I've just about settled on porcelain for walls as well, and am curious to hear any responses re: a quartzite floor.

@ rdwright, can you share the mosaic you have in mind? I'm looking for help....

Is it real quartzite? What color? There are some kitchen counter materials that are called quartzite that are really a marble-like material.

I have silver gray quartzite in my foyer and it's practially bullet proof. The dogs have peed on it a couple of times with no ill effect. It was a pain to cut because it dulled my blade so fast.

Mine is like this photo, except honed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gray Quartzite

Any chance you can share pictures of your foyer, clg7067? I am seriously considering a honed silver gray slate/quartzite (different tile distributors seems to call it different materials). I would love to see pictures of an actual installation. Thanks!

I don't seem to have a finished photo uploaded. I'd have to take a photo tonight.

This is a photo of it in progress. No grout, of course.

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My boxes say "Slate" on the outside, but it's nothing like slate. Sometimes I think there's steel in those tiles.

Thanks for answering. I guess I'm not sure what it is, other than I'm sure it's not marble and it's not slate. My guess is that it's sandstone, but will check with the shop to make sure. Sounds like you have no moisture/staining issues with yours. That's good to hear. Any others out there have quartzite in the shower or elsewhere with tales to tell?? Thanks very much.

Oh, clg7067 that is just beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Can you also share the exact name and manufacturer/distributor of the tile? So far I've looked at Emser's Silver Gray Honed Slate and Arizona Tile's Ostrich Gray Honed Quartzite. I'm not certain of the differences between the two although the samples have certainly been different. I assume that's more due to the nature of natural stone rather than the specific manufacturer. I look forward to seeing a finished picture if you have the time.

Arizona Tile's website says their honed gray slate is appropriate for showers and other wet locations.

Yillimuh recently posted a beautiful honed gray slate bathroom (including shower).

That first link, "Emser's", looks like slates, but it's hard to tell. I've seen Brazilian Black slate in stores and it's very hard, but not like quartzite. It was also honed and didn't look like it could flake at all.

The "Arizona Tile" link is exactly what I have. I really like the metallic quality, well, except for the saw blade part. ;)

Well, after many tries, I think this is the best I can do in the dark. LOL! The grout lines look lighter than they really are. I've been wanting to color them darker, now I really want to.

(My wood flooring is scheduled to arrive on Friday, so in a couple of weeks I'll have a real floor instead of plywood painted blue.)

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So long as you're aware of the upkeep that goes along with it, there's nothing wrong with using quartzite for your shower floor. In fact, because of its abrasive properties, it gives the user great traction.

Hi Bill. You're precisely who I'm looking for. Could you elaborate on 'upkeep that goes along' with quartzite? Is your quartzite shower used often? How often do you seal it? Do you have hard water? I really appreciate any additional information you could give me as this will help steer me. Thanks very much!

First off, It's not mine. I'm the contractor who installed it. As for sealing, usually, with a good quality sealer, it shouldn't have to be sealed more than once every couple of years. Most sealers will tell you 5 years, but with the soaps and shampoos (alkalies will eat the sealer) I wouldn't let it go that long.

Wow, clg7067! That is really stunning! Thank you for sharing the new picture. While I like the blue plywood look, hardwood floors will look great with that tile.