Sealing Your Grout

One of the main concerns clients have is their grout. With our tiles you will have lots of grout joints and you want to keep them looking good. The main question I get is if you have to seal the grout. The answer is a big YES! You need to seal your grout about a week after the original grouting. Then continue to seal it twice a year.

I don't recommend the lowest or highest priced sealer but rather the middle of the line. Just take a clean white rag to wipe it on. Allow it to sit for the recommended time and then use another clean white rag to wipe it off. I tend to use old socks or tshirts for this.

Sealing your grout is very important. Make sure to follow the products instructions for times. Your grout will stay beautiful for years.

Sunshine Mosaic

Mosaic art can be extremely thereaputic. I created this latest piece while going through some really rough times. Knowing that something beautiful would come out of something horrible made it a healing mosaic.

Although I see every flaw in this work I am still very happy to have completed it. I used various shades of vitreous glass and one metallic red (Camelot). The tiles were applied using Weldbond on Wediboard. I then cut out the finished design and grouted in black.

Thanksgiving Day Trivet

Nothing would warm your hostess more than to receive this wonderful gift on Thanksgiving. A handmade Thanksgiving Day Trivet, will look great on the table while serving dinner.These are easy to make.

All you need are: 8" ceramic tile
carbon paper
Thanksgiving themed coloring sheet
pencil or pen
Art Tile Collection glass tiles
Weldbond
wheeled cutters
grouting kit (grout, gloves, paper towels, newspaper, plastic spoon, plastic bowl)

The coloring sheets can be printed off of many websites. Just make sure it is a large simple design. Some examples would be of a pumpkin, Indian corn, turkey, etc. Lay the carbon paper (carbon side down) on the top of the ceramic tile, then lay your coloring sheet on top of that. Trace the pattern onto the ceramic tile with your pen or pencil. When you finish, the carbon paper should have left the design on the top of your ceramic tile.

Now you just need to take your mosaic tiles and glue them onto the design in whatever fashion you want. Use your wheeled cutters to nip the tiles into smaller pieces to fit the design better. Use a dab of Weldbond on the back of each tile to adhere the glass to the ceramic.

Once you finish this, allow it to dry overnight. The next day, you can grout as usual. Be sure to seal the grout with a good grout sealant to protect against any spills that happen at the dinner table!

***NOTE: This is also a fun project to keep the kids busy after eating your Thanksgiving dinner. Gather them around the table and let everyone create!

Tell Us About You, The Mosaic Artist

Although most of our clientele are builders, contractors, and people redoing their own homes, we have a huge group of mosaic artists that come to us for supplies, suggestions, and hints. I love any opportunity to work with this amazing group. I had an artist in our warehouse yesterday and got the chance to discuss lots of techniques, what would work, what wouldn't, etc. It is so energizing to see the mosaic mind toiling through the creative path.



So we want our mosaic friends to sound off here. Share with everyone how long you have been creating, what you like/hate to use, if you have a website, etc. Just reply to this post and sound off about yourself as a mosaic artist.



***For those that want to share, we will share too. Contact us at okglasstile@gmail.com to let us know you posted on this blog and we will send you a free 1/2 pound bag of Art Tile Minis.

School Mosaic Project Idea

I often go into the local schools and teach kids how to create a mosaic. I have learned a few tricks that make it easier and less expensive.

Materials needed:

4" Ceramic Tile
100 Tiny Tiles (3/8") per student
Jug of Weldbond
Plastic Bowls
Cotton Swabs
Grouting Materials

First of all cover the tables with newspaper or something similar. The kids will get glue on the tables. Pour out a little glue into several bowls. I usually provide one bowl for every 4 kids. Lay out 4 cotton swabs per child.

