So, time to choose the tiles for the shower room (as in, Italian shower). As some people know, there will be an interesting (aperiodic) pattern with squares and equilateral triangles on the shower walls. The original plan was to continue that pattern on the bathroom floor.

 

Problems:

(a) unglazed terracotta (what my architect preferred) is not suitable for wet floors (in fact, the manufacturerś representative advises against it).

(b) glazed terracotta is not in general non-slip.

 

Possible solutions:

(a) Treat the unglazed terracotta so that it becomes waterproof

(b) Treat the glazed terracotta so that we won't slip on it and die

(c) Get anti-slip, waterproof tiles that are actually designed to be used on shower floors.

 

Objections to possible solutions:

(a), (b): Does it work? Will it last?

(c) Do they work? Also: where on earth can I get anti-slip shower tiles that are equilateral triangles of side equal to 10cm? 

 

Compromise variants of (c):

(c1) Half of the area in the tiling is made of squares. Get anti-slip tiles for the 10cmx10cm squares, glazed terracotta for the 10cmx10cm, and rely on the fact that adult human feet are longer than 10cm.

(c2) Just have the floor made out of some anti-slip material, and keep the pattern on the walls. Hope things don't clash too much.

 

Opinions? Reality check?

 

There are some great none slip tiles out there 

Look under pool areas 

Unglazed are fine in wet areas But they will need to be sealed 

Your tiler will seal prior to grouting or laying 

and then again a week or two afterwards 

 

As with Builders Merchants 

Reps rarely know much about the products they sell 

 

The manufacturer says that an anti-slip treatment would cost about 720 eur for surfaces up to 25m^2. Since my shower room is less than 6m^2, it doesn't seem to be worth it! Better get anti-slip tiles, no?