How to Install Marble Wall Bath Tile
- 1). Spread an even layer of thinset onto the back of a marble tile using the flat side of the notched trowel. Pay close attention to the edges and corners, making sure to provide 100 percent coverage to avoid any bleed-through of the thinset itself to the surface of the marble.
- 2). Use your notched trowel to place five dots of thinset onto the back of the marble tile that you just scratch-coated. Each dot should be around the size of an egg, with one for each corner and one in the center. This is called five-spotting, and will be repeated with each piece of marble.
- 3). Start at the bottom and work your way up. Place the five-spotted piece of marble against the wall and apply only light pressure, just enough to keep the piece in place. Repeat this process for several rows to each side, as well as vertically.
- 4). Place your level against the surface of the marble tiles and check for plumb. Use your rubber mallet to gently tap the level as you move it across the surface of the tiles, applying pressure to every piece as you work your way across. This will keep every piece plum and flat with the pieces surrounding. Move your levels both vertically, horizontally and diagonally to ensure total flatness of the installation. This process can be repeated every few rows as you work your way up.
