Response to Reply 18

I am interested in a deeper explaination of "Slate in a shower is a very bad idea". I have been exploring this idea and have had two very polar opposite reactions to the idea.

Camp One:
States it is a great idea. No problems in psot installtion care and will look great.

Camp Two:
States I will be very unhappy in the end. No matter how many times the slate is sealed and due to the high moistsure enviroment of a showwe/steam room, the slate will off-gas an earthy aroma and will basically smell like dirt in the shower room.

Any comments?

I have personally removed 3 showers that were done in slate as a result of the "earthy" smell. Look into a porcelain tile that imitates slate. Better product, less maintenance, no issues.

Other than the earthy smell, is there anything bad about it being in a high moisture area? How would you clean it? Any other special installation requirements that I should know about?

Because slate is simply dried mud, there is also a leaching effect to this product. Depending on the amount of iron/rust veins, you could have some streaking.