Instructions

1. Prepare your surface correctly to begin the tiling process. If you are laying mosaic tile on a floor, it is best to remove existing flooring (tile, wood, laminate) down to the plywood subfloor. If the subfloor is solid and in good repair, the mosaic tile can be laid directly on the subfloor. If you are installing tile on a wall, it is important to make sure that the wall surface is clean, smooth and level before you begin.
2. Add an additional subfloor or wall (in the case of a shower or backsplash) of cement backer board if the subfloor is in poor repair, or if you are laying the mosaic tile in large areas that are constantly exposed to water. Cement composite board is moisture-resistant and can prolong the life of your floors and walls by preventing moisture seepage.
3. Install the sheets of backer board onto existing walls (in the studs) or on plywood subflooring, by screwing the sheets down along the edges. The sheets can be scored with a craft knife and then snapped cleanly apart for custom fits.
4. Cover the seams with mesh tape after you have installed the backer board, and spread thin set or cement in a thin layer over the taped seams. Feather the cement out with your trowel in order to ensure a seamless, smooth finish. After your surface has been prepared with backer board (or if you have a solid plywood subfloor), you can begin measuring for tile.
5. Measure your space exactly, and always purchase several extra feet of mosaic tile in case of accidents or miscalculation.

Laying Mosaic Tile

• Find the exact centre of your surface by using a tape measure, or chalk lines snapped from the centre of each wall. This is where you should begin laying tile, so that the most visible area to be tiled is consistent, and any cuts or adjustments that have to be made will be around less visible edges.
• Begin tiling by spreading thin set or cement evenly over your surface using the notched edge of a square tiling trowel. Then press your first sheet of mosaic tiles into your centre spot and begin tiling. Mosaic tile generally is available for purchase in sheets in which the small tiles are attached to a webbed mesh backing (sometimes covered with a protective paper backing.)
• Place a wood block over the tiles you have just laid, and gently tap with a rubber mallet around the surface of the entire sheet to make sure that all the tiles will be firmly set. It can be difficult to make sure that each small tile is firmly embedded, and this tapping process can help.
• Continue this process around the entire floor or wall. Mosaic tile sheets can be cut with a craft knife or scissors to fit exactly in a specific area, and individual tiles can be trimmed with a tile nipper to ensure an exact fit around edges or corners.
• Begin the grouting process after the tile has been allowed to dry for at least 24 hours. Grouts are available in a variety of colours, and are most often a powder that you mix with water in a bucket, using a mixing arm attachment on a drill. Always closely follow the instructions on the grout bag to achieve the right consistency.
• Spread the grout firmly over the entire surface, starting in one corner and working outward with a rubber grout float, and then use warm water and towels or sponges to wipe off the excess. After the grout has dried for 48 hours, apply a grout sealer with a brush or towel over the entire floor, according to the instructions on the bottle, to prolong the life of your grout and protect it from moisture damage.