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tiling (and mosaicing) a bathroom

updated tue 27 oct 09

 

Sharon Miranda on sat 24 oct 09


Hi all:

Soon I will be having a new bathroom installed. Nice, large (possibly
12x12) porcelain tile on the diagonal with small lozenges of glass
mosaic scattered around.
I tiled the previous bathroom myself (ahem), but am told that setting
glass is a whole new ballgame.

Anyone have any experience with setting glass mosaics? Is it that
hard? What's involved? I'd also like to cut some of these mosaics to
make a border around the top. Is that difficult? What tool do I need?

I need to know before I (gingerly) suggest to the contractor that
perhaps I could help out w/ the tile setting part of this grand
extravaganza. I'm not making any of this tile or glass, more's the
pity, but I've already understood that I'll be happier NOT looking at
my own handiwork for the next 20 years.

Thanks for any info!
Sharon

John Goode on mon 26 oct 09


Hi Sharon
Glass tile is unlike ceramic in that it takes a day to set up maybe two.
It depends on the size of tile 3/4 x 3/4 or 4x4 either way thinset is the
only adhesive/mortar to use with any tile setting.I do not recommend settin=
g
any glass tile on a floor or shower pan.
There have been disasters with tile setters thinking they can just do this.
It will take a professional tile setter to set glass tile in order for it b=
e
correct in situ.
A few dots should to be inserted in the floor is not a big deal just make
sure the thickness is the same as the field tile for easy level setting.
Either way contact me off list if you have a specific question about a
situation and I will try to help.
Meanwhile I will head into the studio and work on hand made ceramic tile.
John Goode
watermarktile.com
handmadeceramictile.com

On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 7:37 PM, Sharon Miranda
wrote:

> Hi all:
>
> Soon I will be having a new bathroom installed. Nice, large (possibly
> 12x12) porcelain tile on the diagonal with small lozenges of glass
> mosaic scattered around.
> I tiled the previous bathroom myself (ahem), but am told that setting
> glass is a whole new ballgame.
>
> Anyone have any experience with setting glass mosaics? Is it that
> hard? What's involved? I'd also like to cut some of these mosaics to
> make a border around the top. Is that difficult? What tool do I need?
>
> I need to know before I (gingerly) suggest to the contractor that
> perhaps I could help out w/ the tile setting part of this grand
> extravaganza. I'm not making any of this tile or glass, more's the
> pity, but I've already understood that I'll be happier NOT looking at
> my own handiwork for the next 20 years.
>
> Thanks for any info!
> Sharon
>