Moroccan Tile Help

Without a picture, I too must “assume.” Please post a picture of the tile and the substrate you plan to attach the tile to. Is this a kitchen counter back splash or behind a bathroom sink? I am likely to recommend the same sealer, no matter the picture, but it would help me to understand what your expectations are for “sealer,” depending on the use. “Treating” the unglazed tile and the glaze is a better way of putting it. It doesn’t really seal liquid out of porous material, but it can slow or prevent reactions between food spills and tile, stone and grout. I prefer to use the term “penetrant.” After it penetrates, you can wipe it off the glazed part. You can repeat or leave it, but the results may depend on your use and expectation. If the word “sealer” on the bottle seems misleading, then also tile suppliers can also offer misleading advise. As for thinset, that may depend on the substrate and the tile. Broadly speaking: latex additives make it stick like glue, but they cure with air. With a large tile like yours, and on substrate which isn’t very porous, latex or “polymer modified” might not help. Portland cement without latex, bonds to tile by exothermic reaction with water, not air. But, what kind of tile on what substrate? Different tile setters can disagree. I call tech support a lot, I read directions, and I test materials all the time. There is often more than one right way, but a wrong way with tile can cause the entire job to fail.

greenmountain

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 2 months ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

brooklynite66 | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5144 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5119 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180860"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B0WbrLozxGXb/olH8hKrz3JUy7wzxy0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "Heatherik66@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(45) "1716995184:$P$Bz1DPFLsMk.nz7crHxKC175Zok5VR2."
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180860)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Has anyone ever installed Moroccan mosaic tile as a backsplash? I bought some partially unglazed a year ago and I’m finally getting around to install it and I could use some advice. Can anyone recommend a good sealer? Also, what type of thin set should I use? They told me it is just like installing any tile, but these are thicker and heavy as they are held together in the back with cement. Any installing advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Green Mountain | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5143 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5142 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "46337"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(14) "Green Mountain"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BGR2W/BZlMKRrOnYlei1Gum56BWhOv/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(14) "green-mountain"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(24) "aaron@grueninteriors.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "http://gmcandd.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2010-03-27 23:29:12"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Green Mountain"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(46337)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Please post a picture of a few tiles. “Partially unglazed”? Do you have the type which was glazed a single color and then part of the glaze was chipped off of each tile to reveal a pattern?

brooklynite66 | 11 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5139 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5145 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180860"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B0WbrLozxGXb/olH8hKrz3JUy7wzxy0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "Heatherik66@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(45) "1716995184:$P$Bz1DPFLsMk.nz7crHxKC175Zok5VR2."
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "brooklynite66"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180860)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

They are hand cut tiles mixed with glazed tiles pieced together to make one 12″ tile. So I assume the whole 12″ tile has to be treated as unglazed.