Working with marble is a similar process to other types of tiles, but with a few added issues. You need to make sure the tiles you get are fully sealed, as marble will absorb stains and moisture in its unsealed state. Marble tiles have to be evened against one another, since they're cut completely square. Start with a solid underlayment, preferably cement board, and remove all obstructions, including the toilet.
Instructions
1. Snap two intersecting lines over the middle of the bathroom floor with your chalk line, to divide it into four quadrants. Measure and mark the midpoint of each wall. Secure one end of the chalk line at one midpoint, then stretch the string across the room to the opposite midpoint. Pull the line taut, then lift slightly up on the string and release it to leave a chalk line. Repeat for the other two walls in the room, using a square as you snap the second line to adjust its position, so it's exactly perpendicular to the first line.
2. Spread thin-set mortar over the middle of the floor with the notched mortar trowel, covering a few square feet over the intersection. The chalk lines will remain visible through the mortar.
3. Set a marble tile into the mortar at the intersection, bordered on two adjacent sides by the two lines. Press the tile firmly into the mortar.
4. Put two tile spacers on each side of the tile. Press other tiles into place on each side of the first tile, against the spacers.
5. Repeat and continue, spreading more mortar as needed. Build out your tile grid from the center and work your way out along the chalk lines.
6. Lay your board along the surface of the first three or four tiles, covering them all at once. Tap around the board with a mallet to even out the tops of the tiles with one another.
7. Continue laying tiles and stopping occasionally to level them out with the board. Lay as many full tiles as will fit in the room. Leave empty spaces around the tub, toilet drain, walls and anywhere else that tiles will have to be cut to fit.
8. Let the full tiles set overnight.
9. Measure and cut the partial tiles for the edges of the floor by the walls, around the tub and around the toilet drain, using your wet saw. Spread mortar with the trowel in these areas, then press the tiles into the mortar. Let the tiles set overnight.
10. Pull out all the tile spacers. Apply grout over the tiles with a grout float, squeezing the long edge of the float along the surface to force the grout into the empty spaces between tiles. Wipe up the residual grout with a damp sponge. When the tile is completely dry, wipe the surface with a dry towel to remove grout haze. Let it set for 48 hours before reinstalling the toilet.
11. Seal the grout according to manufacturers instructions.
Tags: chalk line, , tiles with, along surface, around toilet