Questions & Answers

First post here and long time viewer of Isaac’s videos.

I’m set to begin my first bathroom remodel, but I’d like to make sure I’m doing everything I can when I install to prevent my tiles from discoloring.

For background, I’m doing a curbless 36x60 shower with a linear drain at entry using Hydro-Blok; their thin single slope pan and their wallboard as well. It will be polished white marble throughout; 3x6 floors/pan, 12x24 wall up to roughly counter height, a chair rail, and then 3x6 again up to the ceiling.

I’ve watched Isaac’s video covering the topic of discoloration, and I’ve watched the associated videos and read the articles from Tileletter, Pasha, etc. From what I gather, there doesn’t seem to be any industry standard accepted method for preventing this, especially when installed in one of these more contemporary methods (no mud bed). Pasha’s article seems to be specific to mosaic white marble, as he mentions the integral glue backing and necessity for epoxy thinset. He also mentions flattening the troweled ridges before laying the tile? Given I won’t be using mosaic, I wonder if his methods still apply.

Anyway, I’d love any input or suggestions for preventing discoloration. I’ve accepted that it’s a possiblility regardless of precautions taken, but would like to do my best to avoid it. Any specific product suggestions (thinset, grout, sealer, etc) would also be awesome and much appreciated.

Thanks again!