In this post we’ll discuss which is the best tile for your shower walls. Are ceramic tile shower walls better than porcelain tile shower walls? You’ll In this post we’ll discuss which is the best tile for your shower walls. Are ceramic tile shower walls better than porcelain tile shower walls? You’ll find out below.
This is Steve from SKG Renovations (Steve’s Bio) with another addition to my Redblock shower remodel series. I’ll utilize my extensive shower remodel experience to give you the straight goods on the best tiles to use for your shower wall.
So let’s get into it!
Topics Covered:
Ceramic Tiles on the Shower Wall
Porcelain Tiles on the Shower Wall
The Main Difference
In a word, the main difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is density.
The more dense, the less permeable to water (more on that later), and the more load stress that tiles can handle. In other words, this density issue is a pretty big one when your trying to figure out the best tile for shower walls.
Density Explained
When deciding on the best tile for shower walls, you need to know more about the density of ceramic vs porcelain tiles. Only then can you make an informed decision about what type is best tile for shower walls.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both made primarily of clay and water. The difference is that sand and feldspar are also included in the mix when making porcelain tiles (PT’s). When porcelain is fired (cured) at high temperature (up to 2300 F), these two extra ingredients fuse together with the clay, creating a material that resembles glass. This process increases the density of the porcelain significantly, compared with ceramic.
All tiles are rated according to their water absorption rate (or degree of vitreosity), so it’s important to clarify where ceramic and porcelain tiles fit into this rating system.
Non-vitreous: Tiles with a water absorption rating of 7.0 percent. This is considered a low density ceramic tile, but there are actually lower density ceramic tiles out there, with water absorption greater than 10%.
Semi-vitreous: Tiles with a water absorption rating between 3.0 percent and 7.0 percent. This is considered a medium density ceramic tile.
Vitreous: Tiles with a water absorption rating between 0.5 percent and 3.0 percent. Until around 2010, “vitreous” tile was considered to have the lowest water absorption, but the TCNA changed their porcelain definition to include only tile with water absorption less than 0.5% . This has always been confusing because most people believe that vitreous tiles are synonymous with porcelain tiles.
Impervious or Fully Vitrified: Tiles with a water absorption rating less than 0.5 percent. According to the Tile Council of North America, this is the only group that can be called “porcelain tiles”.
Is Ceramic the Best Tile for Shower Walls?
Image Courtesy of SKG Renovations
It will be difficult to make a decision about which is the best tile for shower walls by only considering density and water absorption, but it’s definitely an important consideration when weighing all the pros and cons of ceramic tiles (CT’s) for the shower wall.
Here are some important things to consider…
The “Warm feeling” of Ceramic
May believe that ceramic is the best for shower walls and for bathroom design, simply because it’s considered a timeless choice. Ceramic tile possess a certain comfort and warmth that porcelain tiled showers do not.
This is due to the varied and creative textures and different colors of ceramic tile glazing, their slightly uneven surface, low edge radius, and almost infinite variety of shapes and thickness available.
Not all CT’s have all these qualities but they are generally less uniform and consistent than porcelain.
Style over Durability?
What is the best tile for shower walls in terms of durability? CT’s are generally less durable than porcelain, but the lower density type of ceramic tile doesn’t necessarily need to be ruled out for the shower wall….with one condition.
The condition is that ALL shower wall tile should be installed over a good shower wall waterproofing membrane. If you don’t pay close attention to shower wall waterproofing, you can experience major problems down the road, even with a relatively dense CT on your shower wall.
Remember that all tile types will absorb some moisture no matter the density. It is just a matter of how much. A lower density CT will allow more moisture to pass through it, so you’ll need to rely more on a good waterproofing membrane to keep water vapor out of the stud wall.
Higher density tiles will resist moisture transmission to a higher degree, so you’ll be relying less on the integrity of the membrane to keep moisture out of the shower wall.
More Versatility?
Low and medium density CT’s are very easy to cut and shape, making them a good option if you only have access to a snap cutter and hand tools like a tile nipper and shaping file (smooth edge, diamond face).
If you use a snap cutter, the break line is almost always cleaner than with ceramic, and it takes very little effort to break because of a relatively low “breaking load” compared to porcelain.
You can also cut most most CT’s with a nipper to take small bits off the edges. This allows you to shape it to conform to obstructions. By using a nipper with a shaping file, you can smooth out rough cuts and even create smooth curved cuts in most low and medium density ceramic tiles.
Ceramic Water Absorption – A Deal Breaker?
If you’re considering a lower density CT’s as the best tile for shower walls for your application, you should not only be concerned about how permeable its surface is to water vapor, but also the amount of water it tends to absorb on its bonding surface. When you’re setting the tile into the mortar bed during installation, adequate hydration of the mortar beneath is extremely important for secure bonding.
Unlike porcelain, lower density CT has a very low water resistance (hygroscopic), so it tends to remove the water from the layer of mortar just beneath the tile (the bonding layer). This reduces the mortar’s ability to set properly and bond it to the substrate. The lower the density of the CT, the bigger this problem becomes. This also makes setting it on your shower wall particularly difficult because the mortar becomes so stiff and brittle, that it’s almost impossible to properly position the tile.
