Explore Suitable Surfaces for SurroundS: Fireplace and Shower

Fireplace and shower surrounds can be beautiful design elements in one’s home. As you design and build a new home or look to update the look of a living area or bathroom, Boston Granite Exchange has a large inventory of surfaces suitable for transforming a room.

When planning a fireplace or shower surround there are important considerations when selecting the material to use, including water and heat resistance, weight of the material and of course, your desired design and budget.

Below is an overview of surfaces that are suitable as fireplace surrounds and shower surrounds to help you identify surfaces to further explore

Granite

Granite is durable, strong and available in a wide variety of designs and styles. Granite is suitable for fireplace and shower surrounds, wall cladding and flooring and a wide variety of interior and exterior applications.

Advantages

High heat, stain, and abrasion resistance

Water resistance

Easy maintenance

Natural stone with classic appeal available in a very wide range of colors and patterns to suit any design style

Considerations

Porous; periodic sealing recommended

May stain if improperly sealed

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Marble

A luxurious natural stone highly prized for its timeless beauty. Marble is known to ‘age’ over time, so that is a consideration when selecting marble. For many, this can be a beautiful effect of marble.

Note that natural stones may vary in their characteristics within a natural stone category as some marbles are known to be hard marbles. As you develop your short list of surfaces and visit our showroom, we can provide additional information about the particular stone to guide you in its characteristics. Marble is suitable for shower and fireplace surrounds.

Advantages

Water resistance

Medium heat resistance

Easy maintenance

Unique veining for beautiful, classic look

Considerations

Porous and needs sealing to avoid stains

May scratch

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Porcelain

Laminam is a state-of-the-art, beautiful and durable surface imported from Italy. Boston Granite Exchange is the exclusive distributor of Laminam in New England. Laminam is suitable for fireplace and shower surrounds, countertops, and flooring as well as outdoor kitchens, pool decking and other exterior flooring applications.

Advantages

High heat, stain, etching and abrasion resistance

Water resistance

Book-matching options for a beautiful look

Strong, yet light

Considerations

None

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Quartz

An engineered stone composed of quartz and other minerals bound with resin. The BGE Quartz Collection includes four lines of beautiful quartz to meet every style and budget. Quartz is a popular surface and is suitable for fireplace surrounds and shower surrounds as well as flooring.

Advantages

Water resistance

Medium heat resistance

Book matching or continuous veining

High abrasion, stain and etching resistance

Considerations

Low UV resistance; not suitable for outdoor fireplace surround

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Quartzite

A beautiful and durable natural stone with a wide range of beautiful colors and designs. Quartzite offers homeowners a wide selection of design choices and is a suitable choice for fireplace and shower surrounds, wall covering as well as flooring.

Advantages

Water resistance

Medium heat tolerance

High abrasion, stain and etching resistance

Unique natural designs

Considerations

Periodic sealing recommended every 6 months

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Soapstone

A classic stone for countertops with an antique, historic look. Soapstone can be used as a shower surround and is a popular choice for fireplace surrounds due to its high heat resistance.