Ceramic Tile Over Cultured Marble

Cultured marble is an acrylic composite and so it will require an epoxy setting material after the surface has been roughed up with either a grinder or sandpaper.

Ceramic tile over cultured marble.

You should use a polymer modified thin set mortar adhesive that meets ansi a118 4 or better yet ansi a118 15 to bond the porcelain tile to the prepared marble surface. The most popular materials for tile shower surrounds are marble ceramic porcelain glass and acrylic. It should be removed and you should install cement board or similar to apply the tile to. Don t do it you ll be back.

There are flexible thin set mortars that are recommended for bonding tile over tile too. On the marble you re better to take it out check the underlying structure vis a vis deflection thinset screw some cbu down then tile. Cultured marble is made up of an acrylic resin into which marble dust has been mixed. Covering the cultured marble walls is not a good idea.

Tiles come in various shapes sizes and materials. The plastic also may not be rigid or strong enough to bear the weight of heavier ceramic bathroom tiles. Usually the cultured marble is pretty easy to remove and comes out without much trouble. Ceramic tile over fiber glas or cultured marble on the fibreglass i agree with the rest of them.

It hasn t been cut from natural stone but it does have the aspects of real marble in many ways. Marble can work as a base for tiling but in spite of its similar appearance cultured marble is generally not a good substrate for bathroom tiles. However marble and glass tiles can be more expensive to purchase and install. I sanded the cultured marble ledge applied tec double heavy duty ceramic tile adhesive sometimes referred to as mastic and applied a few test tiles.

The mastic around the edges of the test tiles hardened and cured fine. Its high plastic content can mean it s not solidly adhered to the wall beneath. Make sure the thin set mortar you use is recommended for this application. Epoxy is expensive but there aren t any other settings materials that will give you a reliable bond over this plastic surface.

All of these factors can affect price. I wouldn t recommend installing tile over the cultured marble. Colors and sizes are more limited than with tile but the result is a clean and uniform surface. It the marble is installed over sheet rock or green board you will need to cut that out and replace the also.