advice on mosaic splashback

[Little5]

Hi, just about to start first mosaic splashback, any pitfalls I should look out for?
Its probably glass, should i use dry or wet cutter?

[grumpygrouter]

If it is glass you will almost certainly need to use a wet cutter and use a proper glass cutting blade to get a good finish.

[whitebeam]

The walls have to be of good quality, mosaic won't hide any faults on the walls there'll just follow them. Might have to put the plastering head on

[batiling]

As already said,walls have to be flat or else it will show up.Take your time and im sure you will be fine

[user123]

Hi, Little 5,
Is it for your own kitchen or a customer's? If you have the choice, think about the grout colour, too, as splashback, well, they get splashed , and there is a lot of grout on mosaics. Use good quality grout like Mapei and if I was you I'd seal it with sealguard, too. Make sure you leave a small gap for silicone between worktop and tiles, and of course in the corners so you don't destroy all your hard work if you ever want to replace the worktop.... Have fun :-))

[365drills]

If you need any holes for service pipes or fixtures / fittings then our diamond kits work very well in glass.

they grind the glass rather than drill it. So its a perfect hole.

We do a lot of work in the fishy world of aquariums so we know glass very well !


Drilling glass is our speciality as you can see on this aquarium project.

Glass Mosaics are just as straight forward

[user123]

If you need any holes for service pipes or fixtures / fittings then our diamond kits work very well in glass.

they grind the glass rather than drill it. So its a perfect hole.

We do a lot of work in the fishy world of aquariums so we know glass very well !


Drilling glass is our speciality as you can see on this aquarium project.

Glass Mosaics are just as straight forward

Hi again! You know, now that I have your fantastic diamond kit I meant to ask - I am planning a new wall design to do after my present work, (part 'normal' tiling, part artistc mosaic) and want to drill some holes randomly into the tiles to be filled with some of the art nuggets to connect with the mosaic, preferably but not exclusively after the tiles are on the walls as a final thought. Just want to check that it's ok to use the, say, 30mm bit on the fitted tiles as well as on tiles supported+clamped on a rubber mat on the workbench, or is one approach preferable to the other? Thanks

[365drills]

Hi yes clients who buy our kits realise core cut-outs are a perfect disc and want to do something artistic with them. We are beginning to see people find uses for the discs.

You have identified the potential for using discs. The answer to your question is that its doesnt matter which way you work. But I find it better if the tiles are already glued (stuck) to the wall. This ensures on Mosaics that the core comes out without disturbing the outer ring.

For Mosaics only: If you can fit the tiles first (but dont grout) is my preference.
For solid tiles: Makes no difference.

Extract the core and then either replace with other coloured tiles, discs etc. Then grout in after.

So far we have seen:

1) Cores drilled out from one colour material and swapped with another contrasting material also in use in the bathroom.
2) Cores drilled out and replaced with metalic discs, glass, mirror.
3) 16mm Cores drilled out above a tap and replaced with red discs for hot. Blue for cold.
4) Circles drilled into the 9mm tiles to about 5mm deep. Then grouted in red and blue for the taps.
5) 12mm Holes drilled for LED lighting and then 30mm circles drilled into the tile and grouted to highlight them.

A lot of creative stuff going on out there...

[user123]

But I find it better if the tiles are already glued (stuck) to the wall.

Thanks Richard, was hoping you'd say that, and yes those ideas, apart from the lighting one are all ready and waiting in my head to be applied...what a fab prize to win, absolutely perfect for me, thanks again for putting it up Long live creativityyyyy!!!