The 4" ceramic tile will hold 10 tiny tiles going across and down with a 1/16" grout joint. I tell the kids to use their swab to create a heavy line of glue going across the top and down the side of the 4" tile. You have to tell them to sort of make a bed of glue. They are taught in school to not use much glue but here they need to or you will have tiles popping off during grouting. They should then place the 10 tiny tiles going across the top and 9 more going down the side. Check to make sure they have them lined up to the edge and have enough glue. The kids will then just fill in the rest of the area using the first two lines as guides.

You will have to check constantly to make sure they are keeping grout joints and keeping the tiles lined up and pushed to the edge. Some kids will finish in 10 minutes while others will take and hour.

Note: They can plan ahead and have a 10x10 grid paper colored in with their design. This works especially well with kids in 4th grade and older.

Free Shipping on Orders Over $200

It is that time of year again for you to save huge on shipping charges. Just order $200 worth of mosaic goodies and get your UPS Ground shipping for free. This cool offer is only valid for shipping within the Continental US though.

Don't forget our Clearance Section while shopping!

Team Logo Mosaics

Don't forget to make a mosaic for your favorite football team. Try creating their logo, mascot, or just a random mix of the team colors. With so many colors available in glass tile you should have no problem matching to your sports fan's team.

Some ideas for application:

• Trivet to serve the snacks on
• Table top for your sports venue
• A custom piece to install on your kitchen or bar backsplash
• Picture frame that can hold a pic of you at the game

What other ideas do you have?

Iridescent Glass Tile

Add pizzazz to your backsplash or swimming pool using iridescent glass tile. You can purchase this type of tile with a very high iridescence or a subtle shimmer. Select your shine based on your personal style.

Iridescent tile can be installed in most places. I don't recommend putting it on floors though. The shimmer will dull or scratch eventually.

Adhesives for Mosaic Installation

Choosing the correct adhesive for a mosaic art project is more difficult than selecting the correct adhesive for your kitchen backsplash.

Before starting that first mosaic project, the artist must decide upon the correct adhesive. Choosing the glue will insure that the mosaic will last forever. If you choose the wrong adhesive then be certain that your tesserae will not last long on the surface no matter where it is placed or how well it is prepared.

There are several types of adhesives. Each one works better with different surfaces and tesserae. Gaining a better understanding of these choices makes creating your mosaic more enjoyable and less worrisome.

PVA Glues

PVA glue is simply a water soluble adhesive. It is easy to clean up by just using water. For this reason do not use a PVA glue on any project that will be kept outdoors. Even if the piece will be kept under a covered patio, the humidity will still affect the fortitude of the glue. So a PVA glue is only good for indoor use.

This glue has several uses in mosaic art. Mixing 1/5 PVA glue with 4/5 water, gives you a great sealant for wood surfaces. Simply brush on and allow to soak in. After it has dried then you can just mosaic on top.

This glue can also be used to adhere tiles to fiberglass mesh in the double direct method. Use full strength but sparingly so that it doesn’t completely cover your mesh. You need to make sure there is room for the final adhesive to get through to the tiles.

PVA glues can be used with any type of tesserae and are easily used on wooden and acrylic surfaces. It typically comes in a squeeze bottle and is perfect for children since there is no odor. The most popular brand in mosaic art is Weldbond since it dries clear.

Thinset Mortar

This cement based adhesive is the best glue for exterior projects. It typically comes in gray or white and can be tinted with grout colorants for self grouting pieces. There are several brands to choose from at your local hardware store. The only drawback is that you have to purchase it in large quantities of 25 pounds or more. Some mosaic supply companies offer thinset in smaller quantities for people that just want to try it out.

Thinset mortar is best used on cement, backer board, wood, and terra cotta surfaces. It bonds well with most porous surfaces. Do not use thinset on glass or metal surfaces as it will not adhere. This is the ideal adhesive for concrete stepping stones.

This adhesive can be very messy to use. The instructions state to mix this powder with water. However, it is highly recommended to mix well with an admix of either latex or acrylic. Admixes are a liquid that makes the thinset very sticky and easier to adhere to glass tiles and other nonporous objects. Only mix a small amount at a time. Once the thinset starts to haze over on top then you must throw it away. So mix just enough to cover a workable area of about 30 minutes. Do not buy the premixed thinset as it is not as good as working with the dry mix and admix.

