In our last post on the pebble shower floor, we discussed some of the easiest ways to clean it in an epigrammatic span of time.
Quite a few of our clients were inquisitive about whether a pebble shower door is easy to clean or not.
Today, I’ll be highlighting the pros and cons of a pebble shower floor so that you can make an informed purchase decision.
In case of any queries or doubts, feel free to contact us via the contact form, and our core team will be more than happy to assist you.
Does it make sense?
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
Pebble Shower Floor Pros & Cons | Comparison Chart
| Pros | Cons |
| Budget-friendly | May require specialized skills for the installation |
| The installation process is quick, easy, and beginner’s friendly | Improper installation may do more bad than good |
| Not prone to scratches, and doesn’t wear out easily | Use loads and loads of grout |
| Resistant to slipping | It requires a higher maintenance |
| Comfortable and convenient to step on | Can be slippery if not textured properly |
| Available in a wide range & variety | Can be uncomfortable on the barefoot |
| Enticing look and feel | Not a good option for hard water region |
| Some retain water |
Pebble Shower Floor Pros
I’m assuming that most of our avid readers would be aware of what actually a pebble is.
For those who are hearing this word for the first time, a pebble is a small smooth round stone that is mainly found on beaches and in rivers.
In layman’s terms, a pebble is a natural stone that can be easily sourced and is known to last for decades.
This eco-friendly stone comes with a series of advantages.
Let’s have a quick look at each one of them without wasting any time.
Enticing Finish
The thing that I really adore about a pebble stone is its ability to provide a genuine and naturalistic finish to your bathroom.
It will give your bathroom a look and feel of a river.
We at izzysmarthomeguide.com recommend pebble stones to clients looking for eco-friendly and natural stones that are simple yet attractive in their own sense.
Easy To Do
If you’re a DIYer like me then I’ve got a piece of good news for you, interesting, isn’t it?
Trust me, pebble shower floor problems will not panic you for sure as being a DIYer, you’ll be able to handle them quickly and easily.
As a DIYer, all you need to do is to collect the pebbles yourself from the nearest river bank slowly and gradually and then fix these pebbles on the floor which isn’t difficult but for sure will taste your patience.
Budget Friendly
Installation of pebble stone on your floor is easy, hassle-free, and most importantly, economical.
Grout, sealer, and some working tools are all that you need.
Frankly speaking, the cost of fixing the floor is quite less as you’ll not have to spend money on buying expensive tools such as a tile cutter.
On average, the cost of a pebble floor will be between $4 and $8 per square foot.
And, the cost of stone flooring is about $7 per square foot which is relatively on the higher end as compared to pebble flooring.
Non-Slippery
It goes without saying that floor and water don’t look together and at times, may lead to last-minute misadventures especially when you’ve kids, elders, or pets in your home.
Fortunately, some types of floors are safer than others, and a pebble floor is one of them.
A pebble floor will ensure a solid footing and prevent injuries.
Durability
Pebble floors are highly durable as they will not wear out or scratches easily and are capable enough to handle day-to-day mess with ease.
Definitely, it’s one such floor that you’ll never have to replace.
All you need to do is to apply sealant in a couple of years for its repair and maintenance.
Therapeutic Effect
Many of our readers may not be aware of the fact that walking barefoot on pebbles is a healthy practice as it acts like a massage that stimulates various reflexogenic points on the soles of your feet.
In simple words, you can enjoy a foot massage every time, you’re taking shower if you’ve got a pebble shower floor.
If you’re like me who enjoys walking barefoot on pebbles outdoors then definitely, you’re gonna cherish the experience.
Wide Range & Variety
To be honest, with pebbles, you’ve got a wide array of choices in terms of size, color, the patterns in which you lay the pebbles, spacing, and many other aspects.
It’s totally your choice whether you want a single color or multiple colors.
Some common pebble tiles include the Bali Pebble tiles which can be further divided into Orion, Redwood, Tahiti, Forrest, Jubilee, Yellow Jelly, and many others.
In simple words, you’ve got an endless list to pick from, and you can mix and match them as per your requirement.
Does it make sense?
And, the best part is, irrespective of your choices, you’ll not find any significant differences in terms of the cost of materials as well as the time is taken to create your pebble shower floor.
Pebble Shower Floor Cons
Like any other product, a pebble shower floor also comes with its own set of drawbacks that you must be aware of before making a purchase decision.
High Maintenance
The pebble shower floor cleaning isn’t easy and may consume much of your time when compared to a tiled floor.
Moreover, you’ll need to clean the floor dry after every shower to ensure its durability.
In fact, scrubbing too hard on the floor can cause the grout to come off and require frequent repairs.
Needs Expertise For A Perfect Finish
To be honest, if you’re not able to finish your pebble floor to perfection, then the probability is very high that you’ll have to deal with water seeping through it.
Moreover, in time, the floor underneath will rot or erode.
In the worst scenario, standing water may become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
In short, if the finish isn’t perfect that your pebble shower floor may do more harm than good to you.
