| Tips and Techniques
TECHNIQUES FOR SEALING YOUR GROUT
Now that you have grouted your piece the next step depends on if your piece is to be an interior or an exterior one. If it is interior you can consider yourself done, pat yourself on the back for a job well done and enjoy all the compliments you will receive from it’s beauty in your home. If you have an exterior piece you have one more step, sealing the grout. The job of the grout sealer is to keep out moisture and stains. Mostly as a mosaic artist I care about keeping the moisture out so the tesserae does not stand a chance of ever popping off.
There are two schools of thought for sealing grout. Some very well known and accomplished mosaic artists believe you don’t need to seal your piece because the grout is like a breathing organic material and to seal it will not allow it to do so and can trap in moisture, which grout sealing is meant to keep out.
I, and many other mosaic artists believe that sealing a piece for exterior use is important.
You want to make sure the grout on your piece has cured or dried for a minimum of 48 hours. Once that has occurred you will want to clean your art of any dust or dirt. Then using a tile grout sealer (available at most hardware stores), and a clean and hardly damp sponge, soak the sponge with the sealer, then begin to apply the grout sealer very generously. It is ok to get the sealer on the tesserae but more importantly get the sealer into all the interstices or grout joints. Once the piece is covered using a clean dry rag begin to buff your art work. The sealer can leave a film like residue on the tesserae so make sure to really rub each piece of tesserae well. If you live in a very damp area that gets a lot of rain you may want to do a second coat of sealer which can be added 30 minutes after your first coat.
Your mosaic is now complete and you too can enjoy the compliments on a job well done.
If you are hanging your piece stay tuned next month for tips on proper hanging for mosaic art.
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