Granite tile is cut from natural granite stone, with straight, square edges. This is different from clay-based tiles, which are slightly rounded and mounded, and granite has some fundamentally different methods of installation. Whether you’re doing a floor, wall, countertop or backsplash, the whole idea with granite is to get those straight edges completely even with each other, so it feels like a solid slab instead of individual tiles. The grout lines are thin (1/16 inch instead of 1/8), and you must use sandless grout to avoid scratching the granite.

1
Spread down thinset mortar over the starting area for laying the tiles, using a notched trowel. Make the mortar about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. The comb pattern in the mortar will allow you to see your layout lines beneath the mortar.

2
Set the first granite tile by pressing it into the mortar and twisting it slightly, to get a tight seal.

3
Set the second granite tile edge-first alongside the first one, press down the rest of the tile, then pull it slightly apart from the first one. Stick two 1/16-inch spacers in the gap between the tiles, then push the second tile against the spacers. Make sure the first tile doesn’t move.

4
Repeat for several more tiles, pressing them edge-first against the previous tile on the layout line, spacing them properly. Continue until you’ve installed a line about 3 feet long.

5
Press the narrow edge of your two-by-four on top of the line of tiles. Press on the two-by-four to even out the tiles.

6
Repeat for each line of tiles, pressing the two-by-four over them for each tile you’ve laid for about three feet worth of tiles. Go row by row, filling up the whole space. Cut any tiles at the edges as necessary on a wet saw. Let the tiles set for 24 hours.

7
Pull out the spacers with needle-nose pliers.

8
Spread sandless grout over the tiled area with a grout squeegee, running the flat edge of the squeegee diagonally over the tiles to force the grout into the spaces between them. Scrape the grout off the surface of the tiles. Let the grout sit in the lines for 10 minutes.

9
Wipe off the excess grout with a damp sponge, leaving it in the lines. Let the grout set for two to three days.