May Hurt Your Feet
You need to be careful against sharp pebbles present on your shower floor, falling to do so may hurt you.
In order to avoid discomfort during taking shower, you can opt for footwear.
Also, if you’ve got a sensitive foot, you should opt for a flat pebble shower floor.
Water Retention Issues
If your floor will be uneven, water might stick between individual pebbles.
In fact, you can’t deny the fact that the probability of accumulation of specks of dirt as well as the growth of mold and mildew is quite high.
Moreover, if you’re a DIYer like me and are planning to create your own pebble shower floor, then you need to take care of two important parameters, that is, the inclination of the floor, and the arrangement of stones.
Not Suitable With Hard Water
If you’re a resident of a region where hard water prevails, then it’s good to stay away from a pebble shower floor.
Hard water isn’t good for a pebble shower floor for sure.
If you’re not cleaning your pebble shower floor on a regular basis, then hard water may form a chalky film on your pebble floor.
In simple words, you’ll have to dry your shower pebble floor after every shower which isn’t a pleasant surprise either.
Use Lots Of Grout
Nowadays, you’ve loads and loads of flooring options.
However, when compared to tiles and other flooring options for the bathroom, you’ll have to use loads and loads of grout when it comes to installing pebble floors.
Given that grout is used to fill the space between two tiles, you don’t have an option but to fill the spaces between hundreds of small pebbles, interesting, isn’t it?
On average, you would be needing almost 2.5 to 3 times more grout to install a pebble floor than a mosaic shower floor of similar size.
Pebble Shower Floor Installation
As we’ve discussed earlier that a proper finish and optimum installation are a must for reaping maximum benefits out of your pebble shower floor.
Moving further, I’ll walk you through the steps involved in the installation of a pebble shower floor.
First and foremost, you need to get your bathroom floor inspected by a certified person to ensure that it is suitable for pebble flooring.
If some changes need to be made then do it before you expedite the installation process in order to prevent any last-minute misadventure.
The basic requirements of a pebble floor are but are not limited to the underlying floor should possess adequate thickness, be waterproof, steeper gradient, etc.
Steps
- First and foremost, you need to clean the floor so that specks of dirt, debris, or any particles if present is removed. Afterward, make some dents on your floor so that a proper foundation for pebble flooring can be achieved.
- Once done with cleaning and making a dent in your floor the next thing that needs to be done is applying a layer of thin-set 1/8 inches thick on the floor. Use a trowel and start from the farthest edge of your bathroom door.
- Moving further, place the pebbles on the floor starting from the edge farthest from the door of your bathroom in such a way that they interlock each other.
- If the pebbles leave spaces, fill them with smaller stones and a more thin set to provide the desired profile. Before moving to the next step, make sure the thin set is properly dried which will last at least take 24 hours.
- Now, you need to apply a coat of sealer on the floor so that all the parts are equally covered, and then wait for it to dry. Simply put, the sealer has to cover the pebbles and the thin set between the stones. In fact, the purpose of the first coat is to prevent the gravel from absorbing the color of the grout which is to be applied afterward.
- Once the sealer is properly dried, you need to mix grout with water to a slightly thicker mixture and then apply the grout evenly onto the floor so that pebbles as well as the spaces between them are properly covered.
- You need to wait for at least 30 minutes before you clean off the excess grout from the floor using a soft piece of cloth or a sponge. Moreover, each time you wipe the floor, clean the piece of cloth to avoid reapplying the grout cleaned off to the floor. Again, you need to wait for 24 hours so that the grout is properly dried.
- Afterward, you apply another coat of sealer and allow it to dry which will again not take less than 24 hours.
Once you’re done with the aforementioned steps, wait for 24 hours.
Now, your pebble floor is ready for use.
However, for keeping your floor in good shape, you need to maintain a good cleaning and maintenance routine.
Does it make sense?
I’m attaching a self-explanatory video for your perusal.
To be honest, the idea of building a pebble shower floor can be very enticing, and if you’re a DIYer like me, then definitely, your excitement level will be way higher.
Needless to say, you’ve already imagined the excitement level of creating a pebble shower floor on your own and getting praise from all your friends and colleagues.
At the same time, you must evaluate the pros and cons of a pebble shower floor before giving it a try in order to prevent any last-minute debacle.
Of course, a pebble shower floor is easy to build and maintain but at the same time, it has got some serious consequences as well that you must be well aware of.
Some consequences are high maintenance, frequent repairs, and most importantly, needing to dry it after every use.
Things can turn out to be weird if the rest of your bathroom is in a different style.
However, there are certain scenarios wherein a pebble shower floor will do the trick for you.
For example, at your holiday home or even at your guest house you can try it.
In short, this type of flooring best suits where the shower isn’t used very frequently.
Also, a pebble shower floor can be a great choice in dry climates where water evaporated easily from the floor after every shower.
Alternatives to Pebble Shower Flooring
Let’s have a quick look at some alternatives to pebble shower flooring that we’ve been recommending to our clientele for quite some time.
