Garden mosaic, crumbling adhesive

Hi,

I did a set of mosaic panels (marble 14cm x 28cm, 108 in total) for a clients garden. I made the panels on mesh and delivered them and he had his tiler put them into 2 recangular recesses.

This was about 4 -5 years ago (please believe me my work has improved since then :smilewinkgrin: ) and the grout around the edges is crumbling away, I can't remember what they used. The mosaic panels are fine but I was wondering what could be done about the gaps appearing? As I said his tilers set the panels but I will see him again in a couple of weeks and I'd like to know if there is anything that can be done.

I've not heard from him recently ( I was last there about 2 years ago)so I can only assume the panels haven't lifted due to frost.

(Sorry for the lousy quality of the pictures!)

Thanks

Would be interesting to know what grout it was, regrout the gaps at the edges.

Try mapei grout to match the nearest colour

It could purely be down to frost... freeze/thaw factor..

If it is due to frost damage surely his tilers would have been aware of that and used someting that wouldn't degrade? Or is this something that happens outside whatever you use?

Since you didn't fix them I wouldn't think that you'd feel responsible!
The product is fine for the purpose purchased and any defect would be within the realms of the fixing proceedure.
I would assume from the pictures that the contractor would have fixed all the field material first and dropped in the pre-made borders at the end. The difference in the adhesive/fixing bed could cause shrinkage/movement at the joins and another factor could relate to the build up bed re the thickness of contrasting materials.
Either way as you would most probably know it may just be a case of regrouting - sooner rather than later with the freeze/thaw weather we are experiencing!

Musivarius said:

If it is due to frost damage surely his tilers would have been aware of that and used someting that wouldn't degrade? Or is this something that happens outside whatever you use?

Click to expand...

This depends on the fixing method.. if any voids/capileries are left then water gets in and it can freeze, this in turn expands and can crack joints etc..

Thanks for the comments, I know I can't be held responsible for this (I wish I'd have known about this forum back then) but it's just interesting to know.

If I got a job like this again I'd make sure I put a clause in if the client uses his own tilers to set the mosaic.