I would like to get smashed!!!

[adhudson]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody would have any idea of where I may be able to obtain smashed, seconds, broken tiles to be used by the 6 year olds in my class. We aim to make mosaic patterns for in our classroom secret garden. I have approached some tile shops and have gratefully recieved the odd tile but I wondered if there was any other bulk source. I understand this is a rather strange request but thought it was worth asking. We are in the Peterborough area.

[kilty55]

hi,i know a tiler training centre which i attended supplies local mosaic artists with used tiles,it saves them on skip space. if you look up and aproach a local training centre they might well help you out

[Dave]

Or if tilers pm you in your area they could drop any broken tiles off to you or your school...

[whitebeam]

Just make sure the kids have hand protection, glazed tiles can be sharp.

Don't mean to be to pc

[Dan]

Contact your nearest Tiling Course provider and tell them TilersForums sent you. Keep in mind that really, they should make you sign something because ceramic broken tiles have VERY sharp edges, sharper than glass in some cases as the tiles the training centre's will use will often be of the cheaper ranges, which have thinner glazes on them, which means sharper sticky-outy bits when they're broken.

If your little ones cut their fingers, their mums could try sue the training centre up to a years or so after (might be more, might be less) and even the school could end up with hassle should a little one cut themselves.

The way to avoid that would be to ask for their off-cut and broken full-bodied tiles. Might not look as 'mosaicy' as ceramics can but they'll be much much safer for the kids and the school and even the training centre supplying you with them.

Sorry to be all health and safetyish about the matter. Just take it as speaking from experience on such a matter.

Thanks for registering by the way too.

[Dave]

Maybe better to stick to tile shps and ask for the odd sheet on mosaics and use whole tiles to do designs.....

[brian c]

what area are you in?

[365drills]

I get all my demo tiles from Tile Clearance Warehouse.

£2.99 per box of 84 tiles. (seconds) OK so I have to pay (they work out at 4p each)

but 25 boxes of tiles is £75 quid which gives me 2100 demonstrations.

That lot lasted me for the entire Ideal Home Show from 9am to 9pm for a month.

[Derry]

ask at a tile shop for damaged tiles or as above you can buy cheap seconds

[lawrenso]

Try approaching your nearest national chain - ask them if they can supply you mosaic tiles and offer them the sponsorship of what you are making - a nice little plaque stating who has sponsored it (they will supply this as well usually)

Win for you - free mosaics

win for them - (almost) free advertising - and good advertising as well

Steve

[adhudson]

Thanks all for great ideas. I think the point about H&S are very valid and although I intended them to be gloved up, aproned and basically stood in a sack I may need to think about this a little further. The econonomics of 4p a tile is appealing if we find it difficult to find donations.

We are situated in Peterborough so there should be a number of larger chains that I can approach regarding 'sponsorship'. I am finding more and more in this teaching lark that we are reliant on the kindness of individuals and companies rather than realistic resourcing at a whole school level! Sorry rant over!

[lawrenso]

Understand your meaning - got a two youngsters myself - nursery and yr1 and although a great school they are missing things - Interactive whiteboards are great when used in the right setting but money should be diverted to the things kids love doing and not have to rely on "hand-outs"....

Steve