Do I Need to Seal the Marble Tiles in My Shower? We also installed metal floating shelf brackets before tiling. I realize you completed your backsplash project sometime ago, but Id appreciate any hints you can give me. Question on the cuts around the light fixture. If these tiles were in other parts of your home, there is no doubt that your contractor would recommend sealing them to protect them from damage. Ive watched so many videos on circular cuts but mostly all are on ceramic tiles in which they start with a wet saw and finish with nippers (which I dont know if they work on marble). I used your tutorial as my bible for my backsplash project. The first step is prepping your walls. I was overwhelmed with the options in the tile aisle. Marmer is klassiek maar toch modern en is een van onze favorieten voor keuken- en badtegels. I think the logic is marble is basic and the ph of cleaners can mark it up. Rock Doctor is here to answer that question for you! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! You dont want a bunch of skinny weird pieces in the corner. After tons of research, these are the products we used: A. Yours turned out great. https://rockdoctor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/rockdrlogo300x211-2020.png, https://rockdoctor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/marble-shower-tiles.jpg. No, we didn't have to pick out the darker ones, but since it's natural stone, you might have just gotten some boxes with more dark ones in there. Your recommendation to use sanded grout with 1/8th inch grout is also not least correct. Phone:(913) 894-0288 Thanks. We decided that our feature wall was the most important spot visually, so we started with full tiles there and lucky for us, the corner worked out well. I believe the logic is that color from grout used can leech into the marble tile and cause discoloration. Thanks so much for your inspiration and wonderful tutorial. Its really easy to miss spots and you dont want any holes in your grout job. which was the best price I could find. I am glad I bought it from a local store because it really helped my confidence to see it in person and I ended up with several extra boxes that I can now easily return. Just one bottle of Rock Doctor Granite & Stone Sealer can cover up to 100 square feet of stone, and you only need to reseal your shower tiles every 12 months. I love the dark and would choose them again! [] Is this your first time tiling? https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/the-best-paint-for-kitchen-cabinets/, Thank you for sharing this blog. It was so helpful in our marble tile backlash project which is looking amazing! Some Worked, Some Didnt! Calacatta and Carrera are famous for this problem - especially in showers for some reason.Hold it up to the light and put your hand behind it. The backsplash was a bit of a splurge. Yes, we used the same sized spacers between the subway tile and the pencil tile. This sealer will help create a barrier between the surface of the stone and anything that it comes into contact with like water or the shampoo and conditioner that you use. 511 Impregnator Sealer. Youll get crisp lines every time! Dont smear thinset all over the place and then try to race the clock. I am wrapping the cut tile on the inside corner but wanted to know about the spacing? Honed marble tile is more likely to absorb water than polished marble. Grout. If someone has over a 1/16th, they should still use unsanded, or an excel grout, as the regular sanded grout will scratch the marble. Flooraid Multi-Surface Liquid Floor Cleaner, 7 Ways Youre Accidentally Ruining Your Countertops. What size spacers did you use? In most cases, it isnt a great idea to seal marble tiles in the shower, because in wet environments, the sealer may actually trap water in the tiles and cause the stone to degrade. You really cant see that small row of tile under the cabinets unless you bend down and look. So far it seems to be doing its job and Im happy with my choice. See that huge color difference? Ill admit, I completely freaked out. You can see in the photo below how the water was seeping into the tile and darkening it: Heres another photo that shows a dry tile leaning up against all the dark tile. This has been an amazing reference for my attempted marble tiled wall. There are a few different circumstances that will require you to seal marble shower tiles. We could have used plain white subway tile and saved about a $100. Marble is classic yet modern, and is one of our favorites for kitchen and bath tiling. The other choice we had to make was the spacing vertically. You will also need to install outlet extenders on all switches and plugs that will be within the backsplash area. If the marble gets stained by the grout or water during installation, you'll have wasted all that time and money and you'll be back here asking how to get stains out of your brand new marble. Then seal it again after installing(and after the grout has had a few days to cure. Thank you! []. However, just because you generally wouldnt want to seal marble tiles in moist areas, that doesnt mean that there arent exceptions to this rule. Rock Doctor Granite & Stone Sealer is made to be used on all kinds of natural stone surfaces, including marble. So you didn't seal prior to installing? Pencil Tile Installation. Yes, seal it before installing. EVERY. Neither of us have done any tiling work before, so we were a little nervous about it. It was kind of expensive $6 per piece! This is a great article with awesome tips! Good article, i read it as a refresher. This serves two purposes. I just installed marble tile. Thats what the unfinished space above our tile feature wall is for. I see that you used spacers at the top and bottom of the pencil tiles between cabinets and counter tops, but what about the side of the pencil tile where the subway tile meets it? When it comes to sealing marble shower tiles, Rock Doctor has the solution for you. The final result is just so stunning and will look amazing with any kitchen theme. Also be careful what you clean it with. . We had a few tiles break, but it really wasnt too bad. We used this dark gray mortar and although it was fine, it would have been easier if it had more closely matched our tile. Mapei Porcelain Tile Mortar Polymer Enriched Thin-Set Mortar, how we installed floating shelves over the tile backsplash, Happy Hands Fingerless Mitts Free Pattern, The Best Flowers for Window Boxes and How To Install A Window Box, How to Install a Backsplash The Budget Decorator, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Building-Products-Polyblend-381-Bright-White-10-lb-Non-Sanded-Grout-PBG38110/100553533, Modern Marble Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash | Small Kitchen Design, Best Best Grout For Kitchen Backsplash | Small Kitchen Design, Marble Subway Tile Backsplash Pictures | kepoins.com, Een backsplash installeren De Budget Decorator - Pintagram Online, https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/the-best-paint-for-kitchen-cabinets/, https://www.lowes.com/pd/Anatolia-Tile-8-Pack-Venatino-Polished-3-in-x-6-in-Polished-Subway-Wall-Tile/3477505, https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/how-to-diy-laminate-countertops/, 40 Unique Kitchen Backsplash Ideas on a Budget. Heres more info: https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/how-to-diy-laminate-countertops/. We tried tiling over one and it made the tile look horrible and uneven. Im really happy with the grout color. And that doesnt include the prep before hand. Maybe you could go back and look through the boxes on the shelf? Can I ask what your countertop material is? We used it here: 7. Sometimes the wins are in the details. But it finished off our edges so nicely that it was worth it to me to spend the extra money. 1. When I bought some boxes, I noticed that there was a big variation between the tiles a lot of darker tiles mixed in with some whites. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Thats just actual tiling time. Hello Jennifer. It matched the grout perfectly. The molding is ordered and on its way so hopefully we can finish that up soon. I saw that your backsplash is pretty evenly colored did you have to pick out the tiles? This step took us a long, long time because when we removed our old backsplash, the walls got torn up. The grout went a long way to hide any imperfections or slightly chipped tile edges. Marble tiles can make your bathroom look fancy and modern. This is our corner: See how we used a short piece on the left side, then a longer piece next to it on the right side so that visually the design wraps around? You totally cant tell that two crazy kids just kept Googling things to figure out how to make it happen. If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines below. Nice looking project! Youre going to love it! This is probably the single most important thing you can do to ensure that your tile goes on smoothly with no funky corners sticking up. Im looking at honed black granite and would love some feedback on upkeep. I truly enjoyed the process and now it looks wonderful. I wrote up a separate post detailing how we installed floating shelves over the tile backsplash, so if youre planning to add floating shelves, definitely give it a read. [] The Craft Patch Blog has a tutorial for us on how to tile a backsplash with marble subway tile. I didnt imagine that going well, so we used our handy oscillating tool to cut into the back of the wood trim the same thickness as the tile. I used the same tiles as you, as I have beautiful, new Venatino countertops and the combination is gorgeous. CA Ingredient DisclosureSoap in Seconds Ingredient Disclosure, Home | Products | FAQ | Store Locator | Contact Us. Okay, now on to the actual tiling process. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Thank you for such a thorough tutorial! Marble darkens considerably when wet. Hi Maria, thank you for taking the time to write this note. However, do marble shower tiles need the same TLC? It seems that this topic has been debated. Since the tile is thick, you dont want your outlets to look sunken into the wall. We found it was much easier to install the pencil tile first, let it dry, then install the subway tile next to it. Dont forget to add spacers between the bottom pencil tile and the countertop and between each pencil tile going up. White marble, including Carrara and Calcutta marbles, often contain small deposits of iron. Dont freak out! Also, if the marble has a mesh backing, its highly recommended to use epoxy thinset. SDS Specs:Material Safety Data Sheets Im not sure if the link brought me directly to what you had purchased. Plan out how youre going to lay out your tile, where youre going to start, and what the other end will look like when you get there. That worked well for us. C.Mapei Porcelain Tile Mortar Polymer Enriched Thin-Set Mortar. 2. We used it around the window, between the tile and the cabinets and along the seam between tile and countertop. And although there was a learning curve and it was a time-intensive project, we would definitely DIY it again some day. Use mortar/thinset thats similar in color to your tile. Squirt the caulk in, smooth it out with your finger, then peel the tape away while the caulk is still wet. Hope that helps! It goes away once the tile dries, which took two days for us. If youre on the fence DO IT! I dont know how you would be able to get clean enough cuts otherwise. When exposed to water, the iron deposits can oxidize and lead to a rust stain. 6. Just started today. 5. Plus, the frequently running water in your shower is likely to remove anything that could possibly stain the tiles. 2022 APEX Products. I am so thrilled with how it turned out. 4. Then seal it annually thereafter with a quality sealer. Its kind of a long post, but thats because its packed with helpful information! -Bree & Rich (livingmyhomelife.com). It wasso grayand not the light, pretty backsplash I had envisioned. What you seen now your tile is called ghosting. Rock Doctor is a federally registered trademark of Apex Products, LLC The outlet extenders bring switches and plugs out to the correct depth so theyll look right once the tile is surrounding them. So far, so good! https://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Building-Products-Polyblend-381-Bright-White-10-lb-Non-Sanded-Grout-PBG38110/100553533, [] diy marble subway tile backsplash tips tricks and what not to do Marble Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash Size: 750 X 571 | Source: https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com [], [] Download Image More @ https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com [], [] diy marble subway tile backsplash tips tricks and what not Best Grout For Kitchen Backsplash Size: 750 X 500 | Source: https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com [], [] The Craft Patch BlogHeeft een tutorial voor ons over het betegelen van een backsplash met marmeren metrotegel. Did you find the marble tiles were difficult to cut/many pieces broke? While iron oxidization typically a problem on floors after a flood or plumbing leak due to continuous water exposure over an extended period of time, it seems like it shouldnt be a problem for tiles in a shower. I installed, sealed, then grouted with graphite pearl grout. We started right at our feature wall area and since this was our first time tiling, we definitely got better as we went along.