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Remodeling Bathrooms Flooring

white veins or cracks on marble tile?

3 years ago

Hello. I am currently renovating our master bathroom on a recently purchased two story home. I am by no means an expert but just a DIYer who’s done a few, albeit, small tiling jobs before. I’m currently installing 12x24 “rectified” marble tiles (white provincial) from F&D. They are installed the following way:

24” O.C. Engineered TJI trusses running parallel the long side of the tile, 3/4 osb topped with 3/8 plywood offset the direction the osb was laid and attached with screws. (As per Schluter manual) Schluter all set thinset then Schluter Ditra then unmodified kerabond T.

I was so concerned with getting a good pattern with the different veins and shades that by the time I realize some of the tiles have this vein that seems like a crack... the tiles had set. They have been in for 48hrs and seem to have set. I used a 1/16th grout lines with a leveling system which once said and done will prob end up being 1/8.
Bc I’m doing all the work myself and there is no hurry I’m doing it in stages. I had previously completed the separate room where the toilet is using the same materials about six months prior, but the tiles have more gray and veins to it and have not seen this...I figured I start with a small area and wait to see if the deflection would hold. Which seems it has. Should I be concerned of possible cracking?

Comments (6)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
That's the best DIY tile job I've ever seen on Houzz. Lay the tile; ignore the cracks.
cetb
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks! Looking at other post regarding similar issues it seems that they maybe fissure ‘cracks’ do you thing that the uncoupling membrane be able to keep the tile from shifting and making the fissures fully crack?
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In the pics, it looks very much like the Ocean Beige Travertine from Artistic Tile that we just had that installed in almost our entire downstairs (entryway/FR/guest bedroom). It is actually Silver Travertine, but apparently there is only one quarry, in one particular area in Italy (and Artistic Tile supposedly has exclusive rights to the quarry?), where it has the beige/brown tones and variations (usually Silver trav is mostly silvery, and shades of grey). FYI, it is very expensive. Our tile guy passed along a significant discount to us, which had put it in the realm of affordability. Even at that, it cost a lot more than we had originally planned to spend. We decided it was worth it because we knew it was something really special and would look absolutely beautiful (DH fell for it hard the very first time he saw it in the store!). Here's a pic of the FR during the tile installation:
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Thanks so much everyone! In addition to honing, I'm also having the 12" x 12" tiles cut to 2x6 so let's hope the fabricator (who hopefully will also hone?) is affordable! The tiles I got seem somewhere in the middle, intensity or color-wise. The background is white and the veins are both grey and beige. Lots of plain white areas as well. I'm hoping in the end to have soft, subtle veining. One other quesiton: once cut, is there a direction I should do things to keep things from looking too busy? With slab, thicker and splotchier veins are okay but with tile, they go in all kinds of directions I imagine, without some sort of effort to make it all flow? Or maybe not - I have no idea! Suggestions? Thanks again!
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^Nice examples, although the reflective wall tile above does not suit the space, IMO. Gotcha Alice, but it could perhaps be regrouted if you like the color. Otherwise, I think either marble would look fine, depends on whether you prefer grays or a little earthier tones in the mix. The Dal is something I have in a bath and being not a stark white, is compatible with most materials, such as the original white hex with medium gray grout. Highly recommend that grout choice, it blends well and will not be a maintenance issue. I like the look of black hex also and almost used it for an ongoing reno. I didn't price marble, so not sure about price differences.
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SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Beautiful stone. Just for fun, did you seal your stone before you laid it?
cetb
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks. No I haven’t...I was only planning on sealing the shower floor /walls due to the water exposure. I have attached a pic of the first part of the marble I laid on the small toilet room. This has been in for about 6+ months no sealer and light traffic (2ppl). Grouted with unsanded premium grout. We had marble on our previous house and the only issues were the wet areas. The stone was not sealed.
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Not a problem. Not all marble needs sealing. People who have lived with marble do not always seal the stone. The 'wet areas' etch very heavily and the stone can pit very quickly. Sealant slows it down...but doesn't stop it.

Many people use a 3 coat sealing system (2 coats before install and 1 after but before grout). The way you know you are done 'sealing' the stone is if the water beads off the stone. That's when you know you are done.
cetb
Original Author
3 years ago
Good to know. I would be really interest in doing this with the marble set to go on the shower wall and shower floor. Do you have any recommendations on sealer? And also, would sealing the stone to the point that water beads off make it slippery? Currently debating what type to use. I did one mock up with the same tile laid the opposite way to be able to make it slope accordingly (laid a line and cut from corner of shower to corner of drai)as well as a basket weave design. Reason is wife like the basket weave and it’s better for grip. I prefer the other one as less grout and less so less maintenance and seems to flow better. We r planning on a geometric design feature wall where the valves and shower head is as well so I think it would look busy but eh...happy wife...

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