Shell mosaic Installation and Maintenance Guide

Shell mosaic Installation and Maintenance Guide

Natural shell colors may vary from piece to piece which enhances the natural beauty of the product.

Usage
Please be advised that shell mosaic should not be placed in direct sunlight as this may cause it to fade over time. It is also not suitable for external use.

Installation
All substrates should be firmly fixed, flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants such as dust, oil, paint, sealers etc. to ensure proper adhesion. Wet areas need special attention and require appropriate substrates, e.g. concrete, cement boards (compressed sheet), and/or treated plywood. The use of reinforced waterproof membranes is suggested.

Shell mosaic tiles can be installed around gently curved surfaces. Some alterations of the tile may be required in order to create uniformity.

The shells can easily be cut with a curved splitting clamp, glass cutter or a wet saw. The mesh back or plastic fronts can be easily cut with a utility knife.

Particular care should be taken to use the correct adhesive, grout and sealants. Using wrong setting material can cause damage to the color and beauty of glass mosaic. The installer is responsible for choosing and using the correct installation practices to achieve an acceptable finished product. Mir Mosaic is in no way responsible for the damages caused to the shell mosaic by wrong setting material, grout or sealer. Follow the adhesive and grout manufacturer’s instructions carefully. The shell mosaic is translucent, please be sure to use a white adhesive. 

Clean excess adhesive before it completely dries on the tiles with a damp cloth or sponge.

Grouting may be done after tile is firmly set – approximately 24 hours after installation. Clean the surface with a clean, damp sponge. We recommend using a non-sanded grout. Excess grout should be cleaned from the surface as the work progresses, while grout is fresh and before it hardens.  Prior to grouting, test in a small area to make sure the surface does not scratch during grouting.

We recommend use of the DuPont? StoneTech? Professional Sealer to seal shell mosaic.

Maintenance
Shell mosaic tiles must be regularly cleaned and maintained to extend the life and beauty of the tile. Use only a mild, pH-neutral detergent cleaner and damp sponge or rag to clean your mosaic. Acid, alkaline, and solvent-based cleaners can damage and/or discolor the tiles and the grout. We recommend the use of the DuPont? StoneTech? Professional Stone & Tile Cleaner for maintenance cleaning of the surface. Keep surfaces clean from abrasive dirt and do not use abrasive cleaners, powders, scouring pads, steel wool or sandpaper.  Do not allow soap, bleach or other cleaning solutions set on the surface.  Do not wax any part of your mosaic. Do not let stains sit on your mosaic’s surface for extended periods. Clean promptly.