| Applying Tile Tape | | | | number of borders or accents with the same pattern. |
| TILE TAPE has been steadily gaining in popularity | | | | This will enable you to space your tiles, assemble |
| among Mosaic Tile Artists and Tile Craftsmen in | | | | your pattern and then apply our tape. Many of our |
| recent years. TILE TAPE is a Mosaic Tile Supply that | | | | customers set up a workbench with a tape dispenser |
| offers greater control and ease of use that is far | | | | mounted horizontally on the side. |
| superior to other methods and products available | | | | Advantages of Using Tile Tape over Kraft Facing |
| today. This article will walk you through several | | | | Kraft facing requires applying water-soluble glue to |
| different ways in which you can use our TILE TAPE | | | | one side of kraft paper and, while still wet, applying it |
| in your mosaic tile projects and tile installations. | | | | to the face of your tile pattern. Once it is dry it is |
| Before you start, make sure your tiles are clean and | | | | then installed. The obvious problems here are: having |
| dry. The preferred method is to simply peel off the | | | | to mix the glue; having to apply the glue; having to |
| TILE TAPE by hand and apply it to the front of the | | | | clean up the glue container and brushes and tables; |
| tile pattern. However some of our customers build an | | | | and more importantly, the installer cannot see the |
| apparatus. Either way, it is important to firmly press | | | | pattern. We have heard many stories about installers |
| the tape to the tiles to insure adequate adhesion. | | | | discovering that they have put in the work upside |
| How to Prevent Your Tiles from Moving | | | | down and the subsequent headaches of correcting |
| When working with small pieces of tile, it can be | | | | this, stories differing depending upon whether the |
| difficult to keep them stable. The following are a | | | | mistake is discovered while the mortar is still wet or |
| couple of methods we have discovered to help hold | | | | not. With TILE TAPE the installer can see all the parts |
| your work in place. Spraying adhesive on your | | | | and, as long as they were assembled correctly to |
| tabletop or paperboard is one simple solution. You can | | | | begin with, will not need to adjust pieces. If there is |
| also make a jig using four pieces of 1" x 2" wood. | | | | adjusting to do TILE TAPE is easily cut with any |
| Make the jig a little bigger than the length and width | | | | knife. |
| of your pattern. Then, using blue masking tape (the | | | | Another common problem is the accidental spilling of |
| widest available), place strips of tape across the jig | | | | water on kraft facing, causing pieces of the tile to fall |
| until the space is full. Then flip the jig over and it is | | | | off before installations. TILE TAPE is not |
| ready to build a mosaic or border. You will be able to | | | | water-soluble. |
| place and move your pieces easily because the blue | | | | The advantages of using TILE TAPE over any |
| masking tape is low tack. You then place your pieces | | | | Back-Mount method is the ease of use; no glue to |
| with the backs of the tile against the blue tape | | | | buy, mix, apply and clean up. There is no waiting for |
| adhesive, so that you can see your mosaic pattern. | | | | the glue to dry before putting meshed tiles in boxes |
| Once your pattern is complete, apply TILE TAPE to | | | | or into mortar or thinset. More importantly the tile will |
| the top of the tiles. | | | | have 100% adhesion with the mortar or thinset when |
| Making a Mold out of Wood and Glue Tile Separators | | | | using TILE TAPE as opposed to 50% to 70% |
| A mold is ideal for projects that involve making a | | | | contact when using mesh. |