Nowadays, people are increasingly building pools in their suburban homes. Some hire professional workers for this, while others engage in construction on their own. Mosaic for pools is the most common finishing material. Experts recommend using it when facing walls and the bottom of the structure.
Mosaic for the pool
Mosaic is a finishing material, which is small fragments in size. They can be made of glass or ceramic tiles. The first material is most preferred. The fact is that ceramics are coated on top with decorative glaze, which over time can be destroyed. With constant contact with water, damaged tiles begin to accumulate moisture inside themselves and lose their waterproof properties.
Glass mosaic for the pool does not lose water-repellent qualities even when defects appear on its surface during installation or after prolonged use. The material is characterized by high strength and low coefficient of water absorption. It’s easy to work with him, and in case of damage to individual parts, they are easy to replace without violating the entire composition. In addition, the glass mosaic is frost-resistant, which is an undeniable advantage for pools located in an open area or in the summer pavilion.
The choice of material for work
It was said above that mosaic for pools is made of various materials. Specialty stores offer a huge selection of finishes of any color scheme. It can be a mosaic of uniform color or various patterns and images. The choice of material depends on personal tastes and preferences. Specialists can easily help you find the right mosaic and calculate the number of parts.
If you intend to make the pool yourself, it is best to consult with the seller. Based on your wishes and climatic features of the area, he will offer the most suitable option. When buying a mosaic, it is recommended to take material with a small margin. Cracks or chips may form on glass parts during operation. Such elements should be replaced immediately so as not to return to restoration in the future.
Glue for facing the pool
When the mosaic for the pool is purchased, you need to take care of the purchase of glue. This issue should be approached responsibly, since the strength of the finish, and therefore the quality of the whole structure, depends on the glue base.
Mosaic mixes are sold in the same shops where you bought the finishing materials themselves. The main quality that the glue should have is moisture resistance. Otherwise, under the influence of water, the lining will begin to lag. Today, there are special mixtures that can do without the use of grout. They are white in color and look aesthetically pleasing, filling the seams.
Well, with a choice of glue sorted out. Now you need to figure out how to work with it and on what surface it can be applied.
Surface preparation
Laying mosaics in the pool should be on a flat surface, free from dust and dirt. For leveling, a primer is used. If the pool bowl is covered with a cracked layer of paint, it is necessary to remove it if possible.
The primer should be diluted in containers with water and immediately start processing the walls and bottom of the pool bowl. You can apply the mixture with a wide spatula. It is recommended to use plumb so that the surface is smooth. It is better to start from the corner and gradually move along the wall. When the bowl is primed, let the solution dry well during the day. After that, you can proceed to the application of glue and cladding.
Laying mosaics in the pool
We dilute the glue with water in accordance with the instructions printed on the package. Mix the mixture thoroughly so that all lumps disappear. It should be homogeneous in composition. The consistency of the solution can be changed during the installation of the mosaic, if suddenly it turns out to be too liquid or, conversely, thick.
Starting the cladding is recommended from the top of the wall. To make the seams even, you can make vertical markings on the surface. Glue should be applied to a width of not more than three mosaic blocks. After this, the solution needs to be aligned with a spatula with serrated edges to create a relief and attach a sheet of material. Glue parts of the mosaic should be at a small distance from each other. The seam should be the same everywhere.
Mosaic decoration of the pool should be carried out in two directions: several blocks to the side from the corner and down to the bottom. It is better to remove the glue that has come out immediately with a spatula, without waiting for it to dry. After finishing the walls of the pool, you can proceed to facing the bottom. It is performed similarly.
How to cut a mosaic
When you reach the corner of the wall, you will certainly encounter the need to cut the mosaic. To do this with high accuracy, you should find out the sizes of the necessary fragments. To do this, you can use a ruler or tape measure. Next, on the tiles themselves, you should put labels along which cutting will already occur.
Tile mosaic for the pool is cut using a special device. Do not try to break it with wire cutters, because as a result, most likely, you will get uneven edges. It is better to work with a tile cutter or glass cutter clearly in a drawn line. Some stick adhesive tape to the surface of the material so that the edges do not break off. Cut fragments are glued to the walls in the same way as whole ones.
It is recommended to perform mosaic cutting work with gloves. During the cutting process, small glass chips are formed, so hands must be washed thoroughly after that. The workplace should also be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth.
How to overwrite seams
To mosaic for pools looked aesthetically pleasing, the seams should be wiped. This is done using a special composition. First of all, you need to prepare the necessary devices. We will need: grout itself, a container for diluting the solution, a rubber spatula and a rag to immediately remove excess mixture.
You can use glue as a grout. The main thing is that it is waterproof and airtight, as well as frost-resistant. Usually the grout is selected according to the color of the mosaic. The seam width is also important. If it does not exceed 4 mm, a fine-grained mixture should be used, and if the seam is larger, coarse-grained.
Remember that you can overwrite the mosaic only after the complete drying of the solution on which it is laid!
Mosaic grout
The mosaic pool is coming to an end. It remains only to grout. To begin with, you should carefully inspect the entire surface and clean it of protruding glue. From the gaps between the tiles, the dried mixture must be removed. After that, the mosaic should be wiped with a wet rag from dust and dirt. Make sure that moisture does not linger in the seams.
Now we begin to apply the diluted grout. This is done with a rubber spatula on a small surface area. Rub the grout into the unfilled seams on the diagonal of the tile - first to the right, and then to the left.
It is recommended to remove excess grouting after 10-20 minutes with a wet abrasive sponge. If you leave them for a long time, the solution will harden, and it will be difficult to remove it. When the grout has dried, the remaining dust can be wiped off with a dry cloth.
Remember that between drying the mixture and pouring the pool should be at least 20 days.
This is how mosaic for pools fits. This process is lengthy and requires accuracy. If there is a desire and opportunities, you can cope with such work yourself. The main thing is not to rush and do everything carefully so that the result can be enjoyed for many years.