You decided to update the interior a bit in your bathroom or kitchen, but for the first time you faced a mosaic . It is quite expensive and delicate material, with which it is necessary to work carefully, carrying out a number of necessary rules. No one wants to make a number of mistakes, throwing a large sum of money into the wind. That is why it is necessary to take into account all possible nuances. An important issue is the choice of the adhesive that you will need to work with. It is very important to choose a quality composition for working with mosaic. This does not fit any glue that is sold in stores. It should have special qualities and a number of advantages, in comparison with the materials used for conventional ceramic tiles .
How to choose glue for glass mosaic?
Some builders are trying to save money, and they use ordinary glue for mosaic, which they use for simple tiles. But here you can face some difficulties. If you mix the solution in the usual way, it will be somewhat liquid for the mosaic, and a densely mixed composition can simply not hold it. In addition, it must be taken into account that the composition of your glue can be aggressive with respect to the delicate surface of the decorative material. You can accidentally damage the back of the mosaic tile.
It is better to buy special glue from a well-known company. Manufacturers such as Ceresit and Knauf are known to many consumers around the world. You can buy quality compounds of other brands - Russian Eunice (Unis), EK, Italian company Litokol (Litokol), IVSIL Mosaic (MOSAIK). The main thing is that this product is not fake and conforms to all regulations. The packaging should indicate that the composition is suitable for laying mosaic of transparent and translucent materials. It must be necessarily a white glue for the mosaic, so that it does not appear translucent. On the packaging there should be a marking about the conditions under which it can be used - living quarters, facades, bathroom, furniture decor and others.
If you mix this tile adhesive for mosaic with water, strictly following the instructions, you will get a solution that resembles homemade sour cream. The density of this "test" allows the mosaic tile not to fail with the slightest pressure on the fingers. The builder can calmly adjust its position, if in the process of laying this becomes necessary.
Mosaic tiling
With glue we are determined, but we must not forget about the surface on which we will apply it. It is necessary to make it as flat as possible, clean and dry. The glue is able to slightly level out some minor roughness and defects, but with large irregularities it is necessary to cope in advance. The temperature in the room should be between +5 and +30 degrees Celsius. That surface of the wall on which you are going to glue the mosaic, it is advisable to delineate into squares. They must match the size of the mosaic modules. This preliminary work will help you in the future to perform all the seams as smooth as possible.
Apply glue for mosaic need a special spatula, with the height of the teeth 3-3.5 mm, simultaneously on both surfaces. The mortar grasps relatively quickly and should not be applied to too much wall area. Then the mosaic tiles are pressed against the wall and rolled with a roller to better grasp. Sometimes you need to tap with a rubber hammer to level the surface. Be sure to check the work done so that the rows are even, use the guide profile for this. After 15-20 minutes, you can moisten and remove the paper layer, which protects the mosaic from damage. While the solution is not completely frozen, you still have the opportunity to correct the masonry in a problematic area a little. After a couple of days, start the final cleaning of the seams with a rubber float.