ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET on mon 10 nov 03
I have tried to look this up in the archives but cannot find an answer so ...
I want to build up an area in my yard and will need a small decorative retaining wall.
I will want to cover this wall with some of my tiles.
Now, based on the fact that the retaining wall will be mostly decorative and about a foot
high ... or 18" at most .... North Carolina climate with variable short lengths of time below
freezing.....
What would I use for the wall that I could stick tiles to?
What would you use for adhesive/grout?
These tiles are high fired with very little glaze ... very groggy ... so I am not concerned
with cracking since all my other outdoor work seems to get along very well with the
climate .....
Any ideas?
Thanks so much
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - I attended a memorial service yesterday for Brita
Tate, a local potter and former president of the Triangle Potters Guild .... I was surprised
to find out she used to be a member of the Swedish Army back in 1942 ... now I know
why she ran everything so well ! Brita was a very interesting person and will be missed
by all members of the pottery community. An endowment fund has been set up in her
name for the North Carolina State University Craft Center.
Christy Pines on mon 10 nov 03
I have a wall in my backyard in Connecticut, made from cinder block, and quite old. Exposed to the elements. I took all of my bad old pots, and made a mosaic on the wall. Smashed them with a sledge hammer. So satisfying.
At Home Depot, in the tile department, I was able to buy mortar that was rated for indoor and outdoor use, and that had the adhesive already in it that made it stick to the old concrete. I was careful to cover it with tarps for several days while I let the mortar cure. I bought grout but did not use it, since all the pieces are of varying thicknesses. I thought it would be too hard, and possibly unnecessary.
It looks amazing, was easy to do. We'll see what happens after it goes through a New England winter!! But so far, it's had lots of wind and rain on it and it's doing fine. Come spring, I'm going to build cement planters to match!
christy in connecticut
-----Original Message-----
From: ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET
Sent: Nov 10, 2003 9:22 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Retaining Wall & Tile
I have tried to look this up in the archives but cannot find an answer so ...
I want to build up an area in my yard and will need a small decorative retaining wall.
I will want to cover this wall with some of my tiles.
Now, based on the fact that the retaining wall will be mostly decorative and about a foot
high ... or 18" at most .... North Carolina climate with variable short lengths of time below
freezing.....
What would I use for the wall that I could stick tiles to?
What would you use for adhesive/grout?
These tiles are high fired with very little glaze ... very groggy ... so I am not concerned
with cracking since all my other outdoor work seems to get along very well with the
climate .....
Any ideas?
wayneinkeywest on mon 10 nov 03
Chris:
For the wall, being that small, you can use anything,
either wood or concrete, even concrete block.
You can always find an adhesive that will stick tile
to it. What immediately springs to mind is
something called "5200" made by 3M. Meant
for marine applications, comes in black, white
and gray. Sticks anything to anything...forever.
We use it a lot building turtle ponds, where a pipe
has to go through the plastic liner and seal, gluing
rocks to the liners and each other...and our hands:>(
Truly amazing stuff.
If you need something to stick tile to concrete
there was a product on the market
known as "thin-set", which was a mortar like
tile adhesive. This is still available, and used
widely down here for adhering tile to concrete,
terrazo, and Chattahoochie rock floors. However....
Your biggest problem is not going to be
temperature, but water incursion. It's the
water getting in to the grout, and behind the
tiles that when freezing, will expand and pop
or crack tiles. (I've seen it crack 6 inch
concrete foundation walls, but that's
another story).
Talk to your local tile distributor.
There is a product on the market that is actually
an epoxy grout. Probably grout with some sort
of plastic or epoxy mixed in. Don't remember
the name of it. Might even be available at your
local Home Improvement store.
From what I've been told, you can use it not only
to adhere the tiles to the wall, but also as a grout
between the tiles.
Failing that, if you go with standard adhesives
and grout, you will want to seal the surface with
something along the lines of "Thompson's Water
Seal". A small brush and a lot of patience will
see the grout lines sealed without brushing it on
the tile surfaces. Or you can use a paint roller
or sprayer and do the whole thing.
One caution, though. You will want to let the
concrete wall "cure" a bit (30 days) before
gluing tiles to it. Too wet otherwise.
Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl
> I have tried to look this up in the archives but cannot find an answer so
...
>
> I want to build up an area in my yard and will need a small decorative
retaining wall.
>
> I will want to cover this wall with some of my tiles.
>
> Now, based on the fact that the retaining wall will be mostly decorative
and about a foot
> high ... or 18" at most .... North Carolina climate with variable short
lengths of time below
> freezing.....
>
> What would I use for the wall that I could stick tiles to?
>
> What would you use for adhesive/grout?
>
> These tiles are high fired with very little glaze ... very groggy ... so I
am not concerned
> with cracking since all my other outdoor work seems to get along very well
with the
> climate .....
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