How to Install a 4 x 12 Marble Kitchen Wall Tile Backsplash
- 1). Measure the backsplash area where the marble tiles will be installed and mark off an equal sized area on a nearby flat surface. Most backsplashes are 18 inches in height, which means you will need to cut one row of the tiles in half to fit.
Lay the tiles out in the flat space by placing the first full row on the bottom and working up so the cut tile is placed at the top. Use a tile saw to make the cuts in the marble by passing the tiles slowly through the blade. - 2). Practice laying the tiles in the pattern you wish to install them in the dry-fit flat area. Become comfortable with the laying of the long tiles in an offset pattern if this is the way they will be installed before you begin to press them in the mortar.
- 3). Spread white thin-set a little at a time over the backsplash wall area using the trowel. Press each tile onto the wall in the same pattern you worked out in the dry-fit area. Step away from the wall frequently to ensure the long tiles are lining up properly. Allow the thin-set to dry overnight.
- 4). Seal the marble before you grout the tiles by rolling the sealer on with a paint roller. Move from top to bottom to avoid drips and wipe up the excess after 10 minutes with a soft cloth.
- 5). Grout the backsplash by pressing the grout between the 4-by-12-inch tiles with a grout float. Angle the float to direct the grout between the marble and wipe down the surface of the tiles with a damp sponge to prevent haze.
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