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I am a beginner and plan to do a ceiling mosaic... any advice?
Sure: don't do it. We recommend starting with something simpler.
How do I get started?
You'll probably want to start out with at least one book on the art. We currently carry eight Mosaic Books. Most of them have 'How To' sections that teach you the basic ideas and techniques. They also cover the different media that you can use to create a mosaic project. You can also check out your favorite online booksellers (such as Powells, Amazon or Barnes & Noble) for an even greater selection.
There are also a number of studios and stores that offer mosaic classes. Check our Links section for a few pointers on where to find them.
If you would rather jump straight into your own project, you might want to try out some of our Mosaic Kits. Each kit contains everything you need to get started on a simple project.
My project is «blank» in size. How many tile do I need?
You can use our handy Tile Calculator!
There are approximately 225 of our 3/4" tiles to the square foot. This number can vary due to the spacing of your tile. Also, if you break the tile for use in your mosaic, there will be more grout and less tile per square foot.
A 1-pound bag of our 3/4" tile (unbroken) covers approximately 90 square inches (a square area 9" on one side and 10" on the other).
How many tile come in each package?
Our 3/4" tile comes in both 1/2-pound and 1-pound packages. There are approximately 70 tile per 1/2-pound bag and approximately 140 tile per 1-pound bag.
Our 3/8" tile comes in both 1/6-pound, 1/2-pound (color families only) and 1-pound packages. There are approximately 100 tile per 1/6-pound bag, 300 tile per 1/2-pound bag and approximately 600 tile per 1-pound bag.
As tile weight varies by color, there may be more or less per bag. The metallics are the heaviest tiles, so there will be less of them per bag.
Can I use your tile as a flooring material?
You can use our tile in flooring applications. Our tile will withstand the pressure of normal foot traffic, but they should not be used in areas of heavy traffic or under heavy weight (such as under a refrigerator or on a skateboard ramp).
A more important factor to consider is the integrity of the substrate onto which you will be adhering your mosaic. If your floor substrate is uneven or flexible, this will very likely cause the tile to shift and crack. At the very least, this will cause the setting and binding materials to degrade and come apart.
Are the tiles heat proof for fireplaces?
Our tile are highly heat-resistant and are not resistant to thermal shocks. They can be used as fireplace-surrounds, trivets and similar projects.
The main consideration you should have when using the tile in any high-temperature environment is to make sure that your adhesive and binding materials are similarly heat-resistant.
Can I use them in a bathroom? Are they water-proof? Can I use them outdoors?
Yep! Our tile are impervious to water and will not absorb moisture and chemicals. They can be used in bathrooms, pools, bird-baths, fountains and such things.
The main consideration you should have when using the tile underwater (or in any high-moisture environment) is to make sure that your adhesive and binding materials are water-proof. It is highly recommended that you use a Mosaic Sealer, as well.
Any suggestions on polishing my tile after the mosaic is completed?
After your mosaic is finished and your grout is dried, you can use mineral or olive oil to polish your tile. Using a soft cloth, sponge or chamois, apply a few drops of oil to the surface of your mosaic and rub it in. This should give you a nice, shiny wet look which will enhance the color of the tile and grout.
You may need to occasionally re-apply a coat of oil to restore this look.
Which nippers should I use?
We offer six different styles of Mosaic Tile Nippers. Each nipper is a little different, so here is a rough guide.
Our Basic Nipper is a standard off-set nipper. The 5/8" blades are held at the edge of the tile and crack them along an even break.
Our Chipper Nipper operates like a pair of scissors. You use the nipper blades to nibble tile into curved and rounded shapes.
Our Wheeled Nipper is different from an off-set nipper in that the blades are rotatable wheels held along the axis of your nipper. The curved wheel blades can produce more even cuts, but may take a bit more practice to master them. An added bonus is that the wheel blades are removable, and thus replaceable for a fraction of the cost of a new nipper.
Our Precision Nipper is a standard off-set nipper. The 7/16" blades are narrower than most other nippers, so it is easier to cut smaller pieces into precise shapes.
Our Professional Nipper is similar to the Basic Nipper. The 5/8" blades are slightly curved to produce a cleaner cut.
Our Duo Plier/Scorer is a standard glass-scoring and breaker tool. This nipper has a scoring wheel, which is used to score a straight line on your tile. You then use the breaker bar to break your glass along the score-line. This is also an excellent tool for larger pieces of glass or ceramic, such as stained glass.
