the details on your video is incredible. you thought of literally everything any beginner can get stuck at. thanks a lot helen. I tried using mirrors and was stuck wondering how the exact paste texture should be, how to get rid of the excess and how and when to wipe it off the mirrors. your video came as a blessing.
Thank you for this video! And for your other beginner-friendly tutorials. I just finished my first mosaic project (a plant stand) and I wouldn't have been able to do it without your videos!
Thank you for this video! I was a little intimidated by the grouting part of the mosaic, but this tutorial made it look super easy and way less challenging than it was in my head.
Thank you so much for this video Helen! I'm working on a school project and was so nervous to start grouting, but your video explained everything so well :)
Thank you! I have finished grouting. It was my first very ambitious project. I love art, drawing painting, printing and more. But this REALLY tested my patience and I failed dismally. My result was ok but not what I expected. The before grout looked much prettier. Oh well , after two bloody fingers and 5 days of mosaics I have to say it's not for me 😅
Oh no! At least you tried though. It is a very different skill to other types of art and it certainly doesn't suit everyone. You should see the horrible results I had the beginning - it's one of those things that if you love you're prepared to go through the pain threshold! 😀
Thanks for the tip about cleaning tiles after grout is dry!! I thought I was just stuck with having slight haze left over, even though I thought I had done a good job of cleaning it up the first go round.
Latex underneath the nice thick gloves if you'd like, but used alone, they allow your fingers to get pretty cut up. (Glass mosaics can be sharp!) The spoon is such a help. The loyalty card tip is also quite useful, thank you from Texas.
Great video Helen. One of my best investments is a small workshop blower (tinier version of a garden leaf blower) for blasting dust and particles from between the interstices before grouting. Works a treat! Also on a gentle setting it clears my work table debris into a garbage bin.
Thank you for this video. I’m looking to start mosaic’s and you’re the first person I’ve found 🙏🏼 Also love the fact you’re using an old club card and you said ‘this is the difficult part psychologically’ 😂 xxx
Thanks a lot for this video! Im doing my first mosaic and am excited to start grouting it. Would you have any tips for when we use pieces with different thicknesses? I notices I used pieces with different heights and now it has some pointy edges on the top of the higher pieces. Thanks if anyone has a suggestion!
I'm afraid I don't have any particular tips for grouting pieces with different thickness. It just takes a bit more time because you have to work around the different heights - good luck! 😀
Thanks Lindsay. The problem is that I dont have very fancy camera equipment so I can hold the camera high enough above the work surface to get the whole mosaic in the picture. It's a bit frustrating!
Thank you for all of these videos, they’re so helpful! I have a question regarding the stiff scrubbing brush used at the end - is it safe to use on all different types of tesserae, including stained glass?
I am so glad that they are helpful. I have never used stained glass so I can't be 100 per cent sure about your question so I would recommend that you give a test sample a good scrub to check it out!
Good question Nadia. It's a really important issue. If you are lucky enough to have a garden which has a wild patch where you could pour the dirty water away then that's great. However, I leave it to settle and then pour away the clean water on the top and collect the sediment with kitchen roll and put in it the bin.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you! I rewatched the video and you did mention this. I missed it the first time around :) I just grouted my first mosaic pieces! I love how they came out.
Will the grout stain unglazed tiles Helen? Doesn’t look like it in the video but it makes me nervous of unglazed times though I love the soft muted colours of them
Thank you for this excellent tutorial! I'm new at mosaics and am confused about what type of grout to buy. Do I need sanded or unsanded? The project I want to do will end up outside, so I would appreciate advice on the right sealer to use as well.
You're welcome. I use an unsanded grout - at least the packet doesnt mention anything about sand in the specifications. I would go along to your local hardware store and check the outside of the packet to make sure it is suitable for outside. The staff are usually really helpful. As for a sealer, it depends what material you are using. Winckelmans tiles dont require a sealant but stone needs a stone sealer - again a specific product which can be bought from a shops that sell stone/marble tiles. I hope that helps!
Thank you for the excellent tutorial! Do you need to wait a while after credit-carding before sponging? I find it's impossible to sponge off the excess grout without lifting grout up from the cracks and spreading it around.
Sorry for the late reply on this Andrew. I dont wait but I use quick thick grout - is yours too wet perhaps? I dont think there would be any harm in waiting a bit if you keep having the same problem.
