Can You Put Tile Over Marble

Did you know that with a little adhesive you can apply tile right over the face of the marble fireplace surround and create a whole new look.

Can you put tile over marble.

The short answer is most likely yes. If your tiles are in relatively good condition evenly placed without cracks and not appearing to retain. Can you tile over tile in order to save time. Apply gentle but firm pressure to the tile as you press it into the thinset moving it slightly in all directions to ensure a complete and total bond with the adhesive.

Technically it can be done but in practice it is avoided. One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to tiling is can you tile over cultured marble in the bathroom there are two sides to this question. Press the tile onto the floor. Cut the marble tiles to fit as necessary with a wet saw.

The marble surface is likely polished or honed and it might have a sealer on it or contaminates from pass use. Roughen the tile with 80 grit sandpaper. Continue to spread mortar and lay the marble tiles until you have covered the entire floor. Leave a 1 16 inch space between each tile to create a very thin grout line.

Overcoming problems with tile over a marble fireplace marble is smooth and nonporous which are both good qualities for a finished surface but poor ones for a tile substrate. Covering the cultured marble walls is not a good idea. You can lay new ceramic tile right over the old using the prep techniques we show here. I would recommend first scarifying the surface of the marble.

When you are satisfied with the bond you may return the tile to its final position. It avoids the time consuming messy tear out process. 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. My peachy beige fireplace surround one of the first things i said when i did the final walk through of my new construction home was that isn t the marble i picked for the fireplace.

Lay a level on the old tile and mark any high spots. Grind them down with a grinder. Answer answer as long as the existing marble floor is structurally sound and well bonded to its substrate without excessive deflection you can bond over the marble. If you really want to be on the safe side you can always install a cement backer board before you lay the tiles.