It may help to use plastic tile spacers to keep grout joints consistent.įor edge tiles, you can cut the scrim right along the tesserae joints with scissors, shears or a utility knife. When this becomes an issue, he uses standard tile spacers to keep all the joints consistent. And, although scrim-backed mosaic tile is designed to be “self-spacing,” Davis notes that the flexible nature of the scrim can cause the small tiles to shift slightly out of position. If the individual tesserae blocks are uneven, then lift the tile and adjust the mortar bed beneath it. Start with a dry run.Īpply grout to the tile joints with a rubber float. After planning your layout, spread tile adhesive onto the cement board with a notched trowel. Davis suggests starting at the far corner of the room and working toward the door so you don’t “trap” yourself with the new flooring. Continue laying adhesive and tiles across the room, using a floor level to make sure the tesserae remain flat and level. Slightly twist each tile as you install it to embed the scrim for a better bond. Place the tiles in the mortar bed, keeping them in line with the chalk lines. Use a notched trowel to spread the adhesive, combing it slightly to create ridges in the mortar bed with a depth of about 1/4 inch. When you’re satisfied with your layout, remove the tiles and pour a little thinset mortar in the corner of the intersection of your first two rows. This type of mosaic tile is attached to a flexible scrim backing for easy installation. The chalk lines will serve as a guide for placement of the first rows. Snap a couple of intersecting chalk lines at right angles on the backer board, marking the joints of the first row of tiles. Then, lay out the first couple of rows in a dry run, temporarily taping the tile joints with masking tape, if necessary. Next, map out a floor plan to determine how many tiles you’ll need. Cement board is installed over the plywood subfloor and screwed down securely.

Davis fastened the cement board to the plywood subfloor with deck screws every 8 inches in the designated screw holes that are printed on the face of the HardiBacker. HardieBacker is both mold and moisture resistant, which is ideal for tile installation in wet areas. On the project in the photos, professional remodeler, Jeff Davis, opted to cover the bathroom subfloor with precut HardiBacker cement board. If necessary, level concrete floors with a leveling compound. The first step in installation is to remove any existing floor covering and ensure the subfloor is clean, smooth and flat. The tesserae are usually made of glazed ceramic, which makes them water-resistant and a preferred material for areas such as bathroom floors, as shown in this article. The repeated patterns of tesserae can be used over large areas to achieve the look of a complex design. The scrim backing can be cut to size with shears and allows the tiles to easily adhere to the floor. For the do-it-yourselfer, a faster and easier method is to use larger tiles that consist of many individual tesserae attached to a scrim backing in a prearranged pattern. However, the painstaking chore of assembling mosaic tile piece by piece is a task best left to the pros. With enough time, work and patience, tile professionals can use a wide variety of colors to create an intricate floor or wall that rivals the craftsmanship of Roman times, when mosaic tile was a favored medium for historic murals.

With the many small tiles the installer can play the role of artist, using the individual units like blocks of color in a painting. A single color can be used for a plain design, two complementary colors are a more popular option, or use many colors for a complex pattern. Mosaic tile is a combination of tiny colored tiles called “tesserae” that can be used to create a pictorial or geometrical design to decorate a home’s interior.

Alternative Heating & Fireplace Inserts.

Grouting mosaic tiles