Sometimes and sometimes not. Winckelmans are water/frost/stain proof so it's not strictly necessary but I do when I want the tiles to have a little extra oomph!
@@HelenMilesMosaics That's great, thank you! I had a bad experience with some unglazed tiles and it has left me slightly traumatised! I'm giving Winckelmans a try next so this is really helpful.
You can buy a white grout and add grout pigment but its best to buy the grout already pigmented. Most tile suppliers will have a good range of colours.
So this mosiac was made on a jackoboard. In your video explaining how to prepare this substrate, you taped the edges, then spread with thinset. In this video, the jackoboard wasn't prepared this way. I don't think I have appropriate tape for the edges of my wediboard, so I'm thinking I can wait until I grout it like you apparently did?
Good question, Trish, and sorry for the late reply. I used to tape my edges but I have got lazy recently and don't bother any more. I think it is a good idea to tape them if the edges are going to be vulnerable in any way, but otherwise I think that the grout is enough to cover them. Please beware though - grout is made for filling small gaps so if the mosaic is going to be exposed to severe weather conditions, I would use a tile adhesive to cover the edges which is more suitable for spreading then grout. I hope that helps!
Thank you for this video! Quick question: can you grout on mesh and THEN glue it to it's final support? Or does it absolutely have to be grouted on the final support?
Hello. Unfortunately the answer is no. If you try and grout before fixing then the grout is likely to crack. Alternatively, you can fix the mosaic to a homemade tile adhesive and mesh base like this: ruclips.net/video/XpmdFMUGZag/видео.html. Grout it, and then fix the base to the final support. Having the mosaic on something less flexible than pure mesh should stop it from cracking.
Wonderful! Thank you! What if you use wood (like plywood or MDF) and you don’t want to have grout on the sides? Is that doable or do you always grout the sides? I would like to make a larger wooden piece and maybe keep it standing up. Would I grout the sides? I thought I’d keep it as is… (I have prepared the wood several times with PVA glue)
Yes, it does do the same job as tile adhesive/thin set but includes other agents to make it even stronger so it can be used in places where you are likely to be using a lot of cleaning products or loads of people will be walking on it (beyond just domestic use). it seems slightly like overkill for more mosaic uses.
I wipe it off as soon as I have finished spreading it over the mosaic and have scraped off the excess. It's a bit different with glass mosaics which you can leave for ten minutes or so and then rub with newspaper or a cloth.
Yes, I would use the same method but the difference is that you can use bunched up newspaper to clean the mirrored tiles as opposed to a sponge. Personally, I dont use sanded grout but I believe that that is a matter of personal preference.
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"This is the difficult part psychologically." 🤣🤣🤣Yes! 💕 Thank you for making it less scary.
the details on your video is incredible. you thought of literally everything any beginner can get stuck at. thanks a lot helen. I tried using mirrors and was stuck wondering how the exact paste texture should be, how to get rid of the excess and how and when to wipe it off the mirrors. your video came as a blessing.
Thank you for your lovely comment. I'm so glad that it was helpful!
Thank you for this video! And for your other beginner-friendly tutorials. I just finished my first mosaic project (a plant stand) and I wouldn't have been able to do it without your videos!
Wonderful! That is lovely to hear. It really warms my heart! 😀
“This is the difficult bit…psychologically.” 😂 I can feel it!!! This would be sooo tough for me to do 😅
It really is! But it's worth the pain 🤪😁
This is an excellent video demonstrating grouting in a straightforward, step-by step explanation.
Thanks Robin! 😀👍
Thank you for this video! I was a little intimidated by the grouting part of the mosaic, but this tutorial made it look super easy and way less challenging than it was in my head.
Me too
Glad it was helpful! 😀
Thank you so much for this video Helen! I'm working on a school project and was so nervous to start grouting, but your video explained everything so well :)
I'm so glad it was helpful Meaghan! 😀
Thank you! I have finished grouting. It was my first very ambitious project. I love art, drawing painting, printing and more. But this REALLY tested my patience and I failed dismally. My result was ok but not what I expected. The before grout looked much prettier. Oh well , after two bloody fingers and 5 days of mosaics I have to say it's not for me 😅
Oh no! At least you tried though. It is a very different skill to other types of art and it certainly doesn't suit everyone. You should see the horrible results I had the beginning - it's one of those things that if you love you're prepared to go through the pain threshold! 😀
Beautiful! Loved watching this. Very informative… I’m about to grout a birdbath.
