How to Install Stacked Pebble Tiles

Pebble tiles can create a rustic and natural look in your bathroom or kitchen. Installers originally created the tiles by stacking pebbles or river rocks on top of mesh pieces secured to the walls. Today, pebble tiles come in a wide variety of designs and colors, allowing a homeowner or installer to choose the "just right" look for the area. Suppliers sell most in sheets or mesh pieces that adhere directly to the wall or floor. Improper installation of the tiles can create visible lines running through the surface, so take care to lay the sheets to achieve the look you want.

• 1

  Clean the surface where you intend to install the tile. Vacuum, sweep or dust the surface to remove all dirt and dust, then clean the surface with mineral spirits or another solvent-based cleaner to ensure that there is no paint, wax, grease or other contaminant on the surface. These contaminants can change the way the adhesive bonds with the surface.

• 2

  Dry the surface and inspect the area for damage. The installation surface should be completely flat and stable. Fill in any holes with filler putty, or lower raised areas with a hand grinder or sandpaper. Wipe the surface with a tack cloth to remove dust when finished.

• 3

  Mix tile thinset and additives per specific product instructions. Stir thoroughly into a bucket; the thinset will resemble thick toothpaste or peanut butter when you've mixed it properly.

• 4

  Spread the thinset over your installation surface with a notched trowel, leaving small ridges in the adhesive. Cover a surface area 5 to 8 feet around you so that the thinset does not dry while you work.

• 5

  Press the pebble tiles into the thinset. Pay careful attention to the pattern you create with the tiles; turn tiles so that the pebbles appear more randomly placed to avoid installation lines.

• 6

  Cut tiles as necessary to fit into place. Score the tile sheet with a utility knife then cut or snap along the cutting line. The utility knife will also cut through mesh backing for pebble tiles.

• 7

  Install all tiles along the surface, applying more thinset and cutting as necessary while you work. When finished, allow the thinset to dry overnight.

• 8

  Mix sanded grout and water into a bucket per product instructions. Spread the grout over the tile surface with a grout float, holding the float at a 45-degree angle to force the grout into the joints.

• 9

  Scrape the float diagonally over the tiles to remove excess. If necessary, use a damp sponge to clean the surfaces of the pebbles. Buff away any haze from the grout with a dry cloth. Allow the grout to dry overnight.

• 10

  Seal the pebble tiles with a stone sealant. Your tile manufacturer will provide or recommend a sealer for you; the sealant will make the pebbles resistant to water. Paint the sealant on and allow it to dry per product instructions before exposing the surface to water.