Use gloves and a mask when mixing the thinset. Also use materials that can be discarded when mixing and working with thinset such as plastic containers, plastic spoons, old rags, newspaper. Once you finish just throw away everything. Don’t try to reuse containers with thinset inside. Never wash thinset down a sink drain. It will stop up your pipes!

Silicone

Silicone is perfect for adhering tesserae to glass and acrylic. It is typically clear and works great for placing transparent glass on a glass surface. Silicone is also rated for exterior use.
It usually comes in a tube or caulking gun. It is somewhat difficult to get used to working with though. Silicone tends to get stringy when being applied. Take care not to get it on top of your tiles. If you apply it too thick then it will squish up between your tiles and could lead to a mess.

Epoxy

Epoxy is the best adhesive for applying tesserae to metal. It holds up well outdoors and can be used with any type of tiling material. It can also be used on other surfaces like wood and glass.
Epoxy is difficult to use. It comes in a two part series. You have to mix each part together and use quickly. Only mix a little at a time or you will waste a lot. Benefits are that it is a very strong adhesive and it dries clear . This has a very strong odor so use in a well ventilated area.

Other Glues

There are many other types of adhesives that different mosaic artists rely upon. When you find a new glue, read the label carefully to make sure it will do what you need. Check to see if it is for exterior use, highly toxic, and what surfaces it can touch.

Some other brands that are well liked by many mosaic artists include Liquid Nails for Small Projects, MacGlue, and Gorilla Glue. If you are not sure about a new adhesive, then try a little on a small piece and see what you think.

Unfortunately you will learn that some adhesives are not good at all. Some make a huge mess. Once you find an adhesive that you like, then use it as often as you can.

Clearance Items Added

Check out the new supply of clearance items that we are offering. We bought out a company of all their iridescent glass tile and have it now available to you at a fraction of the price.

This glass mosaic tile is perfect for most installations including wet areas and outdoors. These can be installed in kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms, swimming pools, and all other architectural installations. However, we do not recommend these for floors.Our tiles are also perfect for the mosaic artist or hobbyist. These mosaic tiles cut easily with our wheeled cutters. Use thinset or Weldbond to adhere our tiles to your surface.Each tile measures 5/8" x 5/8" x 1/8". These come loose in a bag.

Supplies are very limited and once this tile is gone, it is gone forever.

$12 UPS Ground Shipping

We are making it easier and cheaper for you to get our tiles to your home. Flat rate $12 shipping for all US Continental residents! This offer will last until October 31, 2009. No coupon code required, just choose the UPS Shipping Promo option during checkout.

Enjoy this gift from us!

Two Tone Grouting

Let's say that you put up our glass mosaic tile in your bathroom shower surround. You choose the White on White Blend for the walls. Then you decide to put our Ebony black on the floor. When it comes to time to grout, you may have some trouble deciding on a color. If you choose a light grout for the white tiles then the black will look very broken. However if you choose a dark grout for the black tiles, the whites will look broken.

Now let's say that you are going to create a cool mosaic stripe look. You will run stripes of three colors down the wall. One color is red, one color is white, and one color is dark gray. Once again, you have a grout color problem. If you choose a dark gray grout then the white will be severly broken up. Too light and the gray will look horrible.

So what do you do??? Two tone grouting is the answer. Simply grout each section separately. You will need that blue painters tape and lots of newspaper or kraft paper. I recommend grouting with the dark grout first so it can't stain the lighter grout. Carefully tape off the section that you are going to grout. Make sure you have a clean line of tape so your grout joint is straight. Now completely cover the section that you don't want to grout with the newspaper. Take no chances as grouting can be very messy.

