Lenore, who is installing the granite slab shower? Start there and make your priority be hiring a VERY experienced tile professional - one you have vetted carefully to insure that their qualifications meet your design requirements and product selections. Stone slab installations are not for the B team, and especially in a wet area. Can it be done? Yes, depending upon the structure over which a solid surface stone is installed and the methods used. We install solid surface shower walls regularly, but from an empty cavity which we build to meet all specific design and installation specifications, including the pan. A solid stone slab cannot be supported by the pan (it is not meant to support a slab wall). A slab wall is pinned and tied so it is self supported, not supported by a pan. This is a very complex installation. A LOT to consider. As one example, the thickness of your slab? 2cm. 3cm? (effects the weight load on the space). And I could go on. After you have carefully vetted the qualified tile contractor, have this conversation with them. If you question or want to clarify their recommendations, check back or seek professional advice from other qualified sources. Please consult with a professional onsite. Good luck with your project.

Cultured marble/granites are softer than true solid surface. It's one reason I prefer the cultured granite in a stone-look pattern; it hides the scratches. Just as using the beige/tan or darker colors better hides the plastic anti-slip film they put on the floors of the showerpans, BTW. Not only are the resins better in the current mixes, but most people know by now not to use harsh abrasives, which detroy the gel coating. We used to have an acrylic tub and surround. I would absolutely NEVER have another one. The stuff is brittle, and I used the wrong cleaner on it which pretty much destroyed it. I'd clean it and a week later it would look like I hadn't touched it in a year. When the surround cracked (after 8 years), we suffered with it for a while, then in 2003 replaced it with the cultured granite custom shower. My DH agrees it was the smartest thing we did. Doing Swanstone would have cost us $800 PLUS install costs. The cultured granite price included all labor and install. Very interesting process, too. They installed the showerpan first. Then they measured for the walls. Only after they were in could we bring in the showerglass folks. So it took actually quite a bit longer than we thought it would, over a month!

Until this past Saturday when I talked to a general contractor doing a neighbor's kitchen, I was all set to have laminate installed. I had already did the preliminary work of getting my space measured and all I needed to do was 'make he call'. When the GC told me the cabinets would literally fall apart when demolition started(I have tile)I thought I would have to leave the gross '80's tile. While going over the whole scenario with my daughter, she told me about a product she saw advertised at the mall that goes right over the existing tops. The company is called Granite Transformations(http://www.granitetransformations.com/home.html)and is a granite/resin combination. I had a rep out today and here's the scoop: A layer of luan is used on existing tops, some of the tile is 'knocked down' to accommodate the stove and sink, and then the product is installed over the top. Let me tell you, this stuff really looks like granite, but less upkeep, with no sealing involved, and can withstand temps up to 600+(??) degrees. It's an Italian product, and was first used for floors. Yes, it costs more than laminate, but I would need someone to come in and demo, repair walls, disconnect drains, dishwasher, disposal, put in new sink, and then re-install the whole shebang, but I won't need all of that, and they'll disconnect. The laminate plus the 'extras' would have been almost 3 grand. It will cost a little over $4 grand for the granite-like surface. Tomorrow will be decision day. ;o) patty_cakes

I think that is universal, as I know of no state that is willing to spend millions of dollars a year to test thousands of unique appliances in order to come up with their own rules. (I prefer to use the relevant example) ;D " What I'm understanding is that installation instructions are designed to meet building code." - yes, but many of the installation instructions seem to be worded by lawyers, and designed to be decieving to the average consumer. "Listing" is what happens after the independent testing laboratory makes sure the product's clearances label and installation instructions meet the ANSI standards and put that "UL sticker" (label) on it. - the whole code process works together with the "listed and labeled" requirement and ANSI safety standards. . [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/tile-backsplash-wont-meet-building-code-dsvw-vd~3992018?n=57[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/tile-backsplash-wont-meet-building-code-dsvw-vd~3992018?n=57) .