This is perfect, I want to make an oval shape. I found the Jackoboard is also called extruded polystyrene foam, for the people in the US to search for. Thank you!
Thank you for this concise , invaluable tutorial . One substrate , the only one i have work on is also easily available is Glass, in the form of birdbaths , blocks , vases , gazing ball etc. cant wait to watch the rest of your videos
Thanks so much for the teaching! I appreciated it very much. With terracotta substrate after sealing what else needs to be done in preparation for the mosaic?
I would like to mosaic on a metal surface which has a texture. How should I prep the metal and what type of adhesive do you recommend I use? Thank you. Love your videos - they are always so informative!
Hi Michelle. I'm afraid I have never mosaicked onto metal so I cant answer your question for you from experience but I do know that you have to use a quite toxic epoxy glue to be sure it sticks.
I have got a round metal tray which sits on legs, it's a little round white metall table. I assume I need to cut a tile backer board first, glue it on the table and start my mosaic on top of it, using slow set tile adhesive. Is that correct? By the way, I am working in a tile shop and have got access to all sorts of mosaics or tiles which I can purchase cheaply. It's heaven.
Lucky you! Yes, I would take the approach you are suggesting. Some people make mosaics straight onto metal but you have to use an epoxy glue which is toxic and expensive so tile backer board is definitely the best bet!
Thank you Helen - I want to mosaic a small fountain made of fiberglass. I've been told only 2 part resin will hold the tiles on and allow the mortar to adhere. What is your opinion. I hope there is a different approach as resin is so pricey. Thank you in advance for your help.
Hello! I’m really sorry to say that I have never used fiberglass as a substrate for mosaic but if you need to use it - wouldn’t a concrete base be better? - then resin is certainly your best option.
It really depends where the table is going to be. For outdoors, I would recommend a cement board but for inside wood - preferably marine ply - would work perfectly well
I've been watching videos from a Vatican mosaic worker, an American contractors, and now you. Quick question, 6:20 do you mainly use that heart to help you solder stained glass? Those burns really look like structurally critical tack points to me from putting a freshly foiled heart in a frame, and it reminds me of using mosaicing as my solution to the innumerable stained glass scraps I have lying as a result of working in stained glass
I was thinking of making a small mosaic and house number sign and originally thought it would be best on a wooden plaque that would be decoratively routered. ( sorry no idea on that spelling 🙄) if you were embarking on a similar project what substrate would you use?
Glazed ceramics are not great as a substrate because obviously they are smooth and slippery so there is nothing for the adhesive to latch onto. If you chip them so that they have a rough surface they would be fine though
@@HelenMilesMosaics and is that why you also have to seal the wood because it absorbs the moisture from the thinset too quickly? Or at least one of the reasons you have to seal the wood? Instead of stealing the wood I tried one time to put a thin layer of thinset over the top of the wood and let that dry and then mosaic on top of that. It was a very small project and I have no idea if it will hold up over time as I gave it away. Any thoughts?
I tend to use 12mm especially when I want to add hanging fittings but also use 4mm when I am making smaller, lighter mosaics which I will put directly on the wall in a permanent position.
So helpful, thankyou! I would love to make a larger (122-61 cm) piece to hang on or set against my livingroom wall. It would be inside but it is a small apartment livingroom that I also hang my laundry in to dry, once a week, so it might get a little humid inside. I wanted to get MDF because it is cheap, but am doubting if I should get plywood. Would either be good/bad? Thank you!
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you so much Helen! I have gotten plywood for the big piece, but also some MDF for smaller pieces that I put 3 layers of diluted wood glue on each side, and about 5 layers on the sides... Would that work to keep it from warping?
Thanks for the great info.. I want to do a mosaic on a large hollow smooth plastic fish shape with various stones.. I thought your option for polystyrene would work best to cover.. it will be an outdoor piece when finished. What are your thoughts?
