Supplier or ideas for stone shower bench? - Tile Advice

[BigGeeGee]

The wife has got it in to her head that our new walk in wet room (shower size in the room of 5mx4m is 1.5x1.5m) needs one of those shower benches she's seen in a lot of American bathrooms. Good idea, bad idea - it's happening for my quiet life

I was hoping that this might be a standard item, with some predefined sizes (lengths) of bench and then select the material etc but I'm beginning to think this is very much a custom piece of stone. Granite, (man-made) Quartz, Marble etc

Before I go down that route, does anyone know a supplier of ready made shower bench? Is this something we don't see that much of in the UK?

Thanks in advance

 

[Cranbrook]

Whats the floor made of timber or masonry? Theyre easy enough to custom build, Ive done one recently that was on masonry... Just built it up with some blocks, covered with jackoboard, tanked where needed, then tiled with a slight fall so no sitting water..

 

[Waluigi]

Most benches I see are curved and have mosaic lining. Usually built using the wedi curved foam boards.

 

[WetSaw]

Make it out of Kerdi board and tile it the same as the shower.

 

[Flintstone]

This is perfect for @Schlüter-Systems Ltd kerdi board, easy to make any size, totally water proof, just tile it to match, or tile in marble, or marble top even.

 

[Dumbo]

I did a curved one the other day with mosaics . I think it was elements

 

[Concrete guy]

Find your local stonemasons yard or granite worktop installer and pop in and ask what off cuts they have available and could they run you up a straight piece for your shower.

Go armed with accurate dimensions and tell them what edges you'd like polished and if you'd like them polished square or round (bull nosed). Round costs more.

You'd be surprised how inexpensive it can be if you're flexible with what you'd like fitted.

I'd personally avoid man made quartz. Marble or granite will be most appropriate.

 

[Waluigi]

I agree with that. I use a local company for bathroom worktops just by choosing offcuts and it’s very reasonable.

I must admit, I mainly use Quartz. Is the reason for the suggestion of avoiding Quartz because it’s in a Shower?

 

[Flintstone]

Because it’s moisture sensitive Luigi

 

[Waluigi]

Thanks, yes that’s what I assumed.

That stuff needs to steer well clear of the tiling industry IMHO.

 

[Concrete guy]

Quartz really doesn't cope with temperature change all that well. Some makes struggle with moisture, others fade in UV light and many are susceptible to etching when exposed to chemical.

Whilst natural stone (particularly marble) will also etch/discolour. It's a lot easier to refinish, particularly surface refinishing.

I'm not a fan of quartz mainly due to the difficulties in maintenance and refinishing long term.