Why porcelain slabs
Why porcelain slabs instead of tile or acrylic?
Porcelain slabs are sheets of porcelain about 5 by 10 feet (63 × 126 in), so a shower wall goes up in two or three pieces instead of hundreds of tiles. You get the look of marble or stone with almost no grout to scrub, on a surface that doesn't absorb water, stain or need sealing. Swish slab showers start at $11,300.
The slabs we use
Made in
Italy
Slab size
63 × 126 in (about 5 × 10 ft)
Thickness
6mm
In stock
500+ slabs at our Philadelphia shop
Side by side
How do porcelain slabs compare to tile and acrylic?
Compare
Porcelain slab
Tile
Acrylic panels
Look
Marble, stone and concrete looks in a few large pieces.
Endless choices, with a grid of grout lines as part of the look.
Solid colors and printed patterns that read as plastic up close.
Grout
A handful of thin seams per shower.
Hundreds of feet of grout lines.
None, but panels meet at trim strips and caulk joints.
Cleaning
Wipe it down. Non-porous, no sealing.
Grout needs scrubbing and periodic resealing.
Wipe it down; abrasive cleaners scratch it.
Over time
Doesn't fade, yellow or stain.
Tile lasts; grout discolors and cracks without upkeep.
Can dull, scratch or yellow.
Price
Swish showers start at $11,300.
Wide range; high-end tile lands near slab pricing.
Usually the least expensive option.
Tile and acrylic prices vary by contractor. Our full price ranges are on the cost page.
Why we only build in slab
Three reasons it's worth it.
No grout lines
A slab wall has a few thin seams instead of a grid of grout, so there's almost nothing for mildew to grab onto.
Real porcelain, not plastic
Porcelain is fired clay and minerals. It looks and feels like stone, and it doesn't yellow or scratch like acrylic panels.
Waterproofed underneath
Every shower is built on a Schluter waterproofing system before the slabs go up. The porcelain is the finish, not the only thing keeping water out.
From rack to wall
How a slab becomes your shower wall.
01
You pick the slab
Walk our racks in Philadelphia and pick the exact slabs for your walls. We tag them with your name.
02
We measure your walls
After tear-out and waterproofing, we measure each wall so every piece is cut to fit your room, not a standard size.
03
We cut it in our own shop
We cut the panels, valve holes, niches and mitered corners on our own saws at the shop, which keeps dust out of your house.
04
Our crew installs it
The same crew that tore out your old shower sets the slabs, seals the seams and cleans up.
Bookmatching
What is a bookmatched wall?
Many of our marble-look slabs come with two mirror-image faces, A and B. Set side by side, the veins meet at the seam and open like a book. We can start the match in the back corners, so each side wall mirrors the back wall, or at the center of the back wall, with the pattern wrapping around the shower from there. Bookmatching is an upgrade; our standard layout uses the A face throughout.
See slabs available as bookmatched pairs →
Questions
Porcelain slab FAQ.
Is porcelain slab the same as quartz?
No. Quartz is engineered stone held together with resin and is mostly used for countertops. Porcelain is fired clay and minerals with no resin, so it handles heat and sunlight, which is why it works on walls, floors and fireplaces too.
Can slabs go over my existing tile?
No. We take the walls down to the studs every time, so we can waterproof them properly before the slabs go up.
Can porcelain slab go on the shower floor?
Yes, in a matte finish. Our matte slabs meet the slip-resistance (DCOF) requirements for interior wet areas, and we envelope-cut the floor into a few sections that slope to the drain. Polished and satin slabs stay on the walls and on dry floors. How envelope-cut floors work
How do I clean a porcelain slab shower?
Every 3 to 4 weeks, spray the silicone joints with RMR Tub & Tile Cleaner, wait five minutes and rinse. Wipe the slabs with Windex and a microfiber cloth for shine. With that bit of upkeep, your shower will look about the same in ten years as it does today. The full care guide
Do porcelain slab walls crack?
Porcelain is very hard but thin, so it needs flat, solid walls and careful handling. That's why we cut and install our own slabs instead of handing them to subcontractors.
Can I see the slabs before I choose?
Yes. Our shop in Northeast Philadelphia has 500+ slabs on racks. Book a visit and pick the exact slabs that go on your walls.
Design & price online
See what a slab shower costs for your bathroom.
Design your shower in the Swish Shower Builder in a couple of minutes and see your estimated cost as you go, no email needed. When it looks right, book your on-site estimate.
Or call (856) 497-9474