How to Install Glass Mosaic Tile Backsplash Using Individual Lose Tiles

There are different ways to install glass tiles. You can do individual loose tiles to create mosaics that you can design freely or you can use glass tiles that are meshed that come in squares from the manufacturers. In this article I will discuss the steps on how to install individual lose tiles to create a mosaic tile backsplash using glass.

Materials:

Assortment of individual lose glass tiles

Glass nippers

Sandpaper- medium-grit to clean the wall

Work gloves

Eye goggles

Grout

Tile adhesives

Hand trowel or float

Sponge

Steps:

Clean off any dirt, grease, or grime on the areas that you will be adhering your tiles. You can use a sponge with water and detergent to remove sticky residue. After cleaning, lightly sand the area.

Plan on the design lay out of your glass tiles. You can lay your tiles out on a table or the floor then try on different ways that you would design your backsplash. You can use individual small tiles or use a glass nipper to cut the shapes and sizes (see picture on left).

Cut the glass tiles by placing the tile inside a pair of tile nipper, so that the place that you want to cut falls along the edge of the nippers. Then, just squeeze down on the handle and your tile will break in two. It is important to wear work gloves and eye goggles for protection.

Once you have finalized your design, you can start to put your glass tiles onto the wall. Make sure to mimic the design on your table or floor as you pick the tiles up one by one. Apply tile adhesives using paintbrush to the back of each glass tile and then apply some to the wall to make sure that they will bond stronger. Since the adhesive can dry quickly, you would need to apply it to a small area at a time

You can either use spacers or estimate spaces in between for a more free-form look (see photo on the left). Use spacers between each tile if you want to give your backsplash a uniform look. This will ensure that your grout line remains consistent throughout the design. Install the spacers, by butting a plastic, l-shaped spacer up against the edge of the first tile that you install. Then, do the same thing with the second tile up to the other side of that spacer, and repeat until the entire tile has been installed.

After you have finished placing the glass tiles onto the wall, leave them to dry for 24 hours. To ensure that they will not slide down, you can put an adhesive tape over the edges to keep them in place.

The next day, when the adhesives have dried up, you can start grouting. First, remove the adhesive tapes from the edges that you used to hold the glass tiles in place. Use a hand trowel or a float to apply the grout. Make sure to apply over the spaces between the glass tiles and continue applying until no bubbles appear. (Bubbling may indicate that the space had not been filled with enough grout.)

Using a damp sponge, wipe the tiles clean. Do not let the grout to dry on the glass tiles; otherwise it would be harder to remove these grout deposits. Make sure to repeat cleaning with wet sponge until you see the tiles clean and clear of smudges and dirt.

Allow the grout to dry 24-48 hours. You will then be able to enjoy your new beautiful backsplash afterwards!