How can I calculate the quantity of tiles
I will need for a particular piece?
It is simple enough to work out the overall quantity you will
need by calculating the area of the piece. For squares and rectangles
just multiply the height by the width, and for circles use the formula
'pi*r2 (3.142 x radius x radius). If you express the dimensions
in metres, i.e. 0.3m rather than 30cm or 300mm, your answer willĘ
be expressed in m2. This is helpful because 0.1m2 is the area of
one sheet of vitreous glass tiles, so it is easy to translate your
area into numbers of sheets. For instance 0.25m2 would be 2 and
a half sheets, and 0.03m2 would be a third of a sheet. If you want
to by your tiles loose you can work out the weight you need because
one sheet weighs 700g.
You should also allow 10-15% extra for wastage in cut-piece work.
Assessing the proportions of different colours in the design is
a less precise science, and there is no substitute for guesswork
based on a visual judgement of relative quantities. it is wise to
overestimate as there is nothing so frustrating as running out half
way through. There is also the danger that the shade of the batch
will have changed slightly if you have to come back for more. Building
up a small stock of spare tiles can also be useful because it will
help you plan out future mosaics and sometimes provide inspiration
for colour combinations you would not otherwise have thought of.
How can I work out the quantity of grout
I will need?
As a guide the
1.5kg bags of grout will cover about 0.75m2 of cut-piece mosaic.
This however can only be an approximation as the amount will vary
from piece to piece. Work made up of very small pieces will have
a higher proportion of joints and thus generally use a bit more
grout. Some work is also much more widely jointed than others and
this will also increase the quantity of grout. Using the indirect
method and pre-grouting also tends to use rather more because it
has to be sponged off twice, once from the back and then again after
the final re-grout.
How can I work out the amount of adhesive
I will need?
The 1kg.
tubs of Arduflex will cover about 0.5m2 if the adhesive is applied
in an even bed with a notched trowel, as you would using the indirect
method. Working direct will tend to use more adhesive, partly because
the bed will not be combed own and also because there is often more
wastage with some adhesive drying before it can be used. Using the
direct method with materials of different thicknesses will also
use more adhesive if you are building up behind thin pieces to flatten
out the surface. If you can remember it is a good idea to measure
out the adhesive with the same container so that as you work you
can get a feel for how much area a particular quantity of powder
will cover. |
