Mosaic Tiles...

We are seeing a lot of new glass,

 metal & porcelain mosaics 

available for our clients to use.

Ames Tile & Stone Marmo Pearl Series

Our clients are using mosaic tiles

 as an accent with a larger format tile

 or in some cases 

as a full backsplash.

When installing mosaic tile on mesh backed sheets there are some things you need to keep in mind, especially if installing yourself. 

These smaller mosaic tiles can easily shift when installing thus it's important to step back & make sure they are evenly placed on the wall. The mesh sheets are flexible & do not stay perfectly square. With using a mosaic sheet there are often fewer cuts needed but it rarely happens that they fit exactly into your space. When cutting the mosaics you can use a tile scriber or a wet saw. When cutting glass mosaics make sure you have a new blade on your wet saw to prevent the glass from chipping.

Be careful not to use too much adhesive or mortar when installing. If too much is used it will seep through the individual spaces on the mesh sheet. When installing a larger format tile you only have 4 edges to be aware of, with mosaics you can have up to 144 edges. If you have a lot of access coming through the mesh sheet that all needs to be cleaned prior to grouting. This can be very time consuming so just be aware when applying the adhesive or mortar. 

Tapping the mosaic sheets with a rubber mallet or level will help to flatten the sheets out, giving you a nice smooth surface. It also helps to ensure the mosaic tiles are fully embedded in the adhesive or mortar. We always recommend leaving the tiles set up for 24 hours prior to grouting.

There are a number of grout lines to fill so spreading the grout evenly is important. When applying the grout turn your float on a 45 degree angle & use the edge to spread the grout all over the tiles. When you have completed the grouting wait 15 minutes prior to wiping the area down. When cleaning off excess grout you need to have a bucket of clean water & a sponge. Constantly cleaning the sponge with clean water will yield the best grouting results. Once you have removed all the excess grout you can give the area a once over to remove any residue that might have been left behind.

 There are new grout products available that can be used to eliminate the need for sealing grout joints.

 Please give us a call for more information.