marble tiles provide your space with cooling benefits plus the classy appearance. You have to know the basic methods of installation to minimize your expenses.

Many people have preferred marble tiles for ages since they are very durable and appear very classy. They come in several tones which provide homes, offices and other structures the look that will bring out the best contours and shades. Installing marble tile flooring can also be very expensive. The tiles themselves already cost much and without the proper technique, there is a big chance you’ll be ruining a bunch of them during the process. It will be safer for you to know the right preparations, tools and techniques when installing marble tile flooring on a budget.

1. Clear the floor. marble tiles are heavy stones so it is important that the entire floor where you’re putting them is completely leveled and cleared before you start the installation. Check the surface for uneven spaces and even them out with jack supports or cement filling. Use a nylon thread or level to assess the slope if there’s any as well as dips. It will be hard to install marble tiles on a slope so feel free to level the entire space if necessary to avoid cracking the tiles. If you’re installing the tiles on a semi-yielding floor, reinforce accordingly with plywood.

2. Mark the area. Measure the length and width of the entire floor you’re covering with marble tiles. Mark the middle of the length as well as the width then draw a line across leading to the other end. Use a white chalk for drawing and look for the center of the floor where the two white lines intersect. Begin placing marble tiles from the center of the floor outwards and assess how everything looks. Do not install the marble tiles yet but simply lay them out on the floor area. You may adjust the center as necessary. Also check for any uneven tile layouts.

3. Layout proper. Choose a tile at the center of the floor. Make a mark around the tile on the floor. Take out the tile then put some thin-set mortar inside the mark you created where the tile originally was. Return the tile on the set mortar where it will be used as the point of origin for other marble tiles being laid out. Starting with the point of origin, you may begin to set more mortar and mark them with a trowel so you will know where to set the other tiles. Use mesh mortar tape to seams in floorboards to avoid cracks. Make sure you leave a 1/16-inch space in between tiles to create a leveled look. When you’re done with the entire floor, leave it to dry.

4. Seal the marble floor. marble tiles are easily stained at this point so you must be careful when sealing the area. You can also hire a professional to do this for you. It will cost you more but at least you’re more ensured that your marble tiles will not be stained. Resealing should be done every six to eight months.

If one of your marble tiles crack over time, you only need to take the single tile out and even the flooring under it to support it well. Apply some mortar again and reset the tile in its original spot to make the whole area look new.