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Alternative options for Shower curb / threshold - not marble

7 years ago

Hi, I am looking at options for the shower curb / threshold. I do not want to use marble. It needs to be easy to maintain. Here are the options I have found:

1) Use a porcelain tile with a bullnose

2) Use a porcelain tile with a schluter edge

3) Get a quartz, ceaserstone, or silestone piece custom made by a fabricator

Am I missing any other options?

Does anyone make the quartz, ceaserstone, silestone or other solid pieces already the width of a standard curb (4 - 6") that a contractor can cut to the curb dimensions?

Are there other durable options I have not considered?

I heard that ceramic tile is not a good choice for the curb. Any advice and creative solutions are greatly appreciated.

A clean white or grey curb would be ideal.

Any advice and creative solutions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

Creative Tile Eastern CT

7 years ago

There is nothing wrong with tile on a curb. I prefer to have the cap fabricated from the same material as the vanity top for design purposes. They will not be stocked but can easily be fabricated. If you want to be creative select a fancy mosaic or create one out of the wall tiles. It can be whatever you want.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Solid surface is the premier choice for shower thresholds. Tougher and more sanitary than any stone or tile, and they are easily customized:

This is a Corian Nocturne threshold with a semi gloss finish with a drip slot on the shower side underneath. The shower seat, shelf, and foot rest are the same.
Vhomefriend thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
Bunny
7 years ago
Joseph, do you know if any kind of door or curtain is planned for that shower? How wide is the top of the curb? It looks nice, but a bit wide for stepping over.
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If you do use a standard flat piece curb, you set the pitch when installing them. It's one of the few times when it's okay to install something "crooked". ; ) A fabrication shop can make them however you specify, but you'll pay extra. Sometimes you can find marble saddles or curb pieces that do have an extended bevel on each side. Depends on what the local places carry as "standard". Setting glass on a pitched curb top is not a problem. If you do plan on using ready made marble pieces, look of one with an extended bevel. A standard bevel may only be a 1/4" or 3/8" 45-degree chamfer on the edge of the stone. A "hollywood bevel" is an extended bevel, so it's a longer area of slope. Then there are "double hollywood bevels", where each long edge has a wide bevel. A picture may be worth more words, lemme see what I can find...here's a hollywood bevel Hollywood bevel: While most thresholds are 3/4" thick "door" thresholds, you could use those, or you can get the same material and style in thicker material if you want a thicker curb.
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A lot of marble is very very fragile until it is installed. I think part of the problem is the proportion of the piece - almost 4' long and 6" wide, you need to support that sucker across the entire length of it at all times. Once it is installed it shouldn't be a problem - it will be fully supported and thinsetted into place. Basically it can't support it's own weight. If you are willing to pay for another one (and since this one broke while you were transporting it I can see why they wouldn't want to pay for it even though it probably should not have just been laid in your trunk) You can probably cut an 8' 2x6 into two pieces and sandwich the threshold between the two pieces and then tape the thing up like crazy so that it's fully supported. That should help you get it home. When putting it into place make sure you have at least two people and you don't hold it in such a way that it will break from its own weight. Frustrating but I hope you can get it resolved.
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So there will be a height differential between the two floors? If not, you could just have the wood go right up to the tile floor. Sorry if I am not explaining this well, but our tile and wood floor meet in the doorway with no threshold. Assuming there is a height difference, I probably would choose a wood threshold -- unless you want to use a different material for visibility? Hope others will chime in with suggestions for you. [oops typing at same time as cpartist]
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Thanks all. Bill: 3cm = 1.2" thick curb? (Must look great!) That's 2.5x the thickness of mine! Still I should be ok? (I'm near Boston, MA: these Carrara curbs are common (in stock) at many tile shops near me and they are only 1/2" or 3/4" thick. I'm not going custom.) Seems it wouldn't be too costly if - worst case - it cracked and had to be replaced? (I.e., if I hired the tile guy to come back. The curb is $100. I'm in a very high labor cost area.) No shower glass to remove/replace. And I realize the edges by the existing tile - we're using 3x6 ceramic glossy subway tile American Olean Brights - might get messed up a bit and that's fine. We're using Bright White grout to minimize issues on the walls. (Dark gray on floor.)
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
7 years ago
"Joseph, do you know if any kind of door or curtain is planned for that shower?"

I don't know, but I don't think so. The shower is big enough that neither may be necessary.

"How wide is the top of the curb? It looks nice, but a bit wide for stepping over."

It's around 7" wide. I didn't design the shower, I just rebuilt what was there.
Vhomefriend
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi, I just wanted to see if anyone else had other solutions or advice.
msmeow
7 years ago
Ours is the same granite as our counter top. We also had them use the granite for the top of the pony walls, the tub surround and the window sills.

The tub isn't in this picture but you can see the granite and where they used it on the pony walls and the tub.

Donna
Vhomefriend thanked msmeow
Fori
7 years ago
We used tile.

4x4s on the top of the curb, 4x4 coved base tile on the vertical bits and quarter round trim on the corners. We have the same tile inside and outside the shower (different sizes) so it would have looked odd to use a different material on the curb. It's very matchy.

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