TruStone for Steam Shower?

[Mara]

Howdy from Texas! My husband and I are long time lurkers and we finally have a situation that a quick search through either the liberry or posts doesn't answer.

Our granite fabricators/retailers are pushing us AWAY from granite for a steam shower remodel. They want us to use a product called TruStone (cultured marble).

I am pretty sure what response I will get from this forum - and maybe all I want is to vent. The two sales ladies AND the job supervisor would not even talk to me about granite - just all the maintenance problems. Grrr!

Please reassure me that we're not stupid for wanting granite and that out there, somewhere, is a granite supplier who will help me!

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[cx]

Welcome, Mara. :)

Might as well just say y'all are from Lubbock. Everbody gonna find out by and by anyways. :D

We have tile mechanics hereabouts who install all manner of natural stone tiles in showers for folks alla time. Yeah, there are some maintenance "issues" involved, but the same is true for grouted ceramic tile showers. It's just a bit different.

And the manufactured marble isn't exactly maintenance free, either.

You lookin' to install granite tiles, or full-wall slabs and the like?

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Mara]

Your geography knowledge is impressive. Idasnore - I mean - Idalou is tiny, but very near Lubbock. I think I've been through Boerne going to Plano, right?

We would like big slabs since I'm the worst house frau ever in the history of the entire world (Yes, I do say that with a pathetic amount of misplaced pride).

I am a great squeegier - just not so crazy about the scrubbing and scouring.

We plan on being in this house for a very long time so Paulie (husband) and I also want to make it handicap (curbless) accessible (he's cute, but no spring chicken). We also want a nice, wide granite bench so I can lay there steaming like a lobsta, wondering if an adult beverage fridge could be retro-fit inside the bench for easy access...

[cx]

I think I've been through Boerne going to Plano, right?Only if you were quite lost, my child. We're about 40 miles north of San Antonio, very near Welfare. :)

[Mara]

My geographic memory is staggeringly limited (comparable to the 3 second span of the common goldfish). Yikes! On THAT note, I'll go to bed and dream of large slabs of granite...

BTW: any suggestions of granite that would work in the shower that is whiteish with some "marbling"?

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Mara,

This may not be true by you....but around here, every installer I know that is qualified to install a cultured marble shower is not qualified to install granite slabs in a shower. They do a fine job on the cultured marble, but it's a lot different than slabs. And it's a lot different on a steamer. I'm not the guy to ask which stone will suit you best (though I'm concerned on the white)...but I can help you by making sure you ask the perspective installers you're gonna hire exactly how many steamer slab-showers they done installed. I want to keep you away from the guys that say "0".

:)

[doitright]

Hi Mara, Welcome! :)

First and foremost, no matter what material you select for your steam shower, the steam shower must be properly constructed or it is doomed for failure.

Do you want this granite on the ceiling and pan as well?

Most of the white veined granites are also quite porous and will need to have a top of the line sealer applied (some as many as 13 applications, depending on the sealer and the applicator).

This isn't saying that it would be an inappropriate material, just buyer beware.

Personally, I would never put cultured marble on anything, but then again I'm a biased stone guy! :D

I'm going to copy this thread to the Cleaning, Sealing, and Restoration forum, as more fabricators will be likely to visit. I also advise you to visit Stone Advice . com

[Steven Hauser]

Hello,

I'd take a look at Alaskan White granite.

[Mara]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will certainly check into that. So far the whites that I've look at are all "Blanco This" and "Blanco That" so I'll keep looking.