Marble Woes

[pally78 0]

I just bought a resale flat and had decided to use marble for the flooring. I even did a pre lay to ensure that the marble are defect free. However, when my ID completed the laying, i was throughly dissapointed. My wife and i decided on marble because the lines between the tiles are very fine and there would be minimal gap between the tiles. However, we were shocked when we found that were huge gaps between the tiles. My ID say its because the marble slabs were of slightly different sizes and hence they couldnt really lay it close. I have measured a few tiles and found that there was a slight difference of 1-2mm between the times. My issue here is....is this a case of bad workmanship or lousy materials? Any advise what can be done to fix this issue?

[Chinchye 0]

I just bought a resale flat and had decided to use marble for the flooring. I even did a pre lay to ensure that the marble are defect free. However, when my ID completed the laying, i was throughly dissapointed. My wife and i decided on marble because the lines between the tiles are very fine and there would be minimal gap between the tiles. However, we were shocked when we found that were huge gaps between the tiles. My ID say its because the marble slabs were of slightly different sizes and hence they couldnt really lay it close. I have measured a few tiles and found that there was a slight difference of 1-2mm between the times. My issue here is....is this a case of bad workmanship or lousy materials? Any advise what can be done to fix this issue?

How about posting some pict for us to see? I think u should ask them change if u feel the gaps are very wide apart.. be firm.. my house is marble also.. left by previous owner.. there r gaps but not very obvious..

U can check out my t blog.. on the living hall to see.. hopefully it helps..

[pally78 0]

My parents place and my wife's parents place has marble flooring also. We kinda have expectations on how thin or thick those lines are. The issue now is..we arent sure if its material problem or workmanship problem. If its material problem then no point getting the same type of slabs to replace. If its workmanship problem....then the ID better not use the same person to lay the tiles!

[vowsh 1]

I just bought a resale flat and had decided to use marble for the flooring. I even did a pre lay to ensure that the marble are defect free. However, when my ID completed the laying, i was throughly dissapointed. My wife and i decided on marble because the lines between the tiles are very fine and there would be minimal gap between the tiles. However, we were shocked when we found that were huge gaps between the tiles. My ID say its because the marble slabs were of slightly different sizes and hence they couldnt really lay it close. I have measured a few tiles and found that there was a slight difference of 1-2mm between the times. My issue here is....is this a case of bad workmanship or lousy materials? Any advise what can be done to fix this issue?

Marble are not supposed to have wide gap coz the heat transfer in marble flooring is min. In other words, the degree of expansion and contraction between slab is neg. Mine and brothers' house are all marble flooring with small gap that almost cant see in standing position. I am talking of 5 houses of different marble types here.

Likely yours is workmanship problem because lay marble needs skill unlike doing homo tiles.

[gladyslim 0]

I ever heard from my contractor, even on laying of ceramic tiles, tiles need to sort out according to sizes and the print as well.

Same as in carpentry work, the grains and the colour tone of the ash ply should be as close as possible for stain wood finishing.

[ah_bui 0]

I ever heard from my contractor, even on laying of ceramic tiles, tiles need to sort out according to sizes and the print as well.

Same as in carpentry work, the grains and the colour tone of the ash ply should be as close as possible for stain wood finishing.

Hi Pally 78,

I have similar issue like yours before. There are 2 schools of thought:

1) Hairline thin gap between tiles (less than 1mm). Very little or no fillings are applied between the tiles during laying.

2) Gaps of about 1mm to 2mm where a special filling (hard resin) are applied. This is different from normal white cement, which is soft. You can test by scrapping the grout line with your fingernail. If it can be dug, it's white cement. The hard resin is very tough and cannot be dug by fingernail.

Both schools should product a smooth finish after polishing. When you run your finger across the grout between the tiles, it should be completely smooth and level. You must not feel any depression in the grout.

Unfortunately, there is no "market standard" for which school is the correct one. I had asked many marble specialists but there was no conclusion (My parent's house has the 1st type while mine's the 2nd type).

I was equally disappointed with mine but little can be done to rectify unless the tiles are re-laid.

Is the grout well made and the polish well done for your case?

[pally78 0]

Hi Pally 78,

I have similar issue like yours before. There are 2 schools of thought:

1) Hairline thin gap between tiles (less than 1mm). Very little or no fillings are applied between the tiles during laying.

2) Gaps of about 1mm to 2mm where a special filling (hard resin) are applied. This is different from normal white cement, which is soft. You can test by scrapping the grout line with your fingernail. If it can be dug, it's white cement. The hard resin is very tough and cannot be dug by fingernail.

Both schools should product a smooth finish after polishing. When you run your finger across the grout between the tiles, it should be completely smooth and level. You must not feel any depression in the grout.

Unfortunately, there is no "market standard" for which school is the correct one. I had asked many marble specialists but there was no conclusion (My parent's house has the 1st type while mine's the 2nd type).

I was equally disappointed with mine but little can be done to rectify unless the tiles are re-laid.

Is the grout well made and the polish well done for your case?

