Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I am a beginner. What kind of projects do you recommend?

Answer: Keep it simple. Look for ideas and how-to information in mosaic books found online or in craft stores. Try standard clay pots of various sizes, flat frames of various sizes, vases of various shapes and sizes, gift boxes, jewelry boxes.
Classes are offered for beginners on my website. Or you can check out classes in your own community.

Question: What kind of surface should I use for my project?

Answer: You can use terracotta pots, wood, glass, stone, metal, (just about anything). For outdoor projects for flat surfaces like table tops, place tiles on Hardibacker or Wonderboard from Lowes or Home Depot.

Question: What glue do you recommend?

Answer: I recommend the popular Weldbond Adhesive for indoor projects and thinset for outdoor projects, such as stepping stones. You can purchase this online or at some ACE Hardware Stores. Your Weldbond is waterproof and dries clear and therefore will keep tiles from expanding with weather changes. It’s best to grout your project 24 hours after the glue is dried.

Question: How do you do the “indirect method” for mosaic work?

Answer: This takes practice. Start small. You need to set your tiles in place on a sheet of mosaic mount, face down, and then flip it over on your mosaic surface. This method is generally used for a tabletop and it will end up being more smooth, compared to the normal placement of broken tile pieces.

Question: How do I estimate my tile calculations?

Answer: You will need a 2 pound bag of ¾ inch tile to cover a 12”x12” space… assume 218 ¾” inch tiles per square foot (2 pound bag of ¾ inch tile; or 729 3/8” inch tiles per square foot (2 pound bag of 3/8” tiles). This number may vary depending on your design, style and taste.
A one-pound bag of 3/4" tile contains approximately 144 tiles.
A one-pound bag of mini tile contains approximately 600 tiles.
Please note that if you nip your tile into smaller pieces, you will actually use less tile than the recommended amount because when you use smaller pieces, you will use more grout to fill in the extra space.

Question: What kind of tile nippers should I be using for my project?

Answer: Your basic tile nipper is all you need to nip ceramic and other forms of tile. Your two-wheeled glass nipper is best for glass tiles, so that the class tile is not crushed.
Always wear protective eyewear when cutting tile.

Question: What kind of grout should I get and what colors are best?

Answer: This part is the messy part, so working outdoors is best! Be sure to use sanded grout (not coarsely sanded) for your larger mosaic pieces. For smaller tiles that are close together, use non-sanded grout. When mixing, use a wooden spoon, a face mask and use gloves. Add water slowly until you have the consistency of toothpaste or cream cheese. If you add too much water, the grout may crack after it’s dried. Use a grout spreader on your project to avoid cuts from sharp tiles as you are grouting.
For beginning projects, try using standard neutral grout colors found at Lowes and Home Depot, such as your lighter shades of tans, off-whites, and darker shades of charcoal. Other colors can be purchased in a tile store or online, such as reds, blues, etc.

Question: What do you recommend in the clean-up process?

Answer: I recommend getting a 5-gallon bucket, fill it with water and use this for cleaning your sponge, gloves, mixing container and mixing spoons. Leave the bucket for 24 hours to “settle” the grout residue. Take the bucket to a “corner” of your yard and slowly drain the water (which should be clear) into a colander as you pour it on the ground. The residue left in the bucket should immediately be wiped out carefully with paper towel and disposed of in plastic bags and into our garbage can. This method is environmentally safe.

Question: Do men do mosaics as craft projects?

Answer: Of course. This art form is not restricted to the female gender. It is very therapeutic and can actually be habit forming (addictive) when you turn out successful results. You may just want to mosaic everything you see!

Question: Do mosaic supplies cost a lot?

Answer: It can be pricey. Think of it as an investment in your well-being!