Mosaic Tiles

[polygonum]

I hate mosaics.

I detest mosaics.

They should be banned.

Have spent much of yesterday and today putting up a tiny border of "header-stretcher bond" mosaics. First attempt, I found I could not get them aligned and even - so took them down and soaked the drying adhesive off. Tried again today and did manage eventually, but not before trying to slide down the wall, wanting to be out of alignment in all three dimensions (and maybe a few additional ones as well) and forming a step from the other tiles (which are a different thickness), and generally being sods.

Next time, if ever I am stupid enough to do any in the future, I shall be very tempted to stick them onto a piece of horizontal plasterboard (or other base) and then stick the whole board up. Or put them face down and spread adhesive onto their backs and let it set. Or almost anything than what I went through this time.

They do look nice. Only a few more to finish off tomorrow.

[harry]

If they are square, you should be using spacers, keeps them in place.

[polygonum]

I was using spacers. But the individual mosaics had uneven sides so a spacer which appeared OK on some of them was way wrong on another. Second attempt used strips of cardboard which worked much better.

[sm_jamieson]

Individual mosaics are a pain. A good high grab adhesive is useful. You can push them in level using a board over the surrounding tiles, then shove in some spacers to keep them in place. But it the adhesive is rubbish, they will slide all over the place.

My method for a net of mosaics (a different thing) is:

1. Do other tiling first and leave a gap for the mosaics.
2. "Hang" the net of mosaics from the tiles above using gaffer tape, so that the are in precise the correct place when pushed into the gap.
3. Fold them up and out of the way, holding with more gaffer tape.
4. Make a tool to scrape off a solid adhesive bed to just less that the depth of the mosaic tiles.
5. Fold the mosaics back down and push gently into the adhesive, leveling with the surrounding tiles using a flat board.

Simon.

[polygonum]

push them in level using a board over the surrounding tiles, then shove in some spacers to keep them in place.

the are in precise the correct place when pushed into the gap.

of the mosaic tiles.

the surrounding tiles using a flat board.

Thanks Simon. Some of what you said has been useful in the finishing off bits.

The additional factor which has made it extra-difficult was the need to fix edging strips at the same time.

The hanging technique, whilst not easy with the precise arrangement I have, did help a lot.

The mosaics are netted. But lots of factors have made them more difficult than they might otherwise have been. There are at least four different materials - each with their own porosity/absorption ranging from zero (glass) to insta-dry clay.

And the adhesive I had was crap. Am sure that you sandcastles have more tack than this garbage. And a mud-pie has less slip/slide/slump capacity.