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U-Mix 3-Separate-Color Penny Round Assortment 1.5-lb

U-Mix 3-Color Assortment of Thinny Pennies 12mm v2

Thinny-Penny U-Mix 3-Color Penny Round Assortment is a bundle of 3 separate penny tile colors (1/2-lb each) that you mix yourself to create a 1.5-lb assortment. The numbers in the assortment name indicate each color in the bundle.

Each 1/2-pound bag contains about 230+ pieces and covers about 1/3 of a square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. That means the complete 1.5-lb assortment bundle should contain about 690+ pieces and cover about 1 square foot.

MORJO™ Thinny-Pennies™ Penny Round Recycled Glass Tiles have a glossy finish, and solid opaque color throughout (not just on the tops or bottoms). Unlike glass gems, another common round tile, Thinny-Pennies™ have a flat and even surface rather than puffed. This makes them much easier to use with other types of glass tile and easier to grout.

Recycled glass is a homogenous material made by fusing powdered glass. It has solid and consistent color all the way through and cuts cleanly and predictably using the Wheel-bladed Mosaic Glass Cutter. Hard, durable, and UV-resistant, it makes great material for commercial exteriors and murals.

Rough Bottoms for Improved Bonding

The bottoms of these tiles are left intentionally rough and chalky from manufacturing for better bonding strength. Rough, scratched, or etched glass surfaces bond more effectively than embossed ridges. Also, while embossed ridges can interfere with cutting, rough bottoms allow smooth controlled cutting.

U-Mix 3-Color Penny Round Assortment 2.5-lb

  • glass penny round tile bundle
  • tile size: ~1/2 inch (12mm) diameter
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: (3) 1/2-lb bags of individual colors
  • yield: 1.5-lb assortment of approximately 690+ tiles
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • shape: circle, penny, flat round
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each sales unit of 1.5 pounds covers about 1 square foot assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. Hard, durable, and UV-resistant, it makes great material for commercial exteriors and murals.

Grout Gap?

Note that dry indoor mosaics do not require grouting, and so for those you can simply mount the tiles tightly together. On the other hand, wet and outdoor mosaics must have grout to prevent water from penetrating behind the tiles. For those, leaving a 1/16-inch gap allows enough grout to adhere between the tiles.

Compatibility

Like most of the glass tile we sell, flat penny rounds have a nominal industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm). You can use these with other brands of recycled glass and even vitreous glass tile.

Cutting Recycled Glass Thinny-Pennies™

Recycled glass cuts like butter using the Mosaic Glass Cutters without creating a lot slivers or cutting waste.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic FAQ page, our How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide. ; [product_table category=”thinny-penny-u-mix-assortments” widths=”auto,auto,12,12,20″] ;

Flame U-Mix 5-Color Assortment 2.5 lbs (44-45-47-48-99)

Flame 12mm penny round assortment

Flame Thinny-Penny U-Mix 5-Color 12mm Penny Round Assortment is a bundle of 5 flame-theme 12mm penny tile colors (1/2-lb each) that you mix yourself to create a 2.5-lb assortment. Each 1/2-pound bag contains about 230+ pieces and covers about 1/3 of a square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. That means the 2.5-lb assortment should contain about 1150+ pieces and cover about 1.66 square feet.

The numbers in the U-Mix assortment name indicate each color in the bundle. This assortment includes: 44-indian yellow, 45-yellow orange, 47-fiery orange, 48-red orange, and 99-butter.

MORJO™ Thinny-Pennies™ Penny Round Recycled Glass Tiles have a glossy finish, and solid opaque color throughout (not just on the tops or bottoms). Unlike glass gems, another common round tile, Thinny-Pennies™ have a flat and even surface rather than puffed. This makes them much easier to use with other types of glass tile and easier to grout.

Flame Thinny-Penny U-Mix 5-Color 12mm Penny Round Assortment 2.5-lb

  • glass penny round tile bundle
  • tile size: ~1/2 inch (12mm) diameter
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: 5x 1/2 bags of individual colors
  • yield: 2.5-lb assortment of approximately 1150+ tiles
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • shape: circle, penny, flat round
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each complete 2.5-lb tile assortment covers 1.66 of a square foot assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

Like most of the glass tile we sell, flat penny rounds have a nominal industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm). You can use these with other brands of recycled glass and even vitreous glass tile.

