It's important to clear up a frequent misunderstanding right off the bat: the term "shower tile" does not exist.
There are many varieties of ceramic, porcelain, stone, and glass tile, as well as glazed ceramic tiles, that are excellent choices for the atmosphere of a shower.
There are a few crucial performance considerations to think about, but for the most part, you may choose a tile material first, then limit your options based on the size, shape, color, and arrangement that you choose.
To make things easier, you should begin the process of selecting appropriate tile for showers by concentrating on the particular locations in which you will be placing tile.
Tiles for the Bottom of the Shower Aside from its aesthetic value, a suitable tile for the shower floor is one that is: resistant to slipping and generally waterproof, with dimensions that are suitable for the available area and the gradient of the shower pan.
The majority of glazed ceramic tile is not appropriate for usage due of its slippery nature; nevertheless, several porcelain and certain stone tiles are popular possibilities (unless the tiles are very small).
There is no such thing as a truly waterproof tile installation, and it is not necessary to have tile that is classified as "impervious" unless the shower is located outdoors and is exposed to freezing temperatures.
However, the least impervious tiles, which are generally not suitable for use as shower floors, are classified as "non-vitreous" or "low density."
The size of the tiles we usually use for the shower floor impacts both the design freedom and the slip resistance of the surface.
Shower floors normally have a gradient of around one-quarter of an inch per foot toward the drain and often have many planes to concentrate all of the water in one location.
Since of this, installing tiles that are any bigger than 6 by 6 inches in a conventional shower pan might be challenging.
Tiles that are 4 × 4 inches or smaller are preferred because they adapt to slopes and other surface differences more easily.
When compared to bigger units, smaller tiles have a higher number of grout lines.
Considering that grout is comparable to sandpaper, this results in a surface that is less likely to be slippery.
In spite of this, builders are becoming quite creative with bespoke showers these days, and the traditional guidelines don't necessarily have to be followed.
