The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Bathroom Materials

An Introduction To Stone Resin, Ceramic & Acrylic

When choosing fixtures for your bathroom, you are often face with an ultimatum: Stone Resin, Ceramic or Acrylic?

These three materials are the most common bathroom material. You can choose between stone resin, acrylic & ceramic sinks, shower trays, bathtubs, floor tiles, etc... But how do you know which material is best for you and your bathroom?

You read this article of course! Today we are breaking down everything you need to know about stone resin bathroom fixtures, ceramic bathroom fixtures, acrylic bathroom fixtures and how you can pick between them.

Pros And Cons Of Stone Resin

Stone resin is the sturdier, but costlier sibling of ceramic. Stone resin is a compound of crumbled stone that is reformed and reshaped by resin and adhesive. The resin allows it water resistance and the stone give it a full body and extreme durability.

Stone resin is so durable that it does not warp over time and with good maintenance could last as long as you need it to. This is especially useful for stone bathroom basins.

The primary drawback of stone resin is that it is more expensive than ceramic, so if you are looking to kit out your full bathroom on a budget, it might not be for you.

Pros And Cons Of Ceramic

Ceramic is also very strong and especially easy to clean. Ceramic fixtures are made from chemically treated and fired clay. This makes the material durable and flexible. It is completely sealed, so it is very water resistant.

The only issue with ceramic is that it is easier to scratch when compared to stone resin and it is capable of warping over a long stretch of time. It is important to remember however that warping is unlikely and with good maintenance, a ceramic sink for example could easily last fifty years. It is however, not as easy to scratch as acrylic and because of this, makes for a good middle ground.

Pros And Cons Of Acrylic

Acrylic is a typically transparent plastic material that can be thermoformed into a great variety of shapes. It is very durable and water resistant because of its plastic nature.

Acrylic is typically the cheapest option and while also strong like the others, it is the most prone to scratching. However, it makes up for this in its exceptional heat retainment. If you are looking to keep water warm for a long time, acrylic is ideal.

Which Material Should I Get?

In general, this question is answered by your budget and the availability of the product as not all fixtures have multiple material options. If you are willing to spend a bit more, then we would recommend going for stone resin typically, as it is more durable. However, there are specific cases where it is more advisable to choose ceramic or acrylic.

Let’s break down each kind of fixture and whether it is best to choose stone resin or ceramic!

Should I Get A Stone Resin Toilet, Ceramic Toilet Or Acrylic Toilet?

First up is the toilet, and this is an easy beginning! You can easily buy ceramic toilets, but typically stone resin toilets and acrylic toilets are not a viable option.

The reason toilets are consistently made from ceramic is because they are a smooth, water resistant and completely sealed material. When it comes to disposing of waste, this is a beneficial attribute to have, which makes ceramic ideal. As you can imagine, the rougher and grippier texture of the stone resin could prove an issue in this instance.

Should I Get A Stone Resin Sink, Ceramic Sink Or Acrylic Sink?

Now, for a sink we would recommend purchasing a stone resin basin. This is because, while both are good options, a stone resin basin is more likely to last for your entire lifetime. This is because of the sturdy stone body which cannot warp. Plus, as you will use your sink frequently, the scratch resistant and stain resistant stone resin material will keep your bathroom looking pretty for as long as possible.

We do not recommend acrylic sinks as the thin plastic can scratch easily with the amount of wear and tear sinks face.

Should I Get A Stone Resin Shower Tray, Ceramic Shower Tray Or Acrylic Shower Tray?

Slipperiness is a crucial top of research when shopping for shower trays, as you don’t want a shower tray that could lead to you falling over. Stone resin shower trays are naturally less slippery than ceramic shower trays and acrylic shower trays, due to the rougher composition of the body. However, Durovin provides anti-slip shower trays which are acrylic shower trays coated with anti-slip treatment.

So, when it comes to a shower tray, we believe the choice comes down to the shape of shower you want. Durovin sells a variety of shapes of shower tray, including pentagonal shower trays, quadrant shower trays, square shower trays and rectangular shower trays. However, you can only purchase rectangular stone resin shower trays, all of the other shapes are acrylic.

If you are building a rectangular shower enclosure, purchase a rectangular stone resin shower tray. If you are building any other kind of shower, such as a quadrant shower enclosure, then we advise you buy the anti-slip acrylic shower tray that matches your required shape.

Should I Get A Stone Resin Bathtub, Ceramic Bathtub Or Acrylic Bathtub?

Should you choose ceramic or stone resin? Choose neither, instead choose acrylic. Acrylic is a thin plastic material that composes most bathtubs. It is the ideal bathtub material due to its heat retention capabilities and its extra lightweight nature.

You can also get ceramic bathtubs and stone resin bathtubs, but we believe in the unique case of the bathtub, the acrylic bath has a specific set of abilities which make it a priority choice over the other materials.

Should I Get Stone Resin Wall Panels, Ceramic Tiles Or Acrylic Wall Tiles?

It is becoming increasingly common to buy and install stone resin wall panels or acrylic wall panels in your bathroom to achieve a modern and uniform look. The classic alternative to this is to tile your bathroom with ceramic tiles. Which is better? This comes down to your aesthetic preferences and whether you are pursuing a modern or classical look. It is also worth keeping in mind that the stone resin wall panels and acrylic wall panels are more expensive than ceramic bathroom tiles.

If you wanted a unique look, you could always tile your bathroom and then use the wall panels as highlights. For example, you could use the panels around your shower enclosure to make it stand out and draw the eye.

To Conclude

As you can see, there are lots of benefits to the three options of stone resin, ceramic and acrylic. All of the materials are fantastic additions to your bathroom and when utilized correctly can give you a fixture which is with you for life. Now that’s luxury for less.

Which material do you prefer? Be sure to let us know in the comments!