Hi, I have a few questions about tiling our back splash in the kitchen. We're wanting to use the small tile that comes on netting. They're either 1 x 1, 2 x 2 and have run across 3 x 3 tile thats on the 12x12 piece of netting. I know these will be easier to install around light switches etc. but there will still be times they have to be cut. They are natural stone, such as marble, slate..etc... What do we use to cut or trim them to go around things? Also what type of mastic to stick them to the wallboard and I want an almond colored grout, do they sell it that way or does it have to be colored? Whats the best to seal it with, after we finish it? Thank for any and all help and ideals its very appreciated. Debbie

Hey All, Well this is a magnificent website and I am most certainly glad I found it because I am definitely the “do-it-yourselfer.” I have a current issue (small) with the tile work I have done in my current residence and want to make sure I avoid this issue in my home that is currently being built. First, in my master bath (on the second floor of which sub flooring was plywood), I put 18X18 inch marble tiles down for the flooring. Now, being my first time laying tile on sub flooring that was not slab, I did some things correctly and some things incorrectly. I did put down backer-board before laying the tile…which is the correct thing to do. What I didn’t do was put thin-set under this backer-board which seems to be something that is recommended.?.?.?. Also, I nailed the backer-board to the plywood rather than screwing it down. Again, something I did not learn or think of until after the fact. ISSUES: The first issue was that the grout I used began to crack and fall down into the tiny crevasses between the tiles. This in itself wasn’t a big problem as I ended up scrapping up the grout and put down an adhesive type grout to allow for flexibility and movement. This definitely corrected this issue, but now a new one has arisen. When I walk on the tile, I sometimes can hear the tile scrapping along the side of the tile next to it (as you all know with marble tile that there is very little to no space in between them). Now, the house has been sold so I don’t care much to fix it (although I will if the new owner finds it to be an issue in the future because that is just the type of person that I am), but I definitely want to make sure that this does not occur on the house I am currently having built for me. In the new master bath I am closing without flooring and the sub flooring will again be plywood. I am looking to put down 18X18 inch travertine tiles for this flooring. Please advise on what I need to keep in mind and look for before I tile and what tricks I can utilize to assure that there is no movement. Thanks in advance. JCOLE