Mosaic Tiling - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

stewa_r · 17-03-2008

Hi All

I am about to tile my kitchen splashback with glass mosaic tiles on the mesh backing.

Just wondering if you guys had any tips you can share E.G applying the tiles onto the wall ?

Thanks very much

**wetdec** · 17-03-2008

00ps you just got thanked by mistake !!!!!!

Using an adhesive like Nicobond mosaic adhesive and grout should be what you need if you can get hold of it. Its bright white powder form, mix it up, spread on back of tiles and press to the wall with a grout float. Any adhesive that pushes through acts as grout so can be tidied up with a sponge.

Nice job, and easy as it sticks and grouts

tiler

..

stewa_r · 17-03-2008

Thanks for this mate, so you recommend to put the adhesive on the tile rather than the wall ?

**wetdec** · 17-03-2008

Its a preference but works well with the adhesive/grout I use and you can be sure of a good covering.

Bal also do a mosaic adhesive which you could look at.

**grumpygrouter** · 17-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewa_r

Hi All

I am about to tile my kitchen splashback with glass mosaic tiles on the mesh backing.

Just wondering if you guys had any tips you can share E.G applying the tiles onto the wall ?

Thanks very much

1. Ensure wall is FLAT.
2. If wall plaster or skimmed, prime with an acrylic primer such as BAL APD.
3. Fix using BAL mosaic-fix adhesive with a 3mm notched trowel, trowelling the wall.
4. apply sheets to wall holding sheets from the top corners initially, sometimes some tilers fix in a brickbond style to try and hide ajoining sheet lines.
5. press into adhesive with a flat surface - a grout float is ideal for this.
6. Leave for sixteen hours
7. Grout as required with appropriate grout.

For cutting the glass mosiacs, a dry cutter with a moving breaker system works well for full sheets, individual tiles can be cut with good quality nippers. Protect your eyes at all times!

Grumpy

stewa_r · 17-03-2008

Thanks for the info mate really appreciate it, the cutting of the tiles was worrying me abit. Would you scribe the mosaic before using the nippers?

**Dave** · 17-03-2008

If they are a thin glass mosaic then nippers will work but if they are the thick ones then cutting with nippers can cause the glass to shell out on the cut edge...these there for will need wet cutting...A good quality porcelain blade will cut glass tiles no probs......Also use a flexible grout as normal set grout will not adhere to the glass tile edges....

BAL mosaic fix and BAL super fex wall grout spot on for your project....

Info Here......

**Danny@ Diamond** · 17-03-2008

The best cutter i have found for cutting glass mosaics is the Sigma 5M works perfect every time

faithhealer · 17-03-2008

Can I just re literate what Grumps said about the walls being flat. The mosaic tiles will only reflect the state of the wall. And if you have down lighters on your kitchen units they will look bloody awful if they aren't flat. Best of British!!

**MICK the Tiler** · 18-03-2008

Also give the tiles once laid a good eyeballing over if they are thick glass the light can refract through the grout joint giving an eneven appearance to the grout lines and any difference will only show up once grouted. Another thing as they are glass when yuo lay them on the wall they will slip and slid around like a bugger just take your time and keep going over them with your eyes.

Down here we get diamond wheels especially designed for glass they are half the thickness of a credit card and immpregnated with diamond on almost the entire surface, Expensive though $150au and delicate (Not for the toolbox) but work an absolute treat.