Hello there. It's quite hard to make mosaics on smooth surfaces like plastic or metal because the adhesive needs something to grip onto so plastic could be tricky. But you also ask about polystyrene so I am not sure which one you are considering. Polystyrene is a great option. Make sure that you seal it and cover it with a layer of mesh and tile adhesive so that it is strong enough for the mosaic and so that it will be water tight. I hope that helps!
Thanks for your reply, It is a smooth hollow plastic shape that is to be decorated as a street art project. I have seen others that were done in mosaic.. so I know it’s possible.. I just want to do it right, so it will last. I assume tile adhesive is the same as mastic?
No, tile adhesive is the same as thinset which isn't the same as mastic. Mastic is the stuff used to seal the edges of things like kitchen counters and window frames . I would check on the tube to make sure it will adhere to plastic and if it doesnt say so then a quick email to the manufacturer should clear up any doubt. They usually have very helpful customer relations departments for exactly this sort of query.
Thanks! There is a separate video on how to prepare wood: ruclips.net/video/kOIcUI4UmM8/видео.html. For pottery you just apply a 50:50 coat of PVA and water.
Hello. I’m new to your channel. It’s great. I have a query. If I use the wediboard as a substrate for a mosaic, can I then attach it to a brick wall being the exterior of my house. My concern is that damp etc doesn’t develop between the wediboard and the brick wall. Thanks
It depends! If it was a small mosaic on a dry sheltered wall, I would make it on the thin Wedi (4mm) and attach it to the wall using normal outdoor grade tile adhesive/thinset. However, if it's going to be in an exposed place where the wall is already damp then I would make a metal frame for the mosaic and attach the frame to the wall. I hope that helps
If your bathroom tiles are glazed then I wouldn't mosaic on them because the glaze is smooth and the glue needs something to grip onto. You could try scratching the glaze to get a rough surface, but I've never tried that so I can't guarantee that it will work! 😀
@@hannahellis4549 Yes, that's a great idea. Some of the backs are textured so it would be tricky but if yours are smooth then that is the perfect solution. 😀
It depends on the terracotta. If it is non permeable, like the Winckelmans porcelain, then I don't seal. If is it permeable then I use a product called Mattstone Natural Finish Impregnating Sealer made by LTP 😀
Hi Helen. I was wondering if you’ve ever mosaiced onto acrylic sheet for outdoors and if so what adhesive and grout you’d recommend? I’d like to make some bird shapes for a garden wall.
No, I am afraid I haven't, and I would worry about using acrylic as a substrate because it is smooth and therefore doesn't provide any traction for the tiles to stick. If you do want to try using acrylic, then I would use a strong epoxy glue which can basically hang onto anything.
I have been having trouble mosaicing on wood outside. I have a door that is an exterior door and open to the elements lots of sun little bit of rain and wind. I did the Mosaic on mash and then installed it on a painted door wood door. I've had two of the sections come off the door. I've had other issues with exterior wood projects that I've done. What am I doing wrong?
Hi KMF. Sorry for the late reply. I think the problem is making sure that the surface is fully sanded and prepared before you put the mosaic onto it. The paint would have to be removed first. And also you need to be sure that you are using an outdoor grade tile adhesive to stick the mosaic on mesh to the wood. Is that the case?
@@KMF3 Perhaps the problem is that water is getting behind the mosaic? Does the mosaic have a sloping edge created with the tile adhesive? That would stop water getting in.
I use watered down PVA to seal terracotta (50/50 mixture, water and PVA) and no, I would only seal it on the side where the mosaic is going to go but doing it on both sides would do no harm. 😀
Thank you for this video. I'm just embarking on my mosaic journey and all information is useful. I have lots of nice slate sheets of different shapes and sizes which I thought would make a good substrate. Have you used slate and, if so, what would you recommend for adhesive and grout for outdoor use? (I'm in the U.K.) Thank you.
Hi Danielle. I wouldn’t recommend bamboo because it’s such a soft material and the moisture in the adhesive and grout will seep through to the bamboo and cause it to warp. Best to find something else if you can!
