Marble floors

[santa]

I am considering putting marble tiles in my upstairs condo. I have been all over the internet looking at how to install it and so on. I am curious what kind of subfloor needs to be in place and basically everything/anything any of yall know about marble floors and its installation. Particularly if you know any good places to get it cheap in Dallas.

 

[Big Jake]

Check with "The Tilc Council of America" installation handbook.
Your subfloor should be one layer of 3/4" plywood AND another layer of 1/2" plywood layed ACROSS the 3/4".
Mortar should be a "multi-purpose" type that will bond to wood.
If there are deflection problems (movement in the wood) an "isolation membrane" should be used.
Natural marble is more difficult to lay than ceramic tile. It tends to show imperfections if the installation is not absolutely perfect (high /low spots).
I would at least consider having an EXPERIENCED tile setter (experienced in natural stone, not just ceramic tile) do this for you.

 

[shorty]

Do the above an add a 1/4 layer of Hardibacker board first glued in latex fortified thinset then screwed into the subfloor with Hardibacker screws that will countersink themselves.

You must use latex fortified thinset to lay the marble. You need to ask where you purchase the tile. There are specific thinsets that have to be used with certain colors of marble. The store that sells you the marble should be able to advise you as to what thinset should be used with your marble.

Thin grout lines need to be used when you lay marble and it must be unsanded grout. Sanded grout will actually scratch the marble.

 

[WB_Rowdy_Yeats]

Marble is easily scratched and stained; hard to lay; very porous; must be maintained with polishing.

A high quality porcelain tile may be a good substitute. Or maybe granite. You would still need to polish granite.

Would the weight of all the flooring ever become an issue? Here is a place that has great prices, at least in Houston. This is the Dallas store. The Link

 

[santa]

Thanks for your responses. I think I will be putting down 1/4th inch hardibacker over the existing subfloor, Lowes sells it for like $8-9 for 15sf. I decided to go with Travertine instead because it is a hell of a lot cheaper and more forgiving as far as scratches and such with losing the more upscale look.

Have any of you used Travertine before?