How to Install Mosaic Tile

A Step-by-Step How-to For Installing a Classic Cafe Style Tile in your Bathroom

This tile project almost did me in. I had never installed tile before and I made a LOT of mistakes. But you know what, that’s part of the DIY process and I learned a bunch so that I could teach you how to install mosaic tile too!

This room was previously covered in linoleum. Below are the powder room ‘before’ images. This tiling project is just one step in updating this bathroom.

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If you want to see more of my home before all the renovations, check out this Tour de Palmetto.

I was so ready for a new space but I wanted a style that would withstand everchanging trends. I chose these mosaic tiles because of how they can be customized for your space, plus the tile was on sale at The Home Depot!

Note: Affiliate shopping links are provided for your convenience. By shopping through the links on my site, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

SUPPLIES

• Cement Board
• V-Groove Trowel
• Thinset
• Grout
• Grout Float
• Sealer
• Knee Pads
• Trim Puller/Remover
• Diamond-Tipped Blade + Saw
• Face Mask
• Mosaic Mesh Tile
• Scissors
• A bucket

LET’S GET STARTED!

LOOK HOW GOOD IT LOOKS!

It was such a long, and sometimes painful, journey. Tiling is not necessarily hard, it just takes a couple times to get into a groove. I’ve learned so so much and I’m excited for my next tiling project!

FAQs

Are mosaic tiles hard to install?

Yes and no. If you are placing all the tiles individually, it could be incredibly time consuming and frustrating if you cant get the spacing right. Even if you are using tile sheets with mesh backing, spacing can be frustrating for many people. Just have patience, use spacers, and focus on one tile or sheet at a time.

How do you install mosaic tiles with mesh backing?

One of the greatest benefits of the mesh backing is that you dont have to deal with individual tiles. You install the mesh backing tile sheet like you would individual tiles. I recommend finding spacers that match the sheets and working one sheet at a time from the middle of wall out to the ends.

How to install mosaic tile on a bathroom floor?

This varies based on what tile is and subfloor you use. My subfloor is plywood. I cleared the surface, applied thinset, and laid 1/4″ cement board cut to size and screwed down every 8″ with cement board screws. After that set, I applied thinset with a 3/8″ v-groove trowel and laid each mosaic tile sheet one at a time and triple checked my spacing. Slight errors in spacing at one location can wreak havoc 3 feet further into the room as all the little errors compound.

What are mosaic tiles used for?

You can use mosaic tiles for many different applications. Mine is for a bathroom floor but it could be a floor elsewhere, on a wall in a shower or bathroom, and as a backsplash in a kitchen.

Where do you start laying tile in a bathroom?

I cut all my mesh and laid out all my pieces before I started and I would recommend doing the same. Starting in the middle of the back wall and work your way outwards. I made the mistake of starting at 2 ends and trying to meet in the middle. Plus, you always want your tile pattern centered on something. Most every designer will recommend centering the pattern on the bathroom vanity.

What do you put under tile in a bathroom?

If it’s a bathroom floor, I would typically have a layer of thinset on my plywood subfloor, 1/4″ cement board, thinset again, then the tile with grout and grout sealer. A shower might be different. You may want to add a liquid latex over your cement board to really make sure the shower is sealed.

Why is tile installation so expensive?

I have both installed tile and hired a professional and I really feel for them. Being precise takes a lot of skill but the biggest thing is labor. Laying tile is incredibly labor-intensive. You are on your knees for hours, shifting your weight to make sure you don’t ruin your tile. It is also expensive because the tile installation professionals invested in the best tools for the job. Tile saws can be pricey so it’s important that they include the cost of their overhead in their quote.