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The project:
Mosaic house numbers add personality and street appeal to your home.
This is an easy weekend project that can be customised to your preferred colours and design.
- Video tutorial:
- Materials:
- Tools:
- Step 1:
Plan your design.
Print or sketch your chosen house number. Cut it out and mark around it onto your timber or cement backing sheet. If your house number will be exposed to the weather choose a cement backing sheet.
Now is a good time to drill mounting holes in the top corners of your sheet to allow fixing with screws. Alternatively, the sheet can be fixing with construction adhesive.
Lay your mosaic pieces over the design until you're happy with the arrangement before gluing anything in place.
Leave consistent gaps of around 2-3mm between pieces to allow room for grout.
- Step 2:
Glue the mosaic pieces.
Working in small sections, spread a thin layer of tile adhesive over the backing sheet.
Press each mosaic piece firmly into the adhesive, following your design and checking that the spacing remains even. Continue until the entire number is complete.
You might need to use your tile nipper to cut the tile pieces to size. Remember to always wear safety glasses and gloves when cutting mosaic tiles or broken ceramics, as sharp edges and flying fragments can cause injury.
Allow the adhesive to cure fully according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Once the adhesive is dry, you can fill in the tiles around the number. Highly contrasting colours are best to ensure your numbers stand out.
- Step 3:
Apply the grout.
After waiting for the adhesive to dry, spread grout over the entire mosaic, working it into all the joints between the tiles. This is best done with a gloved hand and in circular motions.
Once every gap is filled, scrape away the excess grout.
Allow the grout to begin firming up before wiping the surface with a damp cloth to remove the haze without pulling grout from the joints.
- Step 4:
Clean and seal.
Once the grout has cured, buff away any remaining grout haze with a clean, dry cloth.
If the house numbers will be exposed to the weather, consider applying a grout sealer to help protect against moisture and staining.
- Step 5:
Mount your house numbers.
Your mosaic house numbers can now be installed on a wall, fence or letterbox.
Depending on the surface, either use a quality exterior construction adhesive or appropriate masonry fixings to securely mount the tile. Let us know if you need advice on how best to mount your creation.
Once installed, stand back and admire your unique hand-made house numbers that will help visitors find your home.
