How to Create a Mosaic Shower Enclosure
Select your wall., Put up some waterproof ply., Ensure your cladding is complete and ready for tiling. , Create a template using brown paper., Flip over the brown paper., Start with the border., Finish the borders all the way around, where you want...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Select your wall.
In this example, it's a stud partitioned wall. , Alternatively, you can use special shower cladding material; no need to use marine ply though.
It may be a good idea to build some sort of access panel should access be required to the controls, but being a mosaic this isn't going to be that useful.,, Ideally, use the thick variety, but as long as it is strong it can be normal wrapping variety.
Make sure it fits but isn't too tight.
On the back of the paper draw circles, the more the merrier.
This will help you match up your planned design accurately when you put it on the wall., Draw the design on the other side.
Before you go too far, offer up the paper to the wall; the design should be on to the wall, the circles should be visible when the template is on the wall., If the design has a border do the borders first.
Stick the mosaic to the brown paper using soluble PVA glue, with the side of the mosaic that needs to be exposed face down.,, If there are any designs running through the design, do those first.
This design had gold and silver swirls as well as a scattering of gold and silver.
On this design there are seven colour bands ranging from dark blue to lighter blue, then light green to dark green, so start laying the tiles following the design. , The good thing about mosaic is you can't really get it wrong.
You can start from both ends and make sections bigger or smaller depending on how many tiles of each color/design you have., Take your time!,,, You'll be applying the design "backwards" so that the brown paper is what you see (you'll remove it later).
If you have some play at the bottom, start at the top., Use the circles that were drawn on the back to ensure the design is properly aligned., Once the whole panel is in place, leave for at least 24 hours for the adhesive to dry., After twenty-four hours use warm water and soak off the brown paper and soluble PVA glue so you are hopefully left with the mosaic pattern.
If you have used just the right amount of adhesive, the mosaics will be stuck but the adhesive will not protrude beyond the tile gap., If not enough adhesive was used you may have to manually re-stick a few individual tiles that hadn't got enough adhesive.
If too much adhesive was used then the excess may have squeezed too far between the joints in which case it needs to be cut chiseled back; either way take time to tidy it up., Get ready for grouting!, You have to then time it right so that the grout between the joints is dry enough to stay put but not so dry that you can't wipe off the grout from the tile face.
For example, some grouts may allow two hours, but when you first smear on the grout you do need to have faith that you are going to be able to clean up the tiles., This is what you should be left with after grouting., The panel will hopefully match any existing panels., After the grouting has dried you can add some grout and tile sealant but if you have used high quality grout it is probably not necessary but it will help to keep the tiles clean., Apply sealant to the bottom where the grout meets the shower tray., When the sealant has dried the shower is now ready for use. -
Step 2: Put up some waterproof ply.
-
Step 3: Ensure your cladding is complete and ready for tiling.
-
Step 4: Create a template using brown paper.
-
Step 5: Flip over the brown paper.
-
Step 6: Start with the border.
-
Step 7: Finish the borders all the way around
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Step 8: where you want them.
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Step 9: Move on to your design.
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Step 10: Improvise with your design as needed.
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Step 11: Build up the design.
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Step 12: Complete your pattern.
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Step 13: Use a scalpel or Stanley knife to chop the design up into manageable sheets.
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Step 14: Apply tile adhesive to the ply and offer up the first sheet.
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Step 15: Add the other sheets.
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Step 16: Let your work dry.
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Step 17: Remove the paper.
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Step 18: Fix any tiles with too much or too little adhesive.
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Step 19: Double check everything looks as you want it.
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Step 20: Smear on the grout.
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Step 21: Complete the grouting.
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Step 22: Review your work.
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Step 23: Consider tile sealant.
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Step 24: Replace all the shower fittings.
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Step 25: Enjoy your shower!
Detailed Guide
In this example, it's a stud partitioned wall. , Alternatively, you can use special shower cladding material; no need to use marine ply though.
It may be a good idea to build some sort of access panel should access be required to the controls, but being a mosaic this isn't going to be that useful.,, Ideally, use the thick variety, but as long as it is strong it can be normal wrapping variety.
Make sure it fits but isn't too tight.
On the back of the paper draw circles, the more the merrier.
This will help you match up your planned design accurately when you put it on the wall., Draw the design on the other side.
Before you go too far, offer up the paper to the wall; the design should be on to the wall, the circles should be visible when the template is on the wall., If the design has a border do the borders first.
Stick the mosaic to the brown paper using soluble PVA glue, with the side of the mosaic that needs to be exposed face down.,, If there are any designs running through the design, do those first.
This design had gold and silver swirls as well as a scattering of gold and silver.
On this design there are seven colour bands ranging from dark blue to lighter blue, then light green to dark green, so start laying the tiles following the design. , The good thing about mosaic is you can't really get it wrong.
You can start from both ends and make sections bigger or smaller depending on how many tiles of each color/design you have., Take your time!,,, You'll be applying the design "backwards" so that the brown paper is what you see (you'll remove it later).
If you have some play at the bottom, start at the top., Use the circles that were drawn on the back to ensure the design is properly aligned., Once the whole panel is in place, leave for at least 24 hours for the adhesive to dry., After twenty-four hours use warm water and soak off the brown paper and soluble PVA glue so you are hopefully left with the mosaic pattern.
If you have used just the right amount of adhesive, the mosaics will be stuck but the adhesive will not protrude beyond the tile gap., If not enough adhesive was used you may have to manually re-stick a few individual tiles that hadn't got enough adhesive.
If too much adhesive was used then the excess may have squeezed too far between the joints in which case it needs to be cut chiseled back; either way take time to tidy it up., Get ready for grouting!, You have to then time it right so that the grout between the joints is dry enough to stay put but not so dry that you can't wipe off the grout from the tile face.
For example, some grouts may allow two hours, but when you first smear on the grout you do need to have faith that you are going to be able to clean up the tiles., This is what you should be left with after grouting., The panel will hopefully match any existing panels., After the grouting has dried you can add some grout and tile sealant but if you have used high quality grout it is probably not necessary but it will help to keep the tiles clean., Apply sealant to the bottom where the grout meets the shower tray., When the sealant has dried the shower is now ready for use.
About the Author
Joseph Diaz
Writer and educator with a focus on practical hobbies knowledge.
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