Anyone know of someone who can build a public footfall capable pavement mosaic?

martco

unusual one, I'm trying to find someone who can do this kind of work

it will be different design obv...but think along the lines of the famous Stags Head mosaic in the alley beside the pub and you've got the basic idea e.g.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4107/4996361645_72ec4263c6.jpg

it will be similar in size and most importantly it HAS TO be up to the abuse of public footfall and provide decent grip levels, it will be part of a pathway leading up to the threshold of a business premesis' entrance door

although I've done the research on howto and I have tiled before I have a time issue and can't spend 2 months farting about with it

it seems to be a bit of a dead artform in Ireland, there are people doing this in England but that's impossible really

any pointers appreciated, thanks!

Gumbo

Will it comply with Part M and provide a hard, even and suitable surface for universal access?

martco

that's the intention alright, although the business will have the usual public liability insurance etc. there can't be any unreasonable risk...this is where the divil is in the detail, the work will have to be done absolutely perfectly (laid dead even near millimeter tile gaps without any lipping, brass framed and in correct materials - I believe unglazed ceramics is the one needed for outdoors work of this nature)...it definitely can be done and I have seen a method where the mosaic is prelaid onto a framed cement board for eventual installation but it looks super fiddly to achieve.

I've asked around and although I've come across one or 2 people who can do arty "wall hung" mosaic work nobody seems to have a grip or any experience on floor-based/outdoor construction

Mplant

Maybe get it cut out with a water jet and have it stuck on fabric mesh like small tiles,then lay as normal,no?

martco

its not as complicated as that far as I know...the method is basically as follows:
1. printout your desired pattern (you make up a a template on paper a bit like an old fashioned colouring-in book)
2. overlay a sheet of transparent sticky vinyl, like the sort we used to cover schoolbooks in
3. take your mosaic chips/tiles (u can buy easy online) and lay them upside down onto the vinyl sheet making up the pattern
4. prep the frame (brazed brass angle profile frame for example and concrete board backer
5. pour in and spread your mortar
6. carefully lift the sheet and lay onto the mortar surface and roll it down into the mortar till the top surface of the tiles are even with the edge of the frame
7. wait till mortar cured and peel away the vinyl and hope you have a usable mosaic panel to set into your pavement, grout etc.

Meningate

Hi, never done this specific type befor but done plenty of floor tiling, some small. Seems reasonably straight forward and would be interested in looking at it further. However am not available to do anything until after Nov 6th so keep looking for someone who's done it before. I'm a semi retired roofing and general builder of 40 years experience in UK and it sounds an enjoyable challenge. I now live in Enniscorthy. Terry