Cutting Recycled Glass Thinny-Pennies™

Recycled glass cuts like butter using the Mosaic Glass Cutters without creating a lot slivers or cutting waste.

Grouting Round Tile

Note that dry indoor mosaics do not require grouting, and so for those you can simply mount the tiles tightly together. On the other hand, wet and outdoor mosaics must have grout to prevent water from penetrating behind the tiles. For those, leaving a 1/16-inch gap allows enough grout to adhere between the tiles.

Making Mosaic Art with Penny U-Mixes

U-Mix assortments give artists the unique option to customize their color blend. Use penny tiles to create dotted patterns, curves, flower shapes, and round details. Arrange whole pennies or circular segments into swirls, waves and spirals.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic FAQ page, our How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide.

U-Mix 5-Separate-Color Penny Round Assortment 2.5-lb

U-Mix 5-Color Assortment of Thinny Pennies 12mm v4

U-Mix 5-Separate-Color Penny Round Assortment 2.5-lb is 5 bags of 5 different individual colors (1/2 lb) that you mix yourself to create a 2.5-lb assortment. The 2-digit part number of each of these individual colors is listed in the the SKU of the assortment.

Each 1/2-pound bag is approximately 230+ pieces and covers about 1/3 of a square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. That means the 2.5-lb assortment should contain about 1150+ pieces and cover about 1.66 square feet.

These are assortments of MORJO™ Thinny-Pennies™ Penny Round Recycled Glass Tiles. They have a glossy finish, and the glass has solid color throughout (and not just on the tops or bottoms.) They are opaque when mounted on an opaque surface.

The Thinny Pennies are the same thickness as regular glass mosaic tile (4mm or ~1/8 inch) and not fat like glass gems. This makes them much easier to use with other types of glass tile and easier to grout.

The recycled glass is a homogeneous material that cuts cleanly and predictably using the Wheel-bladed Mosaic Glass Cutter. They are hard and durable and UV-resistant and can be used for the exteriors of commercial buildings. The fusing process for making these tiles from powdered recycled glass is referred to as “warm glass” or “enamel glass” or “pate de verre.”

Rough Bottoms for Improved Bonding

The bottoms of these tiles are left intentionally rough from gritty mold release (chalk) for improved bond strength. In my experience, and rough, scratched, or etched glass is more effective than embossed ridges. Rough bottoms also have another important advantage over bottoms with embossed ridges: they can’t interfere with cutting.

U-Mix 5-Separate-Color Penny Round Assortment 2.5-lb

  • glass penny round tile bundle
  • tile size: ~1/2 inch (12mm) diameter
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: 5x 1/2 bags of individual colors
  • yield: 2.5-lb assortment of approximately 1150+ tiles
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each sales unit of 2.5 pounds covers 1.66 of a square foot assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Grout Gap?

Note that dry indoor mosaics do not have to be grouted (and thus you can simply mount the tiles tightly together), but outdoor and wet mosaics must have grout to prevent water from penetrating behind the tiles. The best way to ensure that the gaps between the tiles is to leave a 1/16-inch gap instead of pressing them tightly together, and this point seems counter-intuitive to some people. Consider this: you can never mount them so closely together that water can’t penetrate it, but you can accidentally put them so close that grout doesn’t get adequately pressed into the crack during the grouting process.

Compatibility

These tiles have a nominal thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm), which is the same nominal thickness as most of the glass tile we sell. You can use these with other brands of recycled glass and even vitreous glass, although the graininess of some vitreous colors might not look good when combined with the homogeneous glassiness of recycled glass tiles.

Cutting Recycled Glass Thinny-Pennies™

Recycled glass cuts like butter using the Mosaic Glass Cutters without creating a lot slivers or cutting waste.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide. ; [product_table category=”thinny-penny-u-mix-assortments” widths=”auto,auto,12,12,20″] ;

Hasal Precision Stone Chopping Machine

The Hasal Precision Stone Chopping Machine is a professional cutting system for making precision cuts in marble mosaic tile and hard porcelain. The machine’s upper blade is lowered by a screw mechanism that requires much less effort than handheld cutting tools, and cuts are made smoothly and efficiently. The cutting bed is graduated with guidelines and an adjustable stop for cutting pieces with exact measurement. The maximum thickness the machine can cut is 12mm (1/2 inch).

