A Guide to Bathroom Stone
What’s the plan with your bathroom? Unless you’ve just finished refitting it, most people have a plan forming in the back of their mind about this room. It’s the room where many of us have a ‘fantasy design’; a spa-like haven in which to retreat from the world. Perhaps you want to freshen up your existing family bathroom. Or maybe you plan to add an en-suite or downstairs w.c to add value and convenience to your home. And it could be that you are about to undertake a long awaited and anticipated full refit of the bathrooms in your home.
Where to Use Stone
Clearly, the most obvious part of the bathroom to use stone is the worktop around the bathroom sink. Some larger bathrooms have the space to install a double height worktop of considerable length. Other smaller en suite bathrooms are better placed to use stone around the sink as a vanity unit surface. In both cases, using natural or engineered stone is a great way to add a splash of luxury in this room. Whether you choose stone or ceramic sheets or tiles on the walls and floor of your bathroom, it is the worktop that will set these elements off to unify the design concept.
When to Choose Marble
This stone is ideal for classic, light colour schemes. The natural veining and range in lighter tones make it light reflective, allowing this stone to project a feeling of space in your bathroom. In this way it is ideal to make smaller rooms feel bigger, and for bigger rooms to feel luxurious. It maintains a cool temperature no matter how hot your shower so gives your bathroom a sense of balance.
However
This is a porous natural stone and must be sealed correctly to maintain its lustre. Because of this, the surface can be susceptible to scratching. So if you’re inclined to cut hair and nails in this bathroom, take care around your marble surface!
When to Choose Granite
As one of the most durable natural stones available, granite is denser and stronger than other options. So for family or downstairs bathrooms with high traffic it is ideal. Each slab is unique and with its natural sparkle, this stone is great for design schemes that want to add some glamour and vitality to the space. Granite is a versatile stone and so is wonderful for bespoke shapes and designs.
However
Like marble, this is a porous natural stone. So without sealing it can experience staining. If your bathroom is a place for nail painting and hair dying (perhaps a home to teenage daughters!) then it is worth taking that extra care to regularly re-seal the surface.
When to Choose Quartz
As an engineered stone, quartz and its variant, Dekton, is ultra durable. It is resistant to scratching, staining, heat and water damage and does not require sealing. It offers flexibility of use as it can be cut to bespoke designs and angles. The durability of this stone makes it super hygienic, so if you want a low maintenance bathroom, these surfaces are ideal.
However
Although it is comprised of natural stone, its engineered finish means that the surfaces lack the natural veining that you see in marble and granite. This can mean that this stone does not fit within some design concepts.
So when you plan to use stone in your bathroom, think about the frequency of use (is it a family or guest bathroom?) and think about the colour scheme. If you are freshening up your room on a budget, upgrade your worktop or sink surround to stone. This is a good place to choose to allocate budget as it has the greatest impact on the overall appearance of the room. All stones are durable, easy to clean and resistant to water damage, so your choice can feel vast. So why not talk to one of our experts at Zenstone to identify the right unique stone for your bathroom?
