would like follow up to this discussion we have older home in DFW area--getting ready to put it on the market shower and master bath need work shower is tiled but 25+ yrs old and probably sheetrock vs cement backed walls--could have some nasty stuff when it is torn out (as our contractor warned us--said he never regrouts older showers when doing remodeling--because most of them just have sheetrock and bad shower pans--but always goes down to the studs) counter tops and tub are cultured marble-- my husband thought to put in granite countertops and new fiberglass tub w/tile top and new tile shower our contractor gave us a fairly reasonable price except it does not include sinks, fixtures and the tile would be pretty basic... we had someone come measure for new cultured marble countertops and tub and also a cultured marble shower stall because most homes in our area have not upgraded their baths ... the cultured marble guy said that because the shower door is more narrow and there is a stepdown into the shower that they would probably have to cut the wall pieces and have a join/grout line vs having them the full length of the tiled walls I asked about having a tile insert line--like 6 x 6 glass mosaic sheets--which he said could be done... anyone have pictures of shower like that or have you done something like that yourself

Cultured marble would likely be the most cost effective choice and possibly have the fewest grout lines. My experience with cultured marble is that it is easy to clean and maintain, except for the grout lines which are impossible once they get some mildew. However, I think they have new caulking materials that are much more mildew resistant than what was put into my house in the 80s. Cultured marble is basically resin/plastic with ground stone, so it is what it is, but it can look fine. You can get solid white/cream which is what I have on the kids' vanities, it was cheap but it looks OK and blends with everything. More expensive cultured marble might mimic the Carrera. Marble slabs or large scale marble tiles or the marble look alike porcelain tile will all be more expensive than the CM, there is a lot of labor in doing a tile shower, not matter what material you use. We did a large tile shower (4' X 9' up to the 10' ceiling on 3 sides) and 250 sq feet of floor and it was about $11,000, but everything was expensive - expensive large format porcelain tile, onyx mosaic accent tile, shower seat, two niches one in shower, one in tub, tile set on 90 degree on the floor and staggered on the wall, small area of heated floor, new sanded grout that is stain and mildew resistant and hard to install, all these things are upgrades. On the flip side, we live in a low cost of labor state, we could have done the same job cosmestically using cheaper materials, and canning the heated floor for about 4-6000. It cost us less than $300 to replace 2 5' cultured marble vanity tops with integrated sinks - that's the entire cost, removing the old, cost of the new tops and installing the new tops. My DH did do the plumbing, hooking and unhooking the faucets, the CM installer glued in the drain hole. So you are talking apples and oranges material wise.

Marble on exterior walls is very risky. . One moist/wet 2x4 can do the downward dog, upward dog and twist like a pretzel in a few wet dry cycles.. With it goes the marble. If you find the cementboard or board seems in the location outlined. Take special note of 'Screw count" all the MFG such as USG durock call for aprox 4" or 6" spacing on all edges and seems. This is one major point that many amatuers skip. It requires we install proper cross blocking between studs at every board seem in the field but the marketing and install specs are vague so it is debateable among some cut corner type builders.....ahh we dont need that.......... Other thoughts? So perhaps you find you have a cement board with waterproofing? most waterproofing can flex an 1/8 before failing and youre moist twisting 2x4 lumber can crack the tile w/out the waterproofing failing in short order. You must have a proper wall cavity first.....and most tile guys/gals dont know a lot about exterior wall cavity's. insulation, climate zones etc. or they take the job after someone else handled that part.... Im gonna lean towards an improperly wrapped exterior with a possible vapor/insulation issue allowing condensation/moiture in behind the tile and into lumber. Hows youre exterior siding and wall cavity look ? was there spray foam insulation? batts? paper faced batts? was there a double vapor barrier mistake/issue? so many things that cold have made this happen. By the looks of the pony wall seperating it begs many questions.......-best

hello Jillianfl. Top photo is the one I used to remodle my last bathroom. I loved it and got lots of compliments on it. I'm now renovating a new home, and I have the same concerns about the shower flooring. Did you end up getting some advice? What did you end up going with? Thanks in advance!