Install Tile Over Marble Shower Walls

It is a wall not a floor.

Install tile over marble shower walls.

The sheets can be cut to size on the jobsite and are installed on the walls with adhesive over a waterproof pan. Epoxy is expensive but there aren t any other settings materials that will give you a reliable bond over this plastic surface. These wall panels are 3 8 thick not difficult to cut and come in smooth subway tile and stone tile looks for the appearance of real tile without grout joint maintenance. Being that it is marble a precious rock you may want to remove carefully and bag it up for possible later use in a wall or a tumbled shower pan.

We also have the same tile on the floor of another bathroom and mosaic marble on the shower floor in that room. So so long as it is structurally sound check this with a golf ball and a hollow eardrum and free of cracks the tcna approves of this installation method. Cultured marble is an acrylic composite and so it will require an epoxy setting material after the surface has been roughed up with either a grinder or sandpaper. The reason for this is to create a surface rough enough so that the thinset or mastic will bond properly as cultured marble s finished surface is too smooth for tile adhesives to bond.

Also tile is heavy so put down blankets to protect the floors and tub from being damaged by falling. Once the cultured marble has been cut to fit your surround test fit each panel in place. Tile over existing marble. Begin by removing the old tile or the fiberglass shower wall.

Cultured marble is made from a mixture of marble dust mixed and polyester resin. Despite this sound logic some tile installation experts avoid installing the tile floor first. Use the belt sander to scratch the entire area of the cultured marble where you will be installing the tile. This is a dusty job so use plastic to cover your doorways wear a respirator that s rated for dust cover the floor with a drop cloth and make sure there s plenty of ventilation.

Professional tile installation generally utilizes a method where the tile wall hangs over the tile floor. Option 3 fiberglass wall panels if your budget is small and you have a standard sized tub or shower fiberglass panels are a sound choice. That mosaic does get dirty from feet and needs cleaning weekly but the ceramic tile grout around the walls of the shower gets mildew on it at the drop of a hat despite wiping it down after every use with a towel. Covering the cultured marble walls is not a good idea.