NOT SURE WHERE TO START OR WHAT MATERIAL TO BUY?
This page should help you. Below is an outline of materials and methods used in mosaic. It is intended only as a guideline and we would recommend that you refer to one of our books for further information. Click here to see information about our books.
MATERIALS
Vitreous glass tiles
These are the most commonly used material in mosaics. They come in a wide range of colours and can be cut using tiles nippers. They are suitable for all applications except floors where there is a lot of traffic (they are fine for bathroom or toilet floors).
We sell glass mosaic tiles on paper-faced sheets and on mesh depending on what's available. There are 10 sheets to a square metre. Please note that sheets made by different manufacturers cannot be fixed adjacent to each other (Groups A, B, C and D are either Italian or French and Group F, G and H are Mexican & Chinese).
Unglazed ceramic tiles
These tiles come in more muted shades and are more hard wearing than glass tiles, making them suitable for all applications including floors. Can be cut with the tile nippers.
We sell the 24mm x 24mm tiles on whole, half and quarter sheets and the 20mm x 20mm tiles on whole and half sheets. There are 8 sheets of the 24mm to a square metre and 16 of the 20mm to a square metre.
Glazed ceramics
These tiles have a coloured glaze on one side of the tiles only, making them unsuitable for the indirect method. Some also have a slightly bevelled edge which means that a cut-piece mosaic might have an uneven look with a mixtures of the cut edge and the bevelled edge.
We sell glazed ceramics on sheets measuring a nominal square foot with a mesh backing. 11 to a square metre.
Smalti
This is handmade Venetian glass and is the most expensive material used in mosaic. It comes in rectangles measuring approximately 1.5 x 1cm and has an uneven surface making it unsuitable for any flat surfaces. It is mainly used for decorative mosaics and, depending on the adhesives used, can be used in outdoor and indoor mosaics. Because of its irregular finish and the small holes in each piece, mosaics made in smalti are generally not grouted.
We sell individual smalti colours in units of 100gms and in bags containing a random mix of colours. Half a kilo covers approximately 1/3 square foot.
Marble
| This natural material has great variation within a single colour, making it an interesting, if a little expensive, material to use in mosaic. It usually comes in thicknesses of 7-10mm and is available in cubes or (more economically) in rods which can then be cut with nippers. The inside face of the marble has an uneven, crystalline surface which can be used on wall mosaics and panels - this is called ‘riven’ marble. | 
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ADHESIVE AND GROUT
Which adhesive?
If the mosaic is to go on a wall, floor, a 3-dimensional object, outdoors or you have used the indirect method, cement based adhesive should be used (Arduflex 5000) or Bal-Flex Adhesive if you are fixing to wood outdoors.
If the mosaic is an indoor table or wall panel, non-water soluble PVA should be used. If you are making your mosaic by the indirect (or reverse) method you will need some water soluble PVA with which to stick the tiles to the paper.
Grout?
Normal cement-based tile grout is used to grout mosaics. Choosing the right colour of grout is important - We recommend using a light coloured grout if the tiles are pale, and a dark grout for dark coloured tiles. Most people are only used to white grout but we would recommend trying a darker colour if possible - it can make your mosaic look much more interesting!
MOSAIC TECHNIQUES
The Direct Method
This is where the design is drawn directly on the surface to which the mosaic is to be fixed. The mosaic tiles are then stuck face-up directly onto the surface. The mosaic is then grouted.
This method can be used where:
• Your design is quite simple or consists of whole tiles.
• You are using materials that are of different thicknesses or have a different colour on the back from the front.
• You are making a three-dimensional object such as a flower pot.
The Indirect Method
Here the design is drawn out in reverse on paper to which the mosaic tiles are then stuck with water soluble PVA (mixed 1:1 with water) with the finished face downward. The whole design is then pre-grouted and placed paper-face upwards into cement based adhesive and the paper peeled off. The mosaic is then grouted.
The indirect method can be used where:
• It is important for the mosaic to have a flat finish (a table top or floor)
• The mosaic is going It would benefit from being able to be made ‘off-site’
A further advantage of using this method is that it is quite easy to change the mosaic before it is fixed into the adhesive - if you think the one of the colours is wrong or the tiles could be laid better, for instance, you can peel off tiles and replace them.
SHEETED-UP MOSAIC
Ceramic and glass tiles all come on sheets of one colour and can make an attractive and unique alternative to traditional tiles.
The simplest way to apply glass mosaic tiles is to buy sheets of one colour. The cost depends on which price band the colour falls into (A-H). When buying sheets it is important to measure the area correctly and buy enough sheets - mosaics are subject to batch variations so if you needed more at a later date we cannot guarantee that they will be exactly the same colour.
If you wanted to have a mix of colours you have the following options:
• Have a predominant colour and ‘spot’ different colour(s) randomly on a sheet. This can be done by simply prising tiles off the wall once you have removed the brown paper from the front and replacing them with another tile.
• We do stock a small range of mixed sheets (Casablanca and Barbados Blends etc) and also the blue and green mexican glass mixes.
• Buy or hire a mosaic jig from us and make up sheets of your choice of colours. This involves soaking the tiles off the sheets then making up new ones. We can supply you with the jig, brown paper squares, glue and an instruction sheet.
• We can make up mixed sheets in your own choices of colours. Please call us for details. 020 670 4466.
To help you work out how many sheets you need, the easiest way to do this is to measure the area in metres. 1 square metre requires 10 sheets so simply times your area by 10.
If you would like a blend of UNGLAZED CERAMIC tiles you should choose from the 20mm x 20mm range as we do not have mosaic jigs/setting trays for the 24mm x 24mm tiles.
WHAT TOOLS AND MATERIALS WILL YOU NEED?
Whatever mosaic work you are doing - be it a design or putting up sheets as a splashback - you will almost certainly need a pair of tile nippers. If you are making it by the direct method you will need an adhesive spreader for cement based adhesive or a brush for PVA. A grout spreader and sponge will make the grouting process easier and probably improve the finished product. If you are using the indirect method you should get a 3mm notched adhesive spreader - too much or too little adhesive will both cause you problems when you come to fix, or stick down, the mosaic.
Other cutting tools we have are:
- The ‘score and snap’ cutters - these are useful for cutting up larger tiles or mirror tiles.
- Leponnit mosaic cutters - these cutters consist of two wheels which give precise cuts with little wastage. Particularly useful for smalti.
- Hammer and hardy - A tungsten tipped short handled hammer that is used to cut marble and other heavy duty materials by bringing it down over the hardy (which is sold unmounted).
- Heavy duty tile nippers - the same style as the traditional tile nippers but larger, so they can cope with cutting thicker, more heavy duty tiles such as marble.
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