Shower Wall Tile: Coarse or Smooth?

7 years ago

Hey all,

I have been picking out tile for my bathroom shower walls. I have never had tiled shower walls before. I found the perfect color and looking tile that me and the lady could agree on, but it has one caveat (to me), and that is that it is coarse. It's not polished, and it's also not really "smooth" per se. It feels kind of textured. It is porcelain tile with ratings of: PEI IV / STS Moderate and I was told that it doesn't "absorb" water so it won't be an issue keeping it clean.

My biggest concern is will this become a nightmare for water to collect or maybe mix with dirt and get grimy? I know it's on the walls so technically the water should just run down and dry off but I have the idea that a smooth tile would not have any issues where the texture on this may cause problems. This is also why I like the tile so much, though.... it looks just like real stone.

For those who have tiled shower walls (not floor) is there a reason one type is better? Polished, Smooth, Textured?

Featured Answer

PRO

User

7 years ago

How much do you enjoy scrubbing down your shower with a scrub brush by hand to get rid of all of that stuff attached to that tile texture? Even a smooth tile and a squeegee won’t get it all, but it helps enormously.

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Comments (12)

hummingalong2
7 years ago
Picture of your tile showing the texture?
simplechoices
7 years ago
It would be harder to squeegie textured tile. If you squeegie, consider smooth.
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ctsnicholas
Original Author
7 years ago
The picture doesn't show the texture. It is about the same texture as 150 or 200 grit sandpaper. Not coarse as in tons of tiny pieces of texture but just rocky, stone like. I do not plan on squeegie because of the fact it's not polished.
Buford_NE_GA_7A
7 years ago
Sounds like it would be a nightmare to keep clean. I did polished porcelain in the shower and matte on the floors.
Mrs Pete
7 years ago
Smooth. Definitely smooth -- easier to keep clean.
Cheryl Hannebauer
7 years ago
We did polished for ease of cleaning..
ctsnicholas
Original Author
7 years ago
Would be great to have those with matte or textured (minor) tile chime in about the cleaning. Shower walls typically stay cleaner than the floor, and a large shower means soap should not be getting on the walls but I realize it still happens!
PRO
JAN MOYER
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
In a word? No if you in fact mean a "gritty tiny texture. But many porcelain tiles DO have a slight texture and would be fine. If you never had a tile shower? Plan now to use shower GEL, not bar soap, and no matter what, the harder your water, the more you will need an occasional SCRUB. Actually, all tile needs that. If you are used to a spritz and wipe fiberglass enclosure? No....none will be that.
Fori
7 years ago
Get a sample, prop it up in your shower for a few weeks, and see how it cleans. It should be okay, but it's nice to be sure.
Michael Lamb
7 years ago
They have sealants which can be used to help keep it cleaner looking longer. Definitely get a hand shower wand installed, and use it to rinse off the walls at the end of every shower.
Pinebaron
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
All polished. Though only one of several bathroom is complete as of. now, it looks elegant and be easier to clean; water in our area does not have much mineral residue and that’s even before we install a whole house filter.