How To Install A Mosaic Tile Backsplash
Are messy spills and greasy
splatters becoming an unsightly nightmare for you? Or are those stain-prone
spots behind your kitchen sink becoming more difficult to clean? Well, there is
a great solution that you can consider to ease your problems –a mosaic tile
backsplash. With the right color combination and the use of beautiful,
translucent glass mosaics,
the end result can add sparkle and shimmer to your kitchen.
Mosaic tiles comprised of an
array of small tiles that form a cohesive and aesthetically appealing collage pattern.
It provides a fantastic visual pop to any space they are utilized in and the
only limitations you will encounter are only those set by your own creativity. Read
on to find out how you can install a mosaic tile backsplash in your kitchen:
Preparations
You should turn off all power to
any electrical receptacles on the wall you are tiling. Once done, you can
proceed to install a temporary ledger. You will need to lay some scrap
cardboard on your counters and against the wall to act as a spacer. Now, affix
a piece of lumber between the countertop and wall with drywall screws. This is
your ledger. Also, ensure that it's fairly even with the top of the cardboard
spacer.
New drywall and other porous
surfaces bond well with thinset, but you can still tile over a wall that's
painted. You just need to rough up the surface with a sanding sponge
(approximately 80-grit). If you are planning to install translucent tiles over
brightly-colored walls, you should prime it with a sealer-primer first. This
prevents the color from bleeding through the thinset when you sand.
Mark the Layout
Always select an area that's
considered a natural focal point. Once you picked that out, mark out the
centerline on the ledger with some painter's tape. Next, you can lay out the
sheets for the starting area. A general rule of thumb is to leave a 1/8-inch
expansion gap at the perimeter. In most cases, you will not be working with a
single, large sheet. There are multiple sheets to lay but the process is the
same.
Coat, Comb and Smoothen the Thinset
Once the thinset is mixed in a bucket,
you can begin applying in the focal-point area first. A fanning motion is a
good technique to help you achieve an even thickness of approximately a
quarter-inch. Remember to work in small sections as you don't want the thinset
to cure or skin over.
Next, you will be combing the
thinset with the notched edge of your trowel. Simply hold it at a slight angle
to the wall and comb horizontally. Any excess thinset should return to the
bucket. The last step of the thinset application requires you to smoothen out
the area with a downward motion. You will want to eliminate any notched lines
as it will show through translucent tiles.
Tile Installation
When you place the first tile
sheet, do so with gentle pressure. You may need to tap it lightly with a hammer
too. While adding the tile sheets, you will want to ensure it looks continuous
on the wall. Check to make sure that the tile sheets are at a consistent depth.
When the tile sheets are pliable enough, you can remove the paper facing. A
moist sponge can help loosen the adhesive.
When you install each tile, you
should back-butter it with a layer of thinset before pressing it into place.
You will want to do this with your fingers wet to prevent adhesive residues
from sticking onto your fingers. Next, let everything cure for at least 48
hours.
Grouting and Caulking
Clean the tiles first with a wet
sponge and nylon scrub brush before grouting. You should always achieve a
uniformed texture for your premixed urethane grout before applying it with an
epoxy grout float. Work in small sections until the entire area is covered. You're
almost there! Using a caulk gun, apply the contents to the perimeter of the
backsplash area. Once done, remove all your prep work, reinstall all your
electrical receptacles and you're done.
If you are ready to take on some
DIY work, why not start browsing through our inventory of beautiful backsplashtiles to kick off your project?