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
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
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
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
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
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.
Advantages
Water resistance
Absorbs and distributes heat
Non-porous and hygienic
High stain, etching and bacterial resistance
Considerations
Low abrasion resistance – susceptible to scratching
May darken over time
Terrazzo
A manufactured stone from COMPAC, also a quality provider of beautiful quartz from Portugal. This product line offers a classic look from Venice, Italy, now modernized. Uses include surrounds – both fireplace and shower, cladding, flooring. It has high UV resistance and can be used for outdoor fireplaces as well.
Advantages
Water resistance
Easy maintenance
High heat, stain, etching and abrasion resistance
Non-porous and hygienic
Considerations
Limited design options
For inspiration, visit our Imagine Gallery or start planning your project
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