Tools and supplies needed:
- Protective eyewear or safety goggles
- Measuring tape
- Latex or oil-based primer (if method 1 is used)
- High-quality polyurethane construction adhesive (if method 2 is used)
- Recommended adhesive (if small tile pieces are used or wall is not flat)
- Straightedge or Speed Square®
- Pencil or other nonpermanent marker
- Soft cloth
- Chalk line
- Level (2′ to 4′)
- Fine-grit sandpaper (400-600 grit)
- Caulk gun and caulk or Aspect trim (optional)
- Safety gloves
If cutting tiles, one of the following tools will be needed:
- Jig saw or chop saw
- Hack saw
- Hole saw or coping saw (for circular cuts or electrical outlet cutouts only)
Before you begin
For the typical do-it-yourselfer, the installation of Aspect peel & stick metal tiles is a relatively easy project.
Read this installation manual in it’s entirety before you start.If you have doubts about doing this installation, you should contact a qualified contractor, carpenter or professional installer.
Due to manufacturing variations, we cannot guarantee an exact color match from lot to lot. Prior to adhering Aspect tiles to your wall, please unpackage & lay out all purchased product to ensure color consistency. If you encounter unreasonable color variation, please give us a call at 1-800-434-3750 (7am-4:30pm CST, M-F) so that we may assist you with your project.
PROPER SURFACE PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Failure to follow recommended surface preparation instructions may void the warranty. ACP, LLC is not responsible or liable for any labor costs or damaged product incurred as a result of improper installation. All product defects are covered under our 5-year limited warranty.
Installation Methods
Method 1:
The adhesive on the back side of the Aspect metal tiles are engineered to stick to flat, primed, smooth walls.
Allow the tiles and substrate to come to room temperature (65°F to 100°F) before installation. Use a heat gun or other source to warm the tiles and substrate if necessary.
If you are using installation Method 1, proper wall preparation is required. Aspect can be installed over most structurally sound substrates if they are clean, flat, smooth, dry, and free of dust, wax, soap scum and grease. Acceptable substrates are drywall, plaster or clean, smooth tile (glazed, porcelain type tile; not porous or textured). Any damaged, loose or uneven areas must be repaired, patched, leveled and primed.
Method 2:
If you do not intend to prepare, sand and prime the surface, an additional adhesive should be used. We recommend a high-quality polyurethane construction adhesive be applied to the back of each tile in these cases.
Be sure to remove the release film on the back of each tile before applying additional adhesive. Apply some pea-sized dots of adhesive to the back of a full tile (see right). Keep the adhesive a half-inch from the edges.
Firmly press the tiles into place. If adhesive squeezes out around the tiles, be sure to wipe it off before it dries.
Recommended Adhesives
| Brand | Type |
|---|---|
| Loctite® | PL Premium® |
| Loctite® | PL Premium Advanced® |
| LePage® | PL Premium® |
Design:
There are many tile patterns available for backsplash and other applications. Here are some popular examples. If you don’t find what you are looking for, be creative – go ahead and design your own pattern.
Layout:
One popular layout method is to begin from the center of the area to be covered. This method allows balance around the perimeter of the work area. Find the center point between the horizontal and vertical measurements and mark on the wall or work area with a pencil. Snap a vertical and a horizontal chalk line as a reference. Be sure the horizontal reference line is level and the vertical reference line is plumb.
Identify the high point(s) of your countertop by measuring from the horizontal reference line or by using a level. Snap a reference line for the top of the first row of tiles after marking 1/8″ above the highest point (at 3-1/8″) (Picture A). The top edge of the first row will be installed along this line. You can caulk the bottom gap after all the tiles are installed.
Use a level or measuring tape to mark the vertical termination point of your installation (Picture B).
Measure the first area to be covered by Aspect material. We recommend you lay out the entire project on a flat surface, like a table or the floor, before installing to the substrate, to be sure you have enough tiles and your design is correct.
As each project is different, be sure to plan for cutouts, corners or edge treatments before applying tiles. ALL ASPECT 3X6 METAL TILES HAVE A REMOVABLE FILM ON THE METAL TILE FRONT. THIS FILM MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE FINAL INSTALLATION ON YOUR WALL.
Installation
1) Installing your first tile: Here’s where the fun begins.
Be sure the substrate is clean and dry. Remove the film backing from both sides of the tile. Lightly place the tile onto the wall using your reference lines. Do not apply pressure to the tile until you are sure of your placement. The aggressive design of the adhesive does not allow for repositioning after pressing firmly. If it is in the right position, firmly apply even pressure across the entire tile.
CAUTION:Do not stand or walk on release paper or a tile with release paper on the back as it is extremely slippery. Place it in a wastebasket immediately upon removal from tile.
2) Cutting tiles: The most important thing to remember here is to cut only the tiles, not yourself – be careful. Be sure to protect your eyes from damage by using protective eyewear or safety goggles.
Measure and mark the tile with a marker on the protective film where the cut must be made (Picture C).
If cutting tiles is necessary, using a chop saw is the recommended cutting method. Be sure to follow all safety procedures, including using safety eyewear, when using saw (Picture D).
Alternative cutting methods are a miter box or hack saw for any necessary straight cuts. Use a hole saw or coping saw for circular cuts or electrical outlet cutouts. When cutting is complete, use a fine-grit sandpaper or a small metal file to debur the cut edges. Take the cut tile to the work space and place it in its intended location, ensuring it fits properly before removing the protective film on either side of the tile.
3) Install and/or cut remaining tiles in the same fashion as described above. When tiles are installed to your satisfaction, press each again firmly with your hand. This will ensure that the adhesive bonds to the substrate.
Allow 24 hours for the adhesive to set before exposing them to a heat source (such as a stovetop or oven). Clean or touch up tiles with a glass cleaner and soft cloth or paper towels.
Tips and Techniques
Adhering small pieces
Use tube adhesive for cut pieces of Aspect that are less than a third of a full tile.
Fitting Partial Tiles
To fit partial tiles, lay the tile to be cut exactly over the last full tile. Place another full tile against the wall and mark the cutting line where the tiles overlap. Cut tile on line. Before peeling the backing paper off self-adhering tile, check that the cut tile fits. Do not force it into place. Install tile (removing paper from self-adhering tile), and press tile firmly into position.
Fitting Around Pipes
To fit around pipes, make a cardboard pattern as a guide and use it to draw an outline on the tile. Cut to shape. A carbide-tipped hole saw can also be used. Check fit before peeling off backing paper. The tile should fit snugly but don’t force it into place.
Removing tiles
If a tile needs to be removed, apply heat with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive. Use a putty knife on the back side and slowly apply outward pressure to release the tile from the wall. The adhesive is engineered to not be removed so caution should be taken to not damage the wall. Any removed tiles may be unusable. ACP is not responsible or liable if you damage your walls. If the adhesive is destroyed but the tile face is fine, you can try using PL Premium® adhesive to reapply the tile.