Seal Marble Before Grouting?

constrkings

I just installed marble tile in an entryway -- dark green with dark grout. I am using a grout from a store I never used before and they told me to seal the marble before grouting because the grout might stain the tile. I have always sealed after but I have also done very little work with marble tiles, esp dark colors, esp on a floor. In other words, most of the tile work I have done is ceramic and travertine. Or I have done slabs of marble in showers. I did do a light colored marble tile in a shower once --- I'm getting off the point. The point is that I laid the tile, came out nicely (I was a little worried), and I have to go back to grout tomorrow. Do I seal first before grouting or after grouting or both?
thanks.

MattCoops

I would seal the tile Before grouting.
Then grout, using non-sanded grout. Marble sometimes gets circulary etches scrathed into its polished face with sanded grout.
Then wait 3 days (minimum) after grouting, giving time for grout to cure, and then seal the grout. You can apply another coat of sealer on the tile too.

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

JazMan

It wouldn't hurt to seal both before and after. Usually there is no need to seal before grouting unless you're using a contrasting color which isn't a great idea.

My question though is, what is the specific name of this green marble and what did you use to install it and what is underneath?

Jaz

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KERDI Shower
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constrkings

I don't know the name of the tile. I used thinset mortar and it has concrete underneath.

Whip

We always seal before hand no questions asked. we have had to many tiles permanently discolored by not sealing first. We Also do not seal after if you are going to seal after make sure you have all of the haze off first or it might be there for the life of the sealer.

JazMan

I asked what species of green marble and what you used to set it because green marble is water sensitive and should be installed with epoxy or special mortar. This is for green marble and certain black marble.

Jaz

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Tile 4 You llc
KERDI Shower
specialist...DITRA Installs...
www.tile4you.com

constrkings

The homeowner bought the marble and I really don't know anything about it but I did use a special mortar and sealed it first. Grouted last night and checked on it this morning. So far it looks good.
Thanks for the advice.

JazMan

What is your definition of 'special mortar'? Can you give us a name? I'm not kidding, you do not use thinset with green marble. Sealing it first has nothing to do with this issue.

Jaz

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Tile 4 You llc
KERDI Shower
specialist...DITRA Installs...
www.tile4you.com

MattCoops

Was the "special mortar" pre-mixed in a can?

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

constrkings

Custom's marble & granite fortified premium mortar

constrkings

I ended up sealing it first since most people seemed to think I should and better safe than sorry. Went back a few days later and sealed again.
So far so good. Looks good, if I get a callback, I'll know I did something wrong but hopefully. . . good learning experience anyway. I like doing tile and so I'm always up for learning more about it and now I learned something about the marble tiles -- which reminds me -- if the mortar I used is not recommended by those who have more experience than I, let me know what I should use next time this comes up. Thanks.

JazMan

That's a good medium-bed thinset mortar, but it is NOT special. I meant special mortar as in made for moisture sensitive natural stone which most if not all green marbles are. It tells you on the bag to check with the fabricator of the marble to see if it's moisture sensitive. Of course, you didn't know green marble falls in this category.

Jaz

__________________
Tile 4 You llc
KERDI Shower
specialist...DITRA Installs...
www.tile4you.com

constrkings

I'm sorry -- I was using the term special rather generically as in it was different from what I normally use. Of course, I "normally" don't do marble tiles and I certainly did not know that about green marble. So do you think this is going to be alright in the long run?
On a side note -- what makes green moisture sensitive?

orson

Hey mattcoops, type the following into google searchbar and then click on the "image results for images of black and green marble thinset" and then click on page 11 of the results MattCoops is Famous!!! I just saw Mike Finley's dog there too...heh

The marble is moisture sensitive and the edges can curl and warp away from your adhesive as it cures. Epoxy thinset=no water=no moisture=no curling/warping. If you set the marble and it is fully cured and there is no warping or curling and the tiles are still firmly embedded in the adhesive count yourself lucky.

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