Split Face Mosaic Fitting Guide
Whether you’re considering fitting split face mosaic or you’ve decided you want to create a style statement in your home or garden, we have all the information here to help you prepare and fit these amazing tiles.
Please download our Split Face Mosaic Cladding Tiles Fitting Guide, by clicking the link below - it covers the key features & benefits of this versatile cladding tile, how to prepare for your project and where and how to install them. Read on and start planning your perfect space…
The following information provides a brief outline to fitting split face mosaic tiles, further detailed information can be found by downloading or PDF.
Please ensure the tiles purchased are suitable for the application and thoroughly inspected. Ensure your tiler is aware of the expected finish of split face mosaic tiles and there are sufficient mosaics for the area. Please note that when creating corner returns, such as a fireplace walls will require additional cutting tolerance, our PDF guide has all the information you require.
This product is not suitable for internal walls exposed to more intense and prolonged periods of water - e.g Shower enclosures, as the stone is not grouted. You can however use split face mosaic in splash-back areas and on external walls.
Our split face mosaic tiles can be used in areas that conduct heart such as fireplaces, however you need to consider the heat that will be generated. You will need to adhere them to a heat resistant board and use a heat resistant adhesive for the immediate area around the fire, the rest of the wall can be fitted with standard flexible tile adhesive such as Proflex SP tile adhesive.
Sealants provide resistance to wear and tear and are also highly dirt and dust repellent. Some protective treatments will also bring out the natural beauty of your stone by enhancing the natural colours, veins and patterns. We take time to pre-seal all our samples with the most suitable sealer for the finish of the stone, so you can see how the finished stone will look in your home.
Read the instructions on the packaging of Adhesives, and Sealants very carefully. Keep everything meticulously clean and orderly as work progresses.
No complaints regarding the appearance of the product will be accepted by the company once the tiles have been installed.
Installing Split Face Mosaic Tiles
01. Surface Preparation
02. Planning
It is important to establish which way the tiles are to be fitted as this will help you workout the quantity you require. When working out quantities we recommend a minimum of 10% is added to cover your cutting tolerance, however if you are creating corner returns on a chimney for example, you may need to add 15% to cover the additional cutting involved.
Prior to fitting we recommend to ‘Shuffle’ the Split Face Mosaic by drawing tiles from all the boxes and to dry lay and blend on the floor, this will ensure that you are happy with the colour variation, interlocking design and will allow you to pre-select which pieces you are going to use for cuts. Minor chips and blemishes should be expected, and are best used for cuts or well mixed on the wall.
03. Creating Corner Returns
When tiling around a window, corner or edge of a wall there are a couple of options to consider when it comes to the edging.
Option 1: Tile the small return walls first so that the tiles fit straight up to the front edge. When the front wall is then tiled it would cover the side edge to create a corner. The back of the mosaic is rectified flat so it’s just the front face that would still have undulation. A minimum of 15% would be required for tolerance.
Option 2: You could also add a trim to the edge in contrasting tones to cover the raw edge if preferred.
Option 3: The tiles can be mitred on a diamond wheel saw. This would then create a corner. A minimum of 15% would be required for tolerance.
04. Cutting
Prepare all your cuts after dry laying. The design and quality of the cutting tool selected will always determine how successful the cut through the tile will be. We recommend an electric cutter with a diamond blade.
05. Fixing
After dry laying and preparing your cuts you can prepare your adhesive. We recommend using either Proflex S2 or SP tile adhesives. Using a 6mm or 8mm notched trowel apply the adhesive onto the substrate, spreading only enough adhesive that remains workable. Take the flat side of the trowel and smooth over the adhesive to produce a uniform, ridge-free bed.
We also recommend ‘back buttering’ each mosaic so you achieve a strong bond with whole tile. We recommend that light coloured stones are fixed with white adhesives to prevent possible discolouration should the alkaline mortar bleed into or react with the minerals within the body of the stone itself. Carefully follow the mixing recommendations supplied on the reverse of the adhesive product.
Please note that these tiles are designed to be butted up together and do not need traditional grouting, however a small bit of grout may need to be applied with the finger to fill any odd spaces which may naturally occur
06. Pre Cleaning
Prior to sealing your stone, remove any loose grit or dust with a soft brush and if required wash down with neutral stone cleaner
07. Sealing
Natural stone is unique, each has distinctive characteristics and when treated with the correct care is virtually maintenance free
Sealants provide resistance to wear and tear and are also highly dirt and dust repellent. Some protective treatments will also bring out the natural beauty of your stone by enhancing the natural colours, veins and patterns. We recommend you select your most preferred finish and protective requirement before purchasing your sealant. Before sealing commences, we recommend that the stone is cleaned with warm soapy water or Grout Stain Remover as this will remove general cutting dirt and dust from the stone. It is important to ensure that all areas are clean and dry otherwise dirt will be sealed in
- Using a small brush or lint free cloth, apply the sealer thinly and uniformly allowing to penetrate for approximately 15-30 mins before wiping over with a clean dry lint free cloth to remove any excess which may remain on the surface
- The surface must retain a natural finish after treatment. Any excess left on the surface could oxidize to form an unsightly gloss varnish
- We advise to just apply to an area of 1 sqm at a time
- Allow 30-60 minutes before applying a further coat
- The sealer will be dry after about 2 hours, but will take a further three days to become fully resistant
- The above is a general guide. Please always refer to sealant manufacturers instructions before applying sealant to your split face stone.
08. Cleaning & Maintenance
Simply wipe the surface of the stone with a neutral cleaner when required.
We also recommend ‘back buttering’ each mosaic so you achieve a strong bond with whole tile. We recommend that light coloured stones are fixed with white adhesives to prevent possible discolouration should the alkaline mortar bleed into or react with the minerals within the body of the stone itself. Carefully follow the mixing recommendations supplied on the reverse of the adhesive product.
Please note that these tiles are designed to be butted up together and do not need traditional grouting, however a small bit of grout may need to be applied with the finger to fill any odd spaces which may naturally occur