The cutting blades that come with the machine work very well for most all types of marble and stone, but the tungsten carbide blades (sold separately) are probably a good investment if you will be cutting a lot of basalt or hard porcelain. The upper and lower blades are identical and interchangeable.

The machine is a benchtop device that works best when you bolt it to a work surface, but a small piece of plywood or board can be used instead to make a mobile unit that can easily transported from site to site. A common C-clamp can also be used if you want to quickly move the machine between different work tables.

Hasal Precision Stone Chopping Machine

  • maximum thickness that can be cut: 12mm (1/2 inch)
  • screw mechanism for smooth, efficient cuts.
  • comes with 2 replaceable blades.
  • upper and lower blades are identical and interchangeable.
  • 2 mounting holes in base for bolting to work surface
  • weight: 8 lbs 4 oz
  • box dimensions are 8.5 x 7.5 x 4 inches
  • width of turning handles after attaching knobs: 9.5 inches

Safety and Cutting Tile

The smooth, efficient cuts made by this machine are MUCH safer than those made by handheld nippers, which snap when they cut and send pieces flying all the time. With these machines, you shouldn’t have pieces flying at all, or at least very rarely. That being said, you should still observe the basic safety rules for using a compressive cutting tools:

  • Always wear safety glasses with side shields when cutting.
  • Make sure that you don’t cut tile around people who are not wearing safety glasses. Flying chips could potentially hit their eyes as easily as yours.
  • Be aware that cutting tile of any type can produce sharp edges.
  • Crumbs from cutting can be extremely sharp. Never sweep off a work surface with your bare hand. Use a vacuum or counter brush.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

Mosaic Mounting Tape 3 inches x 108 feet

3inch-mosaic-mounting-tape

Mosaic Mounting Tape 3 inches x 108 feet is a transparent adhesive film used for face-mounting mosaic tile designs for rapid installation. This clear adhesive film bonds strongly enough to mosaic tile for the sheets to be handled and transported (including shipping), but it releases cleanly without residue. It is also water resistant. Note that the roll is 3 inches wide, but it can be used for 12-inch sheets and larger sheets merely by using multiple strips slightly overlapped. The tape is fully transparent so that patterns divided between multiple sheets can be aligned and grout joints matched. The tape comes in a continuous roll 108 feet long.

Mosaic Mounting Tape 3 inches

  • transparent adhesive film in a roll
  • 3 inches x 108 feet
  • can be overlapped slightly for added width
  • total area equivalent: 27 square feet
  • water resistant adhesive
  • adhesive releases cleanly from all tile materials tested with no sticky residue.

Product Usage

Unlike fiberglass mesh, Mounting Tape sticks to the front FACES of the tile, which leaves the backs fully exposed for bonding with mortar or adhesives, thus increasing the strength and longevity of outdoor and wet mosaics. Mosaic designs can be laid out in a mosaic mounting grid, and then tape is pressed to the faces of the tiles, and the mosaic is lifted out of the grid for mounting.

If you aren’t using a tile mounting grid and are laying out tiles or pieces of tiles on top of a paper pattern, we recommend tacking clear contact paper sticky-side-up over the pattern. This moderate stickiness keeps the tiles from moving around as you lay them out. When you are finished placing the tiles, you press the Mosaic Mounting Tape on top of the mosaic and rub it gently to ensure adequate adhesion. Then you can cut the mosaic into sections (typically 1 ft x 1 ft), but the sections can be irregular in shape if needed, and the cuts can zig zag around tiles.

Clear Contact Paper Method


In the clear contact paper method, you tack or tape the contact paper upside-down over your paper pattern.

First, you use the clear contact paper’s mild stickiness to keep the tiles from moving around as you position them over the pattern.

Then you use the stronger stickiness of Mosaic Mounting Tape to lift the mosaic off the contact paper.

The Mosaic Mounting Tape is pressed onto the mosaic by pressing down gently but firmly NOT by rubbing forcefully a in a direction or spiral that might cause a tile to move in the pattern.

Large taped mosaics can be cut up into working strips or sheets with an ordinary box cutter. The cut lines can zigzag around tiles.

Each mosaic sheet or strip can then be pressed into mortar or glue and aligned.

