Fitting translucent mosaics

[CDS]

After a bit of advice please - Started a bathroom job yesterday and the cm has selected 'semi translucent' glass mosaics (20mm.sq, 8mm thickness) for the side wall of the shower (approx 6m.sq).

Tiles are almost see through (backing paper just about visible through tiles when held against a solid background) and I'm therefore concerned that if I use a normal mosaic trowel the ribs will show through?

Should I be be putting up a smooth bed of adhesive rather than a ribbed bed? And is a 4mm mosaic trowel ok for a shower area or do i need a thicker bed?

Walls are boarded and tanked - we did them ourselves so they are spot on! Many Thanks Chris

 

[White Room]

What type of adhesive are you going to use

 

[Spud]

when you fit the sheets you will need to slide them over slightly and then beat them in with a grout float this will give you full coverage on the back 4mm trowel is fine if you use this method

 

[kilty55]

if im doing glass i use my ribbed trowel first to acheive depth then skimover it with a plasterers trowel to make it a solid bed and stops the ribs showing through the glass,,i use a 3 or 4mm trowel for most mosaics altho have used a 6mm one in the past for anything really thick or heavy,do a test sheet mate and see what you think works best for your situation sounds like a nice job,,white adhesive i use as well

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

i have fixed this mosaic as you say and i did not have any trouble, make sure you beat them well in to the addy, and make sure you don't scratch the paper!!

 

[CDS]

What type of adhesive are you going to use

Will be Bal SPF or mosaic fix - probably the former but going shopping in the morning so can go either way if one is considered better than the the other in this case? Cheers

 

[DHTiling]

Hi chris..

You got it mate... Rib the wall and then flat off with the straight edge of the trowel.... then bed in the mosaics...This should ensure you have full coverage on the tile back and get even colouring...

But please do check what the backing is and some adhesives eat into certain backings..

 

[Dontiler]

hello mate
you should apply adhesive with trowel and smooth surface of adhesive, don't forget to add Admix to your adhesive (this is especially for glass mosaic), use white adhesive, when adhesive just starts harden then you have to peal of paper and check or there is any air under mosaic, and you can adjust any not straight lines and clean joints
good luck

 

[White Room]

The reason I asked is I would give a tight skim to the wall with powdered gear leave to set then use the same gear to fix, just to stop any chance of the background grinning thru

 

[CDS]

Excellent advice chaps, many thanks to all - and cheers for the rapid response! Thanks all Chris

 

[MTiler]

Mosaic fix is nice stuff but over priced I always use Mapei Adesilex P10 with Isolastic if Im suppling ady. I use an epoxy float to bat down mosaics and you dont see the trowel lines so no need to smooth the surface of the ady first.
Different strokes for different folks.

missyT

 

[The D]

Mosaic fix is nice stuff but over priced I always use Mapei Adesilex P10 with Isolastic if Im suppling ady. I use an epoxy float to bat down mosaics and you dont see the trowel lines so no need to smooth the surface of the ady first.
Different strokes for different folks.

missyT

p10 that is a very nice adhesive.