Adhesive Tile Mats for Backsplash: Installation, Cost, and More

Adhesive tile mats are another type of adhesive for backsplashes, replacing thin-set adhesive when installing ceramic tiles. They are popular to use in bathrooms and kitchens. They're easy to apply and less messy than thin-set mortar or adhesive but have a few drawbacks, like price and longevity.

Here, review this adhesive's advantages and disadvantages for backsplashes to determine if they're right for you.

What Are Adhesive Tile Mats?

Adhesive mats are like large sheets of double-stick tape. They are sold in rolls with adhesives on both sides. Peel off the paper backing on one side to stick it on the wall, then peel off the other side when ready to mount the ceramic tiles in place.

Adhesive mats are considerably more expensive than thin-set adhesive, and while they can be used for full-wall tile jobs, it is more common to use them for limited applications, such as backsplashes.

Adhesive Tile Mats vs. Mastic and Thinset

In addition to adhesive tile mats, there are other types of tile adhesives.

One form is known as mastic. Mastic is a term that essentially refers to fast-grab glues for laying tiles. Thinset is another version of adhesive for tiles, comprised of inorganic and composed materials. Thinset is available in wet, pre-mixed, or dry varieties.

When choosing the best adhesive for your project, consider costs, where you are laying your backsplash, and the arrangement of the tiles. Thinset is inexpensive but it doesn't work well with vertical applications because of its slow setting time.

Mastic, on the other hand, is incredibly sticky and sets fast, making it ideal for vertical tiles. However, mastic cannot be used in high-moisture areas.

Adhesive tile mats also have several pros and cons, which you can learn more about below.

Benefits of Adhesive Tile Mats

• Easy tile installation: It's easy to cut the rolls, stick one side of adhesive on, and start placing the tiles with no messy mortar or adhesive. This does away with drips and disposing of unused mortar.
• No adhesive cure time: When using thin-set mortar, you lose one to two days waiting for it to dry. With adhesive mats, there's no curing time. Place the tiles and apply the grout, and you're done.
• Tiles don't slide: Vertical tile sometimes refuses to adhere to the wall long enough for the thin-set adhesive to dry, with gravity causing the tiles to slide down.
• Leisurely installation: With thin-set mortar, you have to complete the job quickly, moving quickly, or else it starts to dry before you finish.
• Lifespan: They can last several years or up to 20 years or more, depending on how well they were applied and environmental conditions.

Disadvantages of Adhesive Tile Mats

• Tiles may loosen over time: Adhesive mats provide a less durable bond than traditional thin-set adhesives, and they are not a good choice for applying large tiles or for installing mesh-backed mosaic tile sheets, which tend to detach from the mats over time.
• Expensive: Good quality adhesive mats are four times the cost of using thin-set mortar.
• Limited holding power: Wet tiles just cut using a tile saw will not adhere to the mat. You have to wait until that tile dries, hand dry them with a hand dryer, put them in the oven (200 F for 5 minutes), or limit your cuts to as few cuts as possible with the tile saw.
• Lifespan: Tiles set with thin-set mortar can last longer than those set with adhesive mats—up to 50 years or more.

Adhesive Tile Mats vs. Peel-and-Stick Tile Sheets

Another alternative for an easy tile backsplash installation is peel-and-stick mosaic tiles, which are now carried in dozens of styles at big-box home improvement centers, tile shops, and online retailers.

Installation is similar to adhesive mats, except in this case, the self-adhesive mat material has been pre-attached to the mosaic sheets. While the selection with peel-and-stick tile sheets is more limited, peel-and-stick mosaic sheets are even more accessible.

However, as with adhesive tile mats, some users report that peel-and-stick tile sheets can also lose their holding power over time.

Adhesive Tile Mat Cost

On average, expect to pay about $2 to $3 per square foot for an adhesive tile mat. When it comes to tile materials, the convenience offered by adhesive tile mats comes at a price since they will cost you about four times what traditional thin-set adhesives cost. This is not an enormous sum compared to the tile's worth, but budget-conscious DIYers may want to consider this.

Maintenance and Repair

When it comes to durability, adhesive tile mats require more maintenance and repair than thinset mortar or mastic adhesives. As well, adhesive tile mats only last around 20 years, while other adhesives such as thinset mortar, can last upwards of 50 years.

Maintenance and repair of the tile itself is the same whether the tiles have been applied with thin-set adhesives or adhesive tile mats. Grout lines must be kept sealed, and the joints may need to be periodically re-grouted.

Re-grouting can be somewhat complicated because scraping out old grout can cause the tiles to loosen from the adhesive mat. If tiles come loose from the wall, the best strategy is to clean the wall where the tile was located thoroughly, then install a replacement tile, using either a small piece of new adhesive mat or traditional thin-set adhesive.

Design

Adhesive mats work for many types of ceramic tiles. However, adhesive mats only have a holding power of about 7 pounds per square foot, meaning that large, heavy tiles won't work. Adhesive mats are not as practical with mesh-backed mosaic sheets either. And because so many great glass and porcelain tiles popular for backsplashes are mosaics, this can limit your design options.

Adhesive Tile Mat Installation

Adhesive tile mats are very well-suited for DIY installation. They are better suited for DIYers than pros, who avoid this product due to concerns about call-backs to repair failed tile jobs. While installation of tile mats is simple, it is not as likely to last as long as mastic or thinset mortar.

Unroll the adhesive mat and cut it to fit the backsplash space using scissors or a utility knife. Remove the protective film from one side and stick the mat to the wall, pressing and smoothing the surface to achieve a good bond. Then, peel away the outer protective film and begin installing the tile.

The actual tile application is much the same as for thin-set adhesive installation, but with sticky mats, you don't have to hurry the installation due to fear that that thin-set adhesive will dry. Nor do you have to worry about tiles sliding on the walls; they generally stick precisely where you press them against the mat. As with any tile installation, you do need to use spacers to maintain uniform joints between tiles.

Grouting the tile is done the same as for any other ceramic tile installation.

Best Adhesive Tile Mat Brands

The adhesive mats best suited for backsplash use will be labeled as waterproof. There are three well-known manufacturers of adhesive tile mats:

• Bondera: Starting in 2009, W.R. Grace's Bondera was the first major tile mat to hit the consumer market. It is available from online retailers, as well as Home Depot stores. Both 12- and 16-inch wide rolls are available, ideal for backsplash application.
• MusselBound: U.S.-made MusselBound is Lowe's current adhesive tile mat. It is also available from online retailers. The product is sold in 12-inch-wide rolls.
• SimpleMat: Produced by Custom Building Products and distributed through Home Depot stores, SimpleMat is a raised adhesive mat that allows you to press the tile as you would with mortar. SimpleMat is sold in 9-inch wide rolls.

Is an Adhesive Tile Mat Backsplash Right for You?

Creating a tile backsplash using adhesive tile mats is recommended for anyone who might have trouble installing ceramic tiles on vertical surfaces. This is a straightforward method for installing backsplash tile, especially for novice DIYers.