PREPARING THE TILE

Now for the fun part! Using your mallet or hammer, hit your wrapped tiles several times. Carefully feel the fragments to make sure there are no larger pieces left.

When the pieces are small enough, carefully pick out and sort the bits. Discard the dust and shards.

Tile-nippers are a scissor-like tool used to shape tile fragments into the desired configuration. By squeezing the handles, you can “bite” away at the tile contours until you are pleased with the shape and size of the tile fragment.

You can get these at any hardware supplier or home improvement store for around $10.

A wheeled tile-nipper has two circular blades similar to your can-opener. When you squeeze the handles, these wheels can make a straight cut in your tile. This kind of tool cost about $20.

Table-top tile cutters are used to make longer straight cuts in tile. They are more precise, but bulkier and more costly.

THE PROCESS

1. Draw your design on your surface

2. Choose tile. Picky? Make your own

3. Smash tile

4. Sort tile by color

5. Direct mosaic method:

Place dry tile fragments right on your design • Use nippers to adjust tile shape to fit

6. Apply tiles to surface

• Pick up tiles and apply adhesive, as if “buttering” them
• Replace on design

7. Fill in the design you’ve drawn with tiles as desired

8. Allow adhesive to dry

9. Apply grout

• Use hands or sponge to vigorously work grout into spaces between the tiles
• Use gloves, as tiles can be sharp!
• Frequently wipe away excess grout with a damp sponge.
• Rinse surface and work off grit before it dries.
• This may require a couple of tries till the tile is clear.

10. After the grout is dry, clean with glass cleaner to restore the tiles shine.

Enjoy you handiwork!!

Back to Page 1