Marble tile floors have been around for centuries. Even today, in an age of much simpler and less expensive options, marble remains synonymous with elegance and class. Installing marble is more complicated than installing ceramic or other types of tiles because the marble can't be cut on a standard tile cutter, instead needing a wet saw. Also, since the tiles are straight-cut in their manufacture, the tile surfaces have to be completely even with one another.
Things You'll Need
- Chalk snapline
- Thin-set mortar
- Notched trowel
- Marble floor tiles
- Marble tile spacers
- Three-foot board (very straight)
- Rubber mallet
- Wet saw
- Unsanded grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
Instructions
Step One
Use the chalk line to divide the floor into four quadrants, laying two intersecting lines across, the middle of the floor.
Step Two
Spread down mortar at the intersection with your notched trowel, covering three or four square feet at the center of the floor with thin-set mortar. Keep the thin-set in one of the four corners of the intersection.
Step Three
Press a marble tile into the mortar bordered by two of the lines of the intersection. Set two spacers along one side of the tile. Press a second tile there, lining up the edges. Set a third tile alongside the others.
Step Four
Set the straight board over the three tiles so it spans all of them. Gently tap the board with your mallet to get the tiles flat and even with one another.
Step Five
Spread more mortar and set additional marble tiles, building out from the middle in a grid pattern and working toward the edges of the room. Put spacers between all of them. Stop after every group of three tiles and even them out with your mallet.
Step Six
Cut the tiles for the perimeter, by the walls, using your wet saw.
Step Seven
Let the tiles set overnight. Pull out the spacers.
Step Eight
Grout the tiles, spreading the unsanded grout over them with your grout float, forcing the grout into the spaces between the tiles and scraping it off the surface. Wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge. Let it set for 24 hours.
Source: www.eHow.com
