Please be willing to ask your Homee dealer for assistance in selecting the mosaics and other materials for your project. These will include:

	Glass Mosaic
	Mortar
	Ground

All materials should be used according to manufacturer's directions. Due to the transparent nature of
glass, the color choice of the bonding material will impact the ultimate look of the tile. We recommend the use of white bonding mortar Adhere to manufacturer's recommended cure times for all setting materials. Pool, spa, and all submerged applications require a minimum of a 21-day cure time after grouting before the installation can be submerged or exposed to heavy water use.
Installing Homee Glass Mosaic requires thin-set mortar mixed with a liquid latex admixture. Follow the manufacturer's directions explicitly. Do not dilute the admixture with water.

NON-ACCEPTABLE SETTING MATERIALS
-- Organic adhesive (mastic), due to yellowing and low bond strengths.
-- Epoxy, due to lack of flexibility, as well as degradation in UV sunlight.

Tools for installing Homee Glass Mosaic can be very simple. Most of them are just in your house, only few tools you have to buy or rent from others. Before you begin, make sure you have all the following items together.

	"V" notched trowel (adhesive spreader)
	Level. A plumb line (a string with a weight tied to the end) will also be needed if your level does not determine vertical lines.
	Pencil. A chalk line can also be useful.
	Measuring Tape (preferably steel) or yardstick
	Pointed trowel, putty knife or old knife
	Container or bucket for mixing grout
	Rubber surfaced trowel, squeegee or firm sponge
	Popsicle sticks, pencil erasers, or tooth brush handles.
	Polishing cloth (old towels or cloths).
	Rubber gloves if you wish to use them.

Step 1: Prepare the wall surface

Properly treat the surface onto which mosaic will be applied according to your own situation.

1. Plaster
Make your new plaster wall is completed dried before setting while scratching the old plaster surface to provide enough “grip” to hold mosaic.

2. Various kinds of Wallboards
Walls of this type must be firm, with no warping or "give". "Dry wall" should be waterproofed if it is not already.

3. Plywood
4. Smooth Concrete
5. Tiled or others

Remove the existing tile need professional treatment. Talk to your Homee Glass Mosaic dealer or other professional tile installers.
Any painted walls must be well scratched as to have a better adhesive effect. These walls are ready to receive tile when the surface is CLEAN, grease and soap free, WATERPROOF, DRY and FLAT, with no loose particles of paint, plaster, dust, etc. This may require washing, sanding, scraping or filling.
The performance of a properly installed thin-set tile application is dependent upon the durability and
dimensional stability of the substrate to which it is bonded. The following recommendations are from the Tile Council of America (TCA) Handbook for CeramicTile Installation 2002 (www.tileusa.com) and are general in nature. Please reference the specification that applies to your project.

FLOORS

1. Exterior: Concrete slab cured 28 days minimum follow TCA F102-02 (recommended for freeze thaw
areas).
2. Interior: Concrete TCA F111, F112, F113-02. Additional preparation may be necessary depending
upon its condition
(see membranes). Cement mortar beds should be cured a minimum of 7 days.
3. Interior wood sub-floors: Cement mortar TCA F145-02, cement backer board TCA F144-02.

WALLS
1. Exterior and interior masonry or concrete TCA W201-02
2. Interior masonry or concrete TCA W211-02
3. Interior wood studs or furring TCA W231-02
4. Interior metal studs TCA W241-02 (must meet ASTM C955 or ASTM C645)
5. Cementitious board units over wood or metal stud (CBU) TCA W244-02
6. Wood or metal studs over gypsum board in dry areas only using OGT recommended setting systems
(pg. 6) TCA W243-02.

SPECIALTY
1. Ceilings, soffits (cement mortar beds cured 7 days or cement backer board) TCA C311-02
2. Bathtub walls (wood or metal studs, cement mortar beds cured 7 days) TCA B411-02
3. Bathtub walls (wood or metal studs, cement backer board) TCA B412-02
4. Shower receptors, walls (wood or metal studs, cement mortar beds cured 7 days) TCA B414-02
5. Shower receptors, walls (wood or metal studs, cement backer board) TCA B415-02
6. Tile tubs, fountains and curbs (waterproof membranes behind substrates) TCA B417-02
7. Countertops (cement mortar beds cured 7 days) TCA C511-02
8. Countertops (cement backer board) TCA C513-02
9. Swimming pools (cement mortar beds cured 7 days) TCA P 601-02.
10. Steam room (membrane behind substrate), cement mortar bed TCA SR613-02 or cemetitious backer unit SR614-02


NON-ACCEPTABLE SUBSTRATES
• Single-float mortar bed walls not employing cured scratch coats.
• In Wire reinforced mortar beds do not use poultry netting (chicken wire) or metal lath less than 2.5 lbs. Per square yard.
• Wood products, such as plywood, luan, MDF, MDX, press board, and composites.