A simple solution to this problem is to apply a bonding agent to the unglazed back of the CT. This partially “seals” the ceramic, allowing the back of the CT to absorb only a small amount of water from the mortar. Using this simple strategy, you’ll get lots of mobility to position your tile, AND perfect adhesion, because the mortar can cure perfectly underneath. A bit of extra work, but definitely worth it.
A product I use regularly for this purpose is diluted Weldbond. It’s water soluble, non-toxic, and very low odor. You can find it at almost any home improvement store, hardware store, or online.
Is Porcelain the Best Tile for Shower Walls?
Remember the density discussion earlier? When considering the best tile for shower walls, porcelain tile (PT) has the density, and durability that’s ideal for wet areas like the bathroom, and the shower space (shower floor, shower walls, steam showers).
Water Absorption of Porcelain
As I mentioned earlier, according to the Tile Council of North America, only tiles with a water absorption rating < 0.5 percent can be called “porcelain tiles”. These are in the category of “Impervious” or “Fully Vitrified”.
This means that very little water vapor will get through a real “porcelain tile” and to the surface of the waterproofing membrane. This is a VERY good thing, especially if your shower is on an outside wall, and/or you have only a 2×4″ deep stud cavity, and/or you have inadequate insulation in your outside wall.
The lower the vapor absorption rating of your tile, the lower the chance that water vapor will pass through the tile assembly (& membrane) and condense in the wall cavity, with all the nasty mold implications that go with it.
Tile Size and Pattern in the Luxury Bathroom
Are bigger tiles the best tiles for shower walls? There are definitely some benefits to using bigger porcelain tiles, but there are also some conditions (aren’t there always conditions?).
Porcelain is strong and stable enough to be made into much larger sizes than ceramic. Large porcelain tiles are perfect for installing on the shower wall because it means there are less grout lines to clean (reduces mildew), which some people REALLY love. Fewer grout lines is a growing trend in many modern showers for the same reason.
Another design benefit is that some of the nanufacturers of these tiles are so good that they’ve created some very high quality patterns that mimic the unique veining of natural stone. This allows you to install a tile that looks exactly like stone, but without the high maintenance associated with many natural stone tiles.
The 1’x2′ range of PT sizes are very common (see image above), as are the 2’x2′ sizes. Porcelain is so rigid and dense that even porcelain slabs as big as your shower wall are available. The downside of the larger size porcelain tiles and slabs is that they’re super heavy, which makes them more difficult and more risky to handle. More than a few times I’ve accidentally bumped the edge of a slab or large format porcelain tile into some hard surface, chipping the edge or braking it entirely. Super frustrating, but it’s one of the downsides of porcelain tile because of its high density and brittle nature.
Another issue when setting the bigger PT’s on your shower wall is that they need a lot of support from below to prevent them from sliding down the shower wall. So you’ll need to make sure you’ve solidly supported the base row with solid spacers that don’t slip out of place, or easily compress.
Large Format Tile Lippage
Another big issue when thinking about whether PT’s are the best tile for shower walls is tile lippage. Lippage problems will haunt you if your substrate isn’t perfectly flat. Every installation looks crappy and unprofessional when the edges of adjacent tiles don’t match up.
As you set your PT’s in place on the shower wall, you’ll notice that the edges of the tiles will not always line up properly. They will protrude above, or be recessed below, your intended tile surface plane. This vertical displacement of adjacent tiles is known as “tile lippage”.
Lippage can easily occur even with the very common 12 inch x 24 inch tiles, but the larger the tile, the larger this problem becomes. This is because larger tiles will emphasize any “hills” or “valley’s” on your wall plane. When a tile is installed on top of one of these “hills”, the surface plane will be proud of the adjacent tiles, making the perimeter very difficult to match with the adjacent tiles. If you vary the thickness of the thinset mortar bed and use leveling clips, it will lessen this problem, but it often doesn’t eliminate it.
Believe me, this is a VERY big thing, and it only shows up when your setting larger format PT’s. If you are a perfectionist like me, this is extremely irritating and can ruin your project, or at least make you wish that you chose smaller tiles.
Another problem is that lippage is often only discovered during tile setting, so it’s basically too late to do anything about it (flatten the wall surface, in other words). If you want to know more about how to avoid this problem, please refer to my Lay Shower Tile post.
Installation Considerations
Edge Trim?
When laying PT’s you’ll always need to install some tile edging, same as you would with ceramic (see image). I bring this up because in my experience, many people seem to believe that surface color of porcelain tile is the same as its interior color, making any edging unnecessary. This is not true. Occasionally, I’ve installed a ceramic tile with a body color that’s very similar to that of it’s surface color, but you can never count on this.
The only tile that can be exposed at it’s edges are the softer stone tiles, but only when the edges are polished. I’ve had a lot of success polishing edges of marble tile (see image) but some of the harder stone tiles (like granite) are impractical to polish because they’re too hard.
Wet Saw or Snap Cutter?
