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HOW TO LAY A MOSAIC SPLASHBACK Mosaics are most often sold as 300mm-square sheets with a mesh backing that can simply be cut to fit. If tiling a similar splashback to ours, begin setting out the tiles from the base and work upwards.
Tools & materials n Safety equipment (disposable gloves, eye protection) n Drop sheet n Utility knife n Tile nippers n Square-notched trowel n Timber offcut n Rubber mallet n Microfibre cloths n Mini roller with tray n Rubber grout squeegee n Sponge n Bucket n Painter’s tape n T-shape tile spacers n Sheets of round mosaic tiles n Premixed tile adhesive n Tile and grout sealer n Premixed grout n Silicone sealant with applicator
DIY TOOLKIT 2
1 Mask around the area, covering the bench with a drop sheet and taping down the edges. Position 3mm T-shaped tile spacers against the wall so the tiles won’t sit directly on the bench, creating a gap to seal with silicone later.
ABOVE Decor8 305mm x 305mm ‘Penny Round Carrara’ honed wall mosaic tile sheet in Bianco, $39.80, I/N: 0289550. Rosemary plant in Lotus Collection 11cm x 9cm X small plain ceramic egg pot in White, $4.98, I/N: 0258671 (plant sold separately). Tuscan Path 20cm x 12cm ceramic vase in Green, $15.98, I/N: 0204155. All other products, stylist’s own.
2 Check the set-out of the sheets with the straight edges positioned against the bench to minimise cuts. To adjust the size, cut the mesh from the back with a utility knife. Wear gloves and eye protection to cut individual mosaics with tile nippers.
3 Hold a notched trowel at 45° to spread adhesive over the wall. Position the sheets, pushing them into the adhesive while adjusting for evenly spaced gaps. Tap over the surface with an offcut and mallet, then remove excess adhesive with a damp cloth.
4 Leave to dry for 24 hours, then apply sealer with a mini roller to prevent grout from sticking to the tiles, leaving to dry. Remove spacers and apply grout with a squeegee, working it into the gaps. Tip: Four sheets of these tiles used 1.5kg of grout.
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Keep in mind... Ensure the substrate is suitable for tiling, and is in good condition, flat, sealed and waterproofed. Clean the area with sugar soap wipes to remove grease spots that may affect adhesion. n Drying times are affected by temperature and humidity, so ensure adhesive is dry and grout is firm before moving on to the next step. n Avoid using coloured grout, especially black, with unsealed natural stone tiles, such as marble, slate, sandstone and travertine, as it can stain the surface. n Marble mosaics are porous and must be sealed. For non-porous glass and ceramic mosaics, skip sealing in step four, but always seal the grout after tiling.
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1 Dunlop ‘Ready-To-Go’ grout in Ultra-White, $25.61/1.5kg, I/N: 0277565. 2 Davco ‘Grey One Pot’ premixed tile adhesive, $22.86/1L, I/N: 6650003. 3 Selleys ‘Ezi Press Wet Area’ silicone sealant in White, $16.50/100g, I/N: 1210586. 4 QEP 10mm square notch plastic adhesive spreader, $1.54, I/N: 6821509. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
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5 Leave for 15 minutes, then remove excess grout with a damp sponge, always wiping in one direction and continually rinsing in a bucket of water, until the surface is clean. Tip: If grout smudges out of the joints, wait another 10 minutes before sponging.
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6 Leave for two hours, then remove the grout haze with a slightly damp microfibre cloth. Apply silicon sealer between the bench and the tiles, running a damp finger along to remove excess and smooth the surface. Leave for two days before finishing the tiling with sealer using a mini roller.
Project, photography and styling Natasha Dickins.
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