Mosaic corners

[sullywully]

Inner corners with mosaic sheet tiles?

I am a biginner, i have done some tiling but am about to try to tile the bathroom with mosaic sheets.

I have the walls flat, got some bal mosaicfix and a 4mm trowel, but i am wondering how to get the corners right? is there a plastic trim for inner corners? or how do i measure the distance from the corner so that i get the corner joint right?


Also do i have to put adhesive on the back of the tiles first? theyre 22mm ceramics, and do i have to somehow pin the sheet in place to stop it sliding?

Any ideas?


Paul

[jimbob]

Never done mosaics before, but I assume the principal is the same as for normal tiles, so for inner corners just tile up to about 6mm from the corner. If you do that on both walls, the resulting gap between the tiles should be about 2mm, which is then silicone sealed. Its not an exact science, but as long as your silicone joint is not stupidly wide (ie 5mm plus) then it should look fine.

Normally first tiles are set on a horizontal batten fixed to the wall at your starting point, this keeps them in place. Most adhesives should have enough grab to keep them in place anyway. Use a grout float to tap down the mosaic sheet to make sure it is flat once you have laid it.

Finally, I thought mosaic trowels were 3mm not 4mm??

Hope this helps
Jimbob

[Ramag]

Hello Paul,
After reading your questions twice, I think the best advise that could be given to you is to contact a local tiler and ask for a quote. Or maybe this link could be of some help www.findtrustedtradesmen.co.uk
All the best
joe

[sullywully]

But i want to learn to do it myself

[Ramag]

Paul you have stated that you have done some tiling before, what kind of tiling have you done?
If you have tiled before and the job turned out fine, then think of the mats as normal tiles and lay as you did before. Yes its a little bit more work cutting but the job is the same.
The biggest mistake new-tilers make is the sight of a mosaic sheet tiles, it scares them. If you want to learn get on with it, be brave.
Joe

[sullywully]

Ok, i'll be brave and get on with it.

I have done some floor tiling, and some wall tiling but these mosaic sheets do look frightening, like theyre going to fall off the wall or slide or something.

Would drawing a grid on the wall to align the tiles be a good idea?

I'll post some pics tomorrow when i start on it


PAul

[lcjohno]

they wont slide down the wall, just remember to press the tiles into place using a grout float and not your hands. Mosic fix is a quality addy so they wont slide, good luck pal, remember the pics after!

[sullywully]

Stupid question but should i use a 3, 4 or 6mm trowel and should it have 'v' notches or rounded cutouts?

Do i have to put adhesive on the tiles as well as the walls?

Paul

[Ramag]

Just spread the adhesive on walls, 3mm is perfect - just remember the most important part of tiling is how you apply the adhesive, spread evenly. And as my forum friend has said you must use something like a grout float (flat) not your hands to press the mats flat into the adhesive.
I hope you send some pics as we are all interested to see how you do. Good Luck.
Joe

[jimbob]

If your walls are flat I wouldn't think you'd need to put adhesive on the tiles themselves, just the wall. I would opt for 3mm trowel although the 4mm you have may well suffice. It's just that you might get more adhesive coming up through the gaps in the mosaic with a larger trowel, which would take you longer to clean up as you went along....

[dock]

Its impossible to fix mosaics by the solid bed method so..........use a mosaic trowel .......as the previosly detailed........3/4mm. Spread the adhesive evenly using the trowel at an angle of 45 degrees. Fix sheets of mosaics in horizontal lines starting at the top. Each sheet should be hung in position and tapped in with a flat implement (grout float) ensuring that full contact with the adhesive is achieved as well as the mosaics being "flat" on the surface. Check alignment as you proceed. The joint width established between the tesserae should be maintained between the sheets otherwise the overall appearance will show the outline of each sheet.

best of luck

dock

[skyblue_red]

Re - cornering, you can always cut the mosaics if the gaps are just too big for silcone to cover.

I use a mini Monolit cutter on glass, and my wet cutter on anything else that the Monolit splinters.

