Laying Mosaic Tile Wall

Dean says that one of the most important tips for any tile setting job including mosaics is to start with a perfectly flat surface.

Laying mosaic tile wall.

In modern tile work the underlayment is generally cement board applied over a plywood subfloor or directly against wall studs. Mosaic tile can be laid directly on plywood or wallboard in non wet locations but cement board offers the best underlayment and is the preferred choice for professionals. Affix a scrap piece of 1x lumber to the wall between the countertops using drywall screws to act as a ledger. Lay scrap cardboard on top of your counters against the wall to be tiled to act as a spacer.

To install a mosaic tile backsplash in a kitchen. Press the sheets of mosaic into the mortar and smooth them from bottom to top with your hand. Lay out the location of the backsplash on the wall. If you re doing just a small area of tile you can probably get away with tiling over standard drywall board or green board.

Position the sheet on the wall and press it into the wet thin set adhesive. So we asked dean sorem our go to tile expert to show us his best tips for cutting and. If you find a dip in a wall flatten it by screeding a layer of setting type joint compound over it as shown here. Before you begin tiling check the surface with a straightedge.

Surface prep floor tile starts with a good foundation of concrete or fiber cement backer board and wall tile is no different. Golden select mosaic wall tile installation video. Golden select mosaic wall tile installation video. But because the individual tiles are small usually two inches or less mounted on sheets and often made of glass mosaic tiles present some unique challenges.

The top of the ledger should be even with the top of the cardboard spacer. In some ways setting mosaic tile is just like setting any other tile. Set a flat piece of wood over the mosaics and tap it with a rubber mallet to help drive the mosaics.