In case of any doubt or query, feel free to contact us and our core team will guide you in the best possible ways they could.
Porcelain Pebble Tile
In terms of look and feel, you’ll not find much difference between a porcelain pebble tile and a pebble shower floor.
As the name suggests, a porcelain pebble tile is made up of porcelain.
These tiles will give you the look of stone pebbles without any drawbacks, such as having to reseal every six months to a year.
Instead, porcelain tiles require resealing every 3 to 4 years so maintenance cost is relatively low.
At the same time, a porcelain tile is expensive as compared to a pebble floor and may have the same issues with grout so you need to choose wisely as per your budget and requirement.
Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiling gives you the same unique styling that you can achieve through river rock flooring.
However, you can’t deny the fact that a mosaic tile is more refined in terms of beauty as compared to a pebble floor.
Correct me, if I’m wrong.
In terms of installation and pricing, you can find lots of similarities between a mosaic tile and a river rock.
However, a mosaic tile carries an advantage over river rock flooring as the former only needs to be resealed every couple of years.
Penny Tile
You can think of a penny tile as a round tile that is made up of ceramic, porcelain, or glass.
Since penny tiles are exactly the same size so they may not look like a pebble floor.
Definitely, these tiles carry an advantage over river rock as they need to be resealed only in a couple of years and not every year.
Last but not least, there are even DIY purists that have used actual coins as penny tile, though I’m not sure how effective coins would be as shower flooring.
How to Clean a Pebble Shower Floor?
Cleaning a pebble shower floor is easy and will not consume much of your time.
Mix 1 part vinegar and 16 parts water in a spray bottle and prepare the solution by evenly mixing the two.
Spray the mixture on the pebble shower floor and then allows it to sit for at least 15 minutes.
Then, scrub the floor with a soft-bristled brush in such a way that you cover all the parts
Finally, rinse it with warm water and let it dry up.
For more details, you can check this in-depth article on are pebble shower floors hard to clean.
FAQs
In this section, I’ll be responding to the queries related to pebble shower floor pros and cons in order to help you make an informed decision.
Does it make sense?
How do I remove the white haze from my pebble shower floor?
A white haze on your pebble shower floor is the end result of either efflorescence precipitation or you’ve trapped moisture in the tile assembly by applying a non-breathable sealer over the floor.
Efflorescence is where minerals (similar to salts) in the concrete and stone setting bed dissolve in the moisture and as the moisture comes to the tile surface it evaporates and then precipitates the white minerals. If you put a little vinegar on the white substance and it goes away, then it is efflorescence.More likely is that they used a sealer or resin over the pebble floor that is non-breathable.
In fact, if water gets under the sealer then it will tend to turn a cloudy white color.
How long does a pebble shower floor last?
A pebble shower floor can last up to 15 years if proper care and maintenance are taken on a regular basis including diligent care of grout and resealing.
Other important parameters that can impact the lifespan of a pebble shower floor are floor installation and frequency of shower.
The better the floor installation the higher will be the lifespan of your pebble shower floor.
Moreover, the lesser the frequency of the shower, the higher the lifespan of your pebble shower floor.
Can I paint the pebble shower floor?
Yes, it is possible to paint your pebble shower floor.
However, you need to give attention to minute details such as choosing a waterproof primer, paint, and sealant to ensure that your paint job can withstand water.
Are pebble shower floors slippery?
No, pebble shower floors aren’t slippery as additional grout is installed which makes the surface of a pebble shower floor slip resistant even when wet.
In layman’s terms, river rock is considered one of the safest shower flooring options available.
Do you need to seal the pebble shower floor?
In order to remain waterproof, a pebble shower floor requires sealant upon installation.
Moreover, your floor will then need a reseal every six months to a year, which again depends on the frequency of the shower.
Is it hard to clean the pebble shower floor?
Of course, NOT.
A pebble shower isn’t difficult to clean as well as doesn’t require any specific expertise either.
To be honest, cleaning a river rock flooring is easy, and will not consume much of your time either.
In layman’s terms, there are more accessible materials to clean, such as acrylic.
Nevertheless, using a rag or even mild soap solution once in two weeks’ time can easily do the trick for you.
Are pebble shower floors comfortable?
Yes, pebble shower floors are comfortable and you can think it of a massage to your feet.
It goes without saying that river rock has been naturally smoothed and rounded by water which definitely, makes it a comfortable choice.
It’s A Wrap
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.
Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of effort into coming up with this idiosyncratic superlative piece of information on the topic, the pros, and cons of a pebble shower floor.
And, in case, you liked our effort and want to appreciate us then please do share this post with like-minded people and the ones who are in search of a similar piece of information.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
Long story short, all the steps, tips, and tricks that we’ve mentioned in this post are the ones that we’ve been recommending to our clientele for quite some time.
And, the best part is, the response and feedback that we’ve received so far are positive and promising.
That’s all, as of now:):)
Keep hustling…
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