Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 09, 2005 02:30am | #1

   First of all... I'm no expert on marble but I have read somewhere that marble is the worse thing you can use for shower walls etc. As I remember it had to do with the minerals in the water etching the marble.

   Just what I have heard. I would check with a expert before you do it.

2. 
   spinnm | Feb 09, 2005 05:22pm | #2

   Cultured marble fabricators make pans.  I suggest that.

   As far as walk-in that would be more difficult.  You didn't give us enough info.  Wood or slab?  First flr or 2nd?  Basement or crawl space?  What do you have in mind to keep the water contained if there's to be no curb?

   Cultured marble has appeal because of the smooth surfaces.  Less expensive than tile.  I had it once.  If you use GelGloss monthly it'll protect against water spots and etching.  Etching may not be a problem if your water is soft.  Then again, hard water will eventually etch glass shower doors and no one discounts the glass doors because of it.

   ShelleyinNM

    

    

1. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 09, 2005 05:54pm | #3

   If you use GelGloss monthly it'll protect against water spots and etching...

   YES....  the big thing is doing it all the time..

   I only stated what I said because I did that marble thing.. Looked great for a while.. But then again, I just dried off the walls after the shower.. I never hear about sealers for marble then..

   My edit.. I forgot to say... Cultured marble .. Somehow I did not see that. I was originally thinking of real marble....  Sorry

   Edited 2/9/2005 9:57 am ET by Will George

2. 
   DougMT | Feb 09, 2005 07:04pm | #4

   This shower sits on a slab on first floor. The intent is to have a pan, but I was trying to see if in five feet, I could get rid of the shower door. Thanks for your input.

1. 
   spinnm | Feb 09, 2005 09:24pm | #5

   OK, replacing tub with shower only.  Slab.

   The proper way would be to jack-hammer enough concrete to move and replace the drain.  Shower drain should be moved toward the center and drain size on shower is slightly larger than tub.  Reason for that is if there's backup in the drain the tub will hold it.

   That said, there's plenty of retrofits out there that didn't do that and work fine.  Depends upon your level of confidence and whether you're pulling a permit.  You'd also have to check with the cultured marble places to see if they can make a custom pan with the drain not centered.

   I think that SwanStone has a kit for this purpose.  They're a solid surface mfg...like Corian.  Not certain.  Check their web site.

   And, (only guessing) I think that you'd get some splash in 5' unless you can come up with some kind of snail arrangement.

   ShelleyinNM

    

    

3. 
   toobighouse | Mar 06, 2005 02:47am | #7

   I was wondering how you tell the difference betwen cultured marble and real marble. I have a marble shower. The marble is used throughout the house, including the sink tops in the master and the front entry foyer floor.

   I noticed that the shower has signifcant "etching". That is, the shower tile is rough and dull and appears to be ready to flake (though it is probably just "etching"). Does anyone have a suggestion on how to restore the smooth surface and shine, and then to seal the resultant surface? Also, the shower leeks through to the sealing below (not being used currently). We originally assumed that it was a leak in a pipe feeding three side jets (full body spray) because the problem only occurs when the side jets are used and not teh main shower head. However, our carpenter says that it is almost certainly a bad grout job and the reason it only happens when the side jets are turned on is that these jets are hitting the areas of the bad grout job. Has anyone had similiar experience and able to confirm that it is more likely the grout than a hole in one of the feeder pipes or a bad joint?

   Any suggestions on regrouting - before refinishing - resealing?

   Thanks for any insights

    

   T

    

1. 
   spinnm | Mar 06, 2005 07:05am | #8

   How do you tell the difference between A and B?  Dunno.  Born of experience.

   Can't tell you Paul.  There is a look, a style of A and B that is easy to tell.  If you've looked at it a while, you will know.

   Can be many things.  Cultured marble, Indian artifacts, antique furniture.  Sorry.

   Let's talk cultured marble.  Maybe looks too uniform.  Maybe has colors not found in nature.  Maybe doesn't look "right".

   ShelleyinNM

1. 
   Isamemon | Mar 06, 2005 09:17pm | #9

   cultured will not take well to some chemical cleaners, it will wtch with some waters. older stuff can get hariline surface cracks.

   ways to  sometimes tell if fake, opps cultured I mean

   If you did not spend a fortune and the sink and back splash are molded to the same shape and size and one unit. It is most probabally cultured

   however I said if you didnt spend a fortune, because I have seen real marble that was ground out for a sink and back splash epoxy on

   sinks and counters. If you can see the underside  and the underside does not have as much character as the top, it is probabally cultured.

   Cultured marble is made in a slurry, and poured on to "tables" upside down. so that when it hardens, they take it off the table and turn it over to get the "top" of the "slab". thw swirls and particulates will settle to the bottom ( soon to be top) of the  slurry as it cures

    

   if taked care of it is a great product for showers and tub surrounds as it will not develop leaks like a tile will withits hundreds of grout lines. a good cultured shop will come get rough measuremtns in your home after framing, adn make ti fit right on the money, even if your a little out of square. especially handy in a remodel

3. 
   cb900 | Feb 21, 2005 12:33am | #6

   Can't see any way to avoid a door on such a small space. Try a clear glass frameless door.... that way you can see all that beautufull tile and stiil protect the rest of the bathroom from spray. The only hardware is a couple hinges and a handle which come in many finishes that can compliment the other hardware in the bathroomA glass shop that specializes in frameless enclosures can help you. Also you'll definately need a custom mad pan with a curb, and some slope for the drain. A good tile guy can help you there. Check out ; http://www.crlaurence.com for examples.

   Cam