Pamela Frank on wed 14 apr 99
I made a suggest to an acquaintance who does renovations about doing a tile
installation in a restaurant he is working on and he really liked the idea.
He presented it to the owner who thought it would be great and one thing led
to another and being easily flattered and wanting desperately to leave the
world of counseling behind and work only in clay, I said I could do the
installation! Now I am OVERWHELMED to say the least (plus I have a sprained
wrist which doesn't help). I have been making handmade tiles as inserts for
tables and as small wall installations, but never anything as big as I have
to do for this restaurant. Is there anyway to keep tiles leatherhard for
over a week without a lot of warping? Installation seems problematic, is it
better to do the installation on plywood and then mount it to a wall or is
it better to mount directly to the wall? Is working over a lot of space just
like working in a small space only more of it (sounds silly but I worry
about weight on drywall that is in a old building)? Any special hints to
reduce weight? As I write this I wonder if I am being dishonest even
attempting something of this scale, maybe I'm just not ready .... AHHHH!
Please send help, suggestions and encouragement!
Pam, fretting on a springtime day in Virginia!
Someone's setting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long
time ago.
Warren Buffett
D. McDysan on thu 15 apr 99
Don't worry! The wisdom of Clayart will help you work out the variables
and you will do a great job. Everybody has to have a first experience in
order to expand their horizons. Rejoice! ...and take a deep breath.
Good Luck! Let us know how it turns out.
Debbie
Philip Schroeder on thu 15 apr 99
Warren,
I am responding less to the mechanics of tile making/installation and more to
the part of your post about leaving the world of counseling for the world of
clay. I began the same transition from psychotherapist of 18 years to potter
beginning in 1994. I must admit that the transition has been exciting, scary
at times, and more challenging than I imagined, all at the same time. I
have made a number of mistakes. I have "bitten off more than I could chew"
more than once. But I have discovered inner resources that I wasn't aware I
had and I have no regrets. As a counselor, I often worked with clients to
take risks in order to grow, expand there capacity, and to learn. I have
also had to remind myself, more than once, that I need to follow the advise I
passed on to clients so many times in the past. It seems clear that you are
doing your homework for this project, so " Leap, and a net will appear". Go
for it!
Phil Schroeder in Chicago
Marion Barnes-Schwartz. on thu 15 apr 99
Pam,
Go for it. Great way to stretch your abilities.
To help not feeling overwhelmed first set up a deadline you think you
can live with, making sure you're really comfortable with the time frame and
giving yourself extra time for figuring things out.
Although I'm a potter I've mostly been earning my living through
doing stained glass commissions. I have accepted commissions that I didn't
have a clue how to do, got off the phone and then did the research to learn
how. One such commission was for a 10' stained glass ceiling dome. Said,
'sure I can do that.' Then got off the phone and got back on calling
resources for as much information as I could gather. The job turned out
great and I learned a lot in the process.
When I make tiles I first leave the wet tiles between two pieces
drywall until the tiles are hard enough to move. Usually a matter of hours.
Then I stack the tiles on drywall, stacking them in piles of ten or more, one
tile on top of another, then top the whole pile off with another piece of
drywall, then a brick or 2 or 3 on top of that. I get very little warpage
this way, although this only works with flat tiles, not relief.
Good luck!
Marion
(BARNSCHWA@aol.com)
Denver, NY, where the grass is finally turning green but it's still a little
too chilly to work in the garden for very long.
David Hendley on thu 15 apr 99
At 10:31 AM 4/14/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I made a suggest to an acquaintance who does renovations about doing a tile
>installation in a restaurant he is working on and he really liked the idea.
>Is there anyway to keep tiles leatherhard for
>over a week without a lot of warping?
Sure, just keep them wrapped tight with plastic sheets.
Slow drying will help stop warping, not hasten it.
> Installation seems problematic, is it
>better to do the installation on plywood and then mount it to a wall or is
>it better to mount directly to the wall? Is working over a lot of space just
>like working in a small space only more of it (sounds silly but I worry
>about weight on drywall that is in a old building)? Any special hints to
>reduce weight? As I write this I wonder if I am being dishonest even
>attempting something of this scale, maybe I'm just not ready .... AHHHH!
In all honesty, judging from your questions, I don't think
you are ready for this. There are many variables that a tile installer
will consider before deciding what system to use: mastic or thin-set
cement?, cement backer-board or water resistant drywall? It depends
on the situation.
