Installation Guide

Introduction
The following information is intended as an overview of the tile installation process. It is not meant as a step-by-step
instruction manual, but rather as a way to familiarize yourself with the basic process. Carefully follow all instructions
provided by the manufacturers of your setting materials to ensure success.
Tools
Have the right tools and installation products before
you begin your tile installation. Some of the supplies
you may need are a wet saw, tile nippers, safety glasses,
trowels, sponges, grout, tile spacers, thinset, gloves, a
grout oat, and a few buckets.
Surface Preparation
Your installation surface or suboor (if using oor-rated
tile) must be sound, at, solid, and clean of all debris.
Layout/Dry Laying
Plan your layout by measuring carefully to minimize
cuts, and dry lay your tiles for t. Ensure that all of your
tiles are marked as the same dye lot number. Additionally,
it is benecial to mix tiles from different cases to prevent
any obvious shade variations.
Cutting Tile
If you need to cut the tile, use tile nippers, a tile cutter,
or a diamond-tipped wet saw to cut it to a desired size.
Follow safety precautions and wear protective glasses.
Thinset and Mastic
Be sure to select the correct type of adhesive suitable for your
installation. This can vary by tile material and installation
location. There are a variety of adhesives available, such as
mastic, thinset, polymer-modied thinset and epoxy. Follow
the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your chosen
adhesive.
Laying the Tiles
Apply the thinset with an appropriately-sized notched trowel,
then lay and press the tiles in place, using a rubber mallet if
needed. Use spacers to create uniform grout lines.
Grout Selection
Sanded or non-sanded grout should be used, depending
on the product you are installing. Floor tiles must be
grouted. For grout lines of 1/8” and larger, sanded grout
is more suitable. The sand in the grout mixture decreases
the shrinkage as it cures, making it ideal for wider grout
lines. Non-sanded grout is used for grout lines 1/8” and
smaller. It’s also best for mosaics and decorative tiles
with delicate nishes, such as metallic pieces or high
gloss products, as the texture of sanded grout can scratch
them.
Applying Grout
The setting material must be fully dry before attempting to
grout. Consult the instructions for your setting material to nd
the recommended drying time. Apply grout in small sections
using a rubber oat. Pull the grout across the surface, pushing
it fully into the grout lines and keeping excess from building
up on the tile surface. Keep the grout level, without any pits
or low spots.
Grout Cleanup
With a dry, lint-free cloth, remove excess grout from the
surface of the tile. Lightly dampen a sponge with warm
water and continue to clean grout off of the tile. Once
it appears to be clean, wipe it down again with a fresh,
lightly damp sponge to remove any grout lm. After
about 15 minutes, buff the tile with a soft cloth. Finished
grout should be smooth, uniform in color, and have no
visible holes, pits, or uneven height issues.
Mesh Backing
Our mosaic tiles have a mesh backing that ensures
appropriate bonding during installation. For optimal
performance, avoid exposing the mesh to excessive
moisture before installation, which could result in the
tiles falling off the mesh backing. For this reason, it
may be benecial to remove the tiles from the mesh
and cut them individually with tile cutters or nippers
rather than with a wet saw.
Stainless Steel and Aluminum Mosaics
You can prevent scratches on these surfaces by
using a clean sponge, keeping the protective
cover on and applying non-sanded grout during
installation. If necessary, cut this tile from the
rear with a diamond-tipped wet saw to prevent
uneven edges. Cut edges can then be treated and
smoothed with ne sandpaper or a metal le.
Grout color is a matter of personal taste. Please note that
grout colors have a drastic impact on the look of your
installation. We have a blog post about the color choice
process at this web address: https://merolatile.wordpress.
com/2014/03/14/all-about-grout/.
Special Notes for Mosaic Tiles
Tile Installation Guide