5 Best Types of Stone for Bathroom Walls

Does your bathroom need a makeover? The bathroom is a functional area and a space you’re in multiple times per day. The time you spend there should be pleasant, and when guests visit, you want them to have a good impression. So, why not spruce up the space with some bathroom stone that can be practical, as well as make your bathroom more beautiful?

The best types of stone for bathroom walls include marble, granite, slate, limestone, and quartzite. Stone can be an excellent alternative for bathroom walls, nothing looks as wonderful as real stone in a bathroom. If installed and sealed correctly stone walls in a bathroom can last a very long time.

Let’s look at some of the most popular stones for bathroom walls as well as their pros and cons to help you decide which is right for your bathroom.

Best Types of Stone for Bathroom Walls

5 Best Types Of Stone For Bathroom Walls

1. Marble

Marble

Many people have specific ideas about what they want their bathroom to look like. They may have seen a movie and thought, “The perfect bathroom has white walls and a black marble,” or maybe they’re inspired by fashionable celebs who seem to go all out with their bathrooms.

Whatever the case, the biggest mistake most people make when choosing bathroom materials is listening to advice from others (or else being influenced by trends!). Nevertheless, marble is the epitome of luxury. Marble is a smooth stone that doesn’t absorb liquids, making it easy to clean and maintain. It also has a cool touch, which makes it fitting for use in a bathroom.

Naturally beautiful, marble comes in a variety of colors, from neutral gray to white to black and everything in between. If you want something with a little more color, consider using marble tiles with hues of pink and red. You can even go for marble countertops in your shower if you’re feeling fancy.

Of course, there are drawbacks to using marble in your bathroom. Marble can be expensive and difficult to install, especially if you’re going for a traditional look with large slabs of marble on your floor or walls. It’s also heavy so you’ll need some help lifting these pieces into place during installation.

If you have an older home with no modern plumbing updates, then installing marble may not be feasible because these stones require special care when they encounter water (they tend to stain easily). In addition, marble is porous, meaning it absorbs odors such as mildew, as well as bacteria that live inside their pores. That’s why it’s important to seal it regularly.

Cost: $60 – $150.00 per square foot


2. Granite

Granite

When most people think of granite, they primarily think of granite countertops. What many don’t realize is that this natural stone can also be used as a beautiful and durable bathroom wall covering. Granite comes in a variety of colors and textures, depending on where it was quarried. You can also create interest with different shapes and patterns as you lay down the tile.

Granite is resistant to scratches and other forces that would otherwise leave their mark on other materials. In bathrooms, this means you don’t have to worry about damaging the stone. It’s also highly resistant to stains and impervious to water.

Granite is a resilient and durable material that can withstand the wear and tear of a bathroom. The natural stone comes in a wide array of colors, styles, and patterns that can fit the needs of a variety of bathrooms. However, natural granite is porous and requires sealing and resealing. Engineered granite is less porous, making it a better option for a bathroom.

The biggest drawback is cost. Granite is not an inexpensive option. It is best to choose a light-colored granite to reflect the most light possible, making your bathroom appear larger and brighter.

Cost: $40 to $150 per square foot for granite slabs


3. Slate

If you’re planning on remodeling your bathroom, slate is another option for the walls. Unlike other natural stones that can have stains, slate comes naturally in shades of blue and green with a slight texture. When you install it correctly, it can last for decades and increase the value of your home. Another benefit is the cost of marble and granite.

Slate is one of the most durable and long-lasting types of rock on Earth, but it is also quite porous, which makes it susceptible to absorbing liquids (including water) that can damage its surface. So, you’ll need to seal it to protect against stains and continue to do so over time. Not only that, but slate is a very hard stone and installing it on floors or walls can be difficult. It may even require hiring a professional to cut and install it properly.

Cost: $30.00 to $55.00 per square foot


4. Limestone

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock with a wide range of hardness and porosity, depending on its composition and environment. Most limestone is made of calcite (calcium carbonate), but some grades of limestone also contain magnesium carbonate, dolomite (also known as dolostone) or oolitic aragonite (both are forms of calcium carbonate).

Limestone is used for construction, cement making and steelmaking, and in the production of toothpaste and paper. You can find it in shades of white, light beige, gray, and blue. Limestone has a relatively uniform appearance, although it may have slight mottling.

Limestone is strong and resistant to wear, making it an ideal material for bathrooms where water spills can cause stains and damage on surfaces exposed to moisture. But it requires sealing due to how porous it is.

Being softer than other types of stone, you can carve limestone into custom shapes, making it ideal for unique installations like whirlpool surrounds or custom sinks. The softness of limestone also makes it easier to cut to size than other hard stones, so you can install your new shower or vanity quickly without extra work at the job site.

Cost: $25 to $50 per square foot


5. Quartzite

Quartzite

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that is a very hard and solid stone made up of tightly interlocking stones. Quartzites are composed mainly of quartz grains, but often have other minerals. Quartzite is a dense, hard stone that can be used for various purposes, including decorative accent pieces or as flooring or wall tile in the bathroom.

Quartzite is a durable stone that can withstand plenty of wear and tear. It resists water penetration and damage from mineral oils, which makes it an ideal material for use in your bathroom on walls, countertops, and floors. Quartzite resists scratching, cracking, and chipping even when exposed to large amounts of water over extended periods of time, making it an ideal surface for bathrooms where excessive moisture exposure will occur.

Cost: $50 to $120 per square foot


Conclusion

The Bottom Line: Many types of stone are perfectly suited to use in bathrooms. The look of stone in the bathroom is sleek, stylish, and timeless. It’s easy to see why: bathrooms are moist environments, making the durability and water-resistance of stone a great choice.

If you’re thinking about adding natural stone to your bathroom walls, it’s important to choose the right type of stone for your project. The most important factors for choosing a bathroom wall material are its water resistance, cost, and durability.

The wide variety of stones available means you can customize your bathroom — from the tub to the tiles, and everything in between — with distinctive combinations of stone textures and colors. Moreover, you can pair different types on the same wall for contrasting or complementary effects. You have lots of options!

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