Hi. Yes, I would attach the frame pieces to the base. Make sure that they are sealed before you apply the mosaic though. I have made a separate video on how to prepare wood as a base for mosaics.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you for your response. Your fish mosaic (5:39 in this video) is Marble? So many more colors than I thought marble would be! Is Marble much harder to cut than ceramic tile?
@@pattiargoff3824 Yes, it's marble. It's not hard to cut at all because I used to go to a marble supplier in Athens who had a machine and so I could get him to cut it super thin. There are soooo many beautiful colours of marble - these are just a fraction!
Good point! I dont use glass as a substrate and feel that it's a slightly specialised way of working so I have just included the commonly used bases here.
Seems like it would be too flexible to hold anything long-term. Maybe try some packing foam board the next time you get a delivery in a box that has some. Just cut it to size. I'm always trying to do things on budget as well. One of the things that I do is go to someplace like Lowe's or home Depot and go to their area where they have kitchen cabinets and ask for their old kitchen cabinet door samples that they're not using anymore and they will give you a stack of them for free. Assuming that no one else's hit them up for them as well. They are wood but they are sealed really well. So they seem to hold up a little bit better than other types of wood that I've tried Mosaicing on. And another benefit is they generally have holes on the back where the hardware would have gone that you can use to hang them on the wall. So I don't add any other type of hanger.
Great advice! I go to B&Q in the UK and they have a stack of wood off cuts which are super cheap or sometimes free. Try and find marine ply if possible as it is a stronger, more resistant substrate for mosaics.
![Natanael Cano - Amor Eterno [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EO4prCs6WpM/mqdefault.jpg)
This is perfect, I want to make an oval shape. I found the Jackoboard is also called extruded polystyrene foam, for the people in the US to search for. Thank you!
Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Thanks for this. I didn't know that about extruded polystyrene foam - that's really helpful
In the 1970's it was called FoamCore..two pieces of vellum and crisp foam in-between. Great for Commercial Art and modeling or even Window Display.
Thank you!!! Very useful information!
Excellent tutorial! Thanks!
You're welcome!
Thank you for this concise , invaluable tutorial . One substrate , the only one i have work on is also easily available is Glass, in the form of birdbaths , blocks , vases , gazing ball etc. cant wait to watch the rest of your videos
Eres experta ❤ genial! Gracias ❤
You could also put plaster in your mold and that would make it much lighter than the concrete
Thank you Helen 🌺
You’re welcome 😊
Thanks so much pls make many videos 😍
Thanks so much for sharing this info
You are so welcome
Really enjoying your videos Helen! A great source of information being shared and I am looking forward to the next installments 😊
Thanks for this, Jade! A new one will be out soon :)
This was so helpful! Thank you so much for a wonderful tutorial. :)
Thank you for your excellent instruction.
You are very welcome Anna! 😀
Love your videos.
Glad you like them! Thank you 😀
Excellent information and well explained
Loved it thanks
Great video, thank you! I found one of your lessons in recent days and subscribed; your teachings are easy and complete.
Glad you like them!
Thanks for this video. Could you do mosaic on stretched canvas?
I wouldn't recommend it because you need a firm surface with no give in it.
Thanks so much for the teaching! I appreciated it very much. With terracotta substrate after sealing what else needs to be done in preparation for the mosaic?
Nothing! You can then apply glue to the surface and start mosaicking.
I would like to mosaic on a metal surface which has a texture. How should I prep the metal and what type of adhesive do you recommend I use? Thank you. Love your videos - they are always so informative!
Hi Michelle. I'm afraid I have never mosaicked onto metal so I cant answer your question for you from experience but I do know that you have to use a quite toxic epoxy glue to be sure it sticks.
Thank you!
I have got a round metal tray which sits on legs, it's a little round white metall table. I assume I need to cut a tile backer board first, glue it on the table and start my mosaic on top of it, using slow set tile adhesive. Is that correct? By the way, I am working in a tile shop and have got access to all sorts of mosaics or tiles which I can purchase cheaply. It's heaven.
