Start with maintenance
Be honest about how much cleaning you will do. If you hate scrubbing grout, choose acrylic, solid surface or large tile with fewer joints. If you enjoy a classic look and do not mind sealing and cleaning, custom tile and stone are options.
Hard water and humidity affect every material, so plan for a squeegee and a good fan.
A material you can keep up with will look better in ten years than one you will neglect.
Be honest about your habits. A material that suits a person who squeegees every day is not the same as one that suits a household that cleans once a week.
Think about budget and timeline
Prefabricated acrylic and fiberglass cost less and install in days. Custom tile and slabs cost more and take weeks. Solid surface falls between.
Total cost includes demolition, waterproofing, fixtures and glass, not only the surface material.
Decide where to spend and where to save, then keep the priorities consistent.
Ask for total cost, not only material cost. A less expensive surface that needs more repairs over time can end up costing more than a better one installed carefully.
Match material to the room
A guest bath or rental benefits from durable, low-maintenance surfaces. A primary bath may justify custom tile, natural stone or slabs. A children's bath needs easy cleaning and good grip.
Natural stone needs sealing and gentle cleaners, so it suits owners who enjoy that routine.
Porcelain gives a stone or wood look with far less upkeep.
If a rental or guest bath is the project, prioritize durability and easy cleaning over a custom look. A simple design well built will serve for years with little attention.
Consider accessibility
If you may need a bench, grab bars or a low threshold, choose a material and system that allow them. Custom tile and some prefab systems can include benches and low-entry designs.
Slip resistance matters on the floor, and small tile or textured surfaces help.
Planning for the future now is far easier than rebuilding later.
Add blocking behind the walls during construction even if you are not installing grab bars now. It costs little and makes later accessibility changes fast and neat.
Look at waterproofing
No material saves a shower from missing waterproofing. Tile showers need a membrane, prefab units need sealed seams and a solid base, and solid surface needs correct adhesives and sealants.
Ask each contractor how the shower is made watertight, not only what it looks like.
The right installation turns a good material into a lasting shower.
A good installer can explain the waterproofing for any material in plain language. If the explanation is vague, ask more questions before you sign.
See and touch samples
Photos and screens show color and finish poorly. Ask for samples and look at them in your bathroom light, wet and dry if possible.
Check that the material is rated for showers, and for floors where needed.
A few minutes with samples can save a costly mistake.
Look at samples when they are wet. Many tiles and panels look very different with water on them, and a wet sample shows how slippery or glossy they may be.
Choose the material you will maintain, then make sure the waterproofing and installation are right.
