Mosaic Backsplash Instructions
These instructions are updated regularly by our staff mosaic artist. Email Joe
Moorman at inspire@mosaicartsupply.com if you have questions.
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It is much easier to glue mosaic tiles to a horizontal surface. Tiles can slide
off a vertical surface before the glue cures.
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Unless you are making a grid of square tiles like in a bathroom, you will want
to be able to move tiles around in wet glue until you get the design just
right. This is much easier to do on a loose piece of plywood or concrete
board than on the wall itself.
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I always make my mosaic backsplashes on a loose piece of plywood and then attach the
board to the wall and then grout.
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If you need to glue mosaic tiles to a vertical wall, there is a standard technique for
laying out the tiles in a design on a sheet of paper first:
- Glue the mosaic tiles face down on paper with a minimal amount of
Elmer's glue. You can cut the paper into smaller sections to make it
manageable. All of your mosaic tiles must be the same thickness.
- Once this has dried, paint the wall
with Weldbond and press each section of tiles into the glue. You will need to find a way to hold the page of tiles into the Weldbond while it cures.
- Once the Weldbond has cured for a day or two, mist the paper with a fine
mist of water until it loosens and peal it off.
- Before grouting the tiles, you will need to inspect
for excess Weldbond on the sides and faces of the tiles and trim with a box cutter if necessary.
- If you want to glue individual mosaic tiles and stones to the wall to make a
backsplash, I recommend using Liquid Nails Adhesive because it is thick and
tarry, and the tiles won't slide off the wall while the glue cures.
Weldbond may be too runny at first, depending on the weight/thickness of
your tiles.
- In my opinion, the most interesting backsplashes are made from random
objects in a "crazy-quilt" design: marbles, beach glass,
smooth pebbles, glass mosaic tile, bottle necks, old ceramic figurines, etc.
The challenge is grouting because the mosaic surface isn't flat. Just
make sure the pieces are glued securely with Liquid Nails, and then grout
carefully with your hand in a rubber glove.
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