Pictured here are a couple of examples of what can happen to a tile finish in a shower if not installed correctly, or not maintained properly.  Many types of natural stone and all grouts consist of porous materials that do not seal out moisture.  Grout and stone sealers have come a long way recently, but without maintenance, the sealer wears off and is no longer effective.  The constant pounding of water day after day can't help but cause moisture to eventually get through the finish and behind the product.  As soon as the backer material becomes damp or wet, the adhesive fails and the finish material begins to fall off.  As the backer material (in many cases just drywall) begins to absorb moisture day after day, it softens and begins to break down.  The framing material can also wick up the water causing rot and mold.  We see dozens of these cases every year.

  Also, if a tile or stone walk in shower is desired, the shower receptor (floor) can also be a problem area.  Most if not all "Mud Set" shower receptors will eventually fail if not installed correctly.  Pictured here is the most recent recommended installation procedure of a "Mud Set" shower receptor to receive tile presented by the Tile Council of America.  Unfortunately, many Contractors are unaware of these guidelines when installing a shower receptor, so within a couple years they leak, cause damage,  and need replacing.  And as you can see, if it is installed correctly, it is a laborious and expensive process.

There is also two different ways to install tile shower walls.  One way is to simply apply the tile to a sealed Dura-Rock backer.  If the vinyl liner is installed correctly, this application is totally acceptable.  However, the most durable application is what is called "Mud Set" walls, which have a backer material (such as drywall or Dura-Rock) installed on the studs, then a 1 " "Mud" finish floated over the entire surface.  The tile is then installed on top of this backing system.  This process is more durable, but of course more laborious, more expensive and twice as thick and heavy which may or may not be a problem.

The other choice of finish material in a shower is the Solid Surface Family such as the Cultured Marble and Corian type products.  These man-made materials are completely non-porous.  Also, a one piece floor, one piece curb and 3 piece shower walls greatly reduce the chance of leakage and ongoing maintenance.  Although in the 80's and 90's these shower floors used to be installed on a "Mud base" before the new floor technology came about, and were notorious leakers, nowadays flashing is utilized at the lower butt joints to prevent damage caused by leakage if a seal fails.  Cultured Marble is also lighter and less tedious to install than tile.  Also, the technology with these products is changing every day.  There are many more color selections than just a few years ago, and new products and colors are being developed all the time. Click HERE to view some of the new "Spray Granite" Cultured Marble colors.  NOTE:  The term "Spray Granite" simply means that the fabricator "Sprays" a granite looking colorant mixture into the mold before pouring the cultured marble product on top of it.

As far as pricing goes, the most economical product to use in a shower is Cultured Marble.  Corian and Ceramic Tile finishes are about the same price.  Corian however has much less maintenance, but tile is much more pleasing to the eye.

Stone and Tile showers and tub areas are drop dead gorgeous (Just take a look as some of my pictures), and we don't want to discourage you from going that direction if that is what you want.  We just would like you to know all the alternatives so you can make an educated decision about finishes in a area of the home that can have serious problems if not installed correctly or maintained properly.

Roadrunner will only install showers one way - the right way.