I’ve been redoing my bathroom and it’s time to lay tile on the floor. I don’t want to install just any tile, I want something special! So I choose a gorgeous floral mosaic in a really pretty pattern. It’s been custom made for my space over 4 weeks and now it’s been shipped and ready to put into the room. Ready to learn how to install mosaic tile?!
how to install mosaic tile
Let’s start with the video tutorial so you get an overview on what I did. Then, I’ll dive in with more details below:
If the video doesn’t work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. It’d mean so much if you’d watch the video! I’m trying to get better at my video skills so I can grow my YouTube channel. If you have a few minutes to watch this and/or subscribe, I’d so appreciate it.
Thank you to Mozaico for supplying the product for this post. All opinions are my own.
What is mosaic tile?
A mosaic is a design that’s comprised of many small, often colorful, tile made from various materials such as glass, ceramic, stone, or even metal. These tiles are usually arranged in a pattern or design to create a larger image or surface covering.
Mosaic tiles have been used for decorative purposes in architecture and interior design for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans.
The beauty of a mosaic is that they are versatile and can be used to adorn floors, walls, ceilings, and even furniture. Mosaic tiles are popular in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas where a visually striking and durable surface is desired. They can even be used outside!
Here’s how to install mosaic tile in a bathroom-
SUPPLIES
ordering the mosaic tile
My mosaic is from Mozaico. They have a TON of options and I spent awhile looking through them. I knew I wanted a floral pattern and was able to search by theme to narrow it down. Here’s the one I decided on-
For my bathroom, I thought it’d be nice if the whole floor is a mosaic. The great thing about Mozaico is that any design can be customized. I had them resize the mosaic to perfectly fit my floor. Because they are handmade, they can change the size, color, shape, or adjust the design.
Another option is doing a smaller mosaic in the middle of a room and surrounding it by another tile. This will save money and is another beautiful option. A mosaic would be beautiful on the wall or as a backsplash. They work outside too- there’s so many options.
When the mosaic arrived, I was blown away. It is a work of art. The mosaic is high quality and is really going to be such a special part of the room. Mozaico has been in business for 21 years and has a team of talented craftsman.
I think the mosaic look is a traditional and customized spin on tile. It is high end and will be so special in the bathroom.
step 1- prep
The first step in how to install mosaic tile, start by preparing the subfloor. To do this, ensure that the subfloor is clean, dry, level, and free of any debris. Repair any cracks or imperfections in the subfloor. An uneven subfloor can result in cracking tiles, so having a good foundation is important.
The mosaic tile is going in my bathroom. We are doing a large renovation and replaced the subfloor. Since it is level, the biggest prep that needs to happen is cleaning.
step 2- metal lath floor
Now that the floor is prepped, let’s add metal lath to the floor. If you’re wondering why, it’s to enhance the stability, strength, and durability of the tiled surface. This will help prevent cracks in the tile and increases the load bearing capacity. Essentially, I am in love with the mosaic and want to do everything in my power so it can last forever.
Start by measuring and cutting the metal lath. To do this, measure the dimensions of the area where you will install the metal lathe floor. Cut the metal lathe sheets to fit the size of the space using tin snips or metal shears.
Tip- make sure to wear gloves during the install of the metal lath subfloor! The metal lath will cut up your hands- the edges are very jagged.
Lay out the first metal lath sheet on the subfloor. Next, secure the sheet to the subfloor using staples. Drive the fasteners through the metal lathe and into the subfloor at regular intervals, ensuring that the lathe is securely attached.
Now that the metal lath is installed, apply a layer of tile adhesive. Using a trowel, spread the tile adhesive evenly over the metal lath, making sure to fill any gaps or voids. Work in small sections to ensure thorough coverage.
Once the concrete is applied, use a trowel or float to smooth and level the surface of the floor.
Finally, allow the tile adhesive to cure. We let ours dry completely overnight. During the drying time, make sure to avoid walking on the floor or placing heavy objects on it.
When the tile adhesive is dry, use a Rub brick to sand any ridges smooth. The goal is to have a level floor. When complete, vacuum the floor well.
step 3- figure out the layout
Once the prep is done, plan the layout. Before beginning install, it’s important to lay out the tile to make sure it’ll fit how you ordered it.
Make cuts to the backing board that are needed to go around obstacles like corners, doorways, or fixtures. By cutting the backing board, the extra tiles will come off in chunks or rows.
For our bathroom, we have pipes that need to be cut around. Also, from the time of ordering to installation, the room is a little skinnier since we added a wall to hide the plumbing. Because of that, we cut off a bit of the border on both sides so the mosaic would fit.
A utility knife or an Exact-o knife work nicely for cutting the backing and removing excess tiles. We prefer using an Exact-o knife for this step because the skinnier blade fits better between the small pieces of tile.
Note, cutting a mosaic smaller or to fit around plumbing can be tricky because the mosaic tiles don’t usually run straight. So sometimes, a tile is in the way and it has to be cut out past the obstacle (leaving a blank space on the floor). In this case, save the mosaic piece so it can be trimmed and glued in later on.
Because the tiles don’t run straight besides the border, we found cutting off the border the easiest way to make the mosaic smaller. But definitely learn from us and order it the right dimensions so that only minimal cuts are needed around obstacles.
Another step we did is to trim the excess backing from the seams. Each section of tile is laid on a flexible mesh backing to hold the tiles in place. When testing our layout, we noticed that because the backing runs straight under jagged tiles, the tiles can’t be pushed together. So cut out the backing you can see so the tile sheets can be laid as close together as possible.
step 4- lay the tiles
Next, apply thinset mortar: Use a notched trowel to apply thinset mortar onto the subfloor in sections. My tile came in three rolls so I’m doing one at a time. Make sure to only apply enough mortar that you can work with before it dries.
