Is marble a good choice for a bathroom?
Yes on walls and counters, with care. It scratches and etches with acids and needs sealing. On floors, a honed finish is safer than polished.
Marble tile, slab and counters
Marble Bathroom Remodel in Austin, TX
Marble is beautiful and softer than most people expect. It scratches, it etches with acids and it needs sealing. None of that is a reason to avoid it, but it should shape where you use it and which finish you pick. Bailey & Bear installs marble on shower walls, floors and counters.
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Written quoteline-item scope before work starts
Tile and waterproofing are the largest share of any bathroom budget on our published breakdown, about 25–35%, and natural marble sits at the top of that share. Most marble bathrooms land in our $18,000–$40,000 full remodel or $40,000–$90,000+ high-end ranges.
Call 512-689-8346 for a free walkthrough and a written quote.
Honed or polished
Polished marble is shiny and shows its veining best, but it is slippery when wet and shows etching. Honed marble has a matte surface, grips better and hides wear. We usually suggest honed or a textured finish on floors and shower floors, and polished only on walls or counters if you want the shine.
Marble also needs a sealer after installation and every so often afterward, and it should be cleaned with a pH-neutral cleaner. Lemon juice, vinegar and many bathroom sprays will dull it.
Marble bathrooms we have built
Brista Way (July 2022): marble tile throughout the walk-in shower with sleek black fixtures, which made the room feel brighter and bigger.
Kelsing Cove (December 2021): marble tile across the walls and floors, a floor pattern repeated in the shower niche, and custom vanities with brushed hardware.
Nueces Street (September 2019): Italian marble with patterned tile and a soaking tub set inside the shower. Redmond (October 2022) put marble countertops on custom vanities.
When porcelain is the better choice
If you want the look but not the upkeep, marble-look porcelain is harder, does not etch and needs no sealing. Drennan used marble-look countertops for exactly that reason. We will show you both side by side. See also bathroom tile installation.
At a glance
Marble Bathroom Remodel numbers
| Item | What this page states |
|---|---|
| Tile and waterproofing share | About 25–35% (published) |
| Full remodel | $18,000–$40,000 |
| High-end | $40,000–$90,000+ |
| Floor finish we suggest | Honed or textured |
| Care | Seal after install; pH-neutral cleaner |
Ranges come from Bailey & Bear's published Austin cost guides. Your exact number comes from a free walkthrough and a written line-item quote.
Real Bailey & Bear bathrooms
More from our Austin projects
Each photo is from a completed Bailey & Bear project with its own page in our project gallery.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Is marble slippery in a shower?
Polished marble can be. We suggest honed marble or small mosaic tiles on shower floors, where the extra grout lines add grip.
How much does a marble bathroom cost in Austin?
Tile and waterproofing are about 25 to 35 percent of a bathroom budget, and natural marble sits at the top of that. Most marble bathrooms land in our $18,000 to $40,000 or $40,000 to $90,000+ ranges.
Can I get the marble look without the upkeep?
Yes. Marble-look porcelain and quartz give a similar look, do not etch and need no sealing.
Keep planning
Related bathroom projects
Luxury Bathroom Remodel
High-end bathroom remodels, Austin.
Bathroom Tile Installation
Shower tile, floor tile and niches.
Wet Room Bathroom
Wet rooms and tub-in-shower layouts.
Bathroom Vanity Replacement
Vanities, countertops and storage.
Start with the overview: bathroom remodeling in Austin · bathroom remodel cost in Austin
Thinking about marble?
Free walkthrough and a written, line-item quote from an owner-run Austin remodeler.