Lucky you! Yes, I would take the approach you are suggesting. Some people make mosaics straight onto metal but you have to use an epoxy glue which is toxic and expensive so tile backer board is definitely the best bet!
Thank you Helen - I want to mosaic a small fountain made of fiberglass. I've been told only 2 part resin will hold the tiles on and allow the mortar to adhere. What is your opinion. I hope there is a different approach as resin is so pricey. Thank you in advance for your help.
Hello! I’m really sorry to say that I have never used fiberglass as a substrate for mosaic but if you need to use it - wouldn’t a concrete base be better? - then resin is certainly your best option.
Thanks for the video! Do you have recommendations for substrates for mosaic table tops?
It really depends where the table is going to be. For outdoors, I would recommend a cement board but for inside wood - preferably marine ply - would work perfectly well
I've been watching videos from a Vatican mosaic worker, an American contractors, and now you. Quick question, 6:20 do you mainly use that heart to help you solder stained glass? Those burns really look like structurally critical tack points to me from putting a freshly foiled heart in a frame, and it reminds me of using mosaicing as my solution to the innumerable stained glass scraps I have lying as a result of working in stained glass
I believe that you must have sent this message to the wrong person! Stained glass is one of the few things I dont use.
Helen, you are wonderful, thank you for the tutorials =) Are there any about micromosaics? Do you do it in general?
I'm not aware of any about micro mosaics. Have you managed to find any?
Fabulous.
How would you prep the ready made concrete figures like the bird or concrete slab ?
No, personally I wouldn't. The bird has been painted so I would rough it up with sand paper to create a nice grippy surface.
I was thinking of making a small mosaic and house number sign and originally thought it would be best on a wooden plaque that would be decoratively routered. ( sorry no idea on that spelling 🙄) if you were embarking on a similar project what substrate would you use?
If it's for outside I would always use Wediboard or Jackoboard because it's lightweight and super water resistant.
I have a countertop that’s is glazed ceramics c,from a friend that I was wanting to use as my substrate. Possible?
Glazed ceramics are not great as a substrate because obviously they are smooth and slippery so there is nothing for the adhesive to latch onto. If you chip them so that they have a rough surface they would be fine though
Dear Helen I love your videos... can I use cardboard as a mosaic substrate?
cardboard hardened with mache paper
Thanks! No, cardboard would not work. It is too soft and would absorb moisture and collapse pretty quickly.
@@HelenMilesMosaics thank you
@@HelenMilesMosaics and is that why you also have to seal the wood because it absorbs the moisture from the thinset too quickly? Or at least one of the reasons you have to seal the wood? Instead of stealing the wood I tried one time to put a thin layer of thinset over the top of the wood and let that dry and then mosaic on top of that. It was a very small project and I have no idea if it will hold up over time as I gave it away. Any thoughts?
What size depth tile backer would be a good all rounder ?
I tend to use 12mm especially when I want to add hanging fittings but also use 4mm when I am making smaller, lighter mosaics which I will put directly on the wall in a permanent position.
So helpful, thankyou! I would love to make a larger (122-61 cm) piece to hang on or set against my livingroom wall. It would be inside but it is a small apartment livingroom that I also hang my laundry in to dry, once a week, so it might get a little humid inside. I wanted to get MDF because it is cheap, but am doubting if I should get plywood. Would either be good/bad? Thank you!
Please avoid MDF if you can as it would definitely warp if it gets damp. Marine plywood is a good strong wood for indoor use.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you so much Helen! I have gotten plywood for the big piece, but also some MDF for smaller pieces that I put 3 layers of diluted wood glue on each side, and about 5 layers on the sides... Would that work to keep it from warping?
@@M_K_M_K_M_K Yes, I think that would be absolutely fine. Good luck with it !
Thanks for the great info.. I want to do a mosaic on a large hollow smooth plastic fish shape with various stones.. I thought your option for polystyrene would work best to cover.. it will be an outdoor piece when finished. What are your thoughts?
