Tile systems and methods of making and using same

A tile system for covering an area of a wall, comprising:

• a plurality of tile units, wherein each tile unit of the plurality of tile units comprises a decorative tile and a tile platform, the decorative tiles having visible front surfaces and the tile platforms having back surfaces opposite the visible front surfaces of the decorative tiles, the back surfaces facing the wall, and wherein the decorative tiles are disposed on or in the tile platforms;
• a plurality of mounting units, wherein each mounting unit of the plurality of mounting units comprises a base unit;
• a plurality of wall-fastening devices, wherein each wall-fastening device of the plurality of wall-fastening devices is configured to fasten at least a portion of one mounting unit of the plurality of mounting units to a wall;
• and
• a plurality of tile unit-fastening multi-piece assemblies, one of more of the tile unit-fastening multi-piece assemblies to fasten at least a portion of one tile unit to one mounting unit of the plurality of mounting units, each tile unit-fastening multi-piece assemblies comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from one of the plurality of mounting units in a direction substantially opposite from the wall and the second portion being a recessed portion in the back surface of a tile platform, wherein the first portion is configured to engage the second portion;
• wherein the plurality of mounting units occupies less than 30 percent of the area of the wall covered by the system;
• wherein at least a portion of the back surface of each tile platform does not contact the wall directly;
• wherein at least a portion of one or more tile platforms contacts one of the plurality of mounting units when one or more of the tile units is fastened to one or more of the plurality of mounting units;
• and
• wherein a surface of the second portion is comprised of the same material as the tile platform.

A method of using a tile system for covering an area of a wall, the method comprising:

• fastening a mounting unit to a wall with a wall-fastening device, the mounting unit occupying less than 30 percent of the area of the wall covered by the tile system;
• and
• fastening a tile unit-to the mounting unit with a tile unit-fastening multi-piece assembly, wherein the tile unit comprises a decorative tile and a tile platform, the decorative tile having a visible front surface, the tile platform having a back surface opposite the visible front surface of the decorative tile, and tile unit-fastening multi-piece assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the mounting unit in a direction opposite from the wall and the second portion being a recessed portion in the back surface of the tile unit;
• wherein the fastening comprises engaging the first portion into the second portion;
• wherein, after fastening the tile unit to the mounting unit, at least a portion of the back surface of the tile platform does not contact the wall, and at least a portion of the tile platform contacts the mounting unit;
• and
• wherein the first portion and the mounting unit are monolithic and wherein a surface of the second portion is comprised of the same material as the tile platform.