A wet saw is an amazing and essential tool when you are cutting and installing PT on your shower walls, but a lot of diy tilers don’t have access to one, and/or they believe they don’t really need one. I’m here to tell you that you should probably buy or rent a wet saw for your shower tiling project if you want your tile cuts to look nice. Most snap cutters won’t cut it… so to speak.
It is possible for snap cutters to create smooth cuts, but only the more expensive ones in my experience. The Sigma cutter I bought was over $500, so it’s a bit steep for most DIYers. I’ve found the cheaper cutters to be inconsistent and unreliable.
You will still need to cover the outside perimeter of your PT installation with tile trim, but with a wet saw you can count on these cuts to be straight and smooth every time.
Stone Tiles (Granite, Travertine, Limestone, Slate)?
One way to eliminate the ceramic or porcelain question is to skip both these options, and go with natural stone or quartz stone tiles instead. Natural stone tiles are quite popular in the bathroom and in the shower, but they can be tricky to handle, install, and maintain. So if you want these in your shower, there are a few things you should know.
Stone tiles can include marble tiles, slate tiles, travertine tiles, granite tiles, pebble stone tiles, engineered quartz tiles and a few other less common stones. A huge benefit of natural stone is simply that surface color is the same as the body color. That means that there may be no need to install any edging, as long as your cuts are clean and you’re willing to do a little edge finishing (see image above).
Any of these tiles are dense enough to be used on the shower walls or shower base but they require a bit more maintenance.
Marble and Travertine:
Marble tiles are by far the most popular natural stone tiles chosen for bathrooms and showers. in fact, this beautiful stone has been considered the best tile for shower walls for countless generations, since ancient times.
Both marble and travertine tiles are sedimentary rock, which means they’re quite soft and porous, travertine being the softer and more porous of the two. And they’re both made from carbonate rock so they are very sensitive to acids of all kinds. This means that you need to seal them regularly if you want them to wear well, and keep from staining.
Granite:
If you want to explore natural stone options, your best tile for shower walls could be granite. Granite tiles are extremely dense so they can be used anywhere in your shower. They’re also pretty much worry free when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.
I often see advice online that recommends that granite be sealed regularly, much like marble. I’m not a scientist, but I can tell you that granite is not porous so it does not stain or discolor like the softer stones. As such, it does not require sealing. Granite has fissures and pits in it’s surface that can accumulate material so it may look like it’s staining, but it will not absorb liquids, so it cannot stain.
To clean granite, you simply have to remove (or bleach) the material in the fissures. Since actual bleach (sodium hypochlorite) eventually destroys everything it touches, you can instead use a good non-bleach cleaner like Oxi-Clean powder dissolved in water. After spraying onto any surface, leave it for about 10 minutes and then wipe clean with a good microfiber rag (also works great for grout lines).
FAQ’s
What is the easiest tiles to keep clean in a shower?
When considering the best tile for shower walls, both ceramic and porcelain can be easy to clean if they have a smooth finish. The rougher the surface texture, the more difficult it will be to clean. Simple as that. However, when you’re talking about stone tile, most types of stone tile will be more difficult to clean and maintain than ceramic or porcelain.
Where to Stop Tiles in a Shower: 8 Feet or Ceiling?
I always tile right up to the ceiling in all of my tiling projects. I think it’s easier, and looks nicer too. But this is totally a aesthetic preference and some might feel differently.
Are porcelain tiles too heavy for walls?
Porcelain tiles are often the best tile for shower walls, even if they are much heavier than ceramic. As long as you lay them on a true tile backer board (not drywall board) then any standard stud wall can handle the shear force of porcelain. However, the weight of the entire shower wall rests on the floor below, so the floor structure must be able to bare this load. But as long as the floor is built to code, and not structurally compromised in some way, then you’re good!
Is Drywall board OK for a Backsplash with mosaic or subway tiles?
Yes, drywall board makes a perfectly fine backer for a kitchen backsplash with mosaic, subway, or any other tiles. The only concern would be if the backsplash was exposed to a lot of moisture for some reason, then perhaps cement backer board may be more appropriate.
So… Best Tile for Shower Walls and Bathroom?
So in conclusion, you can definitely use either ceramic or porcelain tile on your shower wall as long as you combine it with the appropriate waterproofing membrane. If you decide on a lower density ceramic (non-vitreous or semi-vitreous), you should absolutely install a VERY GOOD shower wall waterproofing membrane (<0.1 perms) before laying any tiles, especially on an outside wall.
If you instead decide you’re going to install PT’s on your shower wall, the integrity of the waterproofing is still important, but not as important as in the low vitreous ceramic tile installation. I’ll always insist that my clients install a waterproofing membrane with the best perm rating, especially on an outside wall. But I’ll also say that you can probably get away with using a .5 perm membrane if you are installing “real” porcelain tiles. That’s the rating of the most popular sheet waterproofing membrane (Schluter Kerdi), so it shouldn’t be difficult to achieve.
I hope that my post has helped you understand a little more about the different types of tiles. I also hope that it has helped you decide for your own project whether ceramic, porcelain, or stone tiles are the best tile for shower walls.
Good luck!… And please leave a comment below, if you’d like to ask me any specific questions on this topic.