How to Install 12-inch Marble Tiles
- 1). Lay out the tiles on the floor with spacers to determine which ones need to be cut to fit around walls. Measure out the cuts on the marble and mark with a pencil and a flat edge.
- 2). Make necessary cuts using a wetsaw. Marble is a hard rock and does not cut easily. The wetsaw supplies the blade with water to keep it cool during cutting. Snip off jagged edges that the wetsaw might have left.
- 3). Spread thinset over a small area of the floor where the marble is going. Start in a corner and work your way out. Then use the notched side of the trowel to create a rough surface on the top of the thinset. Do not cover more flooring than you can work with in about 15 minutes. Otherwise the thinset will start to dry out and the marble won't stick.
- 4). Place the 12-by-12-inch tile on the floor and put spacers in between them. Put a spacer along the walls as well. These will be removed later and the seams will be filled. Repeat the thinset and tile process until you have covered the floor area.
- 5). Mix together cement and water according to the package directions. Spread the mixture over the marble tiles and press in slightly to force it into the seams. Use a flat-edged trowel.
- 6). Wipe off excess cement with a damp sponge, leaving only what is in the seams. let it dry for several hours until the damp sheen on top disappears. This means that the concrete is starting to dry, but is not completely dry.
- 7). Mop over the tiles with a damp sponge mop to redampen the concrete. Do this a couple of times a day for three days. This will help cure the concrete, making it harder more durable.
