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 these tile lines will have 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
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.
Cutting Glass and Stone Tile
Small format glass and stone tile can be cut with specialty glass mosaic tile cutters. Installation projects using sheets containing metal tile may consider adjusting the surface area of project to accommodate full tile. If you need to cut metal tile, use a wet saw with a diamond blade. Cut edges are 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.
Custom Building Products: Custom Blend Standard Thin-Set Mortar. www.custombuildingproducts.com
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: Adesilex P10 (bright white) nonsag mortar for glass tile. Mix with water or Keraply. Specifically designed for glass tile. www.mapei.com
Mapei: Kerabond Premium Dry-Set Mortar (Ker 102) mixed with Keralistic Mortar Admix (Ker 310). www.mapei.com
TEC (H.B. Fuller): Super Flex Premium Performance Universal Latex-Modified Thin-Set Mortar. No admixture is necessary. www.tecspecialty.com
CAUTION: When mixing setting and grouting materials with electrical mixing devices, do not exceed 300 rpm or the manufacturer’s
Installation
1”x 1” and 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 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 — mesh side down — 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. Clean excess setting material from the surface of the tile with a damp cloth or sponge while the setting material is fresh.
Further Installation Notes
Some setting materials manufacturers recommend applying setting material to the back side of the sheet of glass mosaic tile (“back buttering”) 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 very little or no 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 for achieving 100% coverage.
Water Immersion Applications
The paper faced, film face mounted, and mesh mounted glass mosaic tile have been successfully installed in pools for years. We recommend using paper or film faced products to achieve the 100% surface of tile to substrate coverage with water submersion projects.
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
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, with a rubber float, making sure that grout joints are completely full and free of voids and pits. Clean the surface with a clean, damp sponge.
Special grouting information for sheets containing metal tiles: For sheets with metal tile, we recommend using only unsanded grout. Allow grout to set firm or until haze forms on the tile and the grout in the joints sets firm. 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, metal and marble mosaic tile can be done with any non-abrasive cleaning compound or a damp soft cloth/sponge with soapy water. Do not use acid or corrosive solutions.
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”, click “Cleaning Grout”).
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