Outdoor mosaic – for starters, make sure that you begin with simple small designs for the birdbath, fountain, or the patio floor. Using ordinary glue is not enough. You must be aware the mosaic will be vulnerable to moisture over time. For outdoor mosaic, it would be best to use a thinset bonding mortar. This is like cement; there are several brands of this mortar, just pick the one that you can afford. Well of course, you will also need to get mosaic tiles suitable for you project and the grout. Attaching the tiles is also the same as the indoor mosaic.
Using tiles with various thickness – some mosaic artists use different tiles for their project. In most cases, the tiles have varied thickness. Again you will be using thinset and not the ordinary glue. Try to mix it about 1-2 pounds and smear the mixture on the wall of the fountain or any outdoor structure using a putty knife or a trowel. The mixture should be at least 1/8-1/4 inch thick and then press the tiles into it. Don’t forget to wear protective gloves and alchoices have a moist rag within your reach. The rest of the thinset should be placed inside a bucket with cover to make it workable.
Plywood/wood mosaic – you can use these materials for indoor mosaics only. If you want your mosaic to last, you must invest in the right kind of materials. It would be best to choose a backing which is resistant to decay and moisture. For outdoors, you can use concrete boards. You can use plywood or plain wood as backings for wall plaques and mirror frames.
Stones and marbles for mosaic – you can use these materials while the concrete is still wet. However, if you plan to use glue, use a good and high quality one. Grouting it necessary and you should do it properly. For those who want to place tiles around the marbles, use thicker tiles. You need to ensure that the marbles or stones will not pop off during grouting. Use a glove when grouting.
Using thinset – it alchoices comes with instructions on how to prepare the mixture. Follow the instructions carefully and handle it properly. It can be compared to concrete products and grout so this means that mixing it up is messy. Do it outside and wear a dust mask. Don’t inhale the dust.
Tiles sliding on the walls – some mosaic artists, especially the beginners, worry about the tiles sliding off after gluing. If you don’t want this to happen, glue the tiles first to a mesh (fiberglass) on the work table. Cut the sections to smaller ones so that transferring them to the wall will be easier. You can use Weldbond to glue the tiles. Leave it for a day or two and then mount the tiles to the wall. Before mounting, make sure that you put glue on the wall surface and press the mesh to it. You can start grouting after two days.
There you have it, some of the most important pieces of information for mosaic artists. You can use the information when doing projects for the first time. It’s a good idea to gather helpful info about mosaics especially if you’re a beginner.
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