Hello there. It's quite hard to make mosaics on smooth surfaces like plastic or metal because the adhesive needs something to grip onto so plastic could be tricky. But you also ask about polystyrene so I am not sure which one you are considering. Polystyrene is a great option. Make sure that you seal it and cover it with a layer of mesh and tile adhesive so that it is strong enough for the mosaic and so that it will be water tight. I hope that helps!
Thanks for your reply, It is a smooth hollow plastic shape that is to be decorated as a street art project. I have seen others that were done in mosaic.. so I know it’s possible.. I just want to do it right, so it will last. I assume tile adhesive is the same as mastic?
No, tile adhesive is the same as thinset which isn't the same as mastic. Mastic is the stuff used to seal the edges of things like kitchen counters and window frames . I would check on the tube to make sure it will adhere to plastic and if it doesnt say so then a quick email to the manufacturer should clear up any doubt. They usually have very helpful customer relations departments for exactly this sort of query.
Great. Thanks. How do you prep your wood substrate? your pottery substrate? thanks.
Thanks! There is a separate video on how to prepare wood: ruclips.net/video/kOIcUI4UmM8/видео.html. For pottery you just apply a 50:50 coat of PVA and water.
Hello. I’m new to your channel. It’s great. I have a query. If I use the wediboard as a substrate for a mosaic, can I then attach it to a brick wall being the exterior of my house. My concern is that damp etc doesn’t develop between the wediboard and the brick wall. Thanks
It depends! If it was a small mosaic on a dry sheltered wall, I would make it on the thin Wedi (4mm) and attach it to the wall using normal outdoor grade tile adhesive/thinset. However, if it's going to be in an exposed place where the wall is already damp then I would make a metal frame for the mosaic and attach the frame to the wall. I hope that helps
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you.
Can I apply mosaic onto old tiles? I have some old bathroom tiles I would like to Mosaic on with some broken crockery.
If your bathroom tiles are glazed then I wouldn't mosaic on them because the glaze is smooth and the glue needs something to grip onto. You could try scratching the glaze to get a rough surface, but I've never tried that so I can't guarantee that it will work! 😀
@@HelenMilesMosaicsthank you! I guess I could also flip the tile and mosaic onto the “bare” backing? And then just put felt feet onto the glazed side?
@@hannahellis4549 Yes, that's a great idea. Some of the backs are textured so it would be tricky but if yours are smooth then that is the perfect solution. 😀
Thanks for the video. When sealing Terracotta objects, what type of sealer to you recommend? Thanks.
It depends on the terracotta. If it is non permeable, like the Winckelmans porcelain, then I don't seal. If is it permeable then I use a product called Mattstone Natural Finish Impregnating Sealer made by LTP 😀
Hi Helen. I was wondering if you’ve ever mosaiced onto acrylic sheet for outdoors and if so what adhesive and grout you’d recommend? I’d like to make some bird shapes for a garden wall.
No, I am afraid I haven't, and I would worry about using acrylic as a substrate because it is smooth and therefore doesn't provide any traction for the tiles to stick. If you do want to try using acrylic, then I would use a strong epoxy glue which can basically hang onto anything.
Im wondering what an Ancient substrate would have consisted of. There was no polystyrene backmthen. Did they make a mesh out if reeds, perhaps?
They set their mosaics directly into a concrete mortar which was incredibly strong and has lasted two thousand years in some cases. Very impressive!
What would you use to seal the wood?
I use a 50:50 PVA-water mix to seal wood
I have been having trouble mosaicing on wood outside. I have a door that is an exterior door and open to the elements lots of sun little bit of rain and wind. I did the Mosaic on mash and then installed it on a painted door wood door. I've had two of the sections come off the door. I've had other issues with exterior wood projects that I've done. What am I doing wrong?
Hi KMF. Sorry for the late reply. I think the problem is making sure that the surface is fully sanded and prepared before you put the mosaic onto it. The paint would have to be removed first. And also you need to be sure that you are using an outdoor grade tile adhesive to stick the mosaic on mesh to the wood. Is that the case?