Reverse Method

Another method for using the Mosaic Mouting Tape is to NOT use contact paper and place the tape itself over the pattern with the sticky side up, and the tiles face down onto the tape. This “reverse method” reverses the pattern from left to right when the taped mosaic is taken off the pattern and flipped over, and so most people avoid it in favor of the Clear Contact Paper Method

Removing Mosaic Mounting Tape

When the sections of the mosaic on tape are pressed into mortar or glue, make sure that the gaps between sheets is the same width as the grout gaps used in the sheets and that the sheets are properly aligned.

After the mortar or glue has hardened, the tape is removed from the mosaic by pulling back at 180 degrees not out at 90 degrees to get it started and then rolling up.

Storage

Like all adhesive tape, the Mounting Tape should be stored indoors in climate controlled air for extended life.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Penny Round Glass Tile Thinny-Pennies™ 20mm

Penny Round Glass Tile 20mm Thinny Pennies brand

MORJO™ Thinny-Pennies™ are 20mm Penny Round Recycled Glass Tiles. They are sold loose by the 1/2 pound (approximately 70+ pieces), which covers slightly under 1/3 of a square foot (~42 square inches) with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. These tiles have a glossy finish, and the glass has solid color throughout (and not just on the tops or bottoms.) They are opaque when mounted on an opaque surface.

The Thinny Pennies are the same thickness as regular glass mosaic tile (4mm or ~1/8 inch) and not fat like glass gems. This makes them much easier to use with other types of glass tile and easier to grout.

The recycled glass is a homogeneous material that cuts cleanly and predictably using the Wheel-bladed Mosaic Glass Cutter. They are hard and durable and UV-resistant and can be used for the exteriors of commercial buildings. The fusing process for making these tiles from powdered recycled glass is referred to as “warm glass” or “enamel glass” or “pate de verre.”

Rough Bottoms for Improved Bonding

The bottoms of these tiles are left intentionally rough from gritty mold release (chalk) for improved bond strength. In my experience, and rough, scratched, or etched glass is more effective than embossed ridges. Rough bottoms also has another important advantage over embossed ridges: they don’t interfere with cutting.

Penny Round Glass Tile Thinny-Pennies™ 20mm

  • glass penny round tile
  • tile size: ~3/4 inch (20mm) diameter
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: 1/2 pound loose tile (about 70+ pieces).
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each 1/2-pound bag of about 70+ tiles covers just under 1/3 of a square foot (~42 square inches) assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Grout Gap?

Note that dry indoor mosaics do not have to be grouted (and thus you can simply mount the tiles tightly together), but outdoor and wet mosaics must have grout to prevent water from penetrating behind the tiles. The best way to ensure that the gaps between the tiles is to leave a 1/16-inch gap instead of pressing them tightly together, and this point seems counter-intuitive to some people. Consider this: you can never mount them so closely together that water can’t penetrate it, but you can accidentally put them so close that grout doesn’t get adequately pressed into the crack during the grouting process.

Compatibility

These tiles have a nominal thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm), which is the same nominal thickness as most of the glass tile we sell. You can use these with other brands of recycled glass and even vitreous glass, although the graininess of some vitreous colors might not look good when combined with the homogeneous glassiness of recycled glass tiles.

Cutting Recycled Glass Thinny-Pennies™

Recycled glass cuts like butter using the Mosaic Glass Cutters without creating a lot slivers or cutting waste.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide. ; [product_table category=”morjo-20mm-thinny-pennies” widths=”auto,auto,12,12,20″] ;

Penny Round Glass Tile Thinny-Pennies™ 12mm

Penny Round Glass Tile Thinny Pennies 12mm

MORJO™ Thinny-Pennies™ 12mm are recycled glass penny round tiles. These flat circular mosaic tiles have a smooth and glossy finish and solid opaque color throughout. Each 1/2-pound bag contains approximately 230 tiles. This amount of tile covers slightly over 1/3 of a square foot (about 49 square inches) with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Thinny Pennies have the same thickness as regular glass mosaic tile (4mm or 1/8 inch). Unlike glass gems, another common round tile, pennies have a flat and even surface rather than puffed. This makes them much easier to use with other types of glass tile and easier to grout. Our old-version small and large penny rounds have a puffed or “fat” surface.

Recycled glass is a homogenous material made by fusing powdered glass. It has solid and consistent color all the way through and cuts cleanly and predictably using the Wheel-bladed Mosaic Glass Cutter. Hard, durable, and UV-resistant, it is suitable for commercial exteriors and murals.