'

1 round of polishing has been done and as far as i can tell. The grout lines are hard.Its just that our marble floor has alot of lines running around. Hopefully less visiable after polish.

[SolutionProvider 0]

Usually there will be a different of 1 - 2 mm in the gaps because they are cut

from a big slab and due to the vibration when they are cutting, the dimension will

be off a bit.

But before the contractor laying the marbles, usually they need to do a dry lay

on the floor first meaning, they need to arrange all the marbles on the floor

first to sort out the different sizes.

[wind30 2]

Usually there will be a different of 1 - 2 mm in the gaps because they are cut

from a big slab and due to the vibration when they are cutting, the dimension will

be off a bit.

But before the contractor laying the marbles, usually they need to do a dry lay

on the floor first meaning, they need to arrange all the marbles on the floor

first to sort out the different sizes.

Is it possible to lay with very minimal gap? I brought this up to my contractor and he says he will be using epoxy and it will look very nice.

my marble is 600mm by 600mm I assume there will always be variation in sizes, so you technically cannot lay without any gaps right? Even if you do a dry lay it also sound quite impossible as a single tile has 4 neighbours....

[ah_bui 0]

'

1 round of polishing has been done and as far as i can tell. The grout lines are hard.Its just that our marble floor has alot of lines running around. Hopefully less visiable after polish.

Hi Pally78,

Since the grout is hard (the resin and epoxy kind), at least you are assured it's correct, and not the incorrect white cement. That's good news!

The visibility of the lines is dependent on the colour of your marble. If there is a big contrast between the colour of your tile and the grout, then the grout will be quite visible. The polishing wont reduce the visibility.

Well, dun be too upset. The polishing should make your floor shine so nicely that it'll distract from the line liao. =)

[SolutionProvider 0]

Is it possible to lay with very minimal gap? I brought this up to my contractor and he says he will be using epoxy and it will look very nice.

my marble is 600mm by 600mm I assume there will always be variation in sizes, so you technically cannot lay without any gaps right? Even if you do a dry lay it also sound quite impossible as a single tile has 4 neighbours....

It is possible to lay with a minimun gap size. Using epoxy or marble glue to fill the gaps is good but when dollar and cent is involved, I don't think the contractor will use epoxy. The price of epoxy material and labour cost to fill the gaps is very expensive unless the contractor have already cost in the quotation.

A normal colour grout powder is only abt $30 for 20 kg and for epoxy is abt $30 for 3kg.

Priceing you can check with hardware shop or even adhesive manufacturer such as Mapei.

Is good that the contractor told you this solution but I don't think he tell you about price for using epoxy.

[wind30 2]

It is possible to lay with a minimun gap size. Using epoxy or marble glue to fill the gaps is good but when dollar and cent is involved, I don't think the contractor will use epoxy. The price of epoxy material and labour cost to fill the gaps is very expensive unless the contractor have already cost in the quotation.

A normal colour grout powder is only abt $30 for 20 kg and for epoxy is abt $30 for 3kg.

Priceing you can check with hardware shop or even adhesive manufacturer such as Mapei.

Is good that the contractor told you this solution but I don't think he tell you about price for using epoxy.

actually I was asking why his quote is more expensive than others, and that was what he tells me.

He is using epoxy for grout. He does waterproofing bottom, top before lay. And then after lay waterproof one more time. His quote is 21k for around 700sqft of marble flooring including skirting.

Edited December 6, 2009 by wind30

[SolutionProvider 0]

actually I was asking why his quote is more expensive than others, and that was what he tells me.

He is using epoxy for grout. He does waterproofing bottom, top before lay. And then after lay waterproof one more time. His quote is 21k for around 700sqft of marble flooring including skirting.

Hmm... the actual steps should be 1: seal the marble bottom and the 4 sides with sealer.

2: After laying the marble, they will do the grout.

3. After the grout was done, they will polish the marble with wax or epoxy.

(If they using epoxy to polish there is no need to apply another waterproofing layer

on top but if they are to waterproof the marble top, make sure the sealer hv oil

proofing effect otherwise wax is able to minimize the water from going into the marble.

For 700 sqft, I can checkout the market price for you. By the way hv u bought the marble? coz I hv a contractor who have left over marble slabs from a prestige Condo and can offer at a good price, they also do installation.

[blues_bleu 0]

Hmm... the actual steps should be 1: seal the marble bottom and the 4 sides with sealer.

2: After laying the marble, they will do the grout.

3. After the grout was done, they will polish the marble with wax or epoxy.

(If they using epoxy to polish there is no need to apply another waterproofing layer

on top but if they are to waterproof the marble top, make sure the sealer hv oil

proofing effect otherwise wax is able to minimize the water from going into the marble.

For 700 sqft, I can checkout the market price for you. By the way hv u bought the marble? coz I hv a contractor who have left over marble slabs from a prestige Condo and can offer at a good price, they also do installation.

hello, i am intending to get my dinner & living flooring with marble.

you have any solution?

thanks!!

blues_bleu@yahoo.com.sg

92325781

[andy888 0]

hoe much cost will it be to have complete marble flooring ?

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marble flooring