@@HelenMilesMosaics I did sand the door and repainted it. And yes I did use an outdoor thinset mortar to attach the mosaic.
@@KMF3 That's a real mystery then. Is the door sheltered in the sense that it's under a portal?
@@HelenMilesMosaics no it is completely out in the open
@@KMF3 Perhaps the problem is that water is getting behind the mosaic? Does the mosaic have a sloping edge created with the tile adhesive? That would stop water getting in.
How do you seal terracotta to use as a bird bath please?
Yes, I seal terracotta by mixing PVA and water in a 50/50 ration and brushing it on with an ordinary paint brush.
What would you seal the terra cotta with? Both sides ?
I use watered down PVA to seal terracotta (50/50 mixture, water and PVA) and no, I would only seal it on the side where the mosaic is going to go but doing it on both sides would do no harm. 😀
How is that bird a simple thing to Mosaic?
Thank you for this video. I'm just embarking on my mosaic journey and all information is useful. I have lots of nice slate sheets of different shapes and sizes which I thought would make a good substrate. Have you used slate and, if so, what would you recommend for adhesive and grout for outdoor use? (I'm in the U.K.) Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! I use BAL Max Flex Fibre tile adhesive and Isomat Smalto Multi Fill 1-8mm for the grout.
Thank you..@@HelenMilesMosaics
Hi enjoyed video. Can items made out of bamboo be used as a substrate as well?
Hi Danielle. I wouldn’t recommend bamboo because it’s such a soft material and the moisture in the adhesive and grout will seep through to the bamboo and cause it to warp. Best to find something else if you can!
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thanks much for responding. Appreciated.
How do you add the frame around a wooden substrate? Do you just take smaller wood pieces and nail them to the base?
Hi. Yes, I would attach the frame pieces to the base. Make sure that they are sealed before you apply the mosaic though. I have made a separate video on how to prepare wood as a base for mosaics.
Can you mosaic on to slate , if so , do you have to treat it before using please I gave a nice slate heart I would like to use
Yes, you can Joy. It's a great surface for mosaic and there is no need to treat it first.
@@HelenMilesMosaics thank you so much ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
What kind of tile was featured in this video?
They are 4mm marble tiles which I buy in Greece. I am afraid that they are not generally available.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you for your response. Your fish mosaic (5:39 in this video) is Marble? So many more colors than I thought marble would be! Is Marble much harder to cut than ceramic tile?
@@pattiargoff3824 Yes, it's marble. It's not hard to cut at all because I used to go to a marble supplier in Athens who had a machine and so I could get him to cut it super thin. There are soooo many beautiful colours of marble - these are just a fraction!
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I love your videos. They're very informative.
@@pattiargoff3824 I'm glad they're helpful!
you left off glass
Good point! I dont use glass as a substrate and feel that it's a slightly specialised way of working so I have just included the commonly used bases here.
@@HelenMilesMosaics thank you for your informative videos i'm new to mosaics and enjoying it
@@phyllisbarr4766 It's such a relaxing and satisfying thing to do. I hope you keep it up!
For a beginner on a tight budget can foam core board be iced as a substrate?
Seems like it would be too flexible to hold anything long-term. Maybe try some packing foam board the next time you get a delivery in a box that has some. Just cut it to size. I'm always trying to do things on budget as well. One of the things that I do is go to someplace like Lowe's or home Depot and go to their area where they have kitchen cabinets and ask for their old kitchen cabinet door samples that they're not using anymore and they will give you a stack of them for free. Assuming that no one else's hit them up for them as well. They are wood but they are sealed really well. So they seem to hold up a little bit better than other types of wood that I've tried Mosaicing on. And another benefit is they generally have holes on the back where the hardware would have gone that you can use to hang them on the wall. So I don't add any other type of hanger.
Great advice! I go to B&Q in the UK and they have a stack of wood off cuts which are super cheap or sometimes free. Try and find marine ply if possible as it is a stronger, more resistant substrate for mosaics.
Thanks for translating British terminology into American
I found it terribly confusing until I realised that they are the same thing!