Grout all the sections that need the dark grout and wipe it down completely. Make sure to pull the tape off within 10 minutes. Totally clean up all the dark grout so you don't accidentally get it mixed in with the lighter grout. Wait until the dark grout has set up. Now repeat the steps with the light grout.

You are finished and have great looking grout joints that no one will see because they should be focused on your tile work instead!

Face Mounted Tile

Most of the glass tile that we carry at Glass Tile of Oklahoma is face mounted on paper. Many people ask why it comes this way. The answer is very simple. Our glass tiles are typically 3/4" x 3/4". During an installation we want as much of the back of each tile to get a good bond with the adhesive as possible. If there is a layer of mesh backing then that is less area for the thinset to grab the glass.

This seems to be a sore spot for installers if they have never had any experience installing it this way. I have actually heard of guys installing the sheets backwards with the paper facing in. Once the paper gets wet from the thinset, the tiles will begin to just fall off.


Although it is not as easy as back mounted tiles, there really is only one extra step during installation. You will have to wet the paper and pull it off after the sheets are up.


We always recommend a professional tile person for installing our glass tile. Please make sure to ask if they have experience in face mounted tile. If not, your installer can call us and we will walk them through the process. They can also refer to our Installation Guide.

Art Tile Collection

Our Art Tile Collection is a versatile, colorful line of glass mosaic tile. The tiles are what we call vitreous glass. Their main characteristic is that the surface is somewhat speckled. This is true for all colors except the reds, oranges, yellows, and black. These colors have a perfectly smooth, slick surface.

The Art Tile Collection can be used in all installations including outdoors. They are great for use in:

• Swimming Pools
• All flooring
• Showers/Baths including the floor of the shower
• Kitchen Backsplashes
• Outdoor Kitchens

These are just some of the best applications. The textured surface along with the multiple grout lines make these tiles very slip resistant. They are also great for artists since the color palette is so vast.

We sell this tile in solid colors, Signature Blends, and custom blends. You can create your own blend using however many colors you want. Call us to find out more information on this wonderful tool.

The Art Tile Collection is sold by the sheet which measures 1.15 sq ft and has 225 tiles on a sheet. Each tile measures 3/4" x 3/4" x 1/8". These are face mounted on paper for the best installation. Click here for an installation guide.

Glass Bricks

Subway tiles are finally here! Our Glass Bricks are just what you are looking for to cover your backsplash in your kitchen. We have 3 different colors available: Canyon, Quagmire, and White Ice.

Our Glass Bricks are all about the shape. These subway tiles are elegant rectangles mounted in a brick pattern. The tiles have a frosted finish giving a warm feel. These rich colors are striking and will give your installation movement. Our Glass Bricks are recommended for all installations including floors and wet areas plus they can be used outdoors.

Each tile measures 30mmx13mm or approximately 1 1/4" x 5/8" x 1/8" and come back mounted on mesh. Sheets are 1 sq ft. Each tile is different!

Choosing Your Grout Color

Picking out the best color of grout for your completed project is extremely important. The wrong color can destroy your piece. This is true for mosaic art and for residential and commercial installations.

First understand that grout is just a filler. It is not an adhesive! It is simply for you to fill in the gaps between your tiles. It will smooth out the overall look of your piece and will hide some ragged edges on your glass.In the tile industry there is a rule of thumb for grout colors. Gray and brown are always good choices with varying shades depending upon your overall color. If you are using mainly cool colors then choose gray grout, if using warm colors then use brown grout. For an overall light effect, choose a light colored grout and for darker tiles use a dark grout. So if you do your piece in mostly a rich cobalt blue with a hint of light aqua and white thrown, a dark gray grout is recommended. The cobalt is a cool color and dark tile. If you choose to do your piece in varying shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, then a medium tone brown grout is recommended.

