Pebble Stones look very natural and beautiful when used as bathroom floors, but one major setback with the floor finish is water drainage problems. After showering, water sits between the pebbles because the uneven surface makes it hard to get to the drain.
When water does not move and stays in one area for a long time, the obvious happens, mold and mildew in the bathroom.
Pebbles are a creative idea for bathrooms because they come in different shapes and sizes and can be finished in many shapes and designs. On the downside, however, it is very hard and time-consuming.
Pebble Floor Problems
Water Drainage Problems
As above because of the unevenness of the tiles, the flow of water becomes a bit difficult. To make sure you do not have moisture-related problems, the floor should be completely dry at all times.
A lot of grout is needed for installation
The grout needed to install pebbles is almost three times more than the one needed to install the normal ceramic tile. The problem with using too much grout is that it discolors easily, especially where the water sits the most.
Can be Uncomfortable under the feet
The unevenness of the pebbles is sometimes painful to walk on especially if the pebbles used for the floor are not well-rounded.
They require high maintenance
Pebble floors do not last for long and therefore require frequent maintenance to keep the sealer in good condition. Also, during cleaning, if not carefully done, some pebbles that are more exposed might be knocked off.
To keep the floor finish in shape, you need to regrout and reseal the floor about every two to three months.
They can be slippery if not properly cleaned
Like in the river, their surface becomes very slippery when stones are in the water for a long time. This can cause really bad accidents in the bathrooms.
Also, when you install them closer to each other or add a ton of grout and sealer, the unevenness that makes them less slippery is lost. Sealers get really slippery when wet.
Pebble Shower Floor Pros
Despite the few drawbacks, Pebbles have a ton of advantages, first, because of their unevenness, it is less slippery compared to many floor finishes.
High Aesthetic Value
Pebbles give the shower floor a very colorful, and natural feel, just the way you want it to be because you get to choose the shades and the size of pebbles that you want.
Their wide variety of selections makes it possible to acquire any pattern and color that you can think of.
Hard to scratch
Pebbles have undergone a lot of abrasions before they end up on the shower floor. This makes them really hard and brittle and very difficult to scratch. Their cost of maintenance might be a bit high because of the regular grouting, but this floor, if properly maintained, could last for decades.
They are Affordable
Pebbles are available everywhere; you can easily collect them from the river, and the only thing needed is grout and sealer.
How to Install Pebble Shower Floors
For the best results, the sub-floor of pebble shower floors needs to be slightly steeper than the normal gradient when installing other shower tiles. The subfloor also has to be thick and properly waterproofed.
- Thoroughly clean the floor and hack so it can properly hold the thin-set.
- Evenly apply thin-set or any other approved tile adhesive on the floor.
- Arrange the pebbles starting from the furthest end of the door.
- Once you have filled the entire area with the large stones, try to fit a few small ones in the spaces left without making the spacing too tight, and leave it to dry for not less than 24 hours.
- Once the thin-set is completely dry, apply a coat of sealer, let it dry, and then apply grout. The sealer before the grout protects the pebbles from absorbing its (the grout) color.
- The correct and easiest way to apply grout is to cover the entire pebbles and their spaces, then let it dry for twenty minutes.
- Use a wet towel to wipe off the excess grout on the pebbles. Once that is done, give the floor another 24 hours for the grout to completely dry.
- When the grout has dried off, and the pebbles are wiped clean, apply another coat of sealer and let it dry before you can use the bathroom.
