Resources & Tools

• Installation Guide

  5/8"x5x8", 3/4"x3/4" and 1" x 1" glass tile

  clear film faced and paper faced sheets

  General Note about Installation Guide

  The following general installation and grouting guidelines pertain to most applications. The technical service departments of *major setting material companies should be consulted regarding specific installation questions.

  INSPECTION

  The end user is responsible for determining the acceptability of the product. Installation constitutes acceptance of tile order.

  The handmade character of glass mosaic tile creates a degree of artistic variation in shade, color, tone, and size within each sheet of tile.

  Open and inspect each carton of tile to confirm shading consistency. Randomly select 5 sheets from different cartons to establish color control during installation. Before installing tile, blend sheets from different cartons to assure random placement during installation. As sheets are being installed, check them against control samples prior to placing them in the setting material to assure acceptable shade variations and quality.

  INSTALLATION

  Cutting Glass Tile

  While small format glass tile can be cut on a wet saw, a more practical solution is to use specialty glass mosaic tile cutters. Cut edges are very sharp and should be smoothed with carbide paper or a "white stone" available at tile dealers.

  Types of Setting Materials to Use

  Setting material products are available through tile dealers, home centers, and setting material companies.

  Custom Building Products: Premium Plus Thin-Set Mortar (white) mixed with Custom Flex Ultra-Strength Thin-

  Set Additive.

  Custom Building Products: MegaFlex Ultimate Thin-Set Mortar (white). No admixture is necessary. www.custombuildingproducts.com

  Hydroment: ReFlex Ultra-Premium Latex-Modified Thin-Set Mortar. No admixture is necessary. www.bostik.com

  Laticrete: 254 Platinum Multipurpose Thin-Set Mortar. No admixture is necessary. www.laticrete.com

  Mapei: Kerabond Premium Dry-Set Mortar (Ker 102) mixed with Keralistic Mortar Admix (Ker 310)

  Mapei: Adesilex P10 (bright white) nonsag mortar for glass tile. Mix with water or Keraply. www.mapei.com

  TEC (H.B. Fuller): Super Flex Premium Performance Universal Latex-Modified Thin-Set Mortar.

  No admixture is necessary. www.tecspecialty.com

  Installation

  ***IMPORTANT NOTE! – When installing film face and paper face mounted tile sheets INSTALL FILM/PAPER SIDE OUT!!! ***

  5/8"X5/8" and 3/4"X3/4"

  Use enough setting material to assure 100% tile surface coverage but not so much that it will "ooze" above the top of the tile through the grout joints. Use a 3/16" X 5/32" V-notched trowel and do not flatten the "rows" created in the setting material. Apply only as much setting material as can be covered with tile within 10 to 20 minutes or while surface is still wet and tacky.

  1"X1"

  Use the notched side of a 1/4" X 1/4" square-notched trowel to firmly apply a liberal amount of setting material to the substrate. Then use the flat side of the trowel to flatten the notches in the setting material, creating a smooth, consistent setting bed approximately 1/8" thick. Apply only as much setting material as can be covered with tile within 10 to 20 minutes or while surface is still wet and tacky.

  With firm, even pressure apply sheets of tile – film/paper side out – into the setting material, using a wooden beating block or rubber grouting float to create a flat surface.

  Carefully align each sheet as it is installed to create uniform grout joints from sheet to sheet. Allow tile to set until firm.

  Film Face Mounted Sheets

  Once all film mounted sheets are installed into setting material, creating small pinholes or slits in the film improves the breathing and setting up process. Once setting material has set up, remove the film by pulling it from the tile, starting at the corners and pulling downward. If tile comes up during this process, allow setting material to set up longer. Once film is removed make any tile alignment adjustments while the setting material is fresh.

  Paper Face Mounted Sheets

  To remove the paper, apply a moderately wet sponge to the paper, allowing the water to soak through and dissolve the glue. (Warm water dissolves quicker than cold). Paper should be wet for removal only at time that it will actually be removed. If paper is wet for removal, but then dries again without having been removed from the tile it is VERY difficult to remove upon wetting it again. Starting at the corners, peel the paper from the tile. If tile comes up during this process, allow setting material to set up longer. Once paper is removed make any tile alignment adjustments while the setting material is fresh.

  Further Installation Notes

  Some setting materials manufacturers recommend applying setting material to the backside of the sheet of glass mosaic tile with the flat side of the trowel immediately before placement of the sheet into the freshly trowelled setting material on the surface receiving the tile. This extra amount of setting material is recommended to help assure 100% coverage of the tile. It does, however, increase the amount of setting material available to "ooze" up through the grout joints. If too much is applied, the setting material will, particularly on the thinner 3/4" X 3/4" and 5/8" X 5/8" tile, completely fill the grout joints leaving no or very little space for grout.

  If 100% tile surface coverage (no voids between the tile and the surface receiving the tile) can be achieved by applying sufficient setting material only to the surface receiving the tile, this "back buttering" step might be unnecessary. We suggest experimenting with a sheet or partial sheet of tile before starting the job to determine the best approach to achieving 100% coverage.

  Regarding tile work in swimming pools, fountains, and other continuous water immersion applications, minimum cure time after grouting is 21 days before flood testing or filling with water. Follow setting materials manufacturer’s recommended cure times.

  GROUTING

  Grout Color

  Grout color plays a major role in the final appearance of any glass mosaic tile job and should be selected carefully. Grout color that contrasts with the tile color tends to create a "frame" around each tile.

  Grouting

  Glass mosaic tile has varying degrees of surface texture that will collect grout during the grouting process. While thorough cleaning after grouting will remove most of the grout, there will always be some grout remaining in the pinholes or surface creases. The amount of grout visible after installation will depend primarily on the color contrast between grout color and tile color, how well the tiles were cleaned during grouting, and viewing distance.

  Grouting may be done after tile is firmly set – approximately 24 hours after installation. Apply grout, sanded or unsanded, with a rubber grouting float, making sure that grout joints are completely full and free of voids and pits. Clean the surface with a clean, damp sponge.

  Allow grout to set firm, or until haze forms on the tile. Use a soft, clean, dry cloth to polish off haze and remaining grout residue. Final cleaning of grout haze and tile polishing is done with clean, dry cheesecloth within 24 hours of grouting.

  CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

  Normal cleaning of glass mosaic tile can be done with room temperature water and a rag. For a more thorough cleaning and to remove stubborn dirt and stains, use any of the many tile and grout cleaners available through tile dealers or home centers.

  The Tile Council of America offers detailed grout cleaning information on their website, www.tileusa.com

  (under "Technical Services" scroll text down to "Tile Technical Reference Library", click "frequently asked questions and answers", and click "Cleaning Grout").

  Installing Paper Face Tile