The shower has to be waterproofed no matter which you choose . I like 12 x24 tile for bathroom floors and shower walls to keep grout to a reasonable amount .I do like prefab shower pans I think simple no accent is better long term .

I would do solid surface on all of it OR large tile on all of it.

I used 30" x 30" porcelain tile in my master shower and most good tile setter can work with 24x48, but make sure it fits the shower layout/size.

as others have stated, you still have to waterproof regardless of the finishes.

Schluter Kerdi shower system from lowe's or Home Depot. $700. worth every penny.

The finish is only as good as the prep. If using a solid surface, put the back wall on first so you aren't looking into the corners (the sides will cover the back edge) . Measure twice, cut once!!!!

NEATLY caulk the seams.

Hot mess express. Learn to tile correctly. Or, pay for tile.

Can't stress enough that waterproofing is a must no matter how you construct. You simple cannot get around that. Point blank. Don't complicate matters by mixing materials. Go with one or the other. If you don't like the look of Corian tile the whole thing.

I totally agree with @Kendrah ! Waterproofing is a must.

Hi there,

That’s a smart compromise! Combining a prefab solid surface pan + two sides with tile on the back wall as an accent is totally doable and looks great when done right.

The key for waterproofing is making sure the joints between the solid surface and the tile are sealed properly. Most pros use a high-quality silicone caulk (color-matched to your grout or solid surface) with a backer rod in the joint. Also, ensure the solid surface pieces overlap or properly integrate with the pan flange.

This hybrid approach gives you the easy waterproofing of solid surface where water hits the most, plus the beautiful tile look you want on the feature wall.

We do a lot of bathroom renovations and shower builds in North Vancouver and have installed many of these hybrid solid surface + tile showers. They turn out really nice and are very durable.

If you're in the Lower Mainland and want professional help with the install (or the whole bathroom), feel free to reach out.

Handyman North Vancouver

📞 604-200-6490

🌐 https://www.handymannorthvancouver.ca/

Good luck with your project!