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TILE INSTALLATION GUIDE
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.
INTRODUCTION
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 suboor (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 benecial to mix tiles from dierent
cases to prevent any obvious shade variations.
CUTTING TILE
If you need to cut the tile, use tile nippers, a tile cutter, or a diamondtipped 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-modied thinset, and epoxy. Follow the instructions
provided by the manufacturer of your chosen adhesive.
LAYING THE TILES
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.
Grout color is a matter of personal taste. Please note that grout colors
have a drastic impact on the look of your installation. Whether you
choose a complementing or contrasting color, be mindful that any
selection may look dierent after drying.
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 o 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, bu the tile with a soft cloth. Finished grout
should be smooth, uniform in color, and have no visible holes, pits,
or uneven height issues.
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.
SPECIAL NOTES FOR MOSAIC TILES
Mesh Backing
Our mosa ic tiles have a mesh back ing that ensures ap propriate bondi ng during
install ation. For optimal p erformance, avoi d exposing the me sh to excessive moist ure
before installation, which could result in the tiles falling o the mesh backing. For
this reaso n, it may be benecial t o remove the tiles fr om the mesh and cut th em
individ ually with tile cut ters or nipper s rather than with a we t saw.
Stainless Steel and Aluminum Mosaics
You can prevent s cratches on thes e surfaces by usi ng a clean sponge, keep ing the
protec tive cover on and appl ying non-sande d grout during ins tallation. If nece ssary,
cut this ti le from the rear wit h a diamond-tippe d wet saw to prevent une ven edges.
Cut edges c an then be treated an d smoothed with n e sandpaper or a met al le.
TILE INSTALLATION GUIDE
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