How to Install Paper-Backed Glass Tile

One of the most common sizes of glass mosaics is 5/8 inch.

Glass tiles are both one of the oldest and most frequently used materials today. This fragile, translucent material can be used to cover floors, walls and counters, and is available in many sizes, including mosaic. Since glass tiles are translucent or transparent, they cannot be joined together with a mesh netting like some mosaics. Instead, they use brown paper to cover the front of the tiles. When you look at a sheet of paper-faced material, you are actually looking at its back; the paper will be installed facing out and removed after installation.

Things You'll Need

• Razor blade
• Glass tile nippers
• White, latex additive thinset mortar
• Trowel
• 2-by-4 or piece of lumber
• Hammer
• Water
• Sponge
• Grout
• Grout float

Instructions

1. Lay out the sheets of glass mosaic on or near the area where they will be installed. Examine the edges of the material; most sheets of paper-faced product will show a small amount of the tile around the edges. Locate this edge and use it to practice spacing the sheets out. If too much room is left around each sheet, when the paper is removed, the separate sheets will be very noticeable.

2. Use a razor blade to trim the paper on the sheets to help the mosaics fit the installation. Slice from front to back between the rows of tile to get the closest fit possible. Use glass tile nippers to trim individual tiles if a row of half tiles is required to fit.

3. Spread white thinset that has been modified with latex onto the area where you will install the tiles. After combing the mortar with the trowel to ensure correct depth, flatten out the mortar with the smooth edge of the trowel until it is even in appearance.

4. Press each sheet of glass mosaic into the flattened mortar in the same pattern you determined on in the initial layout. After laying two or three sheets, place a piece of wood over the sheets and hit the wood firmly with a hammer to drive the glass into the mortar.

5. Install all of the sheets of material with the paper facing you. Wait one hour for the mortar to begin to dry and remove the paper by soaking it with a wet sponge. Peel the wet paper away from the glass. If a tile comes loose with the paper, press it firmly back into the mortar. Straighten out any grout joints that waver by inserting the edge of the trowel into them and pushing the tiles left or right.

6. Wait 24 to 48 hours for the mortar to dry completely. Spread grout over the tiles and into the grout joints with a soft rubber grout float. Press the float firmly onto the tiles as you drag it across the surface to pack the grout between them. Allow the grout to cure for at least 15 minutes and then wash the surface of the glass clean with a damp sponge to remove excess grout. The grout will harden within 24 to 48 hours, and will completely cure after 3 weeks. If you choose to apply a sealer to the grout, wait at least 3 weeks before doing so; however, sealer is not required for the glass tiles.

References

• This Old House: Installing a Glass Mosaic Tile Backsplash
• Tile Magazine: How to Install Mosaic Tiles