The Best (and Worst) Material for a Shower

When choosing materials for a new shower, there's no shortage of options. But in our opinion, one shower wall material clearly stands above the rest.

Tile offers the best combination of functionality, visual appeal, and ease of cleaning and maintenance. On top of that, it's extremely versatile, making it the best material for high-quality bathroom remodels.

In this post, I'll go into more detail about why tile is our preferred choice. I'll also call out the worst materials for a shower, discuss some of the alternatives to tile, and review some important factors to consider when planning to renovate your bathroom.

Why Do Shower Walls Matter?

A shower wall is a critical component of the overall construction of your bathroom. It provides a waterproof barrier to prevent mold growth and other water damage to your walls. At the same time, the shower walls can enhance the look and feel of a bathroom.

For these reasons, choosing the right shower wall material is crucial to the functionality, durability, and aesthetics of your bathroom.

What Is the Best Material for a Shower?

In my opinion, tile is the best shower wall material. Porcelain tile and ceramic tile are near-perfect materials for shower walls, while glass tile and stone tile can also be elegant, high-quality shower materials.

While I could spend hours waxing poetic about tile, for now, I'll focus on four specific benefits of a tile shower.

Shower-Friendly Performance

Tile has all of the key performance characteristics you need for shower walls. It is water-resistant and able to easily withstand heat and water splashes on a daily basis. A tile shower is also highly durable, especially with modern epoxy grout.

Design Versatility

No other material offers the same range of design styles as tile. When putting in a new shower, tile options with distinct visual elements are abundant.

• Size: Your choices range from fingertip-sized tiles to large-format tiles with tons of choices in between.

• Color: You can find tile in virtually any color, making it easy to create a custom look, regardless of whether you lean toward traditional, modern, or contemporary design.

• Texture: Smooth tiles are popular for shower walls, but you can also find non-porous tile that has both physical and visual texture. Textured tile for a shower base can also help create a non-slip floor.

• Shape: Although most tiles are rectangular, tile comes in other shapes, such as hexagons or V-shaped chevron designs.

• Pattern: During installation, you can put up tiles in a grid, herringbone, or another pattern, including those that create a sense of movement or vibrance.

Even grout lines can contribute to tile's aesthetics. You can choose the color and thickness of the grout lines to complement the shower walls.

Frankly, no other material comes close to tile in terms of its design possibilities and aesthetic versatility.

Adaptable to Your Space

Whether you have a huge space or a small one, a walk-in shower or a tub shower, tile is adaptable to your space.

Unlike prefabricated shower wall panels, tile can be installed in a way that tailors to your preferences.

• Want a higher shower head or controls in a different position? No problem.

• Need grab bars at a custom height to improve safety and accessibility? No sweat.

• Like the idea of having multiple niches to hold your shower accessories? Easy peasy.

If you want flexibility in how to arrange and design your shower, tile is far and away your best choice.

Easy Cleaning and Maintenance

Tile showers are easier than ever to clean and maintain. Modern grout is stain-resistant and durable, so gunk doesn't build up around grout lines and grout joints. Tiled shower walls are water-resistant, so there's virtually no risk of mold buildup.

For most tile walls, you can simply use a soft cloth with soapy water or a basic household cleaner to keep them sparkling clean. Since shower tiles are non-porous, you don't have to worry about constant resealing or other burdensome maintenance. 

What Is the Worst Shower Wall Material?

Although it can work just fine in other parts of your home, drywall is our pick for the worst shower wall material. It's porous and susceptible to water damage, which means it requires extensive sealing or treatment to try to keep moisture out. Since it also doesn't have the best look for a shower, it's just not a good fit.

Other contenders for the worst shower wall material include wallpaper, unsealed wood, and virtually any other porous material.

Some of these can be fine for bathroom walls (especially if you have a good ventilation system to reduce water vapor and humidity), but they are simply not meant for direct water exposure. If a material doesn't resist moisture, it runs the risk of mold growth and the need for costly repairs.

What Are Good Potential Alternatives to Tile?

While porcelain and ceramic tiles are our top picks, other materials can work well for shower walls.

As we mentioned before, glass tiles and stone tiles often look great and perform as well as porcelain tiles. Beyond these variations of tile, other options include:

• Stainless steel: Decorative wall panels made of steel can provide a sharp and modern look.

• Cultured marble: Formulated to be moisture-resistant, this material can provide the elegant look of marble without onerous maintenance requirements.

• Stone resin: These wall panels are a solid and non-porous material that can be designed to look like natural stone and granite.

• Laminate: Laminate panels are made with a water-resistant core and decorative surface layer and offer a cost-effective and easy-to-install alternative to tile.

• PVC composite: These large-format shower panels are waterproof, require no grout lines, and are quick to install.

• Solid surface: Formed with a blend of resins and minerals, this non-porous material can be installed with seamless joints and no grouting.

• Acrylic: Acrylic shower walls are a budget-friendly option. Full acrylic units for a standard-sized shower come with shower pans and are often used in new construction because of their ease of installation.

• Fiberglass: Like acrylic panels, fiberglass shower walls are a low-cost option and are easy to install and maintain.

While all of these materials are viable options for shower walls, none of them match tile's versatility for optimizing the look and functionality of your shower.

What Materials Work Well for Shower Floors?

Most of the same materials for shower walls can also be used for shower floors. We like to use tile in both the walls and floor, but you have the option to use a shower pan with a different material.

Most shower pans are made with a lightweight and non-slip surface, although high-end options, like cast iron shower pans, can offer a refined look in a custom remodel.

Maintenance and Upkeep Considerations for Shower Walls

Regular maintenance and cleaning are important for hygiene and for extending the lifespan of your shower walls. Tile and many synthetic non-porous materials are easy to maintain. Be aware, though, that some other options, including many natural materials, have to be regularly sealed, which can make them more time-consuming to maintain.

Budget Considerations for Shower Wall Materials

When including a new shower in a bathroom remodeling project, your budget should account for the cost of the shower wall materials themselves and the cost of installation.

Some materials, such as acrylic, are budget-friendly because they are both inexpensive and quick to install. However, choosing these types of materials almost always means making sacrifices in terms of the design of your shower walls.

I think a versatile and high-quality material like tile is a worthy investment in the quality of your bathroom, and that's why you'll find it in almost all of our high-end remodels.

Designing Your New Bathroom and Shower

For our company, every remodel is a chance to create highly functional spaces while also helping our clients show their personality. Now celebrating our 25th anniversary, we've grown deep roots and built a strong track record in the greater Chicago area and in southern Wisconsin.

If your next project includes a shower upgrade, please don't hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment. Our proven design-build approach simplifies the remodeling process for our clients, and we invite you to see the results for yourself in our project portfolio.