It can be time consuming and fiddly but the finish will be better. Use spacers or 2mm window packers to hold themin place 'til the addy goes off.

[Bolter]

You could make yourself something that is 2mm wide (or whatever the joint is) that is longer than one sheet, so you can slot it in between tiles and it will pull them all straight, and then pull it out again. Like a big spacer with a handle

Might even find something in your house that will work. I bought a framing square from trade tiler thats about 2mm thick or there abouts.



Tradetiler Tiling Setting Out and Tile Marking

[sullywully]

Right.

My Bathroom tiling is underway. I have bought some BAL mosaic fix which is brilliant, i use a 3mm trowel and the sheet of mosaics press into the adhesive and it doesnt slip at all once positioned, so far so good, i have got the corner joints looking ok considering how bent our walls are.

Tomorrow i will post some pics of what i have done so far, but so far i'm really pleased with how its going , thanks for all the helpful tips

[Dave]

Pics would be great...

[garythetiler]

Its impossible to fix mosaics by the solid bed method so..........use a mosaic trowel .......as the previosly detailed........3/4mm. Spread the adhesive evenly using the trowel at an angle of 45 degrees. Fix sheets of mosaics in horizontal lines starting at the top. Each sheet should be hung in position and tapped in with a flat implement (grout float) ensuring that full contact with the adhesive is achieved as well as the mosaics being "flat" on the surface. Check alignment as you proceed. The joint width established between the tesserae should be maintained between the sheets otherwise the overall appearance will show the outline of each sheet.

best of luck

dock

solid bedding is achieved using a 4mm trowel and beating with a grout float, this can be seen when using translucent mosaic which would look terrible if you could see the trowel serations behind them ,also solid bedding may be achieved by pregouting and beating mosaic into fresh rendering

[Dave]

Also another method is to Serate the wall and then flatten down the ribs with a float and solid fix that way...using garys method with the grout float.

[sullywully]

Hi Tilepeople.

I have been busy today tiling the bathroom, it's a very small Bathroom and i am doing two walls in this blue mosiac. I have spent ages getting the walls flat, our house is a 60's ex-council house and all the walls are bent at the edges so nothing square fits, i have had to 'adjust the mosaics' a bit to get them to fit but i think it looks ok. that BAL mosiac fix is great

These pics are the tiles with just adhesive and no grout yet, i'll grout it tomorrow, do you think it looks ok? ( don't laugh ).

One more dumb question, whats the best way to drill holes in mosaics to fix shower doors and things to the wall? do you have a special drill?

Paul the novice.



A corner ( no grout yet )

[whitebeam]

Looks good mate, enjoy the grouting

[faithhealer]

Mosaics 'eat' the grout up though, always use more than you think!

[sullywully]

I've got some BAL Microban White Grout,

I'm so excited, i can't wait to have a shower, i really smell.

[sullywully]

I did the grouting, took two bags of BAL microban grout, it looks great though.

i'm so chuffed, next ive got to fit the shower screen, shower rail, sink and radiator in our minature bathroom !.

thanks everyone for your help and tips on here, it's stopped me getting in a right mess.

Forums are great, i run a forum too, nothing to do with Tiles though, its for owners of Great Dane Dogs, Great Dane Owners Forum

[Ramag]

Congratulations, what was all the fuss about. No subsitute for getting stuck into the job in hand.
Next week I know whats coming - I have done a bit of tiling and also Mosaics, but I have a small bathroom to tile in Granit - can some one help me please.....
All the best
Joe

[Bolter]

I did the grouting, took two bags of BAL microban grout, it looks great though.

i'm so chuffed, next ive got to fit the shower screen, shower rail, sink and radiator in our minature bathroom !.

thanks everyone for your help and tips on here, it's stopped me getting in a right mess.

Forums are great, i run a forum too, nothing to do with Tiles though, its for owners of Great Dane Dogs, Great Dane Owners Forum

Looks really effective! Well done!

[lcjohno]

look like a top job mate! you must be well chuffed