Congratulations on evaluating or already making the choice to install Glass Tile in your home.  Glass tile offers an almost unlimited range of color possibilities and gives a home an immediate contemporary and modern update.  Our team at AnchorBaytile.com would like to offer some detailed suggestions on installing Glass Tile to help take any mystery or fear out of the installation process.  These instructions are provided as a general guide only.  It is always best to follow the manufacturers detailed installation instructions that are included with your tile shipment.

On our site we offer Glass Field Tile in sizes ranging from 4” x 4” to 6” x 6” and of course a beautiful range of Glass Subway tiles as well.  Our Glass Mosaics come in 1” x 1” sizes as well as a 1” x 2” size which is gaining in popularity.  Glass mosaic tile comes either as a mesh backed product or a paper faced product.  Below in our instructions we will offer tips on installing glass tile in your home or commercial building.

The basic principles of installing Glass tile are much the same as installing ceramic tile with a few key differences.  The DIY’er installing Glass tile should be careful to use only the specified setting materials from the manufacturer and in most cases should use an Anti Fracture membrane as a layer of protection against cracking of the material during the curing process.

Setting Materials

Glass tile manufacturers in all cases recommend using a white thinset mortar with an additive for proper bond strength.  Some suggestions include Custom Building Products Megaflex Ultimate Thin set Mortar or Versabond Latex modified Thinset.  Laticrete 254 Platinum Multipurpose Thinset Mortar, or, Mapei Kerabond Premium Dry set Mortar mixed with Keralastic Mortar Admix.  Any of these choices are more than adequate for the job and will ensure a proper bonding of your material.

While many installers will use Mastic when installing glass tile, we do not recommend this when installing glass tile due to the potential for yellowing of the material over time and more importantly, the lower bond strength than that offered by the setting materials profiled above.

Anti-Fracture/Waterproofing Membranes

Use of an anti-fracture membrane is strongly recommended in most glass tile installations.  Many substrates may continue to cure over a period of months and an anti fracture membrane prevents shrinkage or movement of the substrate to mirror through the tile.  Saying this, be sure to install only over well cured, stable substrates.  Some suggestions for anti-fracture membrane products include RedGard by Custom Building Products, 9235 waterproof & anti fracture membrane by Laticrete, and TA-324 Triple Flex waterproofing, anti-fracture membrane by TEC.  Use per the manufacturers instructions to fully protect your glass tile.

Grout

Some manufacturers recommend Sanded Grout while some recommend Non Sanded Grout.  Our recommendation is to follow the instructions that are provided with your tile so any warranties provided along with your product are not voided by an improper installation. 

In general, when grouting Glass mosaic tile, Non Sanded grout can be used and is more suitable for glass mosaic tile due to the small grout joints that are normal with this tile.  When installing Glass Field tile, Sanded grout would probably be the preferred choice due to the potential for larger grout joints in your installation.

Again, be sure you are installing over a suitable substrate like concrete or cement backerboard.  Apply the anti-fracture membrane where required on the substrate according to the manufacturers recommendations while being sure to fill any actual cracks properly should any exist.  Let this material cure properly which will add time to your job before preparing to set your material.

When setting glass mosaics a 3/16” x ¼ V-Notch trowel is recommended, while a ¼” x ¼” square notch trowel is preferred for installing glass field tile.  Spread as much adhesive with a notched trowel in an area no larger than what can be covered within 15 minutes.  Using the flat side of the trowel flatten the notches to achieve a smooth consistent setting bed approximately 1/8” thick for mosaics and 3/16” thick for field tile.

Carefully apply sheets in to the setting bed ensuring that grout lines are evenly spaced and that sheets are uniform and level.  A good way to achieve a uniform surface is to use a wooden block and gently hammer individual and side by side sheets until they are accurately placed according to your installation plan.  Glass field tile pieces should be “back-buttered using the flat edge of the trowel and pressed firmly and evenly in to the mortar bed.

When installing paper faced mosaics install the sheet with the paper facing up and then wait 20 – 30 minutes before beginning the paper removal process.  Using a clean tile sponge, lightly wet the paper several times and continuously over a 5 – 10 minute period.  When water has been absorbed in to the paper the glue will release and starting at the corner of your sheet begin gently peeling the paper from the front of the mosaic.  Performing this task while the thinset is still in a semi-flexible state provides the opportunity to make any necessary adjustments should they be required.

Grouting your Glass Tile

Finish your project by using a rubber grout float to grout your almost completed installation.  Push the grout in to the joints at a level following the manufacturer’s recommendations.  Clean the grouted material by wiping with a damp tile sponge and removing any excess grout haze with a dry cheesecloth.  Allow the grout to cure for a period of 48 hours before removing any final grout haze with a clean and dry soft cloth.