Description
Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 1-Inch is for temporarily mounting 1-inch tiles on paper or clear tape for rapid installation using the indirect method. NOT NEEDED FOR BEGINNERS. Most artists glue each tile directly on the surface they are covering and do not need grids. In fact, original mosaic art looks best when tile is cut into pieces and mounted in a pattern that is not a grid.
The grid mounts 144 glass mosaic tiles (25mm size) on 1.15 square foot of mosaic mounting paper in a uniform grid of 12 x 12 tiles with a standard grout gap of approximately 1/16 inch. The sockets in the grid are tapered to accommodate the bevelled undersides of most glass mosaic tiles. Tile without bevels (such as most stone and porcelain tile) could be used in the grid, but they might not stay positioned as securely, and so more care might be required while glueing mounting paper to those materials.
WARNING IRREGULAR
These grids are made for mounting beveled tiles placed face up in the grid and cannot hold 1-inch tiles placed face down in them because the beveled sockets are actually smaller than 1 inch. That means you can use these with mounting tape (to pick tiles up by their faces) but not mounting mesh (to be glued to the backs of tiles placed upside down in the grid).
If you place tile upside down in the grid, the tile would need to be 22mm (7/8 inch), and the resulting gap would be approximately 5/32 inch, which is wide. Fortunately when you place 1-inch beveled tile in the sockets face up, the resulting gap is approximately 1/16 inch.
Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 1-Inch
- For beveled tiles placed face up. Cannot hold 1-inch tiles placed face down.)
- grid size: 12 tiles x 12 tiles.
- grid area: approximately 1.15 square foot.
- grout gap: approximately 1/16 inch. (When beveled tiles are placed face up.)
- tile size: 1 inch. (When beveled tiles are placed face up.)
The Indirect Method
Mosaic tile can be glued one at a time DIRECTLY to a surface, or you can lay your mosaic out on a temporary surface in what is called the “Indirect Method.” Temporary surfaces can include things like fiberglass mesh, paper, adhesive contact paper, or trays filled with lime putty. Our grids were made to work with self-adhesive mounting tape and mounting paper that is temporarily glued to the faces of the tiles.
Why Use The Indirect Method
Why would you want to use the Indirect Method? It is easier to lay up your mosaic design at your work table than it is to lay it out on a floor or a wall or some other vertical surface. Also, you can work for days or weeks at your work table laying up the mosaic without tying up the location where the mosaic will actually be installed. Again, none of this is necessary for a beginner laying up a small craft project like a trivet or a mosaic mirror.
Use In Mosaic Art
The following is how to do the indirect method using our grids and mounting paper:
- Place glass mosaic tile into the grid face up, filling up the grid with your design.
- Dilute water-soluble glue such as Elmer’s Glue with 3 parts water to 1 part glue.
- Paint the water soluble glue onto the mounting paper using a small artists paint brush. Use a light coat to avoid wrinkling the paper.
- Lay mounting paper onto the face of the tile, careful to avoid wrinkles.
- Allow sheet to dry completely and remove from the grid.
- Spread thinset mortar or mosaic adhesive on the surface to be mosaiced.
- “Butter” the bottom of the sheet of tile with the same mortar or adhesive. Of coarse, you butter the bare glass bottoms of the tile, not the paper.
- Press the sheet of tiles into the adhesive-covered surface with the PAPER ON THE OUTSIDE.
- Allow the thinset or adhesive to cure for 24 hours.
- Mist the paper until it is soaked and peel it off the tiles.
- Grout the mosaic.
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.
