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Stained Glass & Mosaics

Question about mosaic on new concrete structures

17 years ago

For you gals who are making concrete structures....I'm very new to this,and what I've read indicates a waiting period of 28 days for a new concrete structure to "cure", before you mosaic....but you guys are starting to mosaic sooner than that, right? What was Riana's opinion on this....did she create those structures of Sam and her animals and mosaic them during the 7 days you were there?

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

rosemarythyme
17 years ago
Riana started her structure of Sam & friends three years ago (it was quite an undertaking!) and worked on it each year she had a workshop in PV. BUT to answer your question. The concrete is only as thick as a double thickness of hardware cloth--in other words, pretty thin. 24 hours is all you need for drying, unless you have packed it in. Also if you have a huge project you're going to be working in sections anyway. There is a lot of opportunity for drying time there. A few who made small projects in PV started mosaicing the next day (again because the concrete is a thin almost skin coat on the hardware cloth).
lyndalu
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, Rosie! That's interesting. I have both of Sherri Warner Hunter's books....and she uses the technique with the hardware cloth...as well as some other techniques - but really streses the importance of the "curing process" where you keep the item damp during the first 3 to 5 days and then let it cure for 28 days.

Maybe with smaller items it's not as important...

Thanks for the information! I'm glad you cleared that up for me - about the amount of time Riana's structure took.... :) that was really cool!
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klinger
17 years ago
Hi lyndalu, I've made quite a few concrete items and mosaiced them. I also took Rianna's course. I have always done the wet cure for several days, and the full cure for 28 prior to painting or mosaicing.Rose is right in her description of Riannas process, and I will try it, but like you have read a full cure time is the best.
Cindy
lyndalu
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for your reply, Cindy! Your concrete items are fantastic!!!
How about small items...like small mushrooms....would you wait the full 28 days on those, also?
texaswild
17 years ago
In my haste to get on with it, when I tore the cardboard tube off my garden column, it had only been five days. I immediately began to mosaic - first sealed it w/Drylock. I suppose because there's only a thin wall of concrete that I had poured between the tubes, it was ok to go ahead so early. Whatever - not a piece has budged, and it's been there a year and a half.
klinger
17 years ago
I don't think there is a 100 percent answer on this. A lot of people who work with concrete swear the curing time is necessary, and yet there's lots of stories like Slow's and Riannas.
Cindy
lyndalu
Original Author
17 years ago
Okay, thanks, klinger - I appreciate your input - I think I'm going to continue to go for the full cure time routine.

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