Marble bathroom tile installation

My preference in general is honed marble, which has a more matte finish than polished marble. As such, it tends to show etching less. It can, however, potentially stain more easily since the pores of the natural stone are more open , so be sure to seal it. However, there seem to be many more marble tile options in a polished finish, so I would encourage you not to limit yourself if you love a polished marble pattern. Easy decision! Now for the fun part! I think there are three easy ways to combine marble tiles in bathroom design.

The first is to combine white tile and marble tile. White marble bathrooms are beautiful, but a mixture of a classic white subway tile or a beautiful white handmade tile with a carrara marble tile floor or shower can provide a more subtle nod and often be more budget friendly than a full-marble bathroom.

Another wonderful option is to simply mix different sizes and shapes of marble tiles. Rectangular, square, round, hex… there are countless beautiful yet simple marble tile patterns. We loved how our marble subway tile kitchen backsplash paired with our carrara marble countertops , so we decided to install marble tiles in two different sizes of rectangles on the walls and floors of our master bathroom.

Since neither was grippy enough for the shower floor, we used a third option there — tumbled marble hex. The combination of all these shapes and sizes of carrara marble tile provides a simple, elegant interest. What if you want a little more pizzaz in your space? We used this incredible gray marble mosiac on the floors of a recent project, and the pattern is elegant and eye-catching without being too loud or feeling too trendy.

Update: See the finished bathroom here! These geometric tiles make wonderful floors because the grout lines keep the floors from ever being slick, especially when wet. But they also would make spectacularly dramatic shower walls or as accent wall tiles behind bathroom vanities. So many beautiful options! Once more all together, here are the marble tile combinations that I think would be beautiful in any bathroom design. Be sure to check out my posts on my favorite grout colors for marble and white tile as well as this post with marble bath inspiration , too.

The price. Lower-grade natural marble can actually be less expensive per square foot than porcelain, but higher-grade natural marble can costs many times more. You may be able to get the look you want at a much lower cost with porcelain. Here is a detailed marble porcelain comparison.

I hope this pros and cons list helped you decide if this classic, beautiful material is right for your space. This comprehensive guide walks you through all the steps of choosing who will design and build your project, vetting remodeling companies, and ensuring that you have the best experience.

Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Remodeling. Ultimate Guide to Seattle Backyard Cottages. Contact Us. By Eric Thomas. It does come with its own set of challenges. Are you wondering if it is right for your bathroom design? I want to share the pros and cons of going with natural marble tile. No two slabs are alike. The diversity in veining and coloring is considered its best trait. Marble Tiles Pros Source: unsplash. Here are the pros and cons. The veins make each tile an individual work of art.

Some famous marble colors in floor tiles are: Carrara Venatino Crema Marfil Brescia Sinai Makrana Calcatta Borghini Botticino As it has been used for millennia, it will give a refined look to your bathroom. Shiny and Translucent Where other stone tiles get ruined, marble is hard and can take a lot of polish. This shimmering effect will make these tiles stand out in your bathroom. It is a naturally translucent stone. There is no other material that matches its radiance. Healthy As this is a natural stone, it doesn't require chemical processing.

Marble Tile Density Marble is a hard rock, therefore very high-density. Increased Value Installing marble tile will increase the value of your property. Homebuyers know that marble flooring will last for a long time and will never go out of style. Marble Tile Cons Source: flickr.

Expensive Marble is a very desirable natural stone material, which is reflected in its cost. Many kinds of marble have limited availability and as a result, it can be quite expensive.

Easily Scratched This material scores around a three on the Mohs hardness scale — a scale that measures the hardness of minerals and their ability to be scratched. Porous This tile is porous. Cement board doesn't stop moisture from passing through it—it's not a vapor or moisture barrier—but it won't be damaged by moisture the same way wood is. Cement board also is engineered to bond very well with thin-set mortar adhesive, which you will use to install your marble tile.

Because marble is heavy, your subfloor should be extremely sturdy. This may require some structural work to reinforce the joists supporting the subfloor before installing tiles. Your installation will look best if the tiles radiate outward from the center of the room, rather than starting abruptly from one of the walls.

In order to achieve this symmetrical effect, you need to create reference lines on the surface of the cement board underlayment. Find the center of two opposing walls and use a chalk line to mark a path between them, dividing the room in half.

Then, measure to the center of that line, and use a T-square to draw a perpendicular line at the mark, using a pencil. Snap a chalk line across the floor using the pencil line as a guide, dividing the floor into four equal quadrants. Check your layout by test-fitting full tiles along both reference lines from wall to wall. If the last row of tiles against any of the walls is less than a few inches wide, adjust your chalk line grid as needed so that the tiles along the walls are an acceptable width, based on your preference.

Mix thin-set mortar according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mix only a little bit at a time, and make more when necessary. Using a notched trowel, spread the adhesive onto the floor, starting where the reference lines intersect at the center of the room. As you work, use the notched edge of the trowel to create grooves in the mortar. This will increase the adhesive strength of the bond between the cement board and the bottom of the marble.

Spread enough mortar to easily cover the bottom of a single tile, and make sure that its entire surface is notched.

Gently press the first tile into place, aligning two of its edges with the chalk lines in the corner of the layout. As you press it down, twist the tile slightly to ensure that it properly sets in the mortar bed below. A rubber mallet is a large hammer with a soft rubber head. Use this to lightly tap the surface of the marble tile, pressing it more firmly into the mortar. However, be careful not to tap too hard, as marble is a relatively soft material and can crack rather easily.

Avoid moving the tile as you are setting it. Continue to spread mortar for each tile, then place the tile before moving on to the next one.

Follow the reference line towards the wall, using it as a guide to keeping your placement straight. Use tile spacers to maintain consistent spacing between tiles. The spacers should be selected for whatever width you have chosen for the joints.

Spacers help ensure the grout lines are sharp and uniform. After placing every three or four tiles, use a 2-by-4 to ensure that they are at a uniform height. Place the board across the tiles, and tap the board lightly with the rubber mallet. If the marble is polished you may want to cover the front of the wood with a piece of carpet to prevent scratches. You can also do this across multiple rows when you have more tiles installed. Once you reach the wall with the first row, take note of the gap at the end that may require a custom-cut piece.