Help! My tile keep breaking when I try to nip them!
If your tile are not nipping very accurately, here are some tips:
Off-Set Nippers:
If you are finding that you are having difficulty nipping tile with offset nippers (such as our Basic Nipper) try this technique: place the nipper blades at a right angle to the edge of the tile, allowing them to overlap the tile no more than 1/3" (8mm). If your nipper covers more than 1/3" of the tile, you will need to squeeze harder and your tile will break unevenly. Give the nippers a gentle, constant squeeze at the end of the handles and watch the tile crack!
Wheeled Nippers:
Wheeled nippers work a bit differently than offset nippers. Rather than break the tile on a line perpendicular to the nipper handles, the wheels will cut the tile parallel to the nipper. As the wheeled blades are curved, you need to place the center of the wheel in the center the line that you wish to cut. Try placing the wheeled blades in the center of your tile and give the nippers a gentle, constant squeeze at the end of the handles. Your tile should cut evenly down the middle.
Ultimately, just treat the tile with respect; they can bite you back if you don't! It is important to concentrate on your nipping with a consistent, deliberate and even pressure.
How much Grout/Adhesive/Primer should I use for my project?
Sanded Grout: one 1-pound bag will cover approximately 2.5 square-feet
Premixed Grout: one 8-ounce container will cover approximately 2 square feet
Adhesive: one 8-ounce bottle covers 4 square-feet
Primer: one 8-ounce bottle covers 16 square-feet (two coats)
What is a "Grout Line"?
A Grout Line is the empty space between the tile. This is where you put your Mosaic Grout.
The width of your grout line may be a factor in deciding which grout you should use: Pre-Mixed or Sanded. Premixed grout should only be used if your grout lines are not wider than 1/2".
What is the difference between Sanded and Premixed Grouts?
Sanded Grout
A mixture of portland cement, sand and special additives providing a dense, acid and alkali-resistant grouting material.
Colored Sanded Grouts also contain color-fast pigments.
Sanded Grout can be used in virtually any application, indoors and out, even when grouting on floors.
Sanded Grout is a porous cement, which means that it can absorb liquid materials after it has dried. This can be good and bad: you can stain your Sanded Grout after it has set with a colored grout stain, or it can be stained accidentally with spilled liquids - watch out for that red wine and grape juice!
See the section on sealing your grout for information on how this can be prevented.
Premixed (Unsanded) Latex Grout
Our special blend of water soluble materials and acrylic-latex additives.
Premixed Grout provides a smooth joint, without the graininess of Sanded Grout.
Premixed Grout is not recommended for use on floors.
Our Premixed Grout can be used in mosaics in which the grout line is up to 1/2" in width.
If you are using unglazed non-glass tile (such as ceramic or terra-cotta) you may want to use the Premixed Grout. These tile are prone to absorbing the moisture from your grout mixture and may become discolored. Premixed Grout has less moisture than a Sanded Grout mixture.
As Premixed Grout is a latex-based admixture, it is not as porous as Sanded Grout. This means that it is less likely to become stained and discolored, but it is more difficult to tint after your grout has dried and set.
What do you use to color grout?
We do have a variety of colored grouts available. If you just can't find the shade that you need, you can tint grout to whatever color you would like.
To tint your lighter colored grout to a different color, you can use powdered grout tints, acrylic paints, powdered tempera or even mix different colored grouts together. You can also experiment with any sort of dye powders.
Just remember to test, test, test your grout mixture on a separate mosaic before you use it on that project you have worked so hard to finish!
Why does grout sometimes crack?
Sanded Grout
Sanded Grout can sometimes crack if there is too much water in your mixture. As grout sets up and dries, the water in your mixture evaporates. If there is too much water in your mixture, the remaining grout will not be dense enough. This can lead to cracking, pin-holing or crumbly grout.
When you mix your grout and water, the correct consistency should be a thick paste (like cream cheese) which will cling to your mixing/spreading tool; it should not drip or slide off.
Premixed (Unsanded) Latex Grout
The most common reason for cracking, pin-holing or slumping with Premixed Latex Grout is inappropriately large grout lines (see above). As Premixed Grout is latex-based, it will shrink when it dries. If the grout line is too wide (more than 1/2"), the grout will shrink to a size smaller than the width of the grout line. This results in cracking, pin-holing or slumping.
