How to lay mosaic tiles

In this simple guide, we show you how to lay mosaic tiles with a mesh backing.

A mesh backing is now most common for mosaics, it means intricate mosaic shapes can be tiled quicker and more accurately than before as you place them in larger panels. We’ll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to lay your mosaic.

Like any tiling, you need to create a clean and flat surface to lay your mosaics on for best results.

You can read our in-depth fixing guides for all different kinds of substrates. These will give you the basics on tiling walls and floors as well as useful product recommendations for particular projects.

But the most important point is to check there are no dips or bumps in the surface you’re tiling, you can use a layer of levelling compound to even out the surface.

If you’re using a mosaic that forms a pattern, then it’s important to first lay out the pattern to ensure you have the correct configuration. You should then plan to tile from the centre of the room outwards, if you’re tiling a floor, ensure you finish by the door you need to exit by.

If you’re tiling a natural stone mosaic then lay out the tiles to ensure you have a good spread of variation in the material (such as marble’s veining) this will ensure a more natural finish.

Top Tip

This will make your mosaic tiling even easier… the Mosaic Mesh Backer. As mesh backed mosaics are quite flexible it can make it tricky to line up, especially when wall tiling, using the backer will keep your mesh sheets rigid. Simply attach your mosaics to the self-adhesive side of the backer and then sink it into your adhesive bed like you would a normal tile. It’s made of PVC so it can be easily cut to fit any mosaic.

If you need to cut a strip off then simply use a pair of scissors to trim away the mesh, for shaping the tiles you can use tile nippers to cut away carefully at small edges and then neaten them using a polishing pad.

If you’re using an electric cutter, use a thin piece of scrap plywood underneath the sheet to ensure small mosaics don’t slip through slots in the cutter’s bed. Simply adjust the cutter’s depth so you don’t cut through the plywood.

It’s also a good idea to trim any excess mesh from the sides of the tiles, if any stick out once placed into the adhesive it can make it difficult to butt sheets up against each other or can stick out into your grout joint making it difficult to grout later on. You can simply trim the mesh with a sharp Stanley Knife.

Your choice of adhesive depends on where you are tiling, for walls use a simple ready mix like BAL Green Star. On the floor, BAL Rapid-Flex Fibre Plus.

Ensure you use a notched trowel in the correct size according to the size of your mosaic. They start from 3x3mm and go all the way up to 10x20mm.

Place the mosaic in position and gentle wiggle into place ensuring contact with the adhesive bed. If you’re not using a mesh backer then we’d advise adding tile spacers at strategic points to keep the mosaic in place. Once in place, ensure the individual tile pieces are flat and in line by using a tamping block, something with a flat rubber edge will help protect the tile whilst you’re pressing it down.

Top Tip

If you’re setting a thinner mosaic, perhaps a glass one, you will occasionally get some adhesive coming through the mesh. If you wait until it firms up a little you can then go over the grout joints with a toothbrush to easily clean before grouting.

Once your adhesive has dried (check the manufacturer’s specifications) then it’s time to grout. Like any wall or floor tiling, opt for a suitable grout and mix according to the packet’s instructions. If you’re using a glass mosaic, then we’d recommend using a finer grout as larger particles of sand in some grouts can scratch the glass.

Read up on your grouting technique with our handy how to guide.

The final step is to use a grout protector when your tiles are fully fixed, cleaned, and dried. Mosaics show a lot more grout than larger tiles so it’s important to keep it clean. The Fila Grout Sealer takes minutes to apply and helps prevent the build-up of dirt and grime over time.

Now you know how to lay mosaic tiles, grout and protect them it's time to choose your mosaic and get the project rolling!