Sun Moon Mosaic by artist Lynn Sposito

Consistent Grout Gaps

In my recent blog article about black and white grout, I wrote the following tip for minimizing the width of grout gaps and working a little faster at the same time:

If tiles only touch at points but not along the length of their sides, then tiles can be positioned very closely and yet still be grouted. Consider working in this way instead of carefully cutting each tile to maintain a uniform grout gap.

I need to clarify what I meant by that.

Uniform Versus Consistent

Sometimes novice mosaicists will carefully cut each tile to maintain a perfectly uniform gap, which can be a little tedious, and worse yet, they make the gap a little wider than it should be because the artist does not have the experience to visualize what it will look like when grouted.

I think it is better to work a little less uniform, and to err on the side of being slightly narrow, even if that means tiles occasionally touch at a point or corner. By better, I mean more efficient, less tedious, and better looking.

All that being said, it is extremely important that the mosaic have the same type of grout gap in all regions. You want to be consistent in your style of gap. You do not want to have loosely executed in one place and tightly uniform in another, nor do you want wide gaps in one region and narrow gaps in another.

Sun Moon Mosaic by artist Lynn Sposito, corner detail.
Sun Moon Mosaic by artist Lynn Sposito, corner detail, which shows a problematic spacing that is grossly different from gaps used in the center of the mosaic. Note that the backer is not plastic, which would be a problem for grout and mosaic adhesive. It is a porous synthetic stone material found by the artist.

Round Tiles

Round glass gems and circular tiles are more difficult to nest closely together, and sometimes an artist will leave more of a grout gap than desired, especially if the pieces are dome shaped, which allows grout to cover the outer edges of each piece.

Over-sized grout gaps around circular tiles do not look like problems until the mosaic is grouted, but by then it is too late to change, and there are over-sized “blank” areas of plain concrete that look like sockets where tile should have been.

These empty spaces between glass gems look even more conspicuous if there are other regions of the mosaic that are made from ordinary square tile with a typical (narrow) grout gap.

A Case Study: Sun Moon Mosaic

Artist Lynn Sposito emailed us photos of her unfinished mosaic table top asking for comments and advise on clear coats for pouring over the finished mosaic. Naturally we discouraged that, but we instantly saw an issue that we could help with, and that was the large gaps between the gems in the border, and how this was totally at odds with the narrow gaps used in the central image.

I advised prying off the gems if possible and nesting them more closely together. Lynn responded that the backer was a porous synthetic stone material and that prying a gem up was likely to pull up large chunks of the backer. In the end, Lynn was able to make the original placement work by back filling the larger gaps with smaller gems and pebbles.

Corner detail of grouted mosaic.
Corner detail of grouted mosaic. Note the placement of smaller pebbles and gems in the larger gaps.

If Lynn had not filled these holes with smaller pebbles, then the glass gem border would look more like pieces pressed into concrete than mosaic, and there would be a lack of continuity between this border strip and the figurative mosaic in the center.

Clarification

It is perfectly fine to make a mosaic or a piece of art where the overall look and feel is that of pieces pressed into wet concrete. That type of mosaic actually looks great. But it looks great by itself as a complete mosaic. It doesn’t look right when only part of the mosaic is executed that way while other parts are executed more tightly.

 

 

 


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12 responses to “Consistent Grout Gaps”

  1. Linda Cavagna Avatar
    Linda Cavagna

    I am interested in doing a mosaic on the wall in my entry. Can I free form a design directly on the sheet rock using weldbond and grout?

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Hi Linda,

      People tile on drywall all the time. I would test to make sure that Weldbond sticks to the particular paint that is there, but it should.

      Thanks,

  2. Ali Avatar
    Ali

    I would like to create a mosaic portrait of my grandson and hang it on the wall. Can I use a clear glass backer? Will the Wellbond and grout adhere to the clear glass?

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Weldbond and grout bond to glass, but the problem with a glass backer is that is either to thin or two heavy. And your mosaic would always be vulnerable to breaking. We recommend 1/2 cabinet grade plywood as a backer for dry indoor mosaic. I hope this helps,

      1. Ali Avatar
        Ali

        Thank you so much Joe for your very helpful response. I will be going to Home Depot

      2. Ali Avatar
        Ali

        Thank you so much Joe for your very helpful response. I will be going to Home Depot Is that 1/2 inch ?

        1. Joe Moorman Avatar
          Joe Moorman

          Yes, they sell a cabinet-grade plywood that is pre-sanded, and it is nominally 1/2″ thick. They sell full sheets and partials.

          1. Ali Avatar
            Ali

            Thank you Joe. Do I buy the same size as the mosaic piece or a little smaller?

          2. Joe Moorman Avatar
            Joe Moorman

            No problem. Normally I make the backer as large as the image and then build a frame around the edge using wooden molding or leave the edge uncovered. Some people leave about 1/2 inch of bare backer around in order to have something to attach the frame to, but I don’t like that approach. By making the mosaic the same size as the backer, you have the option to put a frame around it or leave it as a rough edge.

          3. Ali Avatar
            Ali

            Thank you Joe.

      3. Ali Avatar
        Ali

        Sorry Joe, I have another question since this is the first time doing something mosaic., Would I adhere the mosaic tiles to the plywood of the same size as the portrait or a little smaller?

  3. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Thanks so much for these helpful articles. You said “ It is perfectly fine to make a mosaic or a piece of art where the overall look and feel is that of pieces pressed into wet concrete. That type of mosaic actually looks great. But it looks great by itself as a complete mosaic. ” If it’s it too much trouble, I would very much appreciate photos or links to photos of mosaics that you think are good representatives of the “pieces pressed into concrete” type of mosaic? Thanks for any help you can provide.

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