WHITE MARBLE DISCOLORATION ON SHOWER FLOORS!!! How to Prevent Dark Areas on Carerra Marble

This is a common problem on shower floors when using white carerra marble and other moisture sensitive stone tiles. This is how to best prevent this problem from happening.
If you like the work clothes I am wearing, go to truewerk.com/ and use TILECOACH15 at checkout to get 15% off. I get a 7.5% kickback on any order you use with that code. Thank you!
If you would like to join the TEAM MEMBERSHIP to have access to our TEAM FORUM, Click here: www.tilecoach..... Its only $10 to join and you can cancel at any time!!! See you over there!
Links to the articles and blog:
tilepro-usa.co...
www.tileletter...

[@LovejoyBuild]

Isaac you’ve done nothing but help, and you have done that selflessly man! Thanks for the info !

[@davids6075]

I’ve been building houses and remodeling houses for 23 years. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to do much of anything. I’m fixing to start doing my own tile work again. Both my tile guys I sub out my tile projects to have been getting sloppy. Anyway. I always enjoy watching your videos.

[@twf5822]

Great video, from watching lots of tile video’s from tile coach and others I have learn to seal marble mosaic tile with 3 to 5 coats water base sealer over a 4 to 5 hour time line, as long as it absorbs sealer I apply. This is per 12x12 piece. Let that dry over night then install on shower floor. I also explained to the customer during our first meeting and a few time more up to the point of I start sealing the tile that it can and most likely will discolor at some point plus I have it in writing for them to sign. Last one I did was 4 years ago and talked with that customer a month ago and they are still happy with their shower. I’m almost at the point of not installing any marble in a wet area at all .

[@MoneyManHolmes]

Good discussion! I’ll definitely just avoid this type of scenario all together!

[@FIREGURU]

Good info!!We do traditional dry pack pans over chloraloy liners. Have never had a discoloring issue with marble. We also set the tile on fresh mud (not pre-float) and use un-modified thinset. We then seal with aquamix sealers choice gold after 48 hours from finished grout.

[@robertvillegas7472]

Great job Isaac ! It’s also a problem here in Hawaii with basalt when people acid wash the surface and the Iron in material comes up through surface . It’s a great method not to seal to allow moisture to rise . I’m hooked on Hydroban Gold thinset , wouldn’t want to use unmodified thinset not enough bonding strength . Cheers 👍🏾🤙🏾

[@fly4fun24]

today. 03-22-2023 17:3Ohs. this video popped up for me just before a shower Marble Floor Installation which will be done tomorrow . the tiles are cut, the kendi base and Hydro ban applied. I will have to regroup and Rethink this installation For tomorrow

[@davidmccracken3554]

I recently remodeled my master bath and installed a sizeable walk in shower using Schulter products and Laticrete Hydroban on the seams. When selecting tile for the project my wife gravitated toward the natural stone products. Fortunately I got my way and insisted we only use porcelain tile for its waterproof performance. As a geologist I wouldn't recommend anyone use marble, limestone, or slate within any shower environment because of its porous nature.

[@HamiltonTileGA]

Here's the comment for people to read^^^

[@nonamuss9991]

@David McCracken - Geologist! I love it! I wonder if you don’t mind weighing in… About to have a shower done and the tile setter typically uses Schluter products. I’ve been a little concerned since watching tons of videos about shower failures! I was thinking I would ask the tile setter to use the Schluter shower pan and membrane he’s accustomed to (applied with modified low grain thinset mortar to reduce wicking) but requesting a Flow FX drain flange and Hydroban on all the seams. (FYI using Ditra heat in shower/bathroom.) Thanks in advance should you choose to reply!

[@davidmccracken3554]

@@nonamuss9991 I used a FloFx drain for my shower and it worked out great. I used dry pack mortar for my shower pan with Kerdi fabric and Schluter modified thinset. There's nothing wrong with the Schluter foam pan though. I think you're definitely on the right track. Hopefully your installer is cooperative with your choices and knows how to properly install them.

[@dextershutt1716]

Man that was excellent information As I deal with allot of marble. Great topic!!! Thanks so much!!!

[@davilasantiago869]

I had the same problem in one of the showers that I did and when I saw this problem I immediately knew why I had that problem. It was because I installed the motar and completely sealed the weep holes in the drain and I didn't put any gravel on it. And that's why the water was concentrating around the drain.

[@CCOREY5]

I bought marble mosaic basketweave at Floor and Decor 12 x 12 with fiberglass mesh on the back, and had it already cut and dry layed into a Schleuder Kerdi pan. I started watching these videos about blackening of the marble. So I told my contractor to throw it away and I chose a porcelain tile instead. Almost 250$ wasted. I can’t take it back because it’s cut. What a bummer. But I just couldn’t take a chance because if the marble discolors, I’d have to tear out the whole schluter pan. Renner sealant doesn’t keep out all water, it’s only water resistant. Not waterproof. And some say don’t use sealant at all. And don’t make ridges in the thinset, but spread the thinset flat so no air is trapped under the marble. Anyway, what a friggen headache! It’s an outrage that so many stores are selling this risky white marble, for floors and shower floors!

[@elocin9791]

Any correlation to the grout used?? Mohawk Brightmore stone mosaic tile installation calls for non sanded grout, sealant before and after grouting. Would following these steps prevent the issues?

[@johnb2044]

had Carerra marble tile turn white grout an orange color over a schuter pan and cloth ... will never recommend stone in a shower base again ....

[@tsirku7620]

Thanks for the info.

[@hopelemke]

Interesting, the only time I have ever seen this issue is with a traditional pan.

