Marble is a brilliant choice for flooring because of its finish and durability. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. However, if it isn’t looked after well, it will need replacement.
While some types of flooring can be installed on the previous one, marble should be removed and replaced. Here’s how you can do it.
Removing The Floor
- Remove a part of the floor to reveal which type of method was used for installation. A simple adhesive installation is easy to undo, but one with a mortar bed requires more work.
- Use a sledgehammer to crack a part of the floor. We advise starting from the middle and working towards the sides. Marble has considerable strength, so aim and hit the grout lines for maximum impact.
- Avoid using too much force or it will affect the floor underneath.
- Use a chisel to break the mortar hold. As the piece becomes loose, lift it up and remove it. Repeat this process. Whenever this isn’t possible, use the hammer to crack it into smaller pieces.
- A mortar bed setup will have an additional mesh. Use a strong cutter to cut it before removing the pieces.
- Be cautious when working on the sides of the room not to damage the floorboard.
- Clean up the remaining dried adhesive using a flat-bladed scraper.
Replacing The Floor
- Smoothen the floor beneath before installing marble flooring. A layer of cement makes the subfloor stronger and gives a flat base to work on.
- Make lines in the room for reference and ensure that they are straight.
- Mix the mortar or adhesive according to the instructions on the box.
- Spread it on the floor over a limited area. We advise going a few pieces at a time rather than covering the room in one go.
- Place the first piece of marble by carefully using the guidelines you drew before.
- Use a rubber mallet to slowly hit the marble piece to set it into the adhesive. Use even impact points and medium pressure on the hits. Hitting it with high intensity could break the piece.
- The corners of the room could pose a challenge, as the marble piece could be too big to fit. Cut the piece to fit the required dimension.
- Use grout between two consecutive pieces to lock them in place. We suggest using unsanded grout, as it also prevents chipping to an extent.
- Repeat the process until the room is covered.
Sealing The Floor
- Clean the floor with a pH-neutral cleaner.
- Test a small amount of marble sealer to check for any type of discoloration. If it loses color, try some other type.
- Apply the sealer to the marble using a foam brush or dipping a soft cloth into the sealer. The layer should not be too thick. We suggest one that evaporates in a minute or two. Seal the joints too.
- After the first coat dries, apply a second coat and let it dry. Ideally, it takes 48-72 hours before the floor can be used.
Follow this guide to understand if the flooring needs to be changed.
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