huge benefit.
Pebble flooring is made up of various shaped and sized stones that are securely embedded in the ground.
Between the stones, there is grout and a sealant, both of which improve traction.
As a result, pebble flooring is secure to walk on. Wearing rubber footwear, such as flip-flops and crocs, minimizes the likelihood of falling on pebble floors even further.
Variety
With pebbles, you have a broad range of options in terms of size, color, pattern, spacing, and many other factors. You may select a single color or a combination of colors.
You have an infinite number of pebbles to choose from, and you may mix and combine them as you see appropriate. In terms of material costs and time required to produce these floors, none of these options differ much.
Pebble Shower Floor Cons
Limited Lifespan
To maintain the grout and sealant in good condition, pebble shower floors must be cleaned on a regular basis.
Because of the uneven nature of the floor, the grout and sealer are readily lost during cleaning and routine usage circumstances.
This is due to the fact that the grout and sealant are more exposed than on other bathroom floors.
Needs Maintenance
Cleaning the pebble shower floors should be done with care to avoid damaging the grout and sealant.
As previously said, they are more exposed than other types of flooring such as tiles and will require frequent maintenance to remain in good condition.
These regular repairs can significantly raise the floor’s maintenance expenses. As a result, pebble shower floor cleaning should be done with care, with regrouting and resealing performed every few weeks.
Cleaning the pebble shower floor should be followed by drying it.
Can Retain Water
If you’re going to utilize river pebbles or other pebbles with varying shapes and sizes, you should be aware of the possibility of mold.
The unevenness of the floor might cause water to accumulate between the individual stones.
If this water is allowed to stagnate, mold and mildew will quickly emerge. Mold is responsible for a musty odor in your pebble shower.
When used in pebble shower floors, river rock retains moisture far longer than other types of pebbles and should thus be given more time to dry and be better sealed to safeguard it.
This issue may be resolved by washing and drying the flooring after each use, utilizing flat or sliced stones, having a higher gradient, and keeping the bathroom ventilated.
This aids in the cleaning and prevention of mold on the bathroom sealant on the stones.
Not Compatible With Hard Water
If you reside in a hard water location, you will need to be diligent in your cleaning and maintenance routines to keep the appearance of your pebble floor in the bathroom.
This is because hard water, if not washed off, leaves a thin chalky coating on the surface of stones.
This is why you must clean and dry the pebble floor after each shower.
These pebble shower floor issues are still doable and should not deter you from acquiring that lovely shower floor you so much want.
Pebble Shower Floor Alternatives
Porcelain Pebble Tile
Porcelain pebble tile resembles stone pebbles; however, it is manufactured of porcelain.
These tiles have the appearance of stone pebbles without the downsides of needing to reseal every six months to a year. Porcelain tiles, on the other hand, must be resealed every three to four years.
However, porcelain pebble flooring is generally more expensive than actual stone pebble flooring, and you will still have grout difficulties.
Penny Tile
Penny tiles are round ceramic, porcelain, or glass tiles. Because penny tiles are of the same size, they may not appear exactly like pebble flooring, but they get close.
They have a benefit over pebbles in that they do not require yearly resealing due to the substance they are composed of.
Even DIY enthusiasts have used pennies as penny tile, however, they may not be the most suitable as a shower flooring so you should look more into that.
Mosaic Tile
Some claim that mosaic tiled floors are more elegant in appearance than stone pebble flooring.
This type of shower flooring is similar to pebble floors in terms of installation and cost.
They have a benefit over pebble flooring in that they only require resealing every couple of years, similar to porcelain tile.
Taking Care Of A Pebble Shower Floor
Because most pebble shower floors are composed of natural stone, adequate maintenance is required to keep them in good condition.
When spot cleaning, always use soft towels or sponges to avoid scratching the stones or harming the sealant.
If you use an abrasive cleaning, it might remove the sealant, causing harm to the stones beneath.
After washing your pebble shower floor, use a soft towel or a blow dryer to dry it. This will assist you in avoiding stains that may remain behind.
Never run a vacuum over your pebble shower floor since it might damage the sealant and create obvious damage to the stones. The sealer is the true secret to an attractive, long-lasting pebble shower floor.
A quick wipe-down with a soft towel or cloth can assist in keeping extra accumulation at bay. As long as you don’t use anything too abrasive, the pebbles and grout should be well-sealed for a long time.
Summary
Those were the more prominent pros and cons that come with having a pebble shower floor.
In conclusion, though, it really depends on what you value and how much time you have to put into installing and caring for the pebble shower floor.
It is beautiful to look at and can make you feel much closer to nature when you use it but if the cons are a bit too off-putting for you then you can look at alternatives such as porcelain pebble tiles, penny tiles, and mosaic tiles.
