Pebble Shower Floor Pros and Cons

Pebbles in your shower floor make for a beautiful finish especially when they come in multiple colors.

They give off a naturalistic finish with the water running over them reminiscent of a natural river.

If you’ve ever used a shower with pebbles and liked it or are simply considering installing one, there are a few aspects you need to be aware of before making that decision.

In the sections below, you get to know exactly what you are going for thorough knowledge of the pros and cons of this type of shower floor.

The list below summarizes these pros and cons:

Pros:

  • Does not always require expertise to install
  • Cheap to install
  • Resistant to slipping
  • They are beautiful compared to other types of shower floors
  • Comfortable on the feet

Cons:

  • High maintenance
  • Not long-lasting
  • Some parts of the floor may need specific skills to perfect

The Pros

Among the pros of a pebble shower floor are the following aspects:

1. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF

If you are a pebble lover, chances are high that you have collected a few yourself.

A walk on the riverbank or beach can be quite rewarding when it comes to pebble collection. You will, however, need a lot of them to cover a medium-sized shower floor.

Fixing the pebbles on the shower floor is the next task. Although a bit demanding and requiring a lot of patience, you can do it with satisfying results.

If you need to do this yourself, head over to the final part of this article for easy-to-follow directions.

2. CHEAP TO INSTALL

Installing this kind of floor does not cost a fortune even when you have to buy everything from the pebbles to the tools for installing it.

You will need a few working tools, the pebbles, grout, Thinset and a sealer and you are good to go.

Compare that to a tiled shower floor which will require complicated tools such as tile cutters and other items which can considerably increase the cost of fixing the floor.

3. RESISTANT TO SLIPPING

When you have pebbles on your shower floor, the uneven finish ensures you get a solid footing especially with rubber slippers.

This prevents falls which can lead to serious injuries.

4. THEY ARE A BEAUTIFUL FINISH

The different colors and uneven floor coupled with the right color of grout offer one of the most beautiful finishes for a bathroom floor.

You will be happy looking down as the water flows over and between the stones each time you take a shower in this shaker stall.

5. COMFORTABLE ON THE FEET

The uneven nature of a pebble floor has a massaging effect on the feet each time you walk into the shower after a long day.

To properly feel this effect, you need to go for rounded pebbles and not the square ones. The more natural they are, the better the result.

You have a lot to enjoy with your pebble shower floor as seen here.

Cons Of Pebble Shower Floors

maintenance of pebble floor

The downsides to having a pebble shower floor are as follows:

1. HIGH MAINTENANCE

Cleaning a pebble shower floor isn’t as straightforward as cleaning a tiled shower floor is. You will have to go through lots of careful cleaning to avoid damaging the floor.

You work too hard and you will see the grout coming off and needing a fresh coat of grout. It is advisable to clean the floor dry after every shower for longevity.

2. IT DOES NOT LAST LONG

Compared to other shower floor types, a pebble shower floor does not last that long.

Even when cleaning the shower floor is done very carefully, the sealer and the grout cannot be compared to tiles for example. For this reason, you will need a lot of frequent repairs which will increase the costs of the floor in the long run.

3. MAY REQUIRE SOME EXPERTISE TO PERFECT THE FINISH

While installation of this type of bathroom floor is easy, you may need expert skills at assessing the floor of the whole area first.

A pebble floor, if not done to perfection, may have water seeping through it. This can lead to the rotting of the floor or the house if precautionary measures are not put in place.

If you can live with these weaknesses, you are good to get your shower floor fixed with pebbles.

Installing A Pebble Shower Floor

This floor can be installed with the steps described below. Before commencing, confirm the integrity of the floor below the surface for waterproofing, gradient and general reliability.

This floor requires a deeper gradient than other types of shower floors.

  1. Apply a layer of thinset not more than 1/8 of an inch to the bathroom floor using a trowel, followed by laying the pebble tiles down. Start at the edge and ensure the tiles have interlocked each other.
  2. Fill in the gaps left by the pebbles then give the floor at least 24 hours for the thinset to dry up before the next step.
  3. Apply a reasonable coat of sealer to cover the pebbles completely. This sealer will prevent the stones from absorbing the grout’s color. Wait for the sealer to dry up.
  4. Mix the grout to obtain a consistent mix then apply it to the pebbles to cover them. Ensure the grout has covered the stones evenly and completely.
  5. Use a wet sponge to clean out the excess grout from the floor after 20 minutes. Repeat this process with the sponge being cleaned before the next wiping session.
  6. Apply the final coat of sealer after 24 hours to complete the look then wait for it to dry.

You can then jump in for a shower. Done right, this pebble shower floor will serve you for a long time.

Keep in mind that you may need to repair it every now and again to prevent any problems from spreading. If you see a pebble or any part of the floor that is loose, do not hesitate to fix it.

Albert Mitchell

Over the past 9 years, I have worked as a retailer for some great hot tub manufacturers across the USA. Starting with a family business and working my way up to working with some of the best hot tub brands around the world – you could say I know a thing or two!