DIY: Ceramic Marble Bathroom Tile

Ceramic tile designed to look like marble

Ceramic tile comes in many colors, shapes and designs. Homeowners who love the look of marble in bathrooms can install ceramic tiles that are designed to look like marble. Installing ceramic tile is easy when you know the proper steps. Learn more about installing ceramic tile.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench
• Rag
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Cement backer board
• Thin set mortar adhesive
• Notched trowel
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Fiber glass mesh tape
• Ceramic marble tiles
• Tile spacers
• Pencil
• Tile cutter or tile saw
• Small screwdriver
• Vacuum
• Grout
• Rubber float
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Remove the bolts on the toilet with a wrench. Once the bolts are removed, lift the toilet from the bathroom floor. Place a rag into the sewer drain pipe to block the sewage gasses from your home while you work.

2. Remove the baseboards from the walls in the bathroom. A pry bar and hammer will help to carefully remove the trim so that it can be re-installed later.

3. Install cement backer board to the bathroom floor. Cut the backer board to size with a utility knife. Spread Thinset adhesive on the floor with a notched trowel. Once the Thinset is in place, place the backer board on top of the mortar and screw it in place. Patch the seams in the backer board with fiberglass mesh tape and thin set. Allow the thin set mortar to dry for 24 hours.

4. Place the ceramic marble tiles on the floor to decide a layout. Use tile spacers between each of the ceramic marble tiles. After the layout looks good use a pencil to mark a starting position on the floor. Remove the tiles and tile spacers in preparation for the Thinset mortar application.

5. Spread the Thinset mortar on the floor with a notched trowel. Set each of the ceramic marble tiles into the mortar. Starting at the indicated layout starting point, gently press the tile into place. Insert a tile spacer between each of the tiles. Use a tile cutter or a tile saw to cut the tiles along the edges of the room and around the sewage hole. Allow the tiles to dry overnight.

6. Use a small screwdriver to remove the tile spacers from between the ceramic marble tiles. Vacuum the joints between the tiles so they are clean and free of loose Thinset mortar.

7. Spread the grout into the tile joints with a rubber tile float. Check each of the tile joints to ensure that the joint is completely filled with grout. Let the grout sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the excess grout with a damp sponge. Let the grout dry for 48 hours.

8. Re-install the baseboards and the toilet in the bathroom.

References

• Readers Digest: How to install a ceramic tile floor in the bathroom