Tile Installation Instructions

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Aussie Dream Glass | Gosford Glass | Simpson Desert Glass | Great Barrier Reef Glass | Billabong Crackle Glass

Maniscalco Installation Suggestions

Great Barrier Reef Glass, October 2009

  1. Great Barrier Reef glass is made of a through-body colored glass.
  2. Some of the colors of Great Barrier Reef glass are paper-face mounted on the front, the rest are net mounted on the back. The paper-face mounted colors are translucent. The net mounted products are opaque.
  3. All colors are V2 in shading. Make sure this product is inspected by the end user before installing. No refunds or adjustments of any kind will be made by Maniscalco or your supplier after the product is installed.
  4. Great Barrier Reef glass may be installed on interior or exterior wall areas, in wet or dry locations, and on floors in light traffic areas, such as residential bathroom or powder rooms. It can also be used as an insert around the edge perimeter of a room. High traffic areas such as entrance halls are not recommended. Great Barrier Reef Glass can be used commercially in most vertical locations. Also see ANSI 137.1
  5. Great Barrier Reef is not recommended for swimming pools.
  6. All glass can scratch, especially on floors.
  7. To cut, use a tile wet saw with a diamond blade designed for glass. MK, Pearl, Target, and many other blade manufacturers make specialty blades for cutting glass tiles. Always wear eye protection.

Suggested Installation Method

  1. Always use a licensed contractor.
  2. Always confirm in person with the end user / specifier that the product being installed is the correct product before installing it. With the paper-face mounted colors, the actual color of the face of the glass will vary from the color on the back of the glass. You can confirm the color by either looking at the top of the glass along the edge, or soaking the paper off a few pieces to expose the face. The manufacturer has intentionally left the edges exposed for this and so the installer can see the joint width during installation to ensure straight joints. To soak, cut off 9 to 12 pieces, soak them in water for 15 minutes then pull the paper off and view the face of the tiles. The face of each piece is relatively flat yet textured, while the back looks like a pyramid with a dimple in the center.
  3. Always inspect the product for unintended flaws that are not part of the fashion or style of the product. Do not install defective or damaged product. If there is a question about the quality of the product contact your supplier before proceeding. Keep in mind Great Barrier Reef glass has a rustic and textured fashion.
  4. Make sure the substrate is suitable for glass. Choose and follow the best technique for your project.
    5. TCNA handbook, page 10. And all pages pertaining to substrate preparation.
    ANSI A108.1B, A108A2.1.8, C1396, C1396M-04
  5. Make sure crack isolation membranes and water proofing membranes are considered for your type of installation where necessary.
    TCNA handbook, page 9, 10
    ANSI a118.10, A108.12
  6. Glass expands and contracts differently than ceramic / porcelain tile. Make sure expansion joints and movement joints are considered and used when necessary. Keep this product over six inches away from an open flame. Areas of concern for extra soft joints would be steam rooms, fireplace surrounds, and backsplashes behind cook tops. Extra soft joints may be required in these high heat areas. Use a soft (caulking) joint between the glass and any other material in a continuous installation. Use a soft joint where two different planes come together. Use a soft joint every 6 feet in a continuous run of glass, or according to the TCNA handbook. Use a soft joint where the glass abuts to plumbing fixtures, cabinets, counter tops, window or door moldings, and bath tubs in accordance with the TCNA handbook.
    TCNA handbook, page 8, 9, 68, 69, and EJ171-05
  7. Use a flexible modified white thin-set mortar that meets or exceeds ANSI 118.4 (a flexible acrylic mortar system such as those from Siena, C-Cure, Customs, Laticrete, Mapei, TEC, or equivalent. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Organic Mastic and Epoxy are not recommended for Great Barrier Reef glass.
  8. Use the correct size notch trowel depending on the size of the product and your desired results. In most cases a 5/32” x 5/32” v-notch trowel will be used. Smooth out the ridges in the thin-set with the flat side of the trowel to create a flat bed with no lines in it to set the glass into. Do not allow the white thin-set to rise up in the joints when using colored grouts. Make sure you achieve full contact between the back of the glass and the thin-set; you may use a clean grout float to embed the glass. The netted product goes in with the net in contact with the thin-set. The paper face mounted product goes in with the paper away from the thin-set.
  9. Allow the thin-set to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you installed the paper-face mounted product, you will need to remove the paper. Wet the paper with tap water using a spray bottle or sponge. Allow the wet paper to sit for 15 minutes. Pull the whole sheet of paper off each sheet of glass installed. If the paper tears, re-wet and wait another 5 to 10 minutes before pulling off the sheet. By letting the wet paper sit for a longer period, you will also be removing more of the glue residue. Once all of the paper is removed, gently wash the glass with a wet sponge to remove any remaining glue residue. Allow the installation to dry before grouting.
  10. Use a modified cement based grout. Grout with flexing capabilities or a flexible additive is preferred.
  11. Sanded or non-sanded grout may be used. When using sanded grout, be careful not to scratch the glass. You may perform a test on a sample of glass from the job before grouting the actual job. Because the Great Barrier Reef glass is textured, you may want to use a grout release to pre-seal the glass. It will help reduce the chance of grout residue getting stuck in the pits of the glass.
  12. Read and follow all manufacturers’ instructions on the grout.
  13. Buff and cure the grout according to the grout manufacturer’s instructions. Once the grout is cured, you may seal it. This glass can be sealed but it is not required.

Care and Maintance
Regular cleaning with a mild bathroom cleaner or neutral tile cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge according to the manufacturer of the cleaner is recommended. Buff dry with a soft cloth. Do not use acids, corrosive, or abrasive cleaners.

The installer is responsible for choosing and using the correct installation practices to achieve an acceptable finished product. Please refer to the TCNA hand book regularly, it is revised each year and techniques can change. Our goal is to have trouble-free installations that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Use constitutes acceptance, there will be no credits, refunds, cash settlements, and etc. made after the product is installed regardless of the circumstances. The TCNA website is www.tileusa.com .

Disclaimer: Website photos may not match exact color of actual tiles.