W
White Room
As above, fill the cavities looks far neater
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T
Time's Ran Out
We did a conservatory floor once in unfilled stone and just before grouting I asked the lady if the limestone joint was the best colour for the tiles.
It was at this point that she informed me that she only wanted the joint filled and not the tile face!
What about the mud and dirt from the garden I said - Oh! its not going to get dirty she remarked!
Back to the thread - why not try covering the mosaic with clear masking tape and with a sharp knife cutting the 2mm joints into the tape face!
Then grout as normal and peel off the face tape when its set!
It was at this point that she informed me that she only wanted the joint filled and not the tile face!
What about the mud and dirt from the garden I said - Oh! its not going to get dirty she remarked!
Back to the thread - why not try covering the mosaic with clear masking tape and with a sharp knife cutting the 2mm joints into the tape face!
Then grout as normal and peel off the face tape when its set!
T
TheRealRobG
Thanks John, that's not a bad suggestion.
I think if I use a piping bag and go really carefully I should be able to fill the spaces between the tiles without affecting their faces. They're set high enough on the wall that the only place they're likely to catch water is inside the shower, and I can choose some with fewer cavities to run through there and make sure they're thoroughly sealed. They'll be laid on Aquapanel with a vapour sheet laid behind, so any water going through isn't going to cause any major problems.
I'll post some photos showing how I get on, but I won;t be starting to grout the mosaics for a week or so. I'm laying the main tiles first, leaving a 80mm gap all around in the middle of the wall.
Incidentally, is there a trick to hanging tiles going in the downwards direction while keeping them tight against the ones above? I need to hang starting at the midline going downwards. To prevent the bottom row from sagging I've had to run screws into the plasterboard below them for them to sit on while the addy dries, which obviously isn't ideal, and I don;t want to do this in the wet areas. I would have used a wood baton, but it's tricky to judge where it should be screwed as the tiles all seem to be very slightly different sizes.
I think if I use a piping bag and go really carefully I should be able to fill the spaces between the tiles without affecting their faces. They're set high enough on the wall that the only place they're likely to catch water is inside the shower, and I can choose some with fewer cavities to run through there and make sure they're thoroughly sealed. They'll be laid on Aquapanel with a vapour sheet laid behind, so any water going through isn't going to cause any major problems.
I'll post some photos showing how I get on, but I won;t be starting to grout the mosaics for a week or so. I'm laying the main tiles first, leaving a 80mm gap all around in the middle of the wall.
Incidentally, is there a trick to hanging tiles going in the downwards direction while keeping them tight against the ones above? I need to hang starting at the midline going downwards. To prevent the bottom row from sagging I've had to run screws into the plasterboard below them for them to sit on while the addy dries, which obviously isn't ideal, and I don;t want to do this in the wet areas. I would have used a wood baton, but it's tricky to judge where it should be screwed as the tiles all seem to be very slightly different sizes.
M
mikethetile
batton stands are handy for this
or sticking the battens with a hot glue gun
or sticking the battens with a hot glue gun
T
TheRealRobG
Progress so far - started with the 'easy' wall to get some practice in before I attempt the ones with all the cuts. Plasterboard is primed with APD. This little lot took me about 6 hours including 3 lots of adhesive mixing and consequent cleanup - I don't think I'll be doing this for a living any time soon. Biggest problem is getting the lines of adhesive 'full' as more often than not they start going 'hollow' part way along the trowel pass. Not sure if this is because I'm going too fast, too slow or have too much air or lumps in the mix etc...
I was worried that the spacing baton would get stuck in the gap, but it came out OK without too much trouble.
I used a water filled tube to level around the room, and it turned out to be fantastically accurate, if a little slow. Can't stretch to a spinning laser though...
I was worried that the spacing baton would get stuck in the gap, but it came out OK without too much trouble.
I used a water filled tube to level around the room, and it turned out to be fantastically accurate, if a little slow. Can't stretch to a spinning laser though...
F
Fred
If you want to pretect form dirt in the future, go the tradetiler.com, Dave has a sprey that keeps grout clean.
T
TheRealRobG
Thanks!
Is grout sealer any good, or does it just trap water in the grout?
I used it on the grout when I re-tiled the kitchen splashback (foolishly consructed from moisture resistant MDF plus 3 coats of varnish) in an attempt to keep the water out. Almost went for epoxy grout - but in hindsight there's no way I would have gotten that neatly finished before it set hard - so a lucky escape. Just hoping this time the tiles stay put. The last lot lifted after a year when the original tiler laid the tiles on a piece of vinyl covered chipboard. Where he scribed it to get the tiles to 'key' it let water in and swelled up. Hoping my MR MDF plus grout sealer will be better, but probably a vain hope.
Is grout sealer any good, or does it just trap water in the grout?
I used it on the grout when I re-tiled the kitchen splashback (foolishly consructed from moisture resistant MDF plus 3 coats of varnish) in an attempt to keep the water out. Almost went for epoxy grout - but in hindsight there's no way I would have gotten that neatly finished before it set hard - so a lucky escape. Just hoping this time the tiles stay put. The last lot lifted after a year when the original tiler laid the tiles on a piece of vinyl covered chipboard. Where he scribed it to get the tiles to 'key' it let water in and swelled up. Hoping my MR MDF plus grout sealer will be better, but probably a vain hope.
M
mikethetile
small point rob, clean the grout joints out before the addy sets up to hard
T
TheRealRobG
Thanks. I did clean them out a bit with the trowel, but maybe I should have another go and rake them right down. The first lot have been up for 2 days now, so probably hard as rock...
W
White Room
I use a small wet brush to wipe the joints out
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