Horizontal Vs. Diagonal Marble Tile Installation

The Basics of Marble

• Marble is one of the most beautiful natural stones to work with, and whether an individual is working with tumbled marble, polished marble or honed marble, the installation steps are basically the same regardless of whether it is a horizontal/straight installation or a diagonal. Each piece will still need to have marble and granite thinset mortar flat-troweled onto the back before installation to prevent water and color bleeding, and each piece will still need to be cut with a tile wet saw, for example. However, there are a few nuances associated with each type of installation which can significantly change how easy or hard it is.

Straight Patterns

• Horizontal/straight patterns are by far the easiest to install because all an individual needs to do is have a few square lines snapped on the floor for reference points. Then, as long as the marble tiles are installed tight to one another and follow the reference lines, everything should flow together quickly and easily, with a few simple cuts necessary on the tile wet saw around the perimeter. The vast majority of homes use straight-lay patterns simply because the installation costs are significantly lower than diagonal due to the reduced layout, preparation and labor times.

Diagonal Patterns

• Diagonal patterns are one of the easiest ways to add a little extra something to a marble installation. However, while the basic installation principles remain the same, it is exponentially more labor-intensive given the fact that more cuts are acquired along the outside edges and the initial layout and planning stages take considerably longer. Also, ordering marble for a diagonal installation usually requires 10 to 15 percent additional material in order to make up for the excess cuts.

The Importance of Layout

• One of the major differences between a straight pattern and a diagonal pattern is in the layout and preparation phase. In order for a diagonal pattern to look perfect in a given area, the layout needs to be centered exactly so that all of the cuts around the perimeter are the same size. Straight patterns are much easier given the fact that you can often start with a full tile wall in the most visible area and use cuts in the less visible areas. This extra time is necessary in order to properly execute a diagonal installation, which is one of the reasons why it costs significantly more money than a straight-lay installation.

Expert Insight

• The main difference between a straight installation and a diagonal installation is the aesthetics and price. The type of room does not matter as much as the happiness of the home owner, and diagonal patterns can certainly add a little extra flavor to areas. However, professional installers will usually charge double to triple the square foot price depending on the size of the tile and area of installation, so budget can be a restraint for some people when considering diagonal versus horizontal/straight.