Rough Bottoms for Improved Bonding

The bottoms of these tiles are left intentionally rough and chalky from manufacturing for better bonding strength. Rough, scratched, or etched glass bonds more effectively than embossed ridges. Also, while embossed ridges can interfere with cutting, rough bottoms allow smooth controlled cutting.

Penny Round Glass Tile Thinny-Pennies™ 12mm

  • glass penny round tile
  • tile size: 1/2 inch (12mm) diameter
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: 1/2 pound loose tile (about 230+ pieces).
  • coverage: 1/3+ square feet (49 square inches).
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • shape: circle, penny, flat round
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each 1/2-pound bag of about 230 tiles covers slightly over 1/3 of a square foot (49 square inches) assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Grout Gap?

Note that dry indoor mosaics do not require grouting, and so for those you can simply mount the tiles tightly together. On the other hand, wet and outdoor mosaics must have grout to prevent water from penetrating behind the tiles. For those, leaving a 1/16-inch gap allows enough grout to adhere between the tiles.

Compatibility

Like most of the glass tile we sell, flat penny rounds have a nominal thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm).

Cutting Recycled Glass Thinny-Pennies™

Recycled glass penny tiles cut easily and efficiently using the Mosaic Glass Cutters.

Round Tile in Mosaic Art

Use penny round tiles to create dotted patterns, curves, flower shapes, and more. Arrange whole pennies or circular segments into swirls, waves and spirals. Small pieces can be the key to rounded details.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic FAQ page, our How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide. ; [product_table category=”morjo-12mm-thinny-pennies” widths=”auto,auto,12,12,20″] ;

Morjo™ Recycled Glass TRIANGLE Tiles 1/2 Pound

Triangle Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile 20mm

MORJO™ Recycled Glass TRIANGLE Tiles by MORJO™ are sold loose by the 1/2 pound (approximately 115+ pieces). This covers slightly over 1/3 of a square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. These 20mm triangle-shaped tiles have a glossy finish and solid opaque color throughout (and not just on the tops or bottoms).

WARNING: Morjo™ Recycled Glass Triangle vs. Square COLOR NAMES

While Morjo Triangle Tiles use the same color names as the Recycled Glass square tiles, the Triangle tile colors are not the same for the current batch of Yellow and the Cyan Blues. Compare product photos for reference. Triangle Yellow is a little greenish, and the Triangle Spring Green Light is almost a yellow. The Triangle Cyan Blues have hues that lean more pewter than the squares. Other Triangle colors (with less difficult pigments) are spot on. Slight batch variations can always impact matching exactly with square tile colors. Do not assume exact matches.

About Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile

Recycled glass is a homogeneous material with even and consistent solid color throughout. It cuts cleanly and predictably using the Wheel-bladed Mosaic Glass Cutter. Hard, durable, and UV-resistant, it is suitable for commercial building exteriors and other architectural applications. The fusing process for making these tiles from powdered recycled glass is referred to as “warm glass” or “enamel glass” or “pate de verre.”

Morjo™ Recycled Glass Triangle Tiles

  • tile size: ~3/4 inch (20mm) on a side
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: 1/2 pound loose tile (about 115+ pieces).
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

Each 1/2-pound bag of about 115+ tiles covers a little over 1/3 of a square foot assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

Triangle tiles have a NOMINAL thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm), which is the same nominal thickness as most of the glass tile we sell. All tile varies by batch, but any variance in thickness should be irrelevant to most users. You can use these with other brands of recycled glass and even vitreous glass.

Cutting Recycled Glass Triangle Tile

Recycled glass cuts like butter using the Mosaic Glass Cutters without creating a lot of slivers or cutting waste. This makes them ideal for micromosaic or rendering small details in larger work.

Triangle Tiles in Mosaic Art

Triangle tiles can add playful variety, vivid solid color, and uniform angles to your mosaic. For other recycled glass mosaic shapes, see our circular Penny Rounds.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page, the How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide. ; [product_table category=”glass-triangle-tiles” widths=”auto,auto,12,12,20″] ;

Microfiber Hazing Cloth

microfiber-grout-cleaning-cloth

Microfiber Hazing Cloth is a microfiber polyester terry cloth 18 inches x 18 inches that is excellent for removing grout haze at the end of the grouting process and polishing finished mosaics. These are also great for washing and waxing cars and other household cleaning tasks, but they are a little sturdier than most of the microfiber cloths sold for those purposes. The reason is simple: grouting is tough work and harder on cloths than waxing automobiles.