Wonderful! I hope it goes well. 😀
cheers Helen great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so much for this in-depth video as well as your other videos. I'm a beginner and find your videos extremely helpful!!
Thanks so much Cindy. That's good to know! :)
I love your videos very much. Your detailed explanation is really useful. Thank you 💖
Glad to be of help!
This coming in clutch for class project
Thanks for the tip about cleaning tiles after grout is dry!! I thought I was just stuck with having slight haze left over, even though I thought I had done a good job of cleaning it up the first go round.
You're welcome. Yes, it's impossible to get the slight haze off unless you leave it to dry and then scrub - its not just you! 😀
So helpful, clear and full of detailed information. I am so grateful to you for sharing your knowledge!
Excellent tutorial very informative, concise and a pleasure to watch!
I'm glad it was helpful. I have just come back from teaching in Pelion!
Your video is very helpful! Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful! 😀
Latex underneath the nice thick gloves if you'd like, but used alone, they allow your fingers to get pretty cut up. (Glass mosaics can be sharp!) The spoon is such a help. The loyalty card tip is also quite useful, thank you from Texas.
Very true Stacey! :)
Fantastic video. Really informative. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video Helen. One of my best investments is a small workshop blower (tinier version of a garden leaf blower) for blasting dust and particles from between the interstices before grouting. Works a treat! Also on a gentle setting it clears my work table debris into a garbage bin.
Great tip! I absolutely love that idea. Thanks so much.
Helen thank you very much loving your videos xxxx
You are so welcome Maria! 😀
Wonderful tutorial and so informative.... Thank you so much 🙏😊
Glad it was helpful! 😀🙏
Thankyou, loving all your videos!
So glad!
Great video. Love the sound effects!!
Thanks so much!
It looks lovely 😍
I hope you will make a video for sealing grout.
Great idea! I will do that. 😀
Excellent
Thank you! Cheers!
Very helpful! Thanks!
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this video. I’m looking to start mosaic’s and you’re the first person I’ve found 🙏🏼
Also love the fact you’re using an old club card and you said ‘this is the difficult part psychologically’ 😂 xxx
😂 Thanks Ellen. I hope it was helpful! 😀
very ell explained
Thanks a lot for this video! Im doing my first mosaic and am excited to start grouting it. Would you have any tips for when we use pieces with different thicknesses? I notices I used pieces with different heights and now it has some pointy edges on the top of the higher pieces. Thanks if anyone has a suggestion!
I'm afraid I don't have any particular tips for grouting pieces with different thickness. It just takes a bit more time because you have to work around the different heights - good luck! 😀
It would have been nice to see a full-size picture of the finished product. It looked like a beautiful design with beautiful colors.
Thanks Lindsay. The problem is that I dont have very fancy camera equipment so I can hold the camera high enough above the work surface to get the whole mosaic in the picture. It's a bit frustrating!
good job!
Thanks!
Thank you for all of these videos, they’re so helpful! I have a question regarding the stiff scrubbing brush used at the end - is it safe to use on all different types of tesserae, including stained glass?
I am so glad that they are helpful. I have never used stained glass so I can't be 100 per cent sure about your question so I would recommend that you give a test sample a good scrub to check it out!
Thank you for this tutorial! How do you dispose of the dirty water when you sponge off the excess grout?
Good question Nadia. It's a really important issue. If you are lucky enough to have a garden which has a wild patch where you could pour the dirty water away then that's great. However, I leave it to settle and then pour away the clean water on the top and collect the sediment with kitchen roll and put in it the bin.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you! I rewatched the video and you did mention this. I missed it the first time around :) I just grouted my first mosaic pieces! I love how they came out.
Will the grout stain unglazed tiles Helen? Doesn’t look like it in the video but it makes me nervous of unglazed times though I love the soft muted colours of them
No, the grout doesn't stain them. They are non-porous so you don't have to worry!
Thank you for this excellent tutorial! I'm new at mosaics and am confused about what type of grout to buy. Do I need sanded or unsanded? The project I want to do will end up outside, so I would appreciate advice on the right sealer to use as well.
