Mosaic tiles give any room a stylish and luxurious look. But because they are small and detailed, laying them is precision work. Small mistakes can quickly lead to crooked lines, loose tiles or even moisture problems. In this blog, we list the most common mistakes made when laying mosaic tiles and how you can avoid them.

Poor substrate preparation

A flat and stable surface is essential. Many do-it-yourselfers skip this step, as a result:

• Tiles do not adhere well
• Joints start to crack
• Water can get under the tiles

Solution: completely level the substrate and always use an appropriate primer.

Using the wrong adhesive or grout

Not every glue is suitable for mosaic. Common mistakes:

• Adhesive too thick (causing tiles to sink)
• Wrong type of adhesive (causing tiles to loosen with moisture or heat)
• Wrong grout color (not doing justice to the pattern)

Solution: use flexible tile adhesive and grout specifically for mosaic and wet areas.

Do not use joint crosses or auxiliary grids

Because mosaic consists of many small stones, it is difficult to keep everything perfectly straight. Without tools, it quickly arises:

• Skewed joints
• Unequal lines
• Height differences between mats

Solution: use joint crosses or a laser liner for tight joints.

Not enough drying time between steps

Many people want to proceed too quickly and grout before the adhesive is completely dry. Because of this:

• Shifting tiles
• Is there moisture under the tiles
• Can the grouting loosen

Solution: respect the manufacturer's drying times (usually 24 hours for adhesive and 24 hours for grout).

Do not use a waterproof seal

In bathrooms or shower rooms, it is often forgotten to apply a waterproofing layer behind the tiles. This leads to:

• Mold
• Leaks
• Damaged substrate

Solution: always use a waterproof membrane or sealing set under the mosaic tiles.

By avoiding these five common mistakes, you'll lay mosaic tiles tightly, safely and durably. Want to be sure of a perfect result? Let the specialists of Multi Mosaics - so you can be sure that your mosaic project will remain beautiful for years to come.