I'm about to order some tile for my shower, but I noticed it says it's not suitable for shower use. The specs mention that it's waterproof and safe for floors and kitchens, but they specifically advise against using it in showers. Can someone explain why? It's a glazed ceramic large format tile with ISO9001 and PEI 4 ratings, and it also states it can be used for floors and walls. I can't attach pictures with my post, but I can try to load the specs in the comments if needed.
3 Answers
It's also worth noting that even though your tile is glazed ceramic, it's less durable in consistently wet settings compared to porcelain. Glazed surfaces can be slippery when wet, which is a safety hazard, especially on shower floors. Plus, large format tiles can have issues with delaminating due to temperature changes and moisture, so they aren't the best choice for a shower.
Another point is that while the tile might look good, the finish could be hard to maintain in a shower. Water and soap scum could cling to it more than you'd like. The manufacturer probably knows their product best, so if they’re advising against it for showers, there’s likely a good reason. It's better to play it safe with textured or matte finish tiles designed for that environment!
So, the key issue here is that the tile is advertised as water-resistant, not waterproof. This means it can absorb some water over time, which isn't great in a shower where it's constantly exposed to moisture. Non-vitreous tiles can let water seep through, leading to mold or damage over time. Best to stick with tiles that are truly waterproof for wet environments!