A tile shower has been the top choice for showers for decades, however that has officially changed. Most tile easily chips, and is cold to stand on. Yes, heating the floor is an option but that is very expensive. Bonding the tile to the floor and walls correctly takes someone with years of experience, and the prices of high-end mortar keep climbing. Also, tile is notorious for cracking, because most floors have too much flex or deflection, and the extreme temperature changes from the hot and cold water cause expansion and shrinkage. Just when you thought there’s nothing else to go wrong, you have grout. Most grouts are porous and hold on to the proteins in the conditioner, and start to grow bacteria. Grout chips out, crumbles, streaks, and needs to be sealed. Another issue is caulk – builders will just caulk the inside corners of the shower to help it not crack, and while this can be a short-term solution, caulk soon discolors, gets slimy, and peels off. These are just some of the reasons homeowners are choosing not to use tile in their showers. Yes, we still design, build, and Install tile showers, but to make them right and use all the correct materials, so the shower will last for years to come, it can be very expensive. Most of the time it’s not worth the value, especially with technology introducing us to new shower materials and methods.