Specialist tiles

Mosaic tiles can be made out of a variety of materials from glass to natural stone and can be supplied in a variety of shapes and sizes. The mosaics are supplied on sheets for ease of fixing and these sheets are usually in 2 forms, face down on paper or face up on synthetic mesh.

If the mosaics are supplied on synthetic mesh, the mesh and mesh adhesive should not cover more than 25% of the back of the tile otherwise it could affect final adhesion. Each of these 2 forms requires a slightly different application technique.



Glass tiles are becoming more popular, especially in more modern designs. They do, however, cause some application problems. Glass, by its nature, is very smooth and non-porous meaning it can be difficult to adhere to. Also, when frosted glass tiles are used, grouting can leave unsightly marks on the surface which are very hard to remove.

If a dark adhesive is used with glass tiles it can show through as a shadow on the tile body. This is also the case if a spot-fixing method is used.



Metal tiles come mainly in two forms. These are either sheet metal or metal formed around a solid background such as tile backer-board or MDF.

These tiles are often pressed so have a textured surface which causes problems when grouting. Metallic tiles often react with cementitious grout and tend to discolour unless the correct product is used.



Resin tiles can come in all sorts of designs, shapes or sizes. Nearly any design can be made to make a feature in a house or commercial project. Resin tiles can be very smooth and can be very difficult to adhere to.

Use the correct methods, adhesives and grouts

The outstanding aesthetic qualities of certain specialist tiles can often hide the fact that extra care will be needed when fixing. Generally, the backs of specialist tiles can be very dense or smooth thus meaning that higher grade adhesives are needed to bond the tile sufficiently.