Mosaic tiles do not need to be installed individually.
Mosaic tile today comes in the form of multiple tiles pre-attached to a mesh fiberglass backing.
This makes mosaic tile far easier to install than if dealing with individual tiles.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Mosaic tile can be laid directly on plywood or wallboard in non-wet locations.
Snap at the score lines.
Secure the boards with a gap of about 1/8 inch between boards.
The Spruce / Michela Buttignol
Cover the seams with 2-inch wide fiberglass cement board tape and cover with thinset.
Determine the halfway point and mark this on each of the four walls.
Snap a chalk line in each direction to draw intersecting perpendicular layout lines.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
At the edges, cut the mosaic tile sheets to size.
Work in sections about 2 to 3 feet square.
Press the mosaic tile sheet in the thinset.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Tip
Do not overapply the thinset.
You should be able to see the cement board at the bottom of the grooves.
Continue to Lay Tile Sheets
Install adjoining mosaic sheets.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
With mosaic sheets, the small tiles are staggered so the sheets interlock.
Keep the grout seams uniform throughout the tile field.
Do so gently to prevent squeezing thinset out.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Mosaic sheets can ripple or form waves.
Pressing equalizes the surface and eliminates waves.
Cut between the tiles.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
With each quadrant, work from the center point of the layout outward to the edges.
After all the tiles are installed, allow the installation to harden before grouting.
Force the grout into the joints by holding the float at a 45-degree angle to the surface.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Alternate the direction of the grout float to ensure that the grout fills all joints.
Scrape off large amounts of excess grout from the face of the tiles with the edge of the float.
After the grout is fully cured, remove the remaining grout film with aliquid grout haze remover.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Seal the Grout
Brush grout sealer on the grout after the grout has cured.
Sanded tile grout must besealedto protect the underlayment.
Wipe excess sealer from the surface.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Most sealers suggest two applications for initial sealing, then an additional utility every one to two years.
Controlling thinset seeping through the seams is tricky.
Also, it can be hard to keep the tile sheets flat.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
Call an experienced tile setter to install your mosaic tile if you have these or other concerns.
Grout Joint Size.The Tile Council of America.
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
The Spruce / Liz Moskowitz