I've finished my mosaic, but I left the grout to dry for a few days before cleaning it! How can I clean off the remaining extra grout that is stuck to my tile?
Ah, now that can be an ugly, messy problem! If you've tried scrubbing with a damp sponge or towel and you just can't remove all of the remaining bits of cement, try mixing up a solution of vinegar and water. After coating your mosaic with this solution and letting it sit for a few minutes, use a flat razor blade or spackling tool to scrape off as much of this leftover grout as you can.
Do I need to seal my mosaic once it is completed?
You can, but it is not absolutely necessary. As grout is a porous material, it can become stained or discolored from food or liquid. A grout sealer is often used to protect the Mosaic Grout and the surfaces of porous tile (such as ceramic) from staining.
It would be a good idea to seal the grout if your mosaic will be used as a counter or table top, especially if you are using one of the lighter colored grouts.
If your mosaic will be in an area of heavy foot-traffic, a sealant might be a good idea as it will not only protect from discolorations, but will also make your cleaning and maintenance much easier.
If you do apply a sealer, it is a good idea to wait for approximately one month before applying it to your finished piece. Your grout will have residual moisture for some time after application and it must be given time to wick through before you seal the surface. If not, your grout may become discolored and lose its integrity. And of course, make sure that the surface is clean and dry before you seal!
Can I mosaic on wood/glass/MDF/cardboard, etc?
Basically, you can mosaic on anything. The two main things consider when selecting a substrate is to make sure that it is solid enough to support the weight of your mosaic and to make sure that it is stable enough so that it will not change size and shape due to moisture and temperature changes.
Remember that an unprepared wood surface will often warp, expand and contract. This is the most common reason for the grout of a finished mosaic to crack. One way of minimizing this is to choose a thicker wood or to mount it in a frame or onto a backing material.
Cardboard would not be a very good idea.
Why does Flamingo cost so much more than the other colors?
Flamingo is inherently more expensive than the others. That is because Flamingo tile are manufactured with gold as a colorant, following the traditional Italian glass-making technique.
Do you carry any Gold Smalti? Is Smalti available in single colors?
We carry Italian Smalti in a color assortment and we do not have any gold available. We import our Smalti directly from Italy and it arrives here as a mixture of all colors, so it is not available in single shades.
We do have Gold Vitreous Glass Tile, though.
I am retiling my «blank» which is lined with sheetrock, what do I use to seal the surface?
In the best case scenario, you would apply tile to Green Sheetrock, which is waterproofed for use in bathrooms. Better yet, you may be tiling on Hardibacker, Wonderboard or some other brand of concrete board which will not be affected by moisture. Applying mosaic directly to general sheetrock, which is made of gypsum and is highly absorbent, could well result in premature failure of the mosaic over time. You will want to seal the surface using our Mosaic Tile Primer. This will help prevent moisture from entering the sheetrock and weakening its structure.
Our Primer can be found on our Grout, Primer and Adhesive page.
What can I use for an outdoor table base that won't warp?
Hardibacker or Wonderboard is a great choice for this. They are construction-grade products that you can buy at most places like Lowe's or Home Depot.
How the heck do you grout around Beach Glass?
Most of the time you won't. You can use a thick mastic base into which you can press beach glass, just make sure that the mastic doesn't squeeze out around the edges of your Beach Glass.
My shopping cart was full, but then I couldn't check out because the
credit card wouldn't go through...
Usually, the problem is easily solvable. We use AVS (Address Verification System) as part of our credit card approval process. If you entered in an incorrect Billing Address, then your card may have been declined. Please check your entry and make the necessary corrections. If you have moved within the past few months, try entering your previous address as your current Billing Address. You may have updated your information with your bank, but these updates may take some time to go through all of the various address databases out there.
Finally, make sure that you have enough money in your account!
Can I make an order to be shipped internationally?
Yes. If you would like to have an order shipped outside of the continental the United States, we can do so, but there will be an additional shipping fee. Please place your order using our online system. After we receive your order, we will pack and weigh the merchandise. Following this, we will contact you with the available shipping options and rates.
How do I set up a wholesale account?
To open a wholesale account, we need a copy of your business/resale license on file as proof that you are a business.
You can fax this to us at (415) 282-5413, or send it to:
PO Box 78206
San Francisco, CA. 94107
Please include any relevant credit app/proof-of-business papers you may have. Following this, we can open an account for you.
There is a per-order minimum of $100.
Please contact us for more information.
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