Bisazza offers mosaics on a mesh (mosaic face visible) and paper backing (mosaic face covered). We don't glue mosaics to a film backing because this makes laying more complicated and time consuming than is the case with paper. Films do not breathe as well as paper so the surface dries at different rates. In addition, as the film is transparent, if it is cut into strips for progressive laying, it is difficult to see, and there is always the risk that some of it will not be removed. Any film that remains will only become visible during grouting.

Before you start work, carefully assess the type of substrate on which the tiles will be laid (plaster, marble, metal, wood, heating floor or other) and bear in mind that each of these surfaces needs suitable preparation. In general, the surface to be laid must be completely smooth, flat and regular as well as having had time to mature and become consistent and stable. If the area to be laid is made of metal or fibreglass, the surface must be slightly rough, and it should be perfectly clean and degreased before the installation. If the area to be tiled is a heated floor, make sure the system has already been tested and all the trials needed have been carried out. The heating system must be switched off during the installation.

For any further information concerning the installation in swimming-pools, please read the specific manual which is available in the technical area on our web site.

Once the substrate has been skimmed to make it whiter and smoother, you must wait until the surface is dry before you start to lay tiles. The waiting period varies with the temperature and humidity in the area to be tiled.

If expansion joints are used on the substrate, the same pattern must be respected with the mosaic tiles installed, by using the appropriate profiles or some silicone, thus maintaining a perfect alignment with the expansion joints below. The installation of expansion joints is not of Bisazza concern.

Mosaic tiles are usually laid on a layer of adhesive spread with a 3.5 mm notched trowel. This provides a layer of adhesive which is sufficiently deep to let the tiles adhere properly without coming out from between the gaps. In this case, the final adhesive layer is about 1 mm deep.

For 5x5 mosaic and Opera 25, a 5 mm notched trowel is used: In this case, the final adhesive layer is about 2 mm deep.

If the installation is in a swimming-pool, you must wait 14 days before filling the pool.

For other places, it is important do not cover tiled, grouted flooring for 4 days. In all cases, avoid creating dust in the 4 days following grouting.

The amount of grout provided allows for some waste. If there isn't enough left to grout the surface, some mistakes have been made:

- during mosaic sheets laying:

1. laying paper backed mosaic upside down

2. laying with a notched trowel in a size smaller than recommended (see the technical sheets), thus leading to deeper gaps which require a higher waste of grout.

- during grouting: carelessness during grout application, leading to excessive waste.

The amount of adhesive provided allows for some waste after two layers of white skimming. If there isn't enough left to make the surfaces adhere, mistakes have been made:

- during mixing: after mixing, the adhesive was not allowed to sit for at least 3 minutes before being used.

- in the choice of tools: the wrong size of notched trowel was used.

- during skimming: the skimmed layer is thicker than the 2 mm required.

Some explanations may be:

- The substrate is not even and shows some hollows. This may affect the adhesive consumption as well;

- You’re probably using the wrong trowel, or the trowel is right but you are using it at the wrong angle (the right angle of use is 45°).

You can’t, if you’re laying Oro (in the yellow version); in this case the eGlue adhesive is recommended.

You can, if you’re laying Oro Bis (in the yellow version), but in this case latex Ultra should be added to the Ad Hoc adhesive. For any further information, please read the documents available in the technical area on our web site.

For standard maintenance, please read the instructions reported on the catalogue and on the products technical sheets. For the maintenance of mosaic installed in swimming pools, please read the specific manual which is available in the technical area on our web site.

With a diamond tipped drill. If it is possible, drill where the tiles meet, otherwise start with a smaller diamond tip, and then proceed with the correct size diamond tip.

Yes, if the ancient mosaic tiles are still in good conditions, and tightly attached to the substrate; for any further information, please contact: installation.department@bisazza.com.

Yellow stains on the grout are caused by incorrectly mixing the two components (A+B) in FILLGEL PLUS UVR. The remedy to this problem is to remove the stained grout from the affected areas and to re-grout them. To carry out this operation, use a heat gun and set it at a temperature of 180°, then use a cutter to remove the stained grout .

The causes may be:

some humidity or some cleaning water left between the adhesive and the grout;

lack of pressure during grouting, which has left some areas with little grout;

too much adhesive in between the gaps, which has not been removed properly before grouting. The remedy is to remove the stained grout from the affected areas and to re-grout them. To carry out this operation, use a heat gun and set it at a temperature of 180°, then use a cutter to remove the stained grout .

If the tiles have been stuck with an appropriate product and the adhesive and grout have been properly applied, the tiles should not come away from the surface.

If just a few tiles are coming away, use some specific adhesives or some silicone to attach them.

If the detachment is more important, in order to understand the reason of it, an assessment of the substrate conditions, as well as of the tiles installation procedures must be carried out.

Bisazza 20x20 mm mosaic tiles are even and this makes the laid surface perfectly smooth as long as they have been properly laid. Any small tile protrusions can be caused by incorrect laying or by a not perfectly even substrate.

As for 10x10 mm mosaic tiles, or hand cut artistic mosaic, the surface is less regular and tiles may protrude slightly.

Any crack on the already laid mosaic tiles may depend on some installation mistakes or on some movements in the substrate.

 Cracks should not be confused with the veining appearing on some kind of glass (such as Enamels), and which is quite a common feature of their surface.

By using E REMOVER PLUS or a heat gun.

For any further information, please read the documents available in the technical area on our web site.