With installing a mosaic, since the tiles are so small, it’s important to use a small trowel so that too much tile adhesive isn’t applied an comes through the small tiles. I’m using 1/8″ notched trowell to create ridges in the tile adhesive.
On the back of the mosaic tiles is a backing with a clear layer attached to stabilize the tile. Remove the plastic backing on the bottom of the mosaic. We forgot this step and laid the tile with it on, had to take it off covered in thinnest (it was so messy!) and then put it down again. So don’t miss this step!
Once the tile adhesive is applied is the first section, set the tiles in place. Carefully place the mosaic tiles into the mortar, following the layout plan created in the last step. Pay careful attention to the seam as that’ll be the most obvious area if it isn’t lined up correctly. It’s a little tricky to get it lined up because the tiles are heavy!
Press each tile firmly into the mortar with the grout float to ensure good adhesion.
Note, we did our tiles a little backwards. The back wall in our bathroom isn’t straight (old house problems) so we’re working from the entry of the room towards the area with the window. It should really be done in the opposite order so you don’t have to walk on the laid tiles. Work from the back of the room towards the front for the best results.
Tip- keep a damp sponge handy to wipe up any tile adhesive that gets on the top of the tiles. Excess tile adhesive will dry quickly and be very hard to remove later.
Let the mosaic dry 24 hours so it can fully set.
step 5- fill in holes
When the mosaic arrives, it comes with extra tiles. If needed, cut mosaic tiles with a nipper to cut tiles to fit around the edges of the floor or any holes in the mosaic. Sometimes the tiles fall off the mosaic backing (especially on the edges), I saved all of those so I can glue them back on.
When we laid in the last section of mosaic floor, we filled in holes so the wet tile adhesive holds the little pieces in place. This works great!
On the first two sheets of mosaic we installed, we just left the empty spaces empty. When the tile adhesive dries, it needs to be chipped away before gluing in the little tile pieces. This utility cutting tool works great at getting in the little spaces. It’s not made for this purpose, but we were so glad to have it on hand!
It seems intimidating to cut the little mosaic pieces, but the tile nippers work great at cutting the stone into smaller pieces to fit in the holes. Find the right color of stone, cut it to size, and glue it in place.
To glue the mosaic holes, we used Loctite construction adhesive.
step 6- grout
And now, that the mortar is dry, apply unsanded grout. Use a grout float to apply grout over the tiles, pressing it into the gaps between them. Make sure to fill all the gaps completely.
With a mosaic, the grout color is really important since it’s between all of the various colors. I decided to go for a beige color called Bone to go with the neutral color of the majority of the tile. To me it looks great and I’m really happy with the color choice!
After the grout has set for a short time (15-20 minutes), remove excess grout. Use a damp sponge to wipe away grout from the surface of the tiles. Rinse the sponge frequently in clean water to ensure a smooth finish.
Grouting can be really tiring. What worked for my husband and I is that I mixed the grout and then applied it. 20 minutes later, he came in and started cleaning it off. By splitting up the jobs it made it less overwhelming and the grout went on really smoothly.
Once the grout has dried for a few hours, give the tiles a final cleaning with a microfiber towel to remove any remaining grout haze.
step 7- seal the tile
Finally, seal the tiles. To finish off the mosaic, apply a tile enhancer and sealer 3 days after the tile is installed. This protects the tile from absorbing stains for up to 3-5 years. Since the tile is honed, it’s more prone to staining so this helps protect the surface. It also brings out the color of the natural stone.
To apply, wipe the tile sealer on with a white, clean, lint-free rag. Wait 3-5 minutes and then wipe off the excess. Repeat once.
Note, this step hasn’t happened yet. I wanted to reveal the mosaic quickly. I’ll edit this blog post and share pictures of this step and the final looks when it is complete.
how to install mosaic tile after
The floor is done and I am thrilled with it!
It is art that doubles as a floor and I think the pattern will be such a pretty focal point of the room.
To be honest, this install was a little tricky because we’ve never undertaken such a project. But we pushed through the tricky parts which makes the final floor really special.
I’ve had lots of people worried that it is tricky to clean. Maybe it will show dirt more than another floor. But I choose beauty over easy to clean every time. That choice isn’t for everyone, but having something bring your joy isn’t to be underestimated either.
I think the floor is gorgeous and I am so proud of it!
price breakdown
I thought I’d break down the colors for having a mosaic tile floor.
First off, what is the cost of the tile? The Mosaic Tile (floor) costs $3961 and the transition costs $290. Total- $4251 in tile.
Supplies- Metal lath (3 sheets) are $46 Tin snips are $13 and Cut protective gloves are $11. Tile nippers cost $17, 1/8″ Notched trowel cost $14, and Sponge cost $6. Tile adhesive is $71 per bucket and we needed 2 buckets. Grout un-sanded in the color Bone is $16 per box (I used one box) and Tile enhancer and sealer $51.
I already had the following items on hand- Tape measure, Staple gun, Utility knife, Exacto knife, Rubber grout float, Rub brick, Utility cutting tool, Loctite construction adhesive, and Microfiber towel. So I didn’t spend money on these items, but if you don’t have them it will add to the overall cost.
It total, I spent $316 on supplies. And the tile cost $4251.
So there is my tutorial on how to install mosaic tile! What do you think of it? Is this something you would put in your house? I’d love to hear in the comments. I think this tile is so cool because it is custom made and then you can roll it out and install hundreds of tiny tiles that make the prettiest picture. It’s a really special way to add art to your house!
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