Mosaic on Concrete?

[Aimerino]

Hi Everyone! I'm brand new here and I am really enjoying the forum so far. I am a mosaic artist and I am going to be doing an installation in a children's garden here in Santa Cruz. The piece is going on cement that has been indented for purposes of laying the mosaic so that it ends up flush with the rest of the cement. Get it? Anyway, I am wondering what the best approach is to setting the mosaic. I have been told that it would be best to have the area bedded with mud (for purposes of leveling as well as adding some height to the area) and then have the mosaic done directly on the layer of mud. The plan that I was considering was to do the mosaic on a round piece of wonderboard and after the mosaic is finished, set it in the circle with some sort of epoxy. I was wondering if I did it my way what sort of epoxy would I use to set the mosaic into the cement? Remember that it will be on wonderboard. Does anyone have any good ideas or thoughts that can get me going on this project? Thanks everyone!

[John Bridge]

Hello Artist, Welcome.

Isn't Santa Cruz just a little to the south or west of San Jose? What I'm driving at is that you do get a little frost up in that area?

The mud idea is the best, but that puts you on site throughout the project. I understand your reluctance.

I really don't know about the Wonderboard, and I don't know whether epoxy is the way to go. Wonderboard is usually installed with thin set and mechanical fasteners.

Let's see if someone here knows more than I do.

(I have no doubt that someone knows more than I do. )

[Aimerino]

Thanks very much, John. Yes, Santa Cruz is south of San Jose and as far to the west as you can get. we do get frost, but even then it's still paradise here. Today it's a lovely 76 degrees and feels like summer!

I wasn't even sure if that material was CALLED Wonderboard anymore. There is no chance that I would be able to anchor the board/mosaic down with screws or any fasteners so I would have to use Thinset. I just wonder if Thinset would do the job of keeping the board in place so that it doesn't separate from the concrete it's set on. If I did a layer of mud to bed to mosaic in, could I then set my mosaic directly on the CURED mud using Thinset to anchor the pieces of tile? What is mud, anyway? Do you not think that it might be a feasible material in which to set a piece of Wonderboard or similar type of backing board? Thanks for all your input.

Amy

[John Bridge]

Amy,

Mud is cement mortar, i.e., exterior plaster or "stucco." It's used in our business to level things up and also as a setting bed for tile installations. Among other things, the "mud" tends to buffer the installation from the base. You will find that many if not most exterior mosiacs are set in mortar.

I just remembered we have a local mosaic artist who is also a tile setter not far from here in Galveston. His name is Roy Cruz. Here's his web site. I'll bet he knows something that will help you.

http://www.nol.net/~rcruz/

[Bud Cline]

How big is this piece and why epoxy???

[Aimerino]

Well, the piece is 4' in diameter, and I just mentioned epoxy because that's at term I'm familiar with. What I'm looking for is a good solution to setting a mosaic made on Wonderboard or other similar base board and then setting into concrete. What will keep the board/mosaic stuck to the cement? I am thinking that Thinset would be my best bet. Any ideas?

Amy

[John Bridge]

Hi Amy,

I'm thinking thin set would be your best bet, too. Wonderboard does come in 4-foot-wide sheets, also.

We're you able to contact Roy Cruz? I think he does a lot of his stuff on backer board.

[Aimerino]

Hi and thanks for your advice. I haven't actually had time to email Mr. Cruz as to what his recommendation would be, but I think that I have found the solution from a contractor friend of mine. The plan as it stands now is to do the mosaic on Wonderboard and leave a few key places unfettered by any decoration so that when the piece is brought to the site where it will be installed it can be secured to the cement with that certain type of blue screw that goes into cement. Of course I would also set the piece in with Thinset, but the screws would just be added insurance that it stayed in place. Once set with the Thinset and the concrete screws I could then finish the mosaic installation. Easy, huh?!!
Thanks again for all your help and time. I am sure you will hear back from me soon on an equally perplexing matter.

[John Bridge]

Amy,

We would be privileged if you could post a picture of the completed project here.

[Aimerino]

Thank you so much! I will definitely share the end product with you once I get the piece finished and installed. I love giving myself as much exposure as possible! Thanks for your interest and encouragement.

Amy