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tile mural project

updated sat 31 mar 01

 

Claudia Maciel on wed 28 mar 01


Hi Everyone,
Not sure if the original post made it through. . .in my desperation
I'm sending another. . . I'm really "up against a wall" with this
project! I've taken the architectural ceramics workshop with Peter King

at Nottingham Center For The Arts in S. Ca and it was inspiring beyond
belief! One of the area schools(San Jose, CA) has contacted me about
directing a large scale (350sq') exterior wall mural project-(K-6th
school wide participation with community/student help installing) and I
need to give them an "estimate" for materials. We'll be making the
tiles on site, easy enough?(nieave) and low firing/glazing them-they
want "bright colors". . . the installation will be direct to the walls
which are coated with black waterproofing tar goo from a previous
project. Will the tiles stick to this surface? If we need to acid wash

these old walls with the black goo. . . how much time do we have to
complete the installation? Is acid washing something we should contract

out? Can we use the tile adhesive that we use for mosaics-(comes in a
can) and sanded grout for this? They want a "ballpark" idea of the
costs. . .since this is my first installation, I'm hoping you all can
reach down to the bottom of your clayart hearts and help me out. (yes,
I've been to the archives and my search did turn up some information and

I've visited Stephanie's excellent tile site, but this is a little more
specific. . . been to the library too. . .please help!)
Thanks, Claudia Maciel San Jose, CA

Stephani Stephenson on thu 29 mar 01


Claudia
Good going on your project!
For the first time around I would suggest the following.
1. Re : installation. If at all possible find an experienced tile
setter, one who you can communicate well with.
Find out their take on the tar goo surface and their recommendation for
adhesives, grout , and installation materials.
The substrate is pretty important, especially since it is in a public
place and you will want your beautiful mural and invested labor to hold
up over time.
It wouldn't hurt to find out what a professional setter would charge to
install the project, just to give you an idea
I understand that there is a difference between a tile setter and a tile
installer, and that the setters have more training.

2. estimate.. In addition to all the considerations mentioned by Phil ,
don't underestimate the time it takes to organize, assemble and stage
the work.
and especially the time it will take to lay out , line up, and install
the work properly. Also the time and work it takes to ferry that many
pieces back and forth from site to kiln to site again. Set up and take
down time are easy to underestimate.

Will you be using commercial tiles or creating your own? do you have a
tried and true clay body? Is the project indoors or outdoors?
Is the clay body porous at that temp? will the glaze fit well? Clay
bodies similar to the Peter King clay body are fantastic and forgiving,
but still quite porous when low fired . Even glazing does not seal the
clay, especially if the glaze is crazing even slightly . This can cause
problems for outdoor projects.

well that's just off the top of my head. Time for din din.
best wishes
Stephani Stephenson
Alchemie Studio
Leucadia CA.

Philip on thu 29 mar 01


Dear Claudia,

I do not believe that 'acid-washing' will remove Tar, Mastic, or generally,
any sort of adhesive 'black-goo'.
Solvents may...perhaps you could find out just what the stuff was/is and
contact the Manufacturer of the material for their recommendations?

Perhaps it could be left be, and merely a little more added to adhere the
Tiles.
Find out what it IS!

Cost of materials should be, aside from the above, the cost of the Clay and
any additives from which the Tiles will be made...that is, the Cost of
having the Clay there, at your site...
Cost of the ingredients for the glazes.
.... of the tools, brushes etc for applying the glazes.
.... of the viscolene or saran-wrap or dry-cleaner's bags, or whatever you
may use, in making these Tiles 'on-site', to controll the rate of their
drying...something to dry them on?
.... of the Electricity or Gas with which to fire them.
.... of the Adhessive or what as will be used to secure the Tile to the wall.
.... of the 'Grout', and any pigments used to colour it...or if 'Latex'
grout, then it's requisites.
.... of the miscelaneous buckets, brushes, or Tools for the application of
the Grout...
Solvents, Acids and Rags, Rubber Gloves or what, as may figure into cleaning
the Grout smears from the Tile...if applicable.
....and say fifteen or twenty percent of the above sum, added against the
unforseen eventuality of some other odd expense.

So there is that.

I hope I have not omitted any probable component of this Materials
'estimate' scenerio?
How will you make these Tiles?
Slab Roller?
Rolling pins (or wine bottles) and thickness sticks?
Cut them with rulers and a knife?
Possibly something more in this area would figure into 'materials'...

Good luck!

Phil
Las Vegas etc


----- Original Message -----
From: "Claudia Maciel"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 11:09 PM
Subject: tile mural project


> Hi Everyone,
> Not sure if the original post made it through. . .in my desperation
> I'm sending another. . . I'm really "up against a wall" with this
> project! I've taken the architectural ceramics workshop with Peter King
>
> at Nottingham Center For The Arts in S. Ca and it was inspiring beyond
> belief! One of the area schools(San Jose, CA) has contacted me about
> directing a large scale (350sq') exterior wall mural project-(K-6th
> school wide participation with community/student help installing) and I
> need to give them an "estimate" for materials. We'll be making the
> tiles on site, easy enough?(nieave) and low firing/glazing them-they
> want "bright colors". . . the installation will be direct to the walls
> which are coated with black waterproofing tar goo from a previous
> project. Will the tiles stick to this surface? If we need to acid wash
>
> these old walls with the black goo. . . how much time do we have to
> complete the installation? Is acid washing something we should contract
>
> out? Can we use the tile adhesive that we use for mosaics-(comes in a
> can) and sanded grout for this? They want a "ballpark" idea of the
> costs. . .since this is my first installation, I'm hoping you all can
> reach down to the bottom of your clayart hearts and help me out. (yes,
> I've been to the archives and my search did turn up some information and
>
> I've visited Stephanie's excellent tile site, but this is a little more
> specific. . . been to the library too. . .please help!)
> Thanks, Claudia Maciel San Jose, CA
>
>
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