Mother of Pearl Tile

Design Elements
This captivating and rare mother of pearl tile in shades of iridescent black and white is artfully arranged in a classic square pattern. The pearl shell glass will add a durability and lasting exquisiteness to your kitchen or fireplace installation.
 
It is not recommended to be installed in a pool or anywhere the tile will be submerged in water.

SUBSTRATE
Tile must be installed over a suitable substrate to insure a proper installation. Tile should be installed over a clean, sound, and flat surface, free of contaminates including curing compounds. Substrate should be free of cracks.
INSTALLATION
To avoid affecting the color of glass tile, White modified thin-set such as Bostik Glass Mate is highly is recommended for all installations.
Apply thin-set using a trowel as recommended by the manufacturer. 
Apply as much adhesive as can be covered within 10-15 minutes. 
This tile does not require grout, you would have to water down the thin-set a bit more, the excess thin-set will act as a grout line.
INSTALLATION MATERIAL

Thin-Set
When setting tiles we recommend the use of polymer or latex modified thin set or medium bed mortar compliant with ANSI standard A118.4 and is recommended for use with marble tile. 


Tools
3/16" or 1/4" square notch trowel should be used when installing our glass material and ridges should be smoothed down with the flat side of the trowel prior to fixing the tiles in the mortar bed. 


Cutting
Use a wet-saw with a new, continuous rim diamond blade specifically designed for cutting marble. Do not use "turbo" or other notched blades designed for use with porcelain or ceramic as the teeth can cause a coarse cut, resulting in a heavily chipped edge. 

Cut edges and corners will be sharp. Always be sure to smooth the cut edges manually with 200-grit wet/dry sandpaper.


Drilling
If possible, drill holes before installing tile. Drilling from both sides can ensure a cleaner finish if the hole will be visible after installation. Using a new diamond coring bit (for large holes) or spade bit (for small holes) with a diamond tip made for glass drilling will give the best results. Lubricating the bit and tile surface with a continuous spray of oil/water mix will prolong the life of bits and provide a better-finished edge. When possible, the use of a jig will ensure precise placement of holes to be drilled. 

When drilling holes for anchoring bolts, plumbing or any other dissimilar material always ensure a minimum of 1/8" clearance around the item is provided to avoid cracking due to disparate expansion and contraction rates or stress transfer.
GROUTING

We recommend applying grout release prior to grouting, suitable for the respective stone and interior or exterior use, to the tile to facilitate cleaning and for protection against staining from contrasting color grouts. Grout joints should be packed full and free of all voids and pits. Excess grout should be cleaned from the stone surface as the work progresses, before the grout hardens. Do not use acids to clean off excess grout. Prior to grouting, test an area to make sure the stone surface will not scratch. 


SEALING

After the stone is installed, and grouted, seal the stone with an appropriate high quality breathable stone sealer, to minimize water absorption, efflorescence, and potential staining. If necessary, a color enhancer may be applied to bring out the true color of the stone at any time after grouting. Follow sealer manufacturer's installation instructions. Reseal tile when the stone gets darker or as needed. 


CARE AND MAINTENANCE

For normal care and maintenance of stone tiles, clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar, or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use any abrasive cleaners.