What is the best type of stone for a shower or vanity? When deciding to remodel a bathroom, it is very important to choose wisely when selecting natural stone for those surfaces. The reason is that different marble and stone reacts differently with water. For instance, white Carrara marble has a high iron oxide content….and what happens when iron is mixed with water? That’s right, rust!
And sometimes this rust will appear as an orange colored stain on the surface of your marble. So although Carrara marble is great for foyers, stairs and statues (see Michelangelo’s David above) it is not great for showers and counter tops. A better choice for areas with constant exposure to water would be a limestone such as travertine. Why you may ask? The reason is that travertine was formed in ancient sea beds. The signature holes in a piece of travertine are a result of centuries of waves washing over the surface. In fact you can often see small fossils imbedded in the stoney surface. Travertine tile is a great choice for bathrooms not only because it is beautiful, but also because it is lower maintenance. Travertine in bathrooms is easy to clean and withstands water spots as well.
Take it from a team that works with hundreds of existing stone installations, choosing the right stone for the right job is critical to being happy with your natural stone decor.