Betty's backsplash technical question

18 years ago

I've taken a break from being completely distracted by the pictures from youall's great sphere exchange - WOW - to ask for some advice.

I am de-grouting my backsplash practice piece, and a few things have occured to me - so I took down the fridge magnet by Anna Fietta, and realized that the blue I see between her smalti is actually a painted background. I have no idea why I didn't do this before. I really don't care for the grouted smalti, I love the uneven thicknesses and seeing the sides of the tiles. Granted, I still have cleaning to do, but I much prefer the ungrouted. I know smalti isn't usually grouted, but I also knew she has color between her pieces, so now I know.

Issues --

I was going to do the mosaic on fiberglass mesh and then mount it, so had the contractor do the kitchen in greenboard. But if I paint the greenboard, the fiberglass mesh will show.

Doing the mosaic on plywood or wedi board would waste the whole greenboard issue.

I like the uneven surface of the smalti, so don't think I can do reverse mosaic.

Isn't there yet another way that would let me paint the background and do smalti and not grout it? like a reverse-reverse?

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Comments (7)

nicethyme
18 years ago
you could still use the mesh/indirect method and greenboard, by using a colorant in thinset as your adhesive.
flagtruck
18 years ago
Betty- I did mine in broken Fiesta and did it direct. The hardest part for me was grouting, since you don't wish to grout, why not do it direct with the colored thinset NT suggested? I think that would be eyepopping and beautiful. Good luck
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d3bbi
18 years ago
Betty, I might suggest you give some thought to an ungrouted backsplash in the kitchen. Splashes happen and when they get in between your glass - yuck!
bettycbowen
Original Author
18 years ago
I should be more specific. My ungrouted part will be a river-like shape in the middle (halfway up) the backsplash, and the rest will be grouted tile I will make in ceramic next month or so , after I finish the "river". My mixer is on (just like my mama did it, but new) a "lift" so even farther than the outside edge of the countertop, and the cooktop is on a penensula (sp?) so no backsplash there. So, I'm not as concerned about goopy splashes as I might be.

tinted thinset. I hadn't thought of that. hmmmm....
mosaicwench1
18 years ago
Double indirect method.

It's basically doing it direct, turning it over twice, and mounting it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well with smalti - only smoother, less uneven tesserae.

Tinted thinset sounds like your best path.
Calamity_J
18 years ago
Ohhhh, I love those mixer lifts! I'd get one for my grinder!!!lol!
d3bbi
18 years ago
Betty, well that's good that you won't need to worry about food splash. Your plan/design sure sounds interesting. I can't wait to see it.