Step 2: Setting materials application

1. Using the flat side of a (3/16” x 1/4” V-notch) trowel to initiate the bond coat, firmly apply the setting material into the substrate.
2. With additional setting material, using a (3/16” x 1/4” V-Notch) trowel, comb horizontal, full notches in one direction to establish the proper depth of the setting bed.
3. Using the flat side of the trowel, flatten the notches to achieve a smooth, consistent setting bed approximately 1/8” thick.

Step 3: Sheet Application

4. Apply Homee Glass Mosaics into the setting bed (backside with mesh), using light even pressure to establish contact and eliminate any voids.
5. To achieve a uniform, flat surface tap lightly using a wooden beating block and a hammer.
6. Apply each subsequent sheet so that grout joints line up and a consistent field is maintained.
7. To unify tile surface from one sheet to the next use a wooden beating block and hammer, again tapping lightly from one sheet to the next. Prior to setting each sheet, check the setting bed for skinning (slight drying of the thin set surface.) If skinning occurs, remove setting bed and reapply.
8. Cure a minimum of 48 hours prior to cleaning. Using a nylon brush and water, scrub residual paper and glue from the tile, followed by wiping clean with a damp sponge. Allow to dry prior to grouting.

Step 3: Grouting

9. Use only standard grade sanded grout mixed to manufacturer’s instructions. Apply grout with a rubber float, forcing grout into joints until full.
10. Grout joints shall be full and uniformly finished. Due to the impervious quality of glass, the grout will take longer to set than with more porous materials. For initial cleaning use clean, dry cheesecloth. This method wicks additional moisture from the grout and avoids washing out the grout joints.
11. Allow grout to set up and smooth finish with a damp sponge.
12. For final polishing of excess grout haze use a clean, soft cloth.

Maintenance Info

New Installations
Please do not attempt to clean new installations for a minimum of 24 hours after completing the grouting process.

After 24 hours remove loose dirt by vacuuming or sweeping.

Follow directions and prepare a cleaning solution using warm water and a neutral ph cleaner specifically designed for cleaning Glass Mosaic Tile. These types of cleaners are available from tile suppliers.

Thoroughly clean the Glass Mosaic Tile, including the grout joints, using a nylon scrub brush or nylon scrub pad following the manufacturer’s directions.

Rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water and allow to dry. A second rinsing may be needed to completely remove the cleaning solution.

Installations after grout has cured ten days and existing installations

Use the following method for installations with cement based grout or setting material haze that require a stronger cleaning solution. Wait 10 days after the grout has been installed then use a Sulfamic Acid cleaner such as C-Clean or Custom Clean. Follow the manufacturer’s directions using a nylon scrub brush or nylon scrub pad.

TIP: Try applying the solution and allowing it to soak in for 3-5 minutes followed by re-applying and
scrubbing.
Rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water and allow to dry. A second rinsing may be needed to completely remove the cleaning solution.
Additional cleaning for latex based smears (optional)

Stone and tile strippers. The stripper will work to clean latex smears not removed by using acid based cleaners. Allow a minimum of 10 days cure time and always follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water and allow to dry. A second rinsing may be needed to completely remove the cleaning solution.

Recommendations
Sealers are beneficial for grouts; however, they will not penetrate the tile due to the impervious nature of glass. Consult grout manufacturers for their recommendations.

TIP: To reduce the possibility of sealer smears, buff sealer off glass tile with dry, clean towels before
it dries.

�� Always test a product on your tile installation in an inconspicuous area before treating the entire tile installation.
��When using recommended products for tiled areas, protect surrounding non-tiled surfaces. Tile cleaning and maintenance products can adversely affect metals and wood.
��When using acid cleaning products always follow proper procedure and use personal protection equipment.

These tile maintenance procedures are referenced from the Tile Council of America.
For additional information please visit the TCA website at www.tileusa.com.