How to Install Hexagon Mosaic Tile
- 1). Remove all debris from the surface; even the smallest particles of debris can cause the tiled surface to appear uneven and sloppy. Use a tape measure to find the very center of the area you will be tiling; starting in the center rather than along an edge prevents the edges from looking messy.
- 2). Apply only a small amount of adhesive at a time, with the putty. Use the notch trowel to scratch lines into the adhesive to better hold the hexagon mosaic tiles. Lay the first piece into place, making sure the center of the tile is in the direct center of the area.
- 3). Work in one direction at a time, applying more adhesive, notching and placing additional tile pieces. To make a random mosaic, be sure to use various colors placed sporadically. For a specific pattern, pay attention to placement or follow a pattern you have chosen or designed.
- 4). Press the tile pieces close together, fitting them together so that only a tiny seam exists. The tiny seam is called a grout line. This is critical in installing hexagon tiles, as gaps will make the finished area look unprofessional and create problems later during installation.
- 5). Use the damp cloth to immediately wipe away adhesive that arrives on the surface of the tiles, either from transferring off your hands, or from pressing the tiles closely together. If you do not immediately wipe the adhesive away it will dry onto the surface of the tiles. Continue installing each tile until the entire area is filled, with the exception of the pieces that require cutting.
- 6). Measure, cut, and install each edge tile one at a time. Install the pieces in the same process as before. If a tile is going to be too small to handle once cut, consider filling the remaining gap with grout and placing an edging trim later to cover the gaps. Fill all seams between tiles with grout at this time.
- 7). Allow the area to dry for a few days before opening to traffic, placing objects on the tile, or mounting objects.