Hello forum,
Here’s the situation:
We want to install wood-effect tiles in our bathroom (about 10m² (108 sq ft)). Specifically, the Etic Pallissandro tiles (dark brown).
We were also planning to use them in our walk-in shower (100 x 140 cm (39 x 55 inches)).
At the time, we agreed with our sanitary supplier on a centered, round drain. We didn’t think much of it, just assumed “yes, that works, let’s move on to the important stuff.” After all, it’s just a drain.
Our tiler recently told us that with long, narrow tiles—as is usually the case with wood-effect tiles—he would advise against a centered, round drain, because you end up with a lot of ugly (especially diagonal) grout lines to achieve the slope. It looks bad and is costly.
He said: either mosaic tiles, 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) (which don’t require diagonal grout lines), or large-format tiles (which only need about four grout lines and look better overall).
Or, of course, we could choose a linear shower drain installed at the end of the shower floor. This way, the entire shower floor can be sloped properly, even with wood-effect tiles, without diagonal grout lines.
Inquiry with the sanitary supplier revealed: a 600 EUR surcharge if we switch from the centered drain to the linear drain. Unbelievable!
Since we don’t find that reasonable, we want to stick with the centered drain.
Our tile dealer says the only large-format tiles available (100 x 100 cm (39 x 39 inches)) are cement-effect, which doesn’t go well with the wood look (we tried it, really doesn’t match).
We were also advised against mosaics because they have even more grout lines, which are harder to clean and where dirt accumulates.
The last alternative would be a shallow ceramic shower tray again, but that will probably be even more expensive.
Do you see any other options, or what would you do?
Is mosaic really that bad when it comes to maintenance?
Here’s the situation:
We want to install wood-effect tiles in our bathroom (about 10m² (108 sq ft)). Specifically, the Etic Pallissandro tiles (dark brown).
We were also planning to use them in our walk-in shower (100 x 140 cm (39 x 55 inches)).
At the time, we agreed with our sanitary supplier on a centered, round drain. We didn’t think much of it, just assumed “yes, that works, let’s move on to the important stuff.” After all, it’s just a drain.
Our tiler recently told us that with long, narrow tiles—as is usually the case with wood-effect tiles—he would advise against a centered, round drain, because you end up with a lot of ugly (especially diagonal) grout lines to achieve the slope. It looks bad and is costly.
He said: either mosaic tiles, 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) (which don’t require diagonal grout lines), or large-format tiles (which only need about four grout lines and look better overall).
Or, of course, we could choose a linear shower drain installed at the end of the shower floor. This way, the entire shower floor can be sloped properly, even with wood-effect tiles, without diagonal grout lines.
Inquiry with the sanitary supplier revealed: a 600 EUR surcharge if we switch from the centered drain to the linear drain. Unbelievable!
Since we don’t find that reasonable, we want to stick with the centered drain.
Our tile dealer says the only large-format tiles available (100 x 100 cm (39 x 39 inches)) are cement-effect, which doesn’t go well with the wood look (we tried it, really doesn’t match).
We were also advised against mosaics because they have even more grout lines, which are harder to clean and where dirt accumulates.
The last alternative would be a shallow ceramic shower tray again, but that will probably be even more expensive.
Do you see any other options, or what would you do?
Is mosaic really that bad when it comes to maintenance?
I would compare the 600+ millimeters (24+ inches) of extra length with the time saved during tile installation, since it will be much easier for the craftsman to tile with just a slight slope. This way, you could easily stick with your preferred option. Possibly, the extra 600 millimeters (24 inches) will become only 200 millimeters (8 inches) more. And that is manageable.
sco0ter schrieb:
Last option: going back to a flat ceramic shower tray, but that will probably cost us even more.
Do you see any other alternatives, or what would you do?
Steel enamel shower tray.
In the size 100 x 140 cm (39 x 55 inches), there is only one well-known manufacturer: Bette floor.
Including the plumbing and installation frame, easily around 1,500 (currency) ...
Otherwise, as already mentioned by Nordlys above: just install a linear drain and that’s it, which ends up costing about the same.
montessalet27 Aug 2018 13:51For the desired wood look, the longitudinal groove is the only option for me. The central drain looks really bad. Considering the additional costs with the central drain, the remaining (overall) extra expenses are, in my opinion, manageable. And you would definitely regret the central drain in the future.
What do you think about this idea: The tiler cuts mosaic tiles of 5x5 cm (2x2 inches) from all the leftover tiles, including wall tiles, which there will likely be many of, and then installs those?
So, from all the tiles in the house (living room: medium brown wood-look, hallway: cream, guest toilet wall: also cream, upstairs: dark brown, bathroom wall: also cream).
The colors should match well, and it would be a good way to make use of the waste material.
Is this idea crazy?
(Quote from the tile specialist store if they do the cutting: roughly 250 EUR estimated.)
It should still be under 600 EUR in total, right?!
Installing the mosaic would then cost about 350 EUR extra compared to installing rectangular tiles. That would make it a break-even deal. But I rather doubt it would be that much more expensive.
So, from all the tiles in the house (living room: medium brown wood-look, hallway: cream, guest toilet wall: also cream, upstairs: dark brown, bathroom wall: also cream).
The colors should match well, and it would be a good way to make use of the waste material.
Is this idea crazy?
(Quote from the tile specialist store if they do the cutting: roughly 250 EUR estimated.)
It should still be under 600 EUR in total, right?!
Installing the mosaic would then cost about 350 EUR extra compared to installing rectangular tiles. That would make it a break-even deal. But I rather doubt it would be that much more expensive.
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