Wetroom Mosaic Floor Problem

[StephenR]

I have a Marmox showerlay former and Marmox over the rest of the floor in a wetroom. Used this system many times successfully. The rest of the floor is 600x300mm porcellain and the shower area mosaic. The mosaic should have been the same thickness as the rest but isn't. It is also heavily recessed in the rear as can be seen in the pics. I've raised the outer levels of the former with staggered layers of fabric like Schluter Kerdi to maintain the former shape to have a flat surface for the mosaic.

My problem is laying the mosaic as it doesn't have a flat rear surface. To fill the voids requires either a thick bed which causes oozing of addy up between the joins or back buttering which causes like wise.

I've tried the latter method and it was a mess (predictably). I'm hoping someone here has had similar experience and can provide some insight that will help me lay these things.

Many thanks,

Stephen

 

[White Room]

What size are the mosaic....

 

[StephenR]

They're roughly 60mm square in a 5x5 matrix coming out at about 300mm square

 

[MTiler]

Have you tried a 5-6mm trowel then lightly running a flat edge over the ridges to give a flatish bed before laying the mosaics?

sharon

 

[StephenR]

That might be an idea but I think I'd have to use an 8mm trowel and then flatten off a bit. The recess in the back is about 3mm deep, the tile itself about 8mm thick. Thanks Sharon.

 

[bcd-87]

I have a Marmox showerlay former and Marmox over the rest of the floor in a wetroom. Used this system many times successfully. The rest of the floor is 600x300mm porcellain and the shower area mosaic. The mosaic should have been the same thickness as the rest but isn't. It is also heavily recessed in the rear as can be seen in the pics. I've raised the outer levels of the former with staggered layers of fabric like Schluter Kerdi to maintain the former shape to have a flat surface for the mosaic.

My problem is laying the mosaic as it doesn't have a flat rear surface. To fill the voids requires either a thick bed which causes oozing of addy up between the joins or back buttering which causes like wise.

I've tried the latter method and it was a mess (predictably). I'm hoping someone here has had similar experience and can provide some insight that will help me lay these things.

Many thanks,
Stephen

Hi Stephen

BAL PTB is a great product it might help with the excess addy


View attachment 78154 View attachment 78155

 

[Simon benn Leeds]

Easyfix Mosaic Mesh

I use these a lot now for mosaic, if time allows run a thin bed of cement based addy after you have fixed the backer sheet, this will allow mosaics to be more ridged and will let you bed them up without addy coming through.

Failing that Fix as normal wash joints out as much as you can, go round once dry with an oscillating tool.

Or as Sharon @MissTiler said. Tricky but a good way.

 

[Simon benn Leeds]

Oh and what an awful mosaic, backs look terrible!...

 

[StephenR]

Thanks again @MissTiler . It worked as you described with a bit of practice and only had to deal with a bit of addy ooze compared to the previous day. The sheets I back buttered were cleaned up as individuals with their backs filled and the 50 of them laid with a 4mm trowel in between the sheets.

 

[MTiler]

Glad to help

 

[Concrete guy]

With problem mosaics I used to use this stuff in super white. It really did solve some difficult fixes with "mosaics" made from regular tiles and attached to a paper mesh where you need a 10mm bed.

http://www.nichollsandclarke.com/uploads/be7076a95c928f9bb27412ee40607682.pdf