Install Mosaic Floor Tile

By Matt Weber

Mosaic tile is a combination of tiny colored tiles called “tesserae” that can be used to create a pictorial or geometrical design to decorate a home’s interior. A single color can be used for a plain design, two complementary colors are a more popular option, or use many colors for a complex pattern. With the many small tiles the installer can play the role of artist, using the individual units like blocks of color in a painting. With enough time, work and patience, tile professionals can use a wide variety of colors to create an intricate floor or wall that rivals the craftsmanship of Roman times, when mosaic tile was a favored medium for historic murals.

However, the painstaking chore of assembling mosaic tile piece by piece is a task best left to the pros. For the do-it-yourselfer, a faster and easier method is to use larger tiles that consist of many individual tesserae attached to a scrim backing in a prearranged pattern. The scrim backing can be cut to size with shears and allows the tiles to easily adhere to the floor. The repeated patterns of tesserae can be used over large areas to achieve the look of a complex design. The tesserae are usually made of glazed ceramic, which makes them water-resistant and a preferred material for areas such as bathroom floors, as shown in this article.

Prep and Plan

The first step in installation is to remove any existing floor covering and ensure the subfloor is clean, smooth and flat. If necessary, level concrete floors with a leveling compound.

On the project in the photos, professional remodeler, Jeff Davis, opted to cover the bathroom subfloor with precut HardiBacker cement board. HardieBacker is both mold and moisture resistant, which is ideal for tile installation in wet areas. Davis fastened the cement board to the plywood subfloor with deck screws every 8 inches in the designated screw holes that are printed on the face of the HardiBacker.

Cement board is installed over the plywood subfloor and screwed down securely.

Next, map out a floor plan to determine how many tiles you’ll need. Then, lay out the first couple of rows in a dry run, temporarily taping the tile joints with masking tape, if necessary. Snap a couple of intersecting chalk lines at right angles on the backer board, marking the joints of the first row of tiles. The chalk lines will serve as a guide for placement of the first rows.

This type of mosaic tile is attached to a flexible scrim backing for easy installation.