Getting creative with mosaic tiles

Published: 26th January 2010

When you have an area of floor space or wall space that you feel would benefit from a bit of decoration, then tiling can often be just the ticket. The technique of tiling isn't only meant for bathrooms and kitchens - when you get a little creative with it, it can really spruce up any part of the house.

Advantages

One of the best things about tiling a portion of wall or floor is the ease with which it can be maintained. In most cases a rub over with a damp cloth is enough to bring the original lustre out of a set of tiles. Another advantage is the flexibility tiles offer with regard to creative design.

Mosaic

A great way of getting creative is to incorporate mosaic patterns into your tiling. This is more time consuming and a little more intricate than tiling things square, and the pieces of tiling are much smaller. That said, mosaic tiling is a little more forgiving in the sense that the need for symmetry and accuracy is not as great.

The crucial consideration of mosaic tiling is to select a number of colours that complement each other perfectly and distribute them fairly evenly through the design.

Mosaic tiles are easier to work with than standard ceramic tiles, and they also allow you to be a lot more creative; there are loads of colours and patterns to choose from, and you can create innumerable combinations of these to create a unique and exciting design for your home.

Follow these simple steps to get started on your mosaic tiling:

Accurately mark out the wall area you want to cover with a pencil
Apply the tile adhesive to the wall evenly using a notched spreader
In line with your markings, press the first sheet of tiles flat against the wall
Then, using a flat, heavy object, flatten the tiles out to create an even surface
Continue laying the sheets in this way until the area is completely covered
For tricky areas like around light switches, carefully cut out the sections you will need using a craft knife
Wait 24 hours for the adhesive to dry, and then begin grouting. Use a rubber-edged spreader, dowel or a grout shaper to spread the grout into all of the gaps between ceramic tiles.

Looking for Paving or Tiling? Speak to Builder Superstore

With next-day delivery to most of the UK, a wide range of flooring, tiles, paving, grout, adhesive and sealant, we can supply all of your tiling and paving needs. We offer secure payment facilities so you or your client can choose the tiles and paving you want and order them from us with complete peace of mind. Browse the site to find exactly what you’re looking for, or call us on 08000 192 405 or email contact@buildersuperstore.co.uk