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Adhesives
There are several adhesives:
1. Weldbond: very strong, non-toxic and dries clear. It also can be used as a sealer for surfaces such as terra cotta or wood by diluting with 1 part weldbond to 5 parts water. I use regular house hold white craft glus for my indoor projects.
2. Thinset Mortar: very stong and waterproof. Sold in home improvement stores as a powder you just add water. Good for outdoor use.
3. Silicone caulk: Messy and toxic but dries clear and hold quickly and can be used indoor or out. (liquid nails, E6000, Lexel). I keep a baby wipe near by to help keep my hands clean.
4. Liquid Nails Clear - I don't use any more read the MSD
5. GE II - I love using this for my tempered glass stepping stones.
6. Lexel - is also a good choice.
7. Mac - glass on glass - drys faster then weldbond. I use mac if I'm glueing clear glass to clear glass. The price for mac glue is more expensive but a little will go a long way.
8. Epoxy - clear
What is a "Grout Line"?
A Grout Line is the empty space between the tiles. This is where you put your Mosaic Grout.
The width of your grout line may be a factor in deciding which grout you should use: Pre-Mixed or Sanded. Premixed grout should only be used if your grout lines are not wider than 1/2". So when planning your design keep in mind the lines between your terresa will also create movement.
What is the difference between Sanded and Premixed Grouts?
Sanded Grout
A mixture of Portland cement, sand and special additives providing a dense, acid and alkali-resistant grouting material. Colored Sanded Grouts also contain color-fast pigments.
Sanded Grout can be used in virtually any application, indoors and out, even when grouting on floors. Sanded Grout is porous cement, which means that it can absorb liquid materials after it has dried. This can be good and bad: you can stain your Sanded Grout after it has set with a colored grout stain, or it can be stained accidentally with spilled liquids - watch out for that red wine and grape juice!
Premixed (Unsanded) Latex Grout
Premixed Grout provides a smooth joint, without the graininess of Sanded Grout.
Premixed Grout is not recommended for use on floors. Our Premixed Grout can be used in mosaics in which the grout line is up to 1/2" in width. If you are using unglazed non-glass tile (such as ceramic or terra-cotta) you may want to use the Premixed Grout. These tiles are prone to absorbing the moisture from your grout mixture and may become discolored. Premixed Grout has less moisture than a Sanded Grout mixture. As Premixed Grout is a latex-based admixture, it is not as porous as Sanded Grout. This means that it is less likely to become stained and discolored, but it is more difficult to tint after your grout has dried and set.
Sanded Grout
Sanded Grout can sometimes crack if there is too much water in your mixture. As grout sets up and dries, the water in your mixture evaporates. If there is too much water in your mixture, the remaining grout will not be dense enough. This can lead to cracking, pin-holing or crumbly grout. When you mix your grout and water, the correct consistency should be a thick paste (like cream cheese) which will cling to your mixing/spreading tool; it should not drip or slide off.
Premixed (Unsanded) Latex Grout
The most common reason for cracking, pin-holing or slumping with Premixed Latex Grout is inappropriately large grout lines (see above). As Premixed Grout is latex-based, it will shrink when it dries. If the grout line is too wide (more than 1/2"), the grout will shrink to a size smaller than the width of the grout line. This results in cracking, pin-holing or slumping.
I've finished my mosaic, but I left the grout to dry for a few days before cleaning it! How can I clean off the remaining extra grout that is stuck to my tile? Ah, now that can be an ugly, messy problem! If you've tried scrubbing with a damp sponge or towel and you just can't remove all of the remaining bits of cement, try mixing up a solution of vinegar and water. After coating your mosaic with this solution and letting it sit for a few minutes, use a flat razor blade or spackling tool to scrape off as much of this leftover grout as you can.
Do I need to seal my mosaic once it is completed?
As grout is a porous material, it can become stained or discolored from food or liquid. A grout sealer is often used to protect the Mosaic Grout and the surfaces of porous tile (such as ceramic) from staining. It would be a good idea to seal the grout if your mosaic will be used as a counter or table top, especially if you are using one of the lighter colored grouts. If your mosaic will be in an area of heavy foot-traffic, a sealant might be a good idea as it will not only protect from discolorations, but will also make you’re cleaning and maintenance much easier. If you do apply a sealer, it is a good idea to wait for approximately one month before applying it to your finished piece. Your grout will have residual moisture for some time after application and it must be given time to wick through before you seal the surface. If not, your grout may become discolored and lose its integrity. And of course, make sure that the surface is clean and dry before you seal!
Can I mosaic on wood/glass/MDF/cardboard, etc?
Basically, you can mosaic on anything. The two main things consider when selecting a substrate is to make sure that it is solid enough to support the weight of your mosaic and to make sure that it is stable enough so that it will not change size and shape due to moisture and temperature changes.
Remember that an unprepared wood surface will often warp, expand and contract. This is the most common reason for the grout of a finished mosaic to crack. One way of minimizing this is to choose a thicker wood or to mount it in a frame or onto a backing material.
Cardboard would not be a very good idea.
What can I use for an outdoor table base that won't warp?
Hardibacker, Wonderboard, cement board, and concrete is a great choice for this. They are construction-grade products that you can buy at most places like Lowe's or Home Depot.
How do you grout around Beach Glass?
Most of the time you won't. You can use a thick thinset base, into which you can press beach glass, just make sure that the mastic doesn't squeeze out around the edges of your Beach Glass.
Substrates;
MDF – Medium Density Fiberboard (indoor)
Particleboard (indoor)
Plywood (indoor)
Glass (indoor/outdoor)
Wedi (indoor/outdoor)
Hardibacker board (indoor)
Permabase – Cement backerboard (indoor/outdoor)
Ceramic (indoor/outdoor)
Cement (indoor/outdoor)
Metal (indoor/outdoor)
Adhesives/Grout/Sealant;
*Weldbond (indoor)*Weldbond is also great as a sealer and grout strengthener
Thinset (indoor/outdoor)
Mortar (indoor/outdoor)
Cement (indoor/outdoor)
Grout (sanded and unsanded–variety of colors-indoor/outdoor)
Wallpaper paste (indoor)
Epoxy Resin (indoor/outdoor)
Penetrating Grout Sealer by Tile Lab
Silicon
Types of Tile;
Vitreous glass
Glazed ceramic(indoor/outdoor) Only frostproof ceramic tiles should be
used outdoors. To test if ok to go out side do the water test as show in class.
Unglazed porcelain
River rocks and other collected objects (buttons, shells, broken
plates.)
Smalti
Glass gems
Mirror
Other needed/recommended items;
Tile cutter
Mosaic nippers
Bucket
Plastic container
Grout spreader/trowel
Sponge
Masking tape
Popsicle sticks/spoon for mixing grout
Tweezers
Apron
Safety Glasses - remember to use them!
Rubber Gloves
Filter mask - use if you are doing a lot of cutting & grouting.
Sandpaper - NEVER SAND GLASS DRY!
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