You're welcome. I use an unsanded grout - at least the packet doesnt mention anything about sand in the specifications. I would go along to your local hardware store and check the outside of the packet to make sure it is suitable for outside. The staff are usually really helpful. As for a sealer, it depends what material you are using. Winckelmans tiles dont require a sealant but stone needs a stone sealer - again a specific product which can be bought from a shops that sell stone/marble tiles. I hope that helps!
@@HelenMilesMosaics Yes, very helpful. Thank you so much!
Thank you for the excellent tutorial! Do you need to wait a while after credit-carding before sponging? I find it's impossible to sponge off the excess grout without lifting grout up from the cracks and spreading it around.
Sorry for the late reply on this Andrew. I dont wait but I use quick thick grout - is yours too wet perhaps? I dont think there would be any harm in waiting a bit if you keep having the same problem.
Great
❤
Great video! Do you seal your tiles before grouting?
Sometimes and sometimes not. Winckelmans are water/frost/stain proof so it's not strictly necessary but I do when I want the tiles to have a little extra oomph!
@@HelenMilesMosaics That's great, thank you! I had a bad experience with some unglazed tiles and it has left me slightly traumatised! I'm giving Winckelmans a try next so this is really helpful.
great video, just one question - how to add colour if we want to be different then grey?
You can buy a white grout and add grout pigment but its best to buy the grout already pigmented. Most tile suppliers will have a good range of colours.
Go board here in New York State
So this mosiac was made on a jackoboard. In your video explaining how to prepare this substrate, you taped the edges, then spread with thinset. In this video, the jackoboard wasn't prepared this way. I don't think I have appropriate tape for the edges of my wediboard, so I'm thinking I can wait until I grout it like you apparently did?
Good question, Trish, and sorry for the late reply. I used to tape my edges but I have got lazy recently and don't bother any more. I think it is a good idea to tape them if the edges are going to be vulnerable in any way, but otherwise I think that the grout is enough to cover them. Please beware though - grout is made for filling small gaps so if the mosaic is going to be exposed to severe weather conditions, I would use a tile adhesive to cover the edges which is more suitable for spreading then grout. I hope that helps!
Thank you for this video! Quick question: can you grout on mesh and THEN glue it to it's final support? Or does it absolutely have to be grouted on the final support?
Hello. Unfortunately the answer is no. If you try and grout before fixing then the grout is likely to crack. Alternatively, you can fix the mosaic to a homemade tile adhesive and mesh base like this: ruclips.net/video/XpmdFMUGZag/видео.html. Grout it, and then fix the base to the final support. Having the mosaic on something less flexible than pure mesh should stop it from cracking.
Is that tile also uses in bathroom?
Wonderful! Thank you! What if you use wood (like plywood or MDF) and you don’t want to have grout on the sides? Is that doable or do you always grout the sides? I would like to make a larger wooden piece and maybe keep it standing up. Would I grout the sides? I thought I’d keep it as is… (I have prepared the wood several times with PVA glue)
I totally dont grout the sides if I am using wood but then I probably wouldnt put it outside unless it was in a very sheltered spot.
Hi dear epoxy adhesive for tiles is same as thin set? Thanks fo the videos
Yes, it does do the same job as tile adhesive/thin set but includes other agents to make it even stronger so it can be used in places where you are likely to be using a lot of cleaning products or loads of people will be walking on it (beyond just domestic use). it seems slightly like overkill for more mosaic uses.
@@HelenMilesMosaics I understand. Thanks so much
How long do you leave the grouted mosaic before you wipe it off?
I wipe it off as soon as I have finished spreading it over the mosaic and have scraped off the excess. It's a bit different with glass mosaics which you can leave for ten minutes or so and then rub with newspaper or a cloth.
@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you! Just getting into mosaics and appreciate your v. helpful videos. 😀
Will grout scratch certain surfaces like polished metal?
I don't think so because it is a smooth substance but it might be worth checking on a small invisible part of the metal first.
Hi Helen. When I added the grout I don’t think my tile glue was strong enough and they all unstuck, ruining the piece. Any advice?
Oh no! Yes, the key is the glue. What kind of glue were you using?
How to make grout
You don't make grout, you buy it and then add water.
could use the same the method when grouting mirror pieces? and should you always use sanded grout? thanks!
Yes, I would use the same method but the difference is that you can use bunched up newspaper to clean the mirrored tiles as opposed to a sponge. Personally, I dont use sanded grout but I believe that that is a matter of personal preference.