Mosaic is one of the oldest forms of art. The stones used for its manufacture in ancient Greece adorned the walls of palaces and houses of wealthy citizens. Mosaic is considered one of the most refined finishing materials. She always attracted the eyes with her originality, allowing her to create unique interiors. A coffee table, a wall in the bathroom, a kitchen apron and even furniture can take on an amazing look thanks to materials such as mosaics. Laying the mosaic is a rather complicated and painstaking process. Given that such a coating is not afraid of either water or sunlight, it will serve for a very long time.
Types of mosaics
Modern industry produces a huge number of types of this popular material - there is glass mosaic, ceramic, stone, metal, wood, etc.
Especially often used when creating interiors glass mosaic. It features a wide range of colors, textures, sizes and shapes.
Ceramic mosaic resembles a miniature ceramic tile. Its chips are made of ceramics, after which they are textured and heat treated, resulting in a strong and wear-resistant material.
Stone mosaic is the most common type of decoration. The basis for its creation are various rocks. It can be granite, marble, and even semiprecious stones.
Not so long ago, a metal mosaic began to be used. For its manufacture, materials with anti-corrosion properties are used - alloy steel or aluminum.
Wooden mosaics are made from wood species that are resistant to abrasion and moisture. Such decoration is used for interior decoration of both residential premises and sanitary zones.
Not only on the walls, but also on the floor can be laid mosaic of porcelain, as It is particularly impact resistant. Such products can often be found in the collection of ceramic granite.
Despite the complexity and complexity of the process, laying the mosaic with your own hands is a feasible task, if you follow all the necessary rules.
Surface preparation
Before you begin the process of creating mosaics, you need to prepare a workplace. Furniture in the vicinity should be covered with a protective film. To the place of installation, it is necessary to block the supply of electricity and water. The surface on which the mosaic will be glued should be perfectly even and dry, therefore, the walls will need to be sanded, leveled with cement mortar, and then coated with a primer. The mosaic is laid only after the surface has completely dried. Mosaic - the material is quite moody. Therefore, it requires exceptional care when working with it.
Instruments
From the tools you will need the following:
- Construction mixer (for mixing plaster, glue, etc.).
- Comb for more even glue application.
- Level and folding meter for marking.
- Trowel (it is important that it is convenient).
- Corner and rubber grater.
Styling preparation
The mosaic pattern is first laid out on a clean surface, preferably on the floor. If necessary, the tile is trimmed and sized to fit. This is a very meticulous work, but the quality of the finish will directly depend on it. After the layout is completed, glue is kneaded. The adhesive solution is applied to the surface using a notched trowel. It is necessary to ensure that the layer is uniform and not more than 1 cm thick. The serrated edge of the spatula should move at an angle to the wall. Excess glue should be removed from it in time.
Process features
The easiest way to stack - matrix. For this, it is convenient to use ready-made plates on a paper or mesh basis. According to the layout scheme, mosaic tiles can be glued to the area covered with glue. It should be pressed very carefully along the midline, and then smooth the entire sheet with a roller. To align the plane properly, you can use plywood. The sheet needs to be attached to the mosaic and knocked well with a wooden hammer. At the end of the row, the joints between the sheets are aligned using crosses.
Do-it-yourself mosaic laying requires careful checking of how evenly laid sheets are in a common plane. This should be done periodically in the process, using a sheet of plywood and an even ruler.
The protective layer of paper, if present on the mosaic, is immediately removed after stacking.
To facilitate this process, you can use a wet sponge. After that, you need to fix the tile with a spatula and carefully remove the remaining glue until it has time to grasp.
For decoration, a mosaic on the grid is often used. Laying in this case is slightly different. It is important to completely immerse the mesh side in the glue, while maintaining even seams between the elements.
Grout
After a day, you can begin to weld seams. It is necessary to verify their cleanliness and dryness of the surface on which the mosaic is laid. Laying the mosaic involves the use of a special colored grout, which is resistant to moisture, mechanical damage and aggressive detergents. It is applied with an ordinary spatula or rubber grater in such a way as to fill all the seams and holes. Residues must be removed with a soft, damp sponge before the grout dries. Exact adherence to grouting technology is especially important if mosaics are laid in the bathroom, where increased moisture resistance of the joints is required.
Glass mosaic
This is a fairly common type of decorative decoration.
Glass mosaic is the most successful option for decorating fireplaces, stoves, pools or bathrooms due to its unique characteristics. It is absolutely resistant to the aggressive effects of chemicals, temperature extremes and abrasion. This is a completely non-toxic material that does not change its original appearance over time. In addition, a huge assortment of colors and textures is distinguished by glass mosaic. The mosaic is laid in the form of borders, edges or separate panels. Such a finish can surprisingly revive strict geometric surfaces.
Features of laying glass mosaic
All stages of work should be carefully thought out. The first thing to do is take care of the glue. Laying glass mosaics requires the use of special mixtures that do not change the original color of the material and have increased thixotropy. Depending on the size of the mosaic elements, a notched trowel is selected for applying glue. Marking is applied to the prepared surface, after which it is coated with a glue composition of 1 mm. Then a sheet with glass mosaic is laid and pressed firmly against the wall. At the joints, a slight clearance must be allowed. For complete drying of the mosaic, it is required to exclude the influence of moisture and sunlight during the day, after which it is possible to grout the joints.
With the right job, the decoration that uses the mosaic is almost timeless. Laying the mosaic on your own will allow you to be proud of the result and enjoy the resulting beauty for many years.