“Stone can be a good choice for the shower, but it does require special care and maintenance,” says David Bonasera, owner of ESP, a San Jose, California-based distributor of environmentally safe cleaning and sealing products for natural stone. “The most important thing you can do is to be a good steward to the stone.”
It looks great on shower walls, ceilings, and floors, as well as on the floor outside the shower. Where it's not so great is the areas of performance and maintenance. Stone must be sealed regularly, and it can be difficult to clean if it's highly textured or has wide grout lines.
Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home. Water can trap bacteria in the tile, and it can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in the subfloor.
Regardless of where you have natural stone in your home, it needs to be sealed to prevent damage to the stone from elements like moisture and dirt. In the shower, your tiles are even more at-risk for water damage. For this reason, it is important that you seal these tiles often.
Natural stone for bathroom countertops, floors, and walls is a viable option, thanks to modern sealers that reduce stone's susceptibility to water damage and staining. Natural stone may be a good choice for homeowners who want to seriously upgrade their homes with this exclusive, expensive building material.
The weight of the natural stone is heavier than artificial stone, and therefore its use in the building is time-consuming. Climate and environmental changes affect the texture of the rock and cause cracking, mildew, and dandruff on the surface.
Slate is among the most commonly used stone in showers. It is available in a variety of rich colors, from traditional slate gray to warm terracotta. Just be sure to choose the right kind of slate, as some varieties are more prone to flaking and deterioration.
Naturally-occurring salts found in soil, water, sand, gravel and cement are dissolved by rain and groundwater. This moisture is drawn to the surface of the stone where it evaporates, leaving the salts behind as a white haze. Although unattractive, the process is completely natural and in no way damages the stone.
Clean stone weekly.
Cleaning your stone shower once a week can help reduce grime, water deposits, and mildew build-up. Use stone-safe products, rather than vinegar or ammonia. Such products are too harsh on stone; their acids break down sealants and discolor surfaces.
The simplest answer is no, it is best to avoid bleach when cleaning any type of natural stone. Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state.
Natural stone, as beautiful and tough as it may be, is also somewhat fragile. While it defies the barriers of time and is extraordinarily durable, it requires a certain level of TLC to ensure it retains its original splendour.
Stone should be sealed when used in bathrooms that receive daily use. “We recommend a penetrating sealer once a year,” says Tabbah. “It helps repel water so it beads up instead of soaking in and turning the stone darker.”
For lower traffic areas, like a kitchen backsplash or bathtub surround, you should re-seal your natural stone tiles every few years. Depending on the amount of traffic, some installers choose to re-seal their natural stone tiles every 18 months, while others choose to re-seal their tiles every 4 to 5 years.
For shower walls that are easy to keep clean, consider investing in porcelain, ceramic, PVC laminate, or even glass. Depending on the material, there is a wide variety of colors, patterns, tiles sizes, and shapes to complete the renovation project.
Stone Flooring Pros – Stone flooring can tolerate heavy foot traffic, creates a naturally elegant look, doesn't attract dust, and can increase your home value. Stone Flooring Cons – Stone flooring costs more, can scratch easily, is harder to replace.
The results showed, unsurprisingly, that stones are slipperier when wet.
Granite is easier to care for compared to marble and other natural stone because of its resistance to ingredients found in hygiene products. Because granite is a popular choice for bath countertops, homeowners tend to select it for the shower as well for a uniform look. Onyx is a banded stone similar to agate.
Clean the stone with a mild detergent or stone soap.
Dip a soft rag into the solution, wring excess liquid from it, and use it to wipe down the tiles. Rinse the tiles frequently as you do so. Soaps that are formulated for the natural stone used in your shower can be found at most hardware stores.
It doesn't take much for mold to develop on natural stone, especially in outdoor environments such as patios. All mold requires is moisture, dirt, and a porous surface.
The simple answer to your question is that the musty smell is probably mildew. To expound upon the answer, it is probably not just mildew you're smelling in your shower. Even new homes can experience funky shower smells. Wet tile environments are quick to grab onto dirt particles, skin cells, and soap residue.
The most effective solution is to install a water softener that will treat hard water right at the source. As the water coming out of your showerhead will contain fewer minerals, limescale buildup will automatically decrease. If you don't have the money for the first option, you can prevent limescale with vinegar.
Porous surfaces are also more prone to staining and attracting mold and mildew growth. Shower materials that are easier to clean are therefore those with smooth and nonporous surfaces such as glass, fiberglass, and acrylic.
Natural stone looks great on floors and walls, which is ideal for a shower. Natural stone is a suitable product to be used in a wet environment, as long as the selected material is high-quality and is installed, sealed and maintained properly.