Pebble tile

[Trask]

Honestly I think it was clear coat over rust. They did a very nice refinish on the inside and left the rest as they found it..just sealed it somehow

[targablue]

We plan on laying 3" square tiles that are on the 12" x 12" square mats. Our plan is to also incorporate river pebbles into the floor.We plan to randomly remove one of the 3" x 3" tiles from the grid to a pleasing overall floor pattern. We spent several enjoyable hrs. a head of time selecting the river pebbles from the shore line of the Susquehanna River. We then layed out a 3" x 3" square pattern on our picnic table and carefully chose and placed the pebbles to fit into this 3" x 3" square. We then placed the pebbles into a zip-lock bag so we can lay them back in to the actual 3" x 3" missing tile area when the tile laying begins. This way we do not have to cut any of the tiles. Just a thought...... You could remove several 2" x 2" tiles in a random pattern if you want to avoid cutting them and maybe you will find a pleasing pattern?
Bill

[sdk]

Trask, that picture is actually the one that gave me the idea, but I had seen it some time ago and couldn't remember where. I'm glad you posted it though because this time I noticed you topped the wall tile with the pebbles. I'm considering doing the sink backsplash w/ the pebbles, how did you finish along the top? Can you post a close up of that area? I saw a picture where they ran the pebbles irregular across the top and had the grout follow it. I like the look, but wonder if I have the skill to pull it off.

Thanks for the links to the horseshoe spacers. I was hoping to get started on the 2x2s this weekend, I’ll have to see if anyone around here carries them.

Looking at Brian’s floor pic brings up another question. Do I need to leave an expansion joint around the perimeter of the shower floor or is it small enough that it’s not needed? I had planned to stop the pebbles just short of the wall, but thought I would fill the area w/ grout. Not sure how I would stop the grout from filling that area given the irregularity of the pebbles. Is there some type of ‘perimeter spacer’ that the grout wouldn’t cement in place? Planning to use Spectralock if that makes a difference.

Thanks again!

[Brian in San Diego]

Stephanie,

No expansion joint needed in a shower floor. Most people will tell you that you need to caulk the change of plane, but I grouted mine with Spectralock.

Brian

[jetman]

hi stephanie good luck to you i myself will be putting down a kerdi walk in shower with a pebble floor as far as pulling the miami stones off the 12 x 12 sheet the jury is still out right now i am building my whirlpool tub and almost finished that its gonna be beatiful.but getting back to you i have found www.ontariotile.com web site very helpfull as well.harry is the canadian tile guy and has a nice web site too. both of these web sites rock pun intended..i have learned so much from these great and kind people it is refreshing..look under photos of showers and you will see it..dan

[jetman]

here staphanie i copied and pasted the link to the pics on harrys site ..good luck..http://www.ontariotile.com/showergallery.html

[sdk]

Just finished grouting the shower floor tonight! Looking back at the dates on the thread I can’t believe that it took me a month. I cut the 2” tiles from the 13x13 and set each one individually. Set each pebble individually, too. Ok, maybe I can believe that it took a month. Sealed the pebbles with Aquamix Gold before grouting and used 3 minis of Spectralock.

I’m ready to start the wall tile, but I’ve not decided how to handle the area around the entrance. I don’t have a jamb return on the left side so I’m not sure if I should wrap the tile around the corner on the right and top or stop it just short of the edge. There will be glass block in the window btwn the tub and shower.

Trask, if you don't mind sharing, I’d still like to know more about how you grouted those pebbles to the wall in the picture you posted. I think I’m going to use them on the vanity back splash and maybe an accent on the tub deck.

I’d also like to tie the pebbles into the shower wall somehow, but haven’t had any inspirations yet. The pebbles are thicker than the porcelain tile so I’m not sure a listello would work well. It wasn’t a big deal on the floor as I just set the tiles in a thicker bed of thinset, but I don’t want to try manipulating that on a wall. I’m using 13X13 in a running bond pattern, any ideas welcomed!

[KenH83]

Stephanie,

I'm so stealing your idea of stones/pebbles and square ceramic butting into it.

I'm SOOOOOOOOOO stealing that for my shower at the homestead.

Hope you dont mind.

[Brian in San Diego]

Stephanie,

Very nice job! I'm the same way when it comes to how much time things take...it always ends up "I can't believe it took me that long to do that!" But in the end we get to admire our work and take pride in knowing that we did it. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Brian

[Button]

Beautiful job Stephanie. That looks great. I am going to be doing a pebble shower floor real soon. I started my master bath remodel at the end of February so don't feel bad about how long it's taking.

[Trask]

Stephanie AWESOME job. I can't find a really good pic of the top of the pebbles on that wall/wainscott. It was mudset so it stood out from the wall about 1" and I believe we finished it with a "flat " pebble on top...sorta like this fireplace topin the last pic. Heres some pics that include other ways to finish pebbles.(we use lots of mouldings)

[Trask]

.. Here's the best I could find of that particular job..sorry if they aren't very helpful. It's next to impossible to get back into that house too.(that house is the cover story in the 25th anniver. issue of fine home building..can't remember what pics are in there but there may be better finished wall shots)

[BlueCanyon]

Stephanie, that looks awesome!

We just finished a pebble shower floor, and I also wanted to tie it in to the shower walls somehow. What we ended up doing was putting the pebbles on the back of niche. Gravity is hard with those pebbles, but it was a confined enough area that it was manageable. It ended up looking great and was just the look I wanted.

Mary Ann

[ChrisIL]

Stephanie. That is one cool lookin floor !!!

Can't wait to see what you come up with for the rest of the the room.

[sdk]

Thanks for all the compliments, guys. A few times through the process I wasn’t quite sure if I made the right choice, but now that it’s done I’m happy with it.

Ken, steal away! I certainly can’t take credit for the concept, in fact it was Trask’s job that inspired me. I just wasn’t proficient enough at cutting the wavy lines to pull it off.

Mary Ann, thanks for the pebbles on the back of the niche idea. You said the pebbles and gravity were not a great combination- were the pebbles pre-mounted? Whatever I do I’m thinking about pre-mounting them this time, unless that will make it harder.

Trask, your work is quite an inspiration! For the backsplash I’m thinking I like the irregular look across the top, kind of goes with the flowing irregular look of the floor. That is what I thought you had done on that wall. Has anyone ever done this type of grout job? I suppose I just shape the grout line with my finger?