BathroomMaterialsCompared:Tile,Sanitaryware,andFittings

Tile: ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone

Ceramic is the most economical option, roughly Rs 40 to 150 per sq ft. Its water absorption is higher than porcelain, which makes it better suited to walls than to floors in wet areas. Maintenance is low, and the material typically holds for 10 to 15 years before wear becomes visible, most noticeably underfoot.

Porcelain runs roughly Rs 80 to 300 per sq ft. It is denser and less porous than ceramic, which makes it our default for bathroom floors specifically. Water resistance is excellent, maintenance is low, and lifespan is genuinely long (20 years and beyond) with little visible wear even in wet, high-traffic bathrooms.

Natural stone, marble or travertine, sits at roughly Rs 200 to 600 and upward per sq ft. It is beautiful and genuinely high-maintenance in a bathroom. Porous stone in a consistently wet environment needs frequent sealing, and etching from soaps and cleaning products is a real risk. We use it selectively, on feature walls and in dry zones rather than throughout wet areas, unless a client asks for it and accepts the upkeep that comes with it.

Sanitaryware: vitreous china and solid surface

Vitreous china is the standard for basins and WCs, and it earns the position. It is non-porous, simple to clean, and extremely durable, with a working life of 25 years and more. It is also available across a wide range, roughly Rs 8,000 to 80,000 and upward per basin depending on brand and design. Premium European names such as Duravit, Villeroy and Boch, and Kohler command higher prices for design and finish quality rather than for a fundamentally different material performance.

Solid surface and stone basins are the more sculptural, design-led choice, roughly Rs 15,000 to 60,000 and upward depending on material and fabrication. They are beautiful in a statement powder room, but generally more maintenance-intensive and more prone to staining than vitreous china. We specify them selectively, for effect, rather than throughout a home.

Fittings: chrome, matte black, and brushed brass

Chrome-plated brass is the durable, timeless default, roughly Rs 4,000 to 25,000 per tap depending on brand. Corrosion resistance is excellent and maintenance is easy. Scratches and water spots are the main visible wear over time.

Matte black is a strong current preference, roughly Rs 6,000 to 35,000 per tap. The honest caution is that matte finishes show water spots and fingerprints more readily than chrome, and lower-quality coatings can wear at contact points such as handles and spouts over a 5 to 8 year period, revealing the base metal beneath. It is worth specifying a genuine PVD (physical vapour deposition) coating rather than a cheaper spray finish.

Brushed brass and gold run roughly Rs 8,000 to 40,000 and upward per tap. The finish is warm and premium, with maintenance considerations close to matte black. Here too, PVD coating quality is what determines how well the surface holds against water and cleaning products across years of daily use.

What we specify, and why

For most premium bathrooms we set porcelain tile on floors and wet walls, reserve natural stone for accent and dry zones, and use vitreous china sanitaryware as the reliable default with a solid surface basin brought in selectively where a room can carry the statement.

On fittings, whatever the finish, we insist on a genuine PVD coating over the cheaper alternatives. The price difference is modest against how much it governs the way a tap reads in year five compared with year one. In a room this exposed, that gap is the whole point.