People install pebble tile floors in the shower area because these are less costly than tiles and give the massaging effect during bathing because of their raised surfaces.
Pebble tile shower floor problems include uneven or uncomfortable spaces, water draining issues, stone displacement, subfloor damage, and cracking or breaking. Moreover, these are difficult to clean, require frequent maintenance, are slippery, challenging to install, less durable, and develop white film.
These have limited designs and colors, but people still prefer them because of their textured surface and appealing appearance in the bathroom.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Uneven and uncomfortable surface | Use flat-end pebbles and footwear |
| Fall accidents | Avoid using glass bottles and do not leave kids alone |
| Water draining issues | Install fans and dehumidifiers near them |
| Stone displacement | Regular inspection |
| Damage subflooring | Use vinyl and waterproof plywood for su-flooring |
| Cracking and breaking | Select high-quality pebble tiles |
| Difficult to clean and need high maintenance | Avoid harsh scrubbing and reapply grout frequently |
| Slippery | Remove greasy residues |
| Challenging to install | Hire an expert for better finishing |
| Less durability and white film | Use ceramic and porcelain tiles |
Uneven and uncomfortable surface
These have uneven surfaces because numerous small pebbles are sealed with grout and sealants. The textured surface is designed to make the shower area non-slippery, but it becomes uncomfortable.
Pebble tile shower floors can also hurt your feet when you are standing on them with bare feet. Moreover, the stones also have sharp corners that can cause uncomfortable situations during bathing.
These have raised and lowered ends because of the different sizes and thicknesses of the river stones. It is better to use footwear while showering so it cannot make you uncomfortable.
You can also use flat-end pebbles instead of ones that have harsh corners.
Falling on the floor
The fall accidents on these floors are dangerous because of the sharp corners ends of the stones. These do not have smooth surfaces, and little kids cannot grip their surfaces well.
They can fall and have severe injuries on their heads. These are also not suitable for older adults because they cannot maintain their foot grip on them.
In addition, the breaking of fallen items on their surfaces is more. For example, glass bottles of cleaners, hair gels, sprays, conditioners, and body lotions can fall on the ground from your hands and break into pieces.
It is also challenging to collect small glass pieces from uneven surfaces. Avoid using glass bottles in the bathroom, and I also prefer to keep all accessories in plastic bottles.
Do not leave your small kids alone in the bathroom because they can get a shock on their feet from the raised and lowered stones surfaces on the pebble tile shower floor.
Water draining issues
The water draining issues are more on uneven surfaces than finished tile surfaces. Water easily moves into the drains because of the smooth surfaces and cannot get stuck in grooves and edges.
These have raised and lowered surfaces because of multiple stones of different sizes. As a result, water can get stuck in them and become difficult to drain.
The still water can damage the grout and seals present on their outer surface for their fixing. In addition, water also creates the breeding ground for mold growth and makes them unclean.
Mop them correctly after bathing for water removal because excessive moisture damages the grouts and sealings.
You can also install it in these areas and add dehumidifiers for complete moisture evaporation.
Stone displacement
The pebble tiles start to wiggle after some time because of their displacement from the original position. These are fixed on the subfloors with grout but have small empty spaces between them.
Over time, the people’s weight can cause the stones to displace from their original side. As a result, you can feel the vibrating and wiggly motion when you step on them.
Moreover, the damaged grout and sealings also cause wiggly movement. The long-term water exposure damages the grout and sealing of these floors.
The problem comes when you use low-quality grout to fix them. The displacement comes from their poor installation and less drying time.
Regular inspection is necessary, and seal them when you feel the slight displacement of a single stone.
Damage to subflooring
You need subfloors for the installation of pebble tile in the showering area. People select the different types of subfloors for their installation.
I prefer to use water and scratch-resistant tiles instead of plywood sheets because these can wear off early and are more prone to warping.
These can damage subfloors when they are not made of waterproof materials. In addition, the moisture from the damaged grout and poor sealing penetrates the inner side and causes molds and bacteria to grow.
You can use waterproof plywood sheets for their installation. These are slightly more costly than the regular ones but are better for bathroom areas.
Moreover, you can also try vinyl and tiles for their installation because of their non-porous structure.
Cracking and breaking
River stones are also used to install, which are not entirely permeable to water. It allows the moisture to penetrate them and increases the chances of cracking.
These are mostly made of quartz and resin material that can easily crack during exposure to humidity for longer. Moreover, the issue comes because these stones have high water-absorption power, which can decrease their longevity.
The quartz and resin types can also crack with the shower’s water pressure. Therefore, choosing high-quality pebble tiles that are stronger and resistant to cracking is better.
Difficult to clean and need frequent maintenance
The Pebble tile shower floor is challenging to clean and maintain. In addition, the end of the grooves can collect trash and humidity.
You cannot mop their surface to keep them clean as you do for simple tiles. Instead, you require abrasive brushes to clean the grooves.
Moreover, these require high maintenance because of their grouting material and sealant. Therefore, reapplying the grout after a few weeks is necessary to prevent water damage.
Avoid harsh scrubbing and cleaners because they damage the grout and sealant layer.
Slippery
Many people install pebble floors in shower areas because they think they are slip-resistant. These are not completely slip-resistant and cause slipperiness when excess moisture is on their surface.
In addition, the chances of slipperiness increase because of molds and fungus growth on their surfaces. In addition, grease residues from body oils, lotions, sanitizers, soaps, and shampoo can also make them slippery.
You can make them non-slippery by proper cleaning and preventing mold growth. Wipe them off with clean water when shampoo, soap, and other things spill on them during bathing.
Challenging to install
Installing pebble tile shower floor is challenging because they take more time and effort. In addition, installing multiple small stones instead of adding large tiles is difficult.
Moreover, you need to seal them separately on the ground surface for their proper fixing. The installation cost is also high because of the use of more construction materials.
Adding small stones to the shower area requires more grout and sealant. You require 2 to 3 times more grout for their fixing than you need for the simple tiles.
Hiring an expert for better sealing and high finishing is better because it is difficult to attain.
Less durability and white film
The durability of pebble flooring is less as compared to other types because of more grouting material. In addition, long-term water exposure dissolves the sealants and grout used to seal them.
You need frequent repairs to prevent them from wear and tear, and it normally exceeds the installation cost. The grout can also come off and increase the chances of damage when you use abrasive cleaners on them.
Harsh rubbing with metal wire and abrasive brushes can also remove the grout and trash. However, these are also not suitable for homes that have hard water.
The hard water contains high mineral contents, which leaves the white film behind. Selecting alternatives like ceramic and porcelain tiles instead of pebbles is better.
Moreover, you can also clean them after showering to remove mineral residues.
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