skip to main content

Will hard water stain either natural stone or porcelain tile?

15 years ago

I'm on the fence about natural stone or porcelain tile for my next bath project. The question is, will hard water stain a natural stone like marble? I do have a water softener system in the house, and I don't have a laundry or dishwasher staining problem. I do see signs of staining in an all white bath I did last year. That bath used porcelain.

Featured Answer

sorriso

15 years ago

I have hard well water, no softener. Our new subway tiles have been up in the bathroom shower, all four walls and ceiling for a year and a half. We wipe down the walls after the last shower of the morning and DON'T USE BAR SOAP (we use liquid body wash).

Those two adjustments were harder for my husband and grown sons who visit than me. They weren't the ones cleaning the bathroom! My grown daughter who visits has no problem with the rules at all :)

Anyhow, my tiles still shine. If you look at them in certain light you can see...I don't know, evidence of when they need to be cleaned and it's not hard water residue because I can use Simple Green and a microfiber cloth to remove. Whereas on my kitchen granite where the water sits near the faucet I have to gently scrub with 000 steel wool (recommended by the granite people).

With the daily care and no soap, I spend much less time cleaning the bathroom and the results are far more gratifying than the previous plastic tub surround.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

bill_vincent
15 years ago
If you're seeing it on the tile you have, you'll also see it on any other tile. Apparently the softening system you have isn't quite getting all the minerals out of your water. If it were, then either stone or porcelain would be fine. Actually, even now, the porcelain is fine-- you just might have to hit it with CLR from time to time, which would mean this is a good place for grout colorant, being that sooner or later, CLR would burn the color out of the grout.
spanky67
Original Author
15 years ago
I break 'em and reinstall 'em. My wife cleans...oh wait...pays some one to clean 'em :o)

I guess my follow up is would natural stone be MORE likely to stain or about the same as porcelain.
Related Discussions
Hard Water - Etching and Staining
Q
Comments (16)
Hi, I realize this is an older subject but I did chose Houzz to find an answer to the ring in the bowl problem. I would like to add what I used that is not mentioned above. Looking for something to use immediately, the word Pumice struck a cord. I'm a retired mechanic and Pumice is used in a lot of hand cleaners. I had Fast Orange with Pumice under the bathroom vanity. With the toilet water turned off and the toilet flushed as many times needed to get the bowl level down as much as possible, I used the Fast Orange on a scratch less scrubby (Scotch Brite, was blue, with a waving flag shape). I used back and forth and circular scrub and removed the ring completely. Don't be cheap with the hand cleaner get it thru the scrubby. Have some paper towel there to wipe the area clean and dry to see your progress so you don't have to turn water back on till your done. We have a nice clean, shiny porcelain bowl. Richard
...See More
Stains on new porcelain tile
Q
Comments (16)
While doing a deep-dive through a Q&A for my specific brand of tile, I found that another customer had asked the same question and this was the manufacturer response: ”Hi, Thank you for your question regarding our 8x48 Natural Timber porcelain tile. When the tile goes through the kiln, we (like all tile manufacturers) place a solution on the bottom of the tile to ensure the tile does not bake/stick to the conveyor belt. Once the tile is fired, that solution becomes a white powder that should just brush off as you pull the tile out of the master carton. There is no adhering agent, but maybe there has been some humidity along the way and it is not just falling off. Using some non-abrasive cleaning solution (water mixed with some vinegar would be fine) and some "elbow grease" will remove the white color.” I guess that answers that!
...See More
Porcelain Slab vs. Sintered Stone vs. Ceramic Tile
Q
Comments (1)
There is some helpful information about Sintered Stone vs Porcelain here: https://www.tenax4you.com/compact-surfaces-sintered-stone-porcelain-compared-s/2092.htm That website has several articles making comparisons between different materials. Might be a page to bookmark and share with others since the properties of natural stone, engineered stone, and other man made materials can get pretty confusing sometimes. Hope the information helps future readers.
...See More
Testing the durability on natural stone - what should I try?
Q
Comments (4)
We have honed travertine in two bathrooms (in one bathroom, the tile has a bit more sheen than the other, but it is honed, not polished travertine). We've gotten etch marks in both bathrooms. When that happens, I take a green scrub sponge (sometimes dampened, sometimes dry if I’m lazy) and lightly “buff” away the etch mark. It works on the honed travertine, but don’t think it would do the trick on shiny, polished stone. Test it out on a sample tile or inconspicuous area first, to be sure you don’t create a bigger problem area. I learned that trick here on GW. :)
...See More
bill_vincent
15 years ago
I guess my follow up is would natural stone be MORE likely to stain or about the same as porcelain.

It would be about the same, but with porcelain, it'd be easier to clean, being that the cleaners you want to use to get rid of calcium and/ or rust, would ruin most stone.
spanky67
Original Author
15 years ago
Great...exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
15 years ago
Sorriso has the right approach. If you wipe the shower down when done....use liquid soap. Bar soap contains animal fat fillers....with the possible exception of "Dove."

I've seen showers 45 years old that look as good as the day they were installed! Why? Do the maintenance!

Actually, DON'T follow the advice...please! (my business relies on the failure of poorly built and maintained showers)

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES 9 Hard Questions to Ask When Shopping for Stone

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn all about stone sizes, cracks, color issues and more so problems don't chip away at your design happiness later

TILE Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown

Explore where and why one of these popular tile choices makes more sense than the other

BATHROOM DESIGN Bathroom Workbook: 7 Natural Stones With Enduring Beauty

By Shana Ecker Home Stylist

Not everyone wants a marble bath. Bring organic warmth to counters, walls or floors with these hard-wearing alternatives

KITCHEN DESIGN Get Quartz and Porcelain Surfaces Super Clean

These cleaning tips for quartz, travertine, porcelain and engineered stone will help keep your countertops and sinks looking spotless

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Follow Nature’s Lead for Artful Stacked Stones

By Karen Peterson

Surprise and delight in the landscape with rock formations resembling wildland hoodoos and cairns

REMODELING GUIDES Your Floor: How to Find Right Stone Tile

Get the Pros and Cons of Slate, Travertine, Sandstone, Marble and Granite

COLOR Nature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on White From the Great Outdoors

By Laura Gaskill

Blizzard fierce or butter soft, white can highlight shapes, unify a room and perform miracles on the cheap

HOUSEKEEPING Don't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This

By Mitchell Parker

Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react

FLOORS Are Stone Floors Right for Your Home?

By Laura Gaskill

If you’re thinking about going with this hard-wearing material, here are important pros and cons to weigh

REMODELING GUIDES House Planning: How to Choose Tile

By Vanessa Brunner

Glass, Ceramic, Porcelain...? Three Basic Questions Will Help You Make the Right Pick

Sponsored

High Point Cabinets

21 Reviews

Columbus' Experienced Custom Cabinet Builder | 4x Best of Houzz Winner

More Discussions

Bath remodel with walk in shower

1

bathroom remodel fan placement

0

black faucets in bathroom

2

Massive pipe sticking out of house!

4

Any ideas on how to remodel our master bathroom?

5