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
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,
Expansion Joints
Expansion joints are essential for the success of most tile installations. Follow instructions on expansion joints in the Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation published by the Tile Council of America. Expansion joint requirements will vary depending on substrate climate and size of installation. An architect should be consulted when specifying the exact number of expansion joints and the location of each.
Glass tiles exhibit more dimensional change due to temperature fluctuations than do ceramic or porcelain tiles. Joint spacing recommendations in EJ171 (301MJ) give a range for interior and exterior applications. For glass-tile installations, add additional movement joints to help reduce stresses.
Small format glass tile are best cut with specialty glass mosaic tile cutters and larger sizes such as pebble-style tile are best cut with a wet saw. 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 major setting material companies. Some options are listed below, but there are many on the market to choose from.
Custom Building Products: Premium Plus Thin-Set Mortar (white) mixed with Custom Flex Ultra-Strength Thin-Set Additive. www.custombuildingproducts.com Custom Building Products: VersaBond Thin-set Mortar. www.custombuildingproducts.com Custom Building Products: Glass Tile Premium Thin-set Mortar. www.custombuildingproducts.com
Hydroment: Glass-Mate Mortar. www.bostik.com Laticrete: 254 Platinum Multipurpose Thin-Set Mortar. No admixture is necessary. www.laticrete.com' Laticrete: Glass Tile Adhesive Lite Thin-set Mortar. www.laticrete.com' Mapei: Adesilex P10 (bright white) RS and non-RS for mosaic & glass tile. www.mapei.com TEC (H.B. Fuller): TotalFlex XMS Tile Adhesive. www.tecspecialty.com CAUTION: When mixing setting and grouting materials with electrical mixing devices, do not exceed 300 rpm or the manufacturer’s recommendations. All adhesives need to slake (i.e. sit) 10-15 minutes after mixing and then be remixed before using. Installation ***IMPORTANT NOTE! – When installing film-face and paper-face mounted tile sheets, INSTALL FILM/PAPER SIDE OUT!!! *** 5/8” x 5/8” and 3/4” x 3/4”
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. 1” x 1”
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 he 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 ceate 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. 1” x 2” 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 he trowel to flatten the notches in the setting material, creating a smooth, consistent setting bed approximately 1/8” thick. We recommend back buttering the 1”x 2” tile due to the concave finish in the backside of the tile. This extra amount of setting material is recommend 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. We suggest experimenting with a sheet or partial sheet of tile before starting the job to determine the best approach to achieving 100% coverage. Apply only as much setting material as can be covered with tile within 10 to 20 minutes or while still wet and tacky.
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.
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.
Water Immersion Applications
Hakatai mesh backed, paper faced, and film face mounted glass mosaic tile have been successfully installed in pools for years. There are many variables that affect the outcome of glass tile installations in water immersed applications: Skill of installer, type of setting material used, amount of setting material applied, weather conditions at time of installation, amount of curing time allowed before water immersion takes place. 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
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.
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 its website, www.tileusa.com (under “Technical Services” scroll text down to “Tile Technical Reference Library”, click “frequently asked questions and answers”, and click “Cleaning |
