How to Install Marble Tile

Marble tile is an easy and less expensive way of adding marble to your home. Marble tile is often installed in kitchen and bathrooms, although it has become popular in other areas of the home as well. If you choose marble tile for your floor, make sure to choose a floor with a high enough friction coefficient to avoid slipping, especially when the floor is wet.

Step 1: Snap two chalklines on the floor that bisect in the center, marking the exact center of the room with an X and dividing the room into fourths.

Step 2: Apply a layer of thinset with a notched trowel over the center of the room, which should cover approximately 9 square feet of space. Due to the notches in the trowel, the chalklines should still be somewhat visible.

Step 3: Apply the first four tiles, which should meet at the X in the center of the room. To put down a tile, twist it slightly to set it into place. Be sure to use spacers between each tile to create even spaces for grout lines.

TIP: If you do not want grout lines, skip this step and butt the tiles against one another. Make sure, however, that the area where the corners intersect makes a perfect X.

Step 4: Place a piece of plywood over the installed marble tiles. Press down on the plywood to ensure that the marble tiles are all perfectly even.

Step 5: Install more tiles, covering the reminder of the thinset that you applied. Level the tiles with the piece of plywood.

Step 6: Apply thinset with the notched trowel to another area of the floor. Add more marble tiles, making sure to level and space them properly. Cover the entire floor with tiles and allow the thinset to dry for 12 hours.

Step 7: Remove the spacers between the marble tiles. Allow the area to cure for 48 hours.

Step 8: Force unsanded grout into the gaps between the marble tiles using a rubber float. Wait 15 minutes, then use a damp sponge to buff any grout haze from the surface of the tile.