A mosaic is a decorative image made up of pieces of colored glass, ceramic tiles, or other materials. Any fairly flat surface can be decorated with a mosaic pattern - walls, ceilings, floors, countertops. Materials for creating mosaic panels can be found in creative or interior design and renovation stores. It is better to start mastering this spectacular technique with small projects, and, having gained experience, you can move on to larger ones, such as creating a panel on the wall.
It is necessary
- - mosaic pieces of different colors;
- - glue for gluing the mosaic;
- - grout for filling joints;
- - a spatula for applying glue and grouting mixture;
- - sponge;
- - tweezers (for mosaics of very small elements).
Instructions
Step 1
Purchase a set of small mosaic tiles in the colors that are present in your design from a specialized store. If you need to trim pieces of tiles, buy a tile cutter. Make the cut from the back of the mosaic tile, applying even pressure to the cutter for a clean and even cut. Sand the slice of the tile so that there are no micro-chips.
Step 2
Prepare the surface for gluing the tiles. It should be dry and perfectly flat, without any cracks. If you have a wooden surface, sand and prime it first. Degrease the ceramic surface.
Step 3
Draw a design with a pencil on the surface that you will paste over with a mosaic. You can also transfer the pattern you like from a book or art album to tracing paper, and then, using carbon paper, to the surface to be decorated.
Step 4
Place the mosaic pieces into the pattern using the tile adhesive. If you are using glass mosaics, consider using white glue so that the colors of the tiles are not distorted when glued. Apply glue to the mosaic pieces following the manufacturer's recommendations and stick them on the surface to be decorated according to the pattern.
Step 5
Another way is to apply a layer of glue to a small area of the surface to be decorated with a spatula. Then lay out the mosaic by pressing the pieces to the adhesive surface.
Step 6
The third method of gluing is suitable for mosaics with complex patterns or patterns. Use it when you need to lay out the pattern very accurately. Form the pattern completely on adhesive paper or film, laying the pieces of the mosaic face down. Then apply glue to the mosaic surface and glue the entire sheet at once to the selected surface. After the glue is completely dry, remove the fixing paper.
Step 7
The next stage is grouting. Prepare a special grout by following the instructions on its packaging. Apply the grout with a trowel to the surface of the mosaic and fill in all the joints between the pieces. If the mosaic has an uneven surface, you can use your fingers to help the grout penetrate deep into all the joints. Remove excess grout, and after it dries, wipe the mosaic with a damp sponge.
