Any tips for installing marble tile?

[Delirious]

I just removed all the old ceramic tile with a jackhammer. Removed the remaining thinset as well. Will see if the floor is level this afternoon and if not, pour some leveling concrete. I have laid tile two other times and used the gray sand thinset with spacer. I plan on not using spacers and putting the marble end to end and will purchase some White marble thinset.

Any tips or recommendations as far as marble tile goes? Will it pretty much stay end to end or do I need to tape the squares together like you do when laying hardwood flooring with glue?

After the thinset has dried, Is there a need to grout the floor since it's end to end. Not sure if you get it perfectly fitted together with no spaces. It's my first time laying marble, So I dont' know.

thanks for any advice.

[txdukklr]

my tip is hire someone

[Brett A]

Leave a small space between the walls and the tile, especially if laying it end to end. Use some quarter round trim or shoe mold to cover the space.

[KDinTX]

ive set lots of tile and even with marble you will have to put some kind of grout/sealer in the cracks even though they are small. if not then water will work into the thin set and tiles will pop lose after time. when ive done marble on counter tops we have left small spacing 1/8 or less and then came back and grouted it with similar color grout, cant really tell until you get right on it an looks good. there are sealers that can be used instead of grout but i cant remember off hand which ones

[TxSuperDad]

Dont space them closer then 1/8 of an inch.


Take 4 pain killers prior to starting work and 4 more when you are done. You will only hurt half as much this way

[cosmiccowboy]

make sure you use good marble that is dimensionally accurate. Some of the cheaper marble tiles vary slightly in thickness when they are sawn and you end up having to surface grind...thats a huge pain...

[Delirious]

Dont space them closer then 1/8 of an inch.


Take 4 pain killers prior to starting work and 4 more when you are done. You will only hurt half as much this way

Isn't that the truth. Popped two Aleve last night after removing all the tile.

Thanks everyone

[Delirious]

my tip is hire someone

Some men do, some men don't

[Sticks&Strings]

Cosmic cowboy is right. Make sure they are plumb all the way around. I am a builder and have tight joint travertine going in now. I wouldn't tackle tight joint unless you have had some practice. There is an extra charge for doing TJ and the reason is because it is harder and more time consuming as all 4 corners must line up right and all tiles must be level...the same level. So what I do is lay mine in a brick or broken joint pattern. I like the way it looks and there is no up charge and it's laid Tight joint. HIRE SOMEONE!!

[pblaetz]

Leave an 1/8 grout line and then fill it with a non-sanded grout. Less than an 1/8 and you'll get too many lips or edges. The only way to avoid that would be to lay them tight and then grind or hone the floor. Go slow with them and good luck!

[Rockjock]

Don't attempt to butt the tiles. Use at least a 1/32 or 1/16 grout line.