Flooring Tile - tiling old faux marble vanity with silicone as adhesive

Hello from southern California,
I want to give my unsightly guest bathroom vanity a facelift. This bathroom will be remodeled eventually (4-6 years). The existing vanity top and short 'backsplash' are faux marble. Is it "OK" if I apply ceramic tile directly on to the faux marble, using silicone as the adhesive, then grout the tiles? I know it's much better to use backerboards or a mortar bed for tiling, but would the silicone/grout method work for me for a few years, in this bathroom that doesn't get a lot of regular use? Will the silicone stick the tiles well enough to the faux marble ? thanks for your input!

Sounds like you are going to a lot of expense and trouble to disguise an old vanity top. If it is a small, standard size vanity, you might find a relatively inexpensive one at the home center. Before proceeding with this project, compare the cost of a new top vs. the cost of materials, your time and labor, as well as how the project will look when you are through.

If you only expect it to hold up 2 or 3 years, yes. What usually happens is that the paint loosens up, not the tile nor the adhesive. The "faux" paint will lift.

John

http://www.johnbridge.com

In my experience, silicone in not a good choice for installing ceramic tile...not that it won't stick..in fact it sticks very well..the problem is that silicone is too flexable....if you drop something on the tile..the tile will break...because it's floating on a silicone cushion.You're better off using tile adhesive...at least it gets hard enough to support the tile. You may have to rough up the faux marble top, to help with the adhesion.

When I think of Faux anything I think of paint. But maybe we're talking about "cultured" marble here?