Mesh showing through glass tile

Stanchek

I'm installing 1x2 clear non colored glass mosaic 12x12 tile. I did a very smooth float on the mortar, pressed it in good, and slid it around a bit, then grouted. Used white premixed high quality mortar and white grout. The tile is 1/4" thick with white paper backing. The problem is on the bottom of the tiles, where you can see through the 1/4" clear part, you can see a very thin line of the mesh. Can anyone tell me if this is preventable, and how? Also, I pressed the grout in pretty hard, so I don't think that's the issue. Thx

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joecaption

Your using clear glass tiles, and you can see through them, hmm.

Stanchek

Haha, really, that's the best you got? Do you think I did everything properly, but the the tile being clear is always going to show a bit?

oh'mike

A little backing showing on a clear glass tile is to be expected--

I am concerned about your choice of premixed adhesive instead of thin set---

That is not in a wet area like a tub or shower,I hope.

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cleveman

Looks good to me. There should be a surcharge for that.

Stanchek

Not a wet area.

RhodesHardwood

I have had the same thing happen to me also having using the same color mortar. You are probably the only one who will notice it. Your tiles look especially clear, so I don't think it really can be prevented on these.

NewHomeDIYGuy

Looks good/normal to me. The small glass tiles in my backsplash look the same if you look close enough. Nothing you can do about it, but you only notice it if you look at it very closely. Nice work.

Stanchek

So here's the deal. the designer had me tear out the tile that I posted in the picture. I had my granite guy install this backsplash, and after telling the homeowner what all you guys said here, I asked her if she wanted to install the same tile and live with the mesh showing or go with a different tile. She said they could live with it, and to install it again. At this point I'm out $300 for the tile. So my granite guy comes and installs it again, and it looks the same as it did. Well I get a call today that she was watching all sorts of online videos, and that it CAN be installed without the mesh showing. So she wants it torn out AGAIN. I called in my regular tile installer who always does a pretty good job for me, and he says it would look exactly the same if he did it. So my question is, are these guys just not that knowledgable on glass tile install? I'm losing my mind on this one. Does anyone have any advise? Plz help.

Bonzai

First off this is a DIY forum ... perhaps you want the 'Contractor Talk' forum.
Second, it's transparent glass tile you are installing ... of course you can see through it, just like any clear window. Tell the designer to spec a non-transparent tile if they & the home owner have an issue with seeing through it.

FYI: I feel for you as I get my share of clients who don't understand the nature of the product they selected ... usually with slate when they don't understand that every piece is different despite telling them.

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NewHomeDIYGuy

Wow, sounds like you have a very difficult/pita designer/customer. I'm no GC but here are my 2 cents. The "problem" with glass tiles is that they only have a paper backing on the back (which is colored so the the glass tile then has a color (gray in this instance)). With a mesh backed mosaic sheet, when you press the sheet into the thinset, it's going to INEVITABLY have a little press through the ridges, which creates the little "bump" looking parts around the tile. Since the thinset oozes around the side past the side of the tile and the paper isn't covering this area, it will be visible through the tile. That seems completely unavoidable to me, and really is barely noticeable.

The only other option would be to choose a mosaic sheet that doesn't have a mesh backing. I thought I remember seeing these at the local tile store. Basically they just have a paper facing on the front side, which you remove after the sheet is semi-dry in the thinset. This should result in no "bumps," but there is always going to be SOME thinset that will be visible, just like the mesh backing, although it shouldn't look like small bumps.

Good luck. Sounds like the designer doesn't know what they're doing.

Stanchek

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Stanchek

Thought I would post some pics of the finished product. Pics aren't that great, but the job DID turn out great.

oh'mike

Did the customer pay in full?

Looks fine,by the way.

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Stanchek

They did. They were very happy in the end.