It gets tricky when you use both warm and cool colors in the same area. For instance, suppose you are creating a mosaic of a brown duck floating in a pool of water with a blue sky. Here your focal point is the brown duck which is warm and the background is the water and sky are a cool blue and blue green. You really want the duck to stand out not the water and sky. You could grout in two colors (one for the duck and one for everything else) but that is a lot of work. To pick the proper grout color for this piece focus on the duck. If you were to use anything but brown then your duck would be severely fractured (you would see every individual tile piece). In order to keep your duck whole, you must use a brown grout. Now envision the background with brown grout. It will be fractured a bit if you use the wrong shade of brown. If your background is light then use a light to medium brown grout. If it is medium to dark then use a corresponding grout color. This allows you to keep your duck as the focus while incorporating the background into the entire scene.

Using the neutral grout colors will make it to where people don't see the grout, only the flow of the tiles. However, what if you want to make your grout joints stand out? Black and white will do this. Black grout is an amazing choice for those brightly colored tiles. It will give your piece a leaded stained glass feel. White will fracture your entire piece so use it sparingly. I only recommend white grout when most of your tiles are white. It is not as pleasing to the eye. These are great grout colors to use when creating a geometric piece since they really accent the grout joints and pull out the geometry of the piece.

Grout colorants can give you a ton of options for grout color. Grout colorants are a strong concrete dye that resists fading. A little goes a long way! Just a teaspoon will tint 2 cups of grout to the dark shades. Adding it to white grout gives you brighter colors. Some people will add it to gray grout. You will still get the colors but they are muted. You can also add the colorant to thinset and concrete (like your stepping stones).

Try mixing different colors together too. Mix terra cotta grout with brown colorant. This takes the edge off of the redness of the terra cotta giving you a rich grout color. Also mix black grout with white grout to achieve gray tones. How about mixing blue and red colorant to get a beautiful purple? Maybe add sandstone colorant to terra cotta grout for a rich goldenrod grout.

The possibilities are endless! Remember to mix enough of your grout to complete your entire project if using grout colorant. You won’t be able to copy the exact shade for the next batch. Grout can ruin a piece or installation if you are not careful. However, it can greatly enhance your mosaic project when done correctly. You will definitely see a completely different picture after grouting.

Glass Mosaic Tile for the Kitchen

Adding glass tile to your kitchen is both aesthetic and valuable. The kitchen is a gathering place for many families. Mosaic tiles are beautiful to look at and make this space even more comfortable for dinners and parties. Glass tile also increases the value of your home even though you can spend as little as $2 per square foot on the tiles.

Many people have glass mosaic tile installed on their backsplash area. This is the space behind the counters between the top and bottom cabinets. You can usually tile this with 30 square feet or less of product, making it an economical project.

The space behind the stove is usually treated with special consideration. This is a larger area so feel free to do something a little more decorative here. If you choose to do a blend of metallic glass and vitreous glass on the backsplash then try just doing a solid metallic glass behind the stove. You can even do an extravagant mosaic picture for this larger space.

The backsplash is the most popular place for glass tile but there are other areas that these little tiles work well. You need to know that the small mosaic tiles will make a space look larger so using these tiles in a small kitchen will dramatically increase the look of the room size. Many glass tiles can be installed on a floor. Check with the supplier to see which ones are suitable. Installed in a small kitchen, mosaic tile will visually enlarge the size of the space.

Another idea would be to install a custom blend of glass tiles on a complete wall in your kitchen. This could be done on a wall that is opposite your counter space or even the part of the wall that touches your backsplash area. If your kitchen has the dining area combination then the glass tiles are a great way to separate the two areas.

Tiling the wall under a bar in the kitchen is a perfect application. When people sit at the bar they tend to kick the wall. This will eventually wear down the wall and keep it scuffed up. Glass tile is very durable and can withstand the daily knocks. Since it is glass, it is very easy to clean by using your everyday household cleaners.

Adding sparkle and elegance to your kitchen can be affordable and fun. Every kitchen is different but all can be tiled from floor to ceiling if the owner desires.

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