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- 1). Mark the tile layout by marking the level and plumb --- vertical and horizontal -- layout lines on the wall. Use the straightedge on a level. Determine how many tiles will fit to the left and right of the plumb line and above and below the level line.
- 2). Mix thinset with a latex adhesive instead of water. Mix it in a 5-gallon bucket. Chuck a mixer into your power drill and mix until the thinset takes on a peanut-butter-like consistency.
- 3). Tile small areas at a time -- about 3 by 3 feet -- or areas that you can cover in about 15 minutes. Apply thinset with the notched side of the trowel, holding it at a 45 degree angle to achieve deep grooves.
- 4). Insert plastic spacers between tiles.
- 5). Trim tiles with a diamond saw. Wear eye protection. Make straight cuts along the lines you mark. Smooth the cut edge with 200-grit wet-dry sandpaper, as The Family Handyman recommends. Take care with marble: Push it very slowly through the saw. The ends of a cut are especially prone to breakage, according to The Family Handyman, which recommends cutting in an inch from each end before completing cuts.
- 6). Let the thinset dry for a day or overnight and pluck out spacers with needle-nose pliers.
- 7). Mix a little grout at a time, about one-quarter or one-third of the bag. It will have to set for the manufacturer's recommended amount of time.
- 8). Work the grout into the joints with a grout float. Fill the joints completely and scrape away the excess with the edge of the float. Hold the float diagonal to the grout lines so you don't scoop out the grout you've laid as you pass over them.
- 9). Let the grout set 15 minutes and wipe the marble with a large wet sponge, rinsing it frequently.
- 10
Polish the marble with a clean, dry towel after about an hour. Use the towel to clean up any grout lines. The Family Handyman recommends wetting the tile and grout lines once a day for a few days to help it cure.
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