[@timmythecat7478]

This is great information. Thanks Isaac. 👋👎

[@LNB259]

I have this happening on my shower floor. Can I only tear out the tile in the shower? Will the pan also have to be pulled out and redone? I do know they used schlutter system on the shower floor.

[@Jaylowrider]

I’ll always preseal and seal 3 days after grouting stone with drytreat.

[@robertmendoza4718]

I forbid customers to put marble tiles on shower floors and walls and will not be accountable for any damages with porous tiles...

[@alexzazubec8563]

What if the shower floor is heated with wire embedded in 3701 with sheet membrane over bed with linear drain?

[@BryanPearsonParamotor]

Man. What a bummer. I literally just finished installed my hex 2” white/grey marble shower floor last week. Schluter and modified thinset for all 😂🤣

[@andreabwilkinson]

Same! We just finished and then started to see this problem in one area. We found this video about two weeks too late. It’s so frustrating because we did so much research and THOUGHT we were installing correctly and even do over kill with preinstall and sealing. I guess you don’t know what you don’t know, then you know. Now we are trying to figure out what to do to fix it.

[@johne8907]

Great info thank you. Never happened to me but if it helps anyone i use. Kerdi Mapei lft Mapei ultracolor grout

[@scottfinklestein5839]

Although it would no longer be white, and more grey, why not just “flood” the whole shower floor to have all the tile absorb moisture yet show a uniform look from edge to edge… just a thought to remedy this mistake, while learning from this for the next install…

[@verovale5029]

The risk would be to end up with mold issues .

[@travisjwolf]

Isaac, I am about to set large format marble 12x24 with 1/32 grout lines on my schluter bonded shower pan (kerdi LTS), with ditra heat and linear drain and schluter all-set. Was planning on using laticrete permacolor grout and sealed twice with bulletproof but this video now has me worried. Can you offer advice on how to prevent this with large format tile or do the same rules apply?

[@TileCoach]

Really hard to pull off. 100% coverage with epoxy setting adhesive and grout. I would choose a different material or go with a traditional pan.

[@travisjwolf]

@@TileCoach I already bought the tile, non returnable! Can you recommend an epoxy setting adhesive and grout? Any concerns of cracking when using epoxy adhesive even though ditra heat mat is installed? Thank you! Huge fan.

[@davidperalta5280]

@@travisjwolf Look up Latipoxy 300 and Mapei Kerapoxy. I just did mosaic marble over the weekend in a shower. I will say that this stuff if pretty unforgiving in that it has a 45 minute pot life. Though it took longer than that given that its winter here in the Northeast(inside temp was 65-70 degrees) and would say that the adhesive took around 60-75 minutes before in became unworkable. It trowels very easy, syrupy in a weird way, and they recommend you back butter for tile greater than 8x8.

[@jeffsingleton88]

@@TileCoach i have an interesting photo graph that might shed some more confusion on this topic

[@FA5FLIP]

I know it's not a solution per se and will probably make the moisture problem under the tile worse, would using some stone enhancer on top at least make it all look uniform? It will become gray rather than bright white, but should blend all the tile into the dark spots.

[@andreabwilkinson]

Thank you for offering this solution! We were wondering there was a treatment after the fact we could apply to make it less noticeable.

[@kaynesantor8136]

Ardex claims that X-5 will not do this. Whether its white or gray thinset. They also claim that is wont do this, or cause other problems with glass. I've done white, pink, green, and blackish marble with the white X-5, as well as tons of glass and knock on wood, have not had a problem. Even with, like, Carrera curbs. Nothing. Take that for what it is. It's always in mind mind, though. I guess I'm just lucky.

[@mattmason7554]

White marble is ultra soft, sensitive, and translucent . No reason whatsoever to use it. Just asking for trouble. I know this doesn’t help with his problem, but maybe it will save someone else in the future . I do stone restoration. With today’s alternatives I always advise against using Carrera.

[@isaacbeckel2044]

Pasha is a phenomenal tilesetter! Everybody check out his KZbin, you won't be disappointed!

[@meetethan1857]

Thank you for information Jesus is King 👑

[@nicknixon3243]

What if it’s already discolored?

[@HamiltonTileGA]

Are the porcelains ever going to get nice enough to replace stone as to not have this issue? Thank goodness our homeowners don't want this type of tile. I see the attraction to stone but it's not for everyone because of the cost. Using the epoxy sounds like a good solution. I've talked to so many folks that think sealer is the answer. I have practice at an explanation now, for sure.

[@wmars4655]

In ideal environment yes mud pans drain but in all my experience they always hold a ton of water because those tiny weep holes become clogged inevitable.

[@timtileman2936]

Preslope really helps ,

[@hackiehackerson]

marble is a pain for a shower floor. it's pretty until it's not. also, hair dye, ladies. not in the marble shower

[@pruneda95]

Man that informative information sure is informing me!

[@tyyg9469]

no sealer. traps water beneath marble. common sense.

[@Dillonmac96]

Moisture migration

[@ez2u1]

You are talking to much blah blah blah

[@Faruk651]

Perfect example why custom showers suck. You make a perfect place for moisture to get trapped. Like he said there is nothing you can do because everything you use in a shower base is porous except the membrane. Heavy, frequent showers and you have a shower base full of water that will never dry out as long as you keep using it. Be smart and use a one piece acrylic or fiberglass base. Do your tile fantasy on the walls.

[@HamiltonTileGA]

Love that idea.

[@nonamuss9991]

Don’t they have their own issues also? Including staining?

[@Faruk651]

@@nonamuss9991 You get a nice quality base and do the maintenance and it will last 100 years. I’d rather have a stained base than a moldy base.