| Tools & Materials |
Click a text link below to shop for that item.
Click the information icon  for a product buying guide.
|
Tools
|
Materials
- Cement board
- Bead moulding
- Epoxy
- Grout
- Latex
paint
(to match grout)
- Broken tiles, china, or ceramic pieces
- Tile glue
- Towel
- Tile cement for direct wall application
|
|
 |
| Making a China Mosaic |
 You
can apply the china mosaic to a tabletop, directly to the wall or on a
piece of cement board for hanging. The following steps, however, refer
to using a piece of cement board. Follow the manufacturer's instructions
for preparation and application of glue and grout.
- Protect
yourself by wearing safety glasses and wrapping tiles, plates, or vases
in a towel. Gently hammer to break them into pieces no smaller than
2".
- Measure
the area your tile mosaic will cover. Measure and mark the cement board
to fit the area. Use a pencil and straight edge to draw the shape of
your mosaic on the cement board.
- Use a
jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade to cut out the shape. Cement board
creates a lot of dust, so be sure to wear a dust mask and cut outside.
- With a
pencil, mark at least six screw holes on the cement board. The holes
should line up with wall
studs. Pre-drill the holes.
- Measure
all of the cement board edges to determine the amount of moulding needed
to frame the mosaic.
- Use a
miter saw to cut the moulding. Use epoxy to secure the moulding to the
edges of the cement board.
- Paint
the cement board with latex paint. Allow to dry completely.
- Place
the drywall screws in the pre-drilled holes to keep grout from filling
in the holes.
- Create
a pattern by arranging the ceramic pieces on the cement board. Place
pieces at least 1/4" apart and affix with tile glue.
- Prepare
the grout according to manufacturer's instructions. Use a rubber grout
float to spread the grout over the china pieces. Try to avoid covering
the screw heads. Be careful around sharp protruding edges.
- Wait 15
minutes and remove excess grout with a damp sponge. Allow the grout
to set firmly according to the manufacturer's instruction.
- Polish
the china pieces with a dry towel to remove the powdery film.
- Locate
wall studs and secure the mosaic to the wall.
- Glue broken
china pieces over the screw heads and re-grout over the new pieces.
If you're
applying the broken china pieces directly to a wall, spread a thick section
of tile cement on the wall. If you're applying the broken pieces to a
tabletop or countertop, make sure there's edging around the surface to
frame the mosaic. Arrange the broken pieces of tile in an ornamental mosaic.
Follow steps 10-12 to complete.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you are not satisfied with the service we provide, we will make it right. Guaranteed.
|
|
 |
Click the button below to sign up for valuable offers and free, COOL informative newsletters for all do-it-yourselfers.
|
|
|
|
Was this information helpful? Please let us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!
These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read our terms of use.
|
|
