Grouting mosaic sheets prior to installation?

[martyof]

Hey Guys..
Been reading through spec for a new job where it states that the mosaic floor tiles (which are on a net mesh) are to be grouted prior to installation. On one had I can see the benefits or not having to worry about the slight possibility of adhesive bleeding through but at the same time I'm worried that the tiles wont get the proper support they need. As we all know this is slightly odd but does anyone have any ideas / suggestions with this method?

[Martyn Leeds]

would the grout not crack when you're handling them & fitting them

[Brinkley]

usually its only paper faced mosaics that you need to grout before installing more often then not glass

[user123]

Pre grouting from the back (!) is common and good practice, it stops the adhesive pushing through. When the tiles are laid you grout again from the front. However, with the proper size trowel, in this case most likely 4mm it shouldn't be necessary, but it won't do any harm.

[foggy34]

fantastic idea were possible never used this method b4 but will def think about it as i tile mainly floors thanks

[martyof]

Cheers for all your input guys, I'll let you know how I get on..

[astute1]

If you choose to use an epoxy grout, Litokoll starlike epoxy allows you to use it as an adhesive as well so its just a matter of spreading the grout like an adhesive laying in the mosaic and then grouting straight away and finishing as you go. great for translusent tiles as you get the colour right through. Works on small areas, havnt used this method on any large meterage. Youd have to be pretty organised.

[Dave Ramsden]

If you choose to use an epoxy grout, Litokoll starlike epoxy allows you to use it as an adhesive as well so its just a matter of spreading the grout like an adhesive laying in the mosaic and then grouting straight away and finishing as you go. great for translusent tiles as you get the colour right through. Works on small areas, havnt used this method on any large meterage. Youd have to be pretty organised.

So your fixing the sheet with grout?

[Dave Ramsden]

Pre grouting from the back (!) is common and good practice, it stops the adhesive pushing through. When the tiles are laid you grout again from the front. However, with the proper size trowel, in this case most likely 4mm it shouldn't be necessary, but it won't do any harm.

How about when tiling a curve? Would you spread adhesive, grout the tile from behind then fix??? Ive used paper-faced mosaics before and they were a real struggle even with a colour matched adhesive...

[user123]

How about when tiling a curve? Would you spread adhesive, grout the tile from behind then fix??? Ive used paper-faced mosaics before and they were a real struggle even with a colour matched adhesive...

oh, now if I told you all my secrets I would have to shoot you... but I will give you a clue...rightly or wrongly, I really like SBR ... and they are a struggle, I think so, too, you need to be all there all the time, I have to be careful not to lose focus and calm after a bit ...

[Brinkley]

mg would you grout a mosaic ceramic tile before grouting?? i wouldnt

[whitebeam]

If you grout a mosaic sheet then fix to the wall how would you be able to adjust any squifey mosaic

[Brinkley]

glass mosaics ive done in swimming pools that are paper faced need to be grouted before and after installing because they are usually bevelled so its hard to get grout in from the front

[whitebeam]

If there paper faced would'nt the moisture release the mosaics if there grouted first..

Done Fired Earth ones which were similar, grouted after fixing.

[Bri]

I've been following this thread and it's got me a bit confused!!!! If you grout before fixing, is the grout left to set or fixed while it is still wet?

[Brinkley]

on paper faced you grout first then fix then soak the paper and peel it off usually get holes in the grout through water ingress hence grout w hen fixed as well also removes glue on the surface that paper was stuck with

[merlecollins]

The old way was to fix and grout paper faced with snowcrete cement

So again you adhesive was your grout as well

[Brinkley]

nope screed wall first grout sheet then pat sheet onto wall soak in water remove paper and glue on front of tile then grout and polish

[user123]

mg would you grout a mosaic ceramic tile before grouting?? i wouldnt

Straightforward mosaic tiles on nice flat walls, no, because careful use of the trowel does the job nicely in my opinion, but many mosaic artists do, mostly, again just my opinion, because that is an accepted way of doing things and they didn't learn how to tile and don't kow how to spread adhesive properly, which makes a big difference - to my mind with artistic mosaics with different thickness glass etc, backg grouting is really useful, it gives you a hand, keeping things just that little more stable, I have used this approach on really small pieces and was always glad I did, you have to have a light touch with it though, and I do have my little trade secrets, too..

[Alberta Stone]

Sounds like another old school method that has been made obsolete.
The tiles would have to be absolutely perfect on the mesh and you don't find many of those around so adjustment would be impossible.
Sometimes the surface being tiled is imperfect and grout lines need to be spread a touch and that would be impossible as well.
For custom pieces it is a good technique to master, but for standard mosaic it seems unusual, if not impractical.

[astute1]

For dave ramsen,

Yep, the litokol starlite epoxy is rated as an adhesive as well, has I said great for glass tiles as the grout color is through the entire installation. You know that situation when you can see through glass face of the tile to the bevelled sides. If you use a normal, say , white adhesive you can often see the adhesive in that bevelled edge. This no longer occurs as the entire bed and grout is the same what ever color, what ever color grout you are working with.