Tub surround or A full glass tile backsplash is a look, but expensive. Adding glass tile accents is a way to add the exact same drama. Previously, the thickness differences between glass and porcelain tiles was dramatic as well. Substrate alterations were required prior to installing glass and porcelain on the exact same surface. Most glass and porcelain tiles are now manufactured in similar thicknesses, making installing them collectively much easier. The main concern is special installation requirements for the glass. Fortunately, the substances and methods for most glass tile are flexible for ceramic. Prepare the surface with backer board as you want any tile installation.

Glass Tiles

Mix polymer-modified thinset mortar with water in a bucket based on the directions of the manufacturer. A paint mixing stick is adequate for mixing small batches.

Scoop up white, polymer-modified thinset mortar from the container onto the horizontal edge of a trowel.

Spread the mortar on the backer board, covering only an area large enough for you to easily reach. Mortar thickness is not significant however.

Load the notched edge of the trowel using mortar.

Drag the notched edge of the trowel round the present mortar on the backer board. The trowel notches regulate mortar thickness in this step.

Pull the horizontal edge of the trowel across the notches to flatten them and eliminate ridges in the mortar bed. Glass can be shown through by ridges. Don’t add or remove mortar in this measure, simply smooth out the ridges.

Press the glass tiles from the mortar in the design you desire, adding tile spacers in-between to form straight grout lines. Spacers are not required by Slabs in mosaic sheets.

Pat the surface of the tiles lightly with a foam-backed grout float to chair them into the mortar. Don’t press the tiles hard enough to induce thinset up between the tiles.

Keep on spreading mortar and setting tiles in this manner until you reach a section in which you need porcelain tiles.

Spread thinset throughout the backer board from the border of the glass tiles and above the region where the ceramic tiles will go. Use the horizontal edge of the notched trowel, then repeat using the notched edge as possible with glass tiles. Don’t sew the ridges after using the notched trowel.

Press ceramic tiles into the thinset in the design you desire, adding tile spacers between. If tile spacers were used with all the glass tiles, then insert spacers between the previous glass tiles and the first porcelain tiles. If the glass tiles have been in mosaic sheets, spacers will likely not match between the glass and porcelain. You must estimate an appropriate grout line between these, keeping it visually right as possible.

Push back on the tops of the ceramic tiles using a grout float to chair them into the thinset, but do not force thinset up between the tiles.

See related