Backsplash Installation

Adorning your backsplash with a tile mosaic is one of the best ways to give a boring old kitchen an instant upgrade. Since the wall area above the counters and around the sink is constantly exposed to splashes & splatters (of things like dishwater, oil and food), it makes sense to protect that zone with a material that is easy to clean and is somewhat resistant to the dirt. Not only that, with a glass mosaic of your choice, you are also making a major interior design statement at the same time. The mosaic backsplash can add wonderful color and pattern to any space, and if hours are spent daily in the cooking area anyway, you might as well make it a delightful place to work in.

Once you have decided to get tile a backsplash, a vast array of mosaic tile choices is available in the market, tons of patterns and textures in marble, ceramic & glass. The advantage of glass over the other tiles is its brilliant customization and light reflecting properties that brighten up the surroundings. You can obviously get it installed by an expert or a contractor. However if you are the DIY-enthusiast kind that likes to take pride in doing everything by oneself or you’re looking to save some money here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide for installing a glass mosaic backsplash:

Preparation

1. Ensure that the surface is dry and solid before any sort of application. 
2. Clean the surface well and make the surface flat & smooth.

Fixing Mosaics

1. Spread the adhesive on the wall area you want to install the backsplash on.  
2. Ensure the uniformity and smoothness of the surface. Use a toothed 5mm trowel.  
3. Begin fixing the mosaic sheets on the adhesive surface in a way that the glass tiles are fixed on the adhesive and the paper side is facing out towards your direction. 
4. Make sure that the horizontal & vertical lines of mosaic appear straight.  
5. The gaps between the sheets should be uniform and equal to the gaps between mosaic tiles in a sheet.  
6. Beat the glass mosaic sheets with a rubber trowel to ensure they are adhered properly.  
7. Let the adhesive layer dry. The time it takes to dry might vary from half an hour to 3 hours contingent on the weather conditions and the type of adhesive used. For better results, the optimum temperature range is 5° to 35° C.   
8. Start removal of the pre-glued paper from the tiles at a corner by pulling it diagonally in a circular motion.  
9. With a spatula, align the tiles you find imperfectly arranged.   
10. Leave everything to dry for a 24 hours.

Grouting the Gaps

1. Remove the traces of the adhesive material with a sponge and a nylon scrub brush (to reach the grouting gaps).  
2. Spread the grouting material, horizontally and vertically, using a rubber float.  
3. Remove the excessive grout by running the rubber float diagonally across the mosaic tiles.  
4. Let the grout material dry. The grouting from the gaps between the tiles will take within 10 to 20 minutes to dry. This also depends upon the weather conditions and the size of gaps between tiles.

Finishing Touches

• Finally, clean the surface of the mosaic tile backsplash thoroughly using a sponge so that all the traces of adhesives left by the paper are removed. Viola, your magnificent custom glass mosaic backsplash is ready to impress and be shown off to friends and family!

Tips

1. The wall might not be as geometrically perfect as your mosaic sheets and you might need to cut a few tiles to fit around electrical outlets or other hindrances. For that, soak a sheet of tile in water and remove the paper covering before cutting individual tiles using a tile cutter or a wheeled glass nipper.
2. After a week, apply a grout sealer on your mosaic backsplash, with a sponge, to shield the grout from staining. 

Materials Required

- Glass Mosaic Sheets  

- Grouting Material  
- Toothed trowel (5mm)    
- Rubber Trowel  
- Rubber Float  
- Sponges     
- Water Bucket   
- Nylon scrub brush  
- Cardboard sheets OR newspapers (to protect the work area from mess)  
- Tile cutter OR two-wheeled glass nippers  Grout sealer (optional)