How to Install Glass Tile on an Outside Corner

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Things You'll Need

  • Razor blade (for mosaics)

  • Glass tile nippers

  • Trowel

  • White thin-set mortar

  • Grout

  • Grout float

  • Sponge

  • Soft cloth

Glass tiles are a frequently used material for bathroom and kitchen walls. Their slightly translucent look reflects light to help brighten any room, while the fact that they are made of one solid color helps ensure that no trim pieces are required for their installation. The edges of the tiles can finish themselves, no matter what size or shape the glass. Because of this, even outside corners require no additional trim pieces to complete the installation, but only the glass itself.

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Step 1

Lay out the glass tiles on the floor in front of the wall where they will be installed. Trim any mosaic sheets to fit the installation, using a razor blade, and cut any tiles to fit with glass tile nippers. Place the cut tiles at the inside corners of the installation, not on the outside corner; always make sure that a full tile is used on the outside edges.

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Step 2

Determine which side of the outside corner is going to be the most visible. Lay out the tiles so the side that is the most visible has a tile that overlaps the less visible side slightly. Do not have the two tiles meet at a 90-degree angle; one should always overlap the other, covering up the grout joint.

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Step 3

Begin installing the glass from the center of the less visible wall out to the sides. Spread the mortar onto the wall with the trowel and smooth out any groove marks before placing the tiles. At the corner, spread the mortar on the backs of the tiles first, then press the tiles onto the wall, lining them up with the edge of the corner.

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Step 4

Install the tiles on the more visible wall. Begin in the center and work out to the sides. Spread the mortar on the tiles that will be placed on the outside corner and gently press them in place so they overlap the first set of tiles and their edge is flush with the surface of the previously installed tiles. Allow all the tiles to dry for 48 hours.

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Step 5

Grout the entire installation at once, spreading the grout over the tiles with a grout float. At the outside corner, spread the grout over the most visible side first, then pack the grout into the joint between the overlapping tiles. Wait 10 minutes, and then gently clean away the excess grout with a damp sponge. After two hours, buff the tiles clean with a lint-free cloth to remove any grout residue from the tiles.

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