Pebble show floors have become a popular design trend in recent years. They are beautiful to look at and fit well with many different aesthetics and bathroom types.
It’s also an easy-to-install option; for some homeowners, it can even be a DIY project.
The pebbles come in a lot of variety, and you can switch them up as you change the aesthetic of your bathroom floors. As with any décor option, there are also a few downsides.
Most of them come from the fact that there’s a lot of maintenance involved, and the pebbles need to be replaced often.
Pebble Shower Floors Pros
These are the main reasons you should install pebble show floors.
1. They are Affordable
It’s relatively affordable to install this type of pebble floor. That’s mainly because the materials used are easy to find and cheap. Pebbles, grout, and a sealer are all that you need. The tools used in the process are also easy to find and inexpensive.
In most cases, it will cost between $4 and $8 to install a pebble shower floor per square foot of space covered in them.
2. The Pebble Floor Is Easy To Install
No special skills are needed to install a pebble floor, and the task isn’t physically demanding. The task can be somewhat dull since the central part of the job is to place the pebbles closely next to each other to form a floor.
In most cases, a homeowner can do this type of work on their own when they have the time to spare a few days.
3. They are Durable
You can’t scratch or damage the pebbles through everyday use. They are rocks, and there’s little you can do to damage or break them.
Even if you drop something heavy on them, chances are that only a few pebbles will be damaged in the process.
Water, soaps, and shampoos also can’t damage them even when used for a long time.
4. It’s a Safe Floor
There’s very little chance of slipping when using showers with pebble floors. Bathroom injuries can be severe and especially so for the elderly. This is perfectly preventable as long as you have a slip-resistance surface in the bathroom. Pebbles are such a surface.
5. It Feels Comfortable for Use
Stepping on a pebble shower floor feels comfortable and soothing, especially after a long hot shower.
It’s best to wear thin footwear to get the most out of the massage and remain comfortable and safe in the bathroom, even with wet floors.
6. There are Many Different Colors and Shapes To Choose From
There’s a lot of variety regarding what kind of pebble shower floors you can install. The pebbles come in different sizes, colors, and textures.
There’s also an added benefit of arranging the stones yourself, meaning that you can choose the pattern and shape of the area involved.
Bali pebble is the most commonly used, but there are hundreds more, such as Orion, Redwood, and Forrest. Since the installation process is relatively easy, you can replace the floor once you get bored with it.
7. They are Beautiful
Pebble shower floors are beautiful and work well with many different décor aesthetics. Both rustic and modern bathroom designs can benefit from a pebble shower floor.
You can also choose from countless colors and designs so that the floor complements the rest of your bathroom.
They can also be replaced as you’re remodeling your bathroom so that the floor style matches the rest of the room.
Pebble Shower Floors Cons
There are also a few cons to installing a pebble shower floor, and here are a few to consider.
1. Installing and Maintaining Takes Effort
Every homeowner can install a pebble shower floor, but it’s slow and painstaking work that requires a lot of time and effort. You need to consider this expense when deciding to install the floor. In most cases, homeowners decide to pay someone with experience to do the job.
It’s also important to be thorough when installing the floor, so there are no leaks or uneven surfaces.
The pebbles themselves are very durable since they are nothing more than small rocks.
However, the other elements involved in the process of making pebble shower flooring are much less durable, and they get damaged by water, heat, and humidity, all of which are common in bathrooms.
As sealer and grout get washed away, the pebble flooring will also start to chip away. This is why it’s important not to try and save on the sealer early on.
2. You’ll Need a Lot of Grout
When compared to other floor styles, such as pebble tiles and mosaics, pebble floors will require the most grout and sealer. In many cases, it will take about 2.5 times more grout to install the pebbles than the mosaic.
This can be solved by using larger pebbles. However, that will change the look and feel of the bathroom, and you’ll need to find a balance between the two.
3. High Maintenance
There’s a lot of maintenance involved in keeping the pebble shower floors looking pristine. These are primarily about ensuring you notice if the grout and sealer are wearing off and replacing it when that’s the case.
These costs should be considered when choosing the floor since there’s almost no such cost when using tiles or other flooring options.
4. You Need to Be Mindful of the Texture
The texture of the pebbles is just as important as their color and size. When figuring out what kind of pebbles to use, many homeowners neglect the surface and get stuck with uneven or harsh rocks on their bathroom floor.
If the pebble shower floor is uneven, it can become much more slippery and present a safety hazard.
5. You Can’t Always Walk On It Barefoot
The texture of the pebbles is excellent for massaging the feet, and it gets the best effects when you walk on them with thin slippers. For some walking on pebbles with no slippers can be somewhat uncomfortable.
Others, however, appreciate this sensation even when they are barefoot.
Therefore, this pebble shower floor feature is between a pro and a con.
6. Some Pebbles Retain Water
A few types of pebble stone flooring retain water and tend to change in shape and size as you keep using them in a shower.
This is primarily the case with river rock shower floors. After a while, the pebbles can become moldy as they keep retaining more water.
Most homeowners notice this when they smell mold and mildew in the air. It won’t be enough to remove the pebbles; you’ll also have to deal with the mold.
7. You Can’t Use it With Hard Water
Hard water can damage the pebbles and cause them to look dirty and unkempt. After it’s been in contact with the pebbles for a long time, hard water will form a white film over the rocks, and for the most part, you won’t be able to remove it.
How to Install a Pebble Shower Floor?
Installing a pebble show floor is relatively simple, but it can be dull and take a while. Here’s how to do it in a few steps.
Prepare the floor so that it’s clean and there’s a good foundation for you to work with. This sometimes means you need to put a few dents on the floor
Apply a layer of a thin set. The coating should be about 1/8 of an inch thick. All that you need is a trowel
Place the pebbles on the floor. It’s best to start with edges and to work your way to the center of the floor
Fill the spaces that will be formed as you place the pebbles. Start with larger rocks and move on to the smaller ones as a way to fill in the gaps
Wait 24 hours for the thin-set to dry out
Apply the sealer to the floor. The goal should be to apply it evenly across the whole floor. Wait for it to dry as well
Apply the grout and try to do it as evenly as you did with the sealer
Wait 20 minutes and clean the floor with a wet piece of cloth
In another 24 hours, apply a final coat of the sealer and repeat the process
When installing a shower floor pros and cons need to be taken into account.
A pebble stone floor has many good qualities, as well as a few potential issues that you may need to deal with later on.
Conclusion
Natural stone flooring is durable, beautiful, and inexpensive. However, it does require work to be kept that way, and the grout needed to install it may wear off after a while.
Pebble tile floors also work with a variety of interior decor choices and provide a solid footing in the shower. As long as you stick to cleaning and maintenance routines, you’ll enjoy these floors for years to come.