Basically a mosaic surface should not be flexible, as if it bends, the grout will crack and all the tiles will fall off. The grout is often instrumental in protecting your mosaic. Saying this, I do have mosaics on the outside of my house that have never been grouted and still survive. But one day I mosaiced a plastic picnic table, learning the hard way that if it can flex, your mosaic can pop off.
wood
wood
wood must be marine ply.
but you must be careful to use a flexible adhesive because the marine ply can flex. The ply needs to be sealed on both sides.
If the wood is used inside the house it should be fine as long as it will not be near water.
Outside it will absorb water and swell. Wood also shrinks in the heat.
If you do use it inside, it needs to be in a place that will not get water on it.
The best surfaces are inflexible and absorbent. Cement sheet is good because it sucks in the adhesive and the grout. Bricks also love to hang onto your mosaic.
Interior surfaces
plaster: I have mosaiced onto plaster walls. they will survive but you must consider the weight of the mosaic. the weight of the mosaic may move the plaster. plaster is usually only glued to the wooden strata behind it. so its not really a good idea. But several of my mosaiced walls are plaster. Particularly if there is some sort of supportive form such as a window, or door frames, you will probably get away with it. But in some places where I have mosaiced on the plaster, I have noticed some cracks developing nearby.
Cement sheet.
Its a great idea to install cement sheet where you want to mosaic. You will need a stud finder, and to check where electrical wires are. You find the studs and screw or bolt the cement sheet onto them.
Wet areas:
I mosaiced my kitchen benches about 10 years ago and they are still intact. The benches were laminated. I used a pre-mixed adhesive called resaflex ( find one suitable for wet areas, such as bathrooms). It is grouted with sand and cement - the first type of grout that I ever used. The grout of course is now dis-coloured and it looks like stone, which I really like.
Bathroom benchtop was done the same way. If you have a wooden area that you want to do, you will have to seal it with a waterproof sealer.
Floor of shower, is on the cement floor. I made sure that I used a grout that was specifically for showers - Davco's sanitized grout. The shower floor has lasted very well, ten years and nothing has happended.
Outside it will absorb water and swell. Wood also shrinks in the heat.
If you do use it inside, it needs to be in a place that will not get water on it.
The best surfaces are inflexible and absorbent. Cement sheet is good because it sucks in the adhesive and the grout. Bricks also love to hang onto your mosaic.
Interior surfaces
plaster: I have mosaiced onto plaster walls. they will survive but you must consider the weight of the mosaic. the weight of the mosaic may move the plaster. plaster is usually only glued to the wooden strata behind it. so its not really a good idea. But several of my mosaiced walls are plaster. Particularly if there is some sort of supportive form such as a window, or door frames, you will probably get away with it. But in some places where I have mosaiced on the plaster, I have noticed some cracks developing nearby.
Cement sheet.
Its a great idea to install cement sheet where you want to mosaic. You will need a stud finder, and to check where electrical wires are. You find the studs and screw or bolt the cement sheet onto them.
Wet areas:
I mosaiced my kitchen benches about 10 years ago and they are still intact. The benches were laminated. I used a pre-mixed adhesive called resaflex ( find one suitable for wet areas, such as bathrooms). It is grouted with sand and cement - the first type of grout that I ever used. The grout of course is now dis-coloured and it looks like stone, which I really like.
Bathroom benchtop was done the same way. If you have a wooden area that you want to do, you will have to seal it with a waterproof sealer.
Floor of shower, is on the cement floor. I made sure that I used a grout that was specifically for showers - Davco's sanitized grout. The shower floor has lasted very well, ten years and nothing has happended.
Mosaicing over existing tiles.
This can easily be done. But the thing to remember is that the surface of the tiles is shiny so not so good for gluing. I did the television room floor this way, mosaicing over a floor of pre-eisting tiles over ten years ago. Some parts have cracked due to furniture being moved and thumped and the cracked peices have lifted out a little. But not much. I need to get in there with a little grout one day. ( used ceramacrete for glue and black cement colouring with mortar mix perhaps mixed with some neutral grout for grout)
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