How To Install Marble Tile Walk In Shower I Rip Out Bathtub Replace With Marble Shower

Tub To Be Torn Out and Replaced With Walk-In Marble Walk-In Shower 

At the beginning of this job there was a cast iron tub to remove and fabricate a walk in marble shower.This is how it looked when i first arrived This marble job is a start to finish walk in shower completely torn out and built from scratch. Marble work is a specialty service that many tile guys don't have the expertise to do correctly. Marble is one of the softest materials I install I always recommend against use on floors because of the ease of scratching and the maintenance required to keep it looking good over the years. This blog walks the reader through the process of the entire installation from start to finish with text and photos .this is the first of 3 blogs that will be entitled " MARBLE DAYS" each marble blog will be more elaborate than the last. This first one was the easiest of the 3 installations;  the other 2 bloggs will be forthcoming soon regards chris

Tape Outline Where the New Walk-In Marble Shower Will Be

Here is the side view and the blue tape outlines where the new shower will be

Marble Materials to Be Installed in a Brick Pattern w/ Hexagon Tile on Show Walls and Soap Boxes

This is the marble material that will be installed brick pattern on walls hexagon tile on floor and inside soap boxes

Aftermath of 9 lb. Sledge Hammer!

Cast iron bathtub broken up in pieces with 9 lb sledge light enough to carry down stairs

Rubber Membrane in Shower Floo

Rubber membrane installed with drain to dry in shower floor

Hardi Board Over Soap Boxes With Cualk

  Hardi board installed in soap boxes and sealed with caulk creating a barrier

All Hardi board corners sealed with calk so shower will never leak

Hardi Board on Top of Curb

Hardi board installed on top of curb NEVER NAIL ON INSIDE OF CURB!

Redgard Waterproofing Membrane Paint

Redguard waterproofing paint on membrane as a added insurance that shower never leaks before marble installation

First row of tile installed perfectly level ready to run up rest of walls. See the vertical row of marble bullnose that starts off the finished wall

                                    

Concrete floor creating slope to drain ready to tile

Wall box partially tiled with hexagon tile in back

Another view of partially laid wall notice level used to check each of course

Walls almost finished ceiling done

Detailed photo of bullnose finishing ceiling where marble ends

Soap boxes with bullnose bottom shelf with slight angle toward inside  of shower

Finished soap box and wall

Finished ceiling wall and bullnose

Finished hexagon shower floor

Tile Installtion FAQ: Sanded Grout or Un-Sanded Grout?

Tile Installation and Tile Repair 

Most Frequently Asked Questions from Consumers:

  From Newly Forming FAQ on Tile Installation, Tile Repairs & All Things Tile Related:

Many people have asked me over the years which grout to use in their house particular to their tile installation. There is a simple answer to every question. Always use sanded grout whenever possible.

The industry standard states that un-sanded grout be used on grout joints 1/8  or less and sanded grout is used on grout joints 1/8 and larger up to 1/2 inch. So 1/8 inch grout joints can have sanded or unsanded (non sanded) grout applications. The reason sanded grout is always the best option in my opinion and experience is because it is undoubtedly much stronger and longer lasting. The reason being the sand in the grout acts like the gravel in concrete and binds the concrete together and keeps it from cracking. Unsanded grout doesn't have this binding strength and cracks and chips out over the long term and from my experiences doesn't last as long as a sanded grout. Some applications require a un-sanded grout when joints are too small for sanded grout to penetrate or in instances when sanded grout may scratch the installation material. Such materials as Marble, Travertine and soapstone are easily scratched and a sanded grout is not applicable [according to the manufacturer].  But anytime there is a choice between SANDED AND UNSANDED  grout, and sanded can be used, it would be advantageous to use the SANDED GROUT  whenever possible.

Below are pictures of examples installed this past week in Manchester MA of both sanded and sanded grout applications. As well as glass and 'metal mosaic tile that manufacturers recommend be installed with unsanded grout  But  I will explain how and why I used sanded grout for the installation.

Glass tile can be easily scratched when sanded grout is applied with a grout float especially when applied by an unskilled tilesetter. Manufactures recommend using the unsanded grout to install their product. But if sanded grout is applied with the hands and not a hard rubber float sanded grout can be used without scratching the tile giving the installation the long lasting strength that I would prefer in my home .

The advantage of  a UNSANDED  grout is that the finished product has a smooth finished  grout line, clean and smooth to the touch. Sanded grout ends up being rough like sandpaper to the touch.

I always try to bring my customers the highest quality installations at the most economical price , and for DIY and consumer readers with tile questions/concerns here on this blog I have the same philosophy; to bring my readers the information of options for both quality, longevity and economics

This is my opinion only based on years of tile experience. But other tile installation professionals may have different responses based on their training and experiences, so I welcome any to share their thoughts here with my readers. I want this to be a place where people can get help. 

Feel free any time to ask questions and inquires and I will do my best to help anyone in any country regarding any tile situation where my opinion can help you in making the best decision for your job. I realize my opinions are based on my experience, training and perceptions, so other professional tile installers may have different, not necessarily right or wrong just different than mine, so consider it one man's  make to make the best decision about your job  thanks.

Chris
   

Broke joint floor tile  with a 3/16 grout joint with sanded grout

1 inch hexagon marble which can be easily scratched by sanded grout using a rubber float
I hand grouted with sanded grout for strength

2 inch hexagon marble tile with a dot
easily scratched by sanded grout using a rubber float
hand grouted with sanded grout for strength

broke joint floor tile using a 3/16 grout joint and sanded grout

glass and metal mosaic tile recommended to use unsanded grout to prevent scratching
If hand  grouted carefully sanded grout can be used for strength  

glass and metal mosaic tile recommended to use unsanded grout to prevent scratching
If hand  grouted carefully sanded grout can be used for strength