Mosaic help - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

tafkap68 · 05-03-2007

Just wanted a bit of advice please. I've just finished a big mosaic job and had to put in a few spacers here and there. I'm now ready for grouting but having trouble removing the spacers as they are either snapping or taking the tile off as well. Does anyone have any tips for removing them or know of a good tool to use?

Leatherface · 05-03-2007

Did you press the spacers all the way in crossways or just stick in one prong ?
You are always best just sticking one prong in. Can be hard to remove otherwise.
Another tip is remove them asap after fixing - really with mosaic, if you have used the correct trowel & adhesive, there is no need to leave spacers in for long, other for than initial spacing purposes. Your tiles should not move if you take them out before the adhesive has fully hardened.
regards

tafkap68 · 05-03-2007

Unfortunately I put them in crossways and left them in. First time doing mosaic so I didn't know how to approach the job. Probably gonna waste a day trying to dig them out of the grout lines now

Leatherface · 05-03-2007

Tip - when doing mosaic - I set out, then hang from top of wall downwards, easier to fix. If you get your top course straight & level, all the following ones downwards should follow suit. Use a 2 or 3 mm mosaic trowel. You should not need spacers

tafkap68 · 06-03-2007

Yeah, should've asked on here before I started the job. I'll know in future.
Just one of those things that I'll put down to experience. First time doing mosaic so I think I've probably made all the schoolboy errors and I'll know how to approach the job next time around.
As I've stated on previous posts, I'll never stop learning. Just got to remember what NOT to do next time.

Leatherface · 06-03-2007

Do you like Prince perchance ?

Saw him on his last UK tour at the Apollo in Manchester - very small venue. bloody brilliant - played for about 2 and a half hours. Best gig I've ever been to.

**Dan** · 07-03-2007

I used to space the first few runs of tiles out with spacer out of my tub and then as soon as they started to go off I'd pull the spacer out of the existing tiles (while the adhesive is still a little tacky) and then use them on the rest of the job, so you keep using the spacers that are already in the wall sort of thing. Then at the end up the job, once you've got all your tools on the van, go back in and pull the rest of the spacers out.

I always tried to do it while the adhesive was still a little tacky.

If it's just too late. Use some long-nose pliers and a small screwdriver to prize them out, if you pop the odd mosaic, stick another in but without a spacer.

Leatherface · 07-03-2007

Aye !!

tafkap68 · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leatherface

Do you like Prince perchance ?

Saw him on his last UK tour at the Apollo in Manchester - very small venue. bloody brilliant - played for about 2 and a half hours. Best gig I've ever been to.

I was there mate, 3rd row. Got in the soundcheck too, an extra hour for free! Great night, went to the aftershow party but he never turned up

Big arena tour rumoured for this year...

tafkap68 · 07-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

If it's just too late. Use some long-nose pliers and a small screwdriver to prize them out, if you pop the odd mosaic, stick another in but without a spacer.

Thanks Dan, I will give it a try tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work I was thinking of removing the mosaic sheets in the affected areas (about 8 sheets), scraping walls, washing tiles and re-applying. I think this would be quicker as I've tried to remove a few today and it will probably take over 6 hours to do the lot.

**Dan** · 07-03-2007

Try and push them in a bit more too, Snap off the bit sticking out and ram the rest of it back a bit. See if that works good enough to grout over.