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"Is 'tile' the standard?"
By any strech of the imagination- No! It's just the latest design craze. Like fashion, what's in this season is out the next. But by home standards, it's more like a 4-5yr cycle.
I personally prefer cultured marble for the ease of cleaning. No grout lines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And as long as a good quality caulk is used on the initial installation, a leak should be the least of your worries. Though I must admit, there is some tile that I would love to have for shower walls- but I'm not cleaning grout lines!
Is the cultured marble one whole, solid piece? If so, my vote is for the cultured marble (I don't like grout lines either). Unless you want something custom in the assortments of tile.
I have both in my house, and I prefer the cultured marble. The master shower with cultured marble gets the most use in the house and it is definitely easier to clean and maintain. The tile in the other two bathrooms looks great, but isn't as practical.
personally don't like cultured marble. The reason is it tends to crack in small surface cracks and the surface finish breaks down with usage of many soaps and cleaners.Al you have to do is look at one that has been instlled for ten eyars or so. But they are cheap to replace except for the labor.
"Is 'tile' the standard?"
By any strech of the imagination- No! It's just the latest design craze.
latest ? it's been around for 60-70 years.
cultured marble is new and with the limited colors and bland look it doesn't excite most.
cultured tub surrounds are dull & boring and looks like your at a Hotel.
granted there are less grout joints but thats just an excuse for not cleaning your shower regularly.
tile is unlimited in color, has different sizes, many textures and made from different materials.
[quote=Ceramic Tec;9570034]latest ? it's been around for 60-70 years./quote]
Well, I guess I stand corrected- Myself and a lot of worldly scholars always thought tile to have been around about 4000 years; presumably first made in Egypt. But back then only royality had it, and of course they had people to clean those grout lines.
Seriously, the intent of the OP's question was about shower walls in "today's" bathrooms I'm certain.
We prefer a very good quality tile in our bathrooms. We find it easy to clean and the worries of staining ceramic surfaces are nill.
I am considering installing either a ceramic tile floor or painting our 2 car garage because either looks great. Our home is just 4 years old and our neighbor's home has their floor painted and looks and is wearing like a cement floor..
We use to own a home in a resort area and our shower was all marble. Shower, floor, walls, sinks etc...Some areas of use did turn a lighter shade. I am sure the cultured will not but due to the colors I still prefer ceramics. Once a year I clean the grout on our ceramic floors and our 3 bathrooms with a non toxic paste I get from Home Depot. Turns all grout lines as new.....
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Cultured Marble
