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Quartz Shower Walls Pros and Cons: Worth Your Money?

quartz shower walls pros and cons
Written by Elizabeth Fincher
Last Update: August 10, 2023

Quartz wall tiles are probably the most sought-after tiling materials today for commercial and residential properties. The vibrant colors, the mirror flecks, the shiny surfaces, and other strong features are making them even more popular day by day.

If you’re wondering whether you should have quartz as the choice of material for your shower walls, we’re here to help you make up your mind!

Is quartz good for shower walls?

Your shower wall should be waterproof to prevent leaks and cracks. Rot and mold will develop behind a shower wall if water gets behind it.

The non-porous surface of quartz is perfect for shower walls due to its low decomposition factor, water resistance, and easy maintenance.

Quartz Shower Walls: Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of Quartz Shower Walls

Pros

1. Endless design possibilities

Various colors, textures, and other factors can be available to customize the look of quartz shower walls. Quartz is a man-made stone, so there are no limits to the design possibilities.

Whether you want distinctive veining, fine veining, matte, glossy, or no veining at all, you can have it!

2. Appearance

There are many beautiful characteristics of quartz e.g. the glossy sheen, the modern appearance, and the wide variety of colors. It always gives a luxurious appearance.

There are also many colors available to choose from. Since quartz does not have grout lines, your shower walls will look seamless with a touch of simplicity.

3. Durable

A quartz shower wall will not chip or break easily because it is highly durable. There will be no dents during normal use due to their scratch-resistant properties.

What’s more, it is resistant to weathering, chipping, and breaking when exposed to heat. The heat resistance capability of quartz reaches 150°F (65.56°C).

4. Clean finish

Installing quartz slabs involves installing a larger piece for each wall section. Epoxy caulking seals the edges of the slabs as it is much more flexible than grout and does not peel, stain, or crack.

As a result, you will have smooth, clean walls with no grout lines that need ongoing maintenance.

5. Consistent experience

Quartz slabs have a high level of consistency. From texture, color, pattern, consistency, and durability. The good thing about quartz is it maintains consistency. The materials and look will not change over time.

6. Easy to maintain

Quartz shower walls need little maintenance once they get installed properly. This is because they are easy to clean. Shower and bathroom restoration experts recommend this for people who want to avoid a lot of maintenance.

Cons

1. Heavy

As compared to fiberglass and tiles, quartz is quite heavy that makes the installation a difficult task.

The weight heavily burdens the floor and you should know the weight limit of your shower floor before installing quartz slabs. Otherwise, you can damage the floor and cause it to sink.

2. More expensive for vertical slabs than for horizontal

The cost of installing quartz on a horizontal surface is about $70-$100 per square foot.

The cost increases substantially when applied to vertical surfaces, such as shower walls.

Most quartz shower walls cost around $5,400 for most people. The materials will cost between $50 and $100 per square foot.

3. Damaged by harsh cleaners

Surfaces of quartz become dull with the use of harsh cleaners. You should avoid harsh cleaning products for a long-lasting finish on quartz surfaces.

How to Keep Quartz Shower Walls Safe From Damage?

Never use bleach

You should avoid cleaning your quartz shower walls with harsh cleaners at all times. These cleaners contain bleach or ammonia, which can damage quartz.

You can counteract the chemical effect of such cleansers. Rinse your slabs with water after coming into contact with them.

Use baking soda for stubborn spots

Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to stains. Use a soft cloth and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before washing off. Repeat if needed.

Don’t scrub with force

You shouldn’t clean quartz with force because there can be scratches that might be costly to repair. Avoid using any types of harsh scrubbing brushes or cloths. A microfiber is best.

Clean with a soft cloth and mild soap

All you need is soap and water to clean quartz shower walls. You can use a glass cleaner occasionally to deep clean the surfaces.

Avoid Acidic & alkaline cleaners

They are relatively resistant to scratches but not scratch-proof. You should avoid using acidic or abrasive cleaners. These products will scratch the material, damage the surface, and remove the shine.

About the author

Elizabeth Fincher

Elizabeth started her career as an interior design artist at a multinational interior design farm. She completed her masters degree from the University of North Texas back in 2010. She was also a Spelling Bee runner-up when she was 14. She took interest in bathroom interior designing after joining her first job. Later she started her own firm as an independent artist. She’s been one of the founding members of Toiletsguide. She examines the design and ergonomics of the units we review and directs the interior decoration team of our in-house research facility. Elizabeth plays piano masterfully and always finds time to entertain us in between our busy schedules.

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