Microfiber Hazing Cloth

  • microfiber polyester terry cloth
  • 18 inches x 18 inches

Grouting Tips

Grouting outdoors is best, especially some place you can run a water hose and don’t mind a little sand and residue being rinsed. Excess grout can kill grass or plants, so scoop up what you can and wash away what is left.

Grout and concrete harden by BINDING water not by drying out. If you let grout or concrete dry out while it is curing, then it will be soft and crumbly. This also happens if you did not add enough water to the grout when you mixed it up. Cover your mosaic with plastic if you are grouting in strong heat, sunlight, air conditioning, wind, or any other condition that accelerates drying.

Make sure you rinse all the water out of your sponge so that it is moist but not leaving drips of water when you rub it on the mosaic. You do not want to get drips of water in the grout in the gaps when you are rubbing the residue off the faces of the tile.

Do not pour left over grout or grout sludge down plumbing or drains. Grout is concrete and can harden under water. Even sand can clog drains. Instead, pour your grout and grout water into an old plastic container. After it hardens, you can pour off the water and dispose what is left as solid waste.

We use traditional grouts and NOT the new epoxy-grouts, and all our advice is written for traditional grout. If you use the new epoxy-base products, then make sure you read manufacturer recommendations for safety and disposal.

Safety

Always wear safety glasses with side shields when mixing and applying grout. Grouting is a physical process with lots of mixing and rubbing and wiping, and these motions cause pieces of sand and grit to fly unexpectedly.

Grout is mildly caustic and can irritate skin, sometimes severely if you have sensitive skin. The sand and rubbing required in grouting aggravate the problem. Wear heavy-duty rubber gloves while grouting to protect your skin.

Grout contains powdered silica (sand) and is slightly caustic due to the lime it contains. Avoid breathing the dust. Wear an ordinary dust mask rated N95 when mixing or use a misting water bottle to avoid creating dust.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

Grouting Sponge With Microfiber Hazing Surface

Microfiber-Polishing-Sponge

Grouting Sponge With Microfiber Hazing Surface is foam rubber like our regular Grouting Sponge, but it also has a microfiber terry cloth covering one side. The foam rubber sponge material has high water holding capacity and makes for efficient grouting and clean up. The microfiber side is excellent for removing grout haze toward the end of the grouting process and for polishing finished mosaics. These sponges are also great for washing and waxing cars and other household cleaning tasks.

Grouting Sponge With Microfiber Hazing Surface

  • foam rubber with one panel of microfiber polyester
  • width: ~5.5 inches
  • length: ~7.5 inches
  • thickness: ~2 inches

Grouting Tips

Grouting outdoors is best, especially some place you can run a water hose and don’t mind a little sand and residue being rinsed. Excess grout can kill grass or plants, so scoop up what you can and wash away what is left.

Grout and concrete harden by BINDING water not by drying out. If you let grout or concrete dry out while it is curing, then it will be soft and crumbly. This also happens if you did not add enough water to the grout when you mixed it up. Cover your mosaic with plastic if you are grouting in strong heat, sunlight, air conditioning, wind, or any other condition that accelerates drying.

Make sure you rinse all the water out of your sponge so that it is moist but not leaving drips of water when you rub it on the mosaic. You do not want to get drips of water in the grout in the gaps when you are rubbing the residue off the faces of the tile.

Do not pour left over grout or grout sludge down plumbing or drains. Grout is concrete and can harden under water. Even sand can clog drains. Instead, pour your grout and grout water into an old plastic container. After it hardens, you can pour off the water and dispose what is left as solid waste.

We use traditional grouts and NOT the new epoxy-grouts, and all our advice is written for traditional grout. If you use the new epoxy-base products, then make sure you read manufacturer recommendations for safety and disposal.

Safety

Always wear safety glasses with side shields when mixing and applying grout. Grouting is a physical process with lots of mixing and rubbing and wiping, and these motions cause pieces of sand and grit to fly unexpectedly.

Grout is mildly caustic and can irritate skin, sometimes severely if you have sensitive skin. The sand and rubbing required in grouting aggravate the problem. Wear heavy-duty rubber gloves while grouting to protect your skin.

Grout contains powdered silica (sand) and is slightly caustic due to the lime it contains. Avoid breathing the dust. Wear an ordinary dust mask rated N95 when mixing or use a misting water bottle to avoid creating dust.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.