Shower Sill Dillema

2 years ago

I’m having a devil of a time finding a product to serve as the sill to the walkaround opening in a custom shower. The bathroom floor is ivory travertine, the shower floor will be black basalt herringbone mosaic tile, and the shower walls will be bright white subway tile (main wall finish will be lime plaster). Ideally the sill would match the travertine bathroom floor, and I’ve found 12x24” tiles that could be cut, but the source wants $260 to ship 4 tiles! I’ve considered travertine lookalike porcelain tile, but there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t look mismatched, plus I’d have to buy a whole case. The curb itself is 4” wide, but whatever I top it with must be wider, to cover the edges of the vertical tiles. Surely I’m not the only one with this dillema? Any suggestions? Help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

maggierateye
Original Author
2 years ago
I don’t know why this posted as a poll. I’m just looking for a solution to the design dilemma…
M V
2 years ago
Have a look at threshold pieces. The tile stores will sell them as well as Home Depot and Lowes. They come in different stones, colours, sizes and widths.

You didn't say what dimensions you need. If all else fails, visit a stone yard and ask them to see their remnants and they can cut and polish what you need.

You really would ideally want it to be a solid surface with no grout joints etc. This would be a better choice than tiles.

Have a look here - these are what you are looking for.... but good tile stores will sell lots of sizes, widths and options.

Thresholds at Home Depot.ca
Related Discussions
Shower sill install-level or slope toward shower?
Q
Comments (4)
I am confused because I thought I read on another thread in this forum that the sill and the wall had to be plumb for frameless shower doors. We are about to tile the shower and I would like to know if there is anything "special" we need to do for a frameless door. I have searched the FAQ and could not find the info-certainly could have overlooked it. Thanks
...See More
Shower sill / curb cap question!
Q
Comments (7)
A couple of quick thoughts. 1. Unless the contractor wants to install something such as a shower door (that requires making holes in the curb) tomorrow, the installation of the curb/threshold certainly can wait. It just gets glued in place and then caulked. So unless tomorrow is the last day, it shouldn't throw the work flow off. 2. Like KathyNY76, our fabricator also was able to turn around the work in 1 day. That was for a 65" curb/threshold and a 45" long top for the pony wall with very simple edges. (Our tile guy did the installation. He asked that the fabricator make the curb two inches longer; he cut it to the final size). 3. It may be a matter of semantics and/or regional differences, but here in New England it's the fabricators who have the remnants and not the stone yards. Still requires a bit of looking, though. You should be able to find a couple of options that coordinate with your tile and the look and feel of the room.
...See More
stain on crema marfil shower sill
Q
Comments (0)
I've noticed an orange/brownish stain on our crema marfil shower sill under the silicone seals of the shower door. From online research, I think it's been caused by water trapped by the seals leaching into the stone. I'd welcome any suggestions for getting rid of it. Thank you!
...See More
Glass Block Shower Window Sill: Corian/Tile/Other?
Q
Comments (1)
We used corian for our shower surround and our seat in the shower which matches our sinks....so we didn't have the color match issue. If you didn't want to use corian, you could always use marble or other stone.
...See More
maggierateye
Original Author
2 years ago
The sill needs to be 4&1/2” wide to cover the edges of the vertical tiles. The whole length of that side of the shower is 58”and the doorway opening is 25”.
Part of the problem is that the nearest Home Depot or Lowe’s is 240 miles away. When I look online, I’m finding nothing on either website. So frustrating!
maggierateye
Original Author
2 years ago
I have looked at so many tile stores online… I’m finding nothing…
maggierateye
Original Author
2 years ago
This is what I see when I do a search for thresholds at Home Depot.
M V
2 years ago
Are you located in Canada or the USA? The link I included was from Canada (that's where I am). Are there some tile shops in your area that you can visit in person? I know some of the tile shops I go to have pieces displayed in various sizes and widths but maybe they don't show them on their website.

If not, then is there a countertop fabricator or stone yard? You can use stone or solid surface like a quartz piece of countertop and get them to cut the size you need and polish the edges. They will likely have a remnants section and you can hopefully find a piece that will work with your tile choices.
M V
2 years ago
I found This one on Lowes.com. 6" wide and 84" long.

It may not be the colour you want/need but there are others on the site. Once you link to this one, you'll see the others.
M V
2 years ago
Also Anatolia Tile has marmiline thresholds and other shapes in lots of sizes and colours. Maybe you can locate a tile store that carries their product that can ship to you.
PRO
Skippack Tile & Stone
2 years ago
Please go to a real tile showroom; they have them. Sill come in 6x72 size, with finished edges. They are available in travertine, marbles, quartz and granite.
Rachel
2 years ago
I just a custom shower done in a new build. The shower and floors are in a stone look porcelain. I know it is best to use slab material for threshold etc., and flooring guy recommended Corian. It comes in so many shades that we were able to pick the perfect color to go with the tile. They used the same material for the shower niche, so I'm thinking this would be a good solution for your sill as well.
maggierateye
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you, all of you, for the ideas and leads. I pretty much have to buy online- I live 80 miles from the nearest normal grocery store and 240 miles from the closest Lowe’s or Home Depot. Theres one tile shop there I have yet to call… There’s only one stone yard there which serves most of southwest Texas where I’m located, and I’ve been on the phone with them today to see if they might have a remnant that would work. You’ve given me some things to follow up on; thanks.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Tile on the flat sucks. Have a color matched solid surface sill fabricated and installed please.