You also need to know how to properly lay out the tiles before
you start attaching them.
How about you making the tiles and hiring an tile setter to
install them under your supervision?
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
Joy Holdread on fri 16 apr 99
In a message dated 4/14/99 7:35:14 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
pfrog79@att.net writes:
>
> installation! Now I am OVERWHELMED to say the least (plus I have a sprained
> wrist which doesn't help). I have been making handmade tiles as inserts for
> tables and as small wall installations, but never anything as big as I
have
> to do for this restaurant. Is there anyway to keep tiles leatherhard for
> over a week without a lot of warping? Installation seems problematic, is it
> better to do the installation on plywood and then mount it to a wall or is
> it better to mount directly to the wall? Is working over a lot of space
just
> like working in a small space only more of it (sounds silly but I worry
> about weight on drywall that is in an old building)? Any special hints to
> reduce weight? As I write this I wonder if I am being dishonest even
> attempting something of this scale, maybe I'm just not ready .... AHHHH!
> Please send help, suggestions and encouragement!
>
Leather hard: I cover with 1 layer of newspaper to absorb condensation then
tightly with plastic.
Weight: I groove the backs of tiles, reduces weight gives adhesive something
to grab.
Wall: do some research, ask around. I've mounted on interlocking sections of
plywood to spread the weight around & facilitate handling. I've also
installed on site. I've never installed on drywall, I've installed on raw
cement or durarock.
Lots of new opportunities involve research. Give up feeling like a fraud &
budget in the time for specialized installation research. I didn't start off
knowing everything either, no one does although some people know how to act
like they do.
Joy in Tucson
Barb Jensen on sat 17 apr 99
Dear Pam,
I keep tiles leatherhard for weeks by simply stacking them into clean
plastic bags (such as those premixed clay comes in), I put around in 25 or
so 6x6 green tiles and twist the bag closed and secure with a twist tie. I
think warping is reduced by slow drying, not increased. As for installation,
I consider that to be a skill entirely separate from potting/tilemaking and
strongly recommend you use a professional to install the work. There are so
many variables to contend with (subsurface preparation, adhesives, grout,
etc.) and so many decisions to be made (impossible to anticipate) that an
experienced installer is well worth hiring. Be sure to find someone
experienced with handmade tile however; someone accustomed to mechanical
tile might complain too much about the uneven character of your tile.
Good luck!
Barb
James Blossom on sun 2 may 99
Hi Pamela.
Just got through an intallation over drywall (using "greenboard"
water-resistant drywall.)
The pros (me too!) would say your best bet is to lay down a cement board
first. Hardibacker
from Home Depot for instance. This will water-proof and add stiffness. For
non-wet areas
under 8 foot in height the drywall alone should work ok, though.
As to keeping tiles leather hard (I'm intrigued ... what are you doing
in the leather-hard
state?) try placing them inside zip-lock freezer bags and stacking between
layers of drywall
or any other flat stiff separate surfaces. I have used this technique for
up to a month - no warps.
Good luck, J. Blossom
Sleeping Dog Designs
-----Original Message-----
From: Pamela Frank
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 7:32 AM
Subject: too big a job!
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I made a suggest to an acquaintance who does renovations about doing a tile
installation in a restaurant he is working on and he really liked the idea.
He presented it to the owner who thought it would be great and one thing led
to another and being easily flattered and wanting desperately to leave the
world of counseling behind and work only in clay, I said I could do the
installation! Now I am OVERWHELMED to say the least (plus I have a sprained
wrist which doesn't help). I have been making handmade tiles as inserts for
tables and as small wall installations, but never anything as big as I have
to do for this restaurant. Is there anyway to keep tiles leatherhard for
over a week without a lot of warping? Installation seems problematic, is it
better to do the installation on plywood and then mount it to a wall or is
it better to mount directly to the wall? Is working over a lot of space just
like working in a small space only more of it (sounds silly but I worry
about weight on drywall that is in a old building)? Any special hints to
reduce weight? As I write this I wonder if I am being dishonest even
attempting something of this scale, maybe I'm just not ready .... AHHHH!
Please send help, suggestions and encouragement!
Pam, fretting on a springtime day in Virginia!
Someone's setting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long
time ago.
Warren Buffett
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