What do do with lots of misc. tiles??

15 years ago

I have access to many discontinued sample tiles (both ceramic and procelain) from a flooring store. I would like to break them up and create a mosaic on my UGLY concrete patio. I have some 12x12, 14x14, 6x6, 4x4, 2x2, 1x1 all of different colors and patterns. I have done a few bowling balls, and a neat framed mirror, but this is intimidating me for some reason, maybe because of the size of the patio? Any suggestions??

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Comments (17)

emtnest
15 years ago
Here is a link to my patio from my last house. When we moved the new buyer loved it..

Here is a link that might be useful: webshots
texaswild
15 years ago
That's about the best response I've ever seen, EMT. I love it too, and I can't think of a better way to use those tiles. You did a marvelous job of a patchwork quilt patio. HOPELESS - this is a real inspiration - woooohooo. When are you getting started? Show us some pictures real soon of your WIP.
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Thanks all. Rifig I'm impressed. 1. plumeria Nebel's Rainbow (blooms are dropping : ( ) 2. portulaca 3. a weedy nightshade but I think it's pretty 4. Fuchsia Gartenmeister 5. MG 6. Kohleria Longwood 7. Strophanthus preussii 8. African violet 9. mini epiphyllum (fruit is the size of a small pecan) 10. echeveria 11. Clerodendrum thomsoniae (variegated but that's not showing in pic) 12. Lespedeza 13. clematis w/bee 14. Naked Lady 15. Black Jack sedum 16. croton 17. Ceropegia woodii (I have several other ceropgias that I wish would start blooming) 18. Potato vine Solanum jasminoides 19. MG 20. variegated phlox 21. blackberry lily (?) 22. some sort of streptocarpus 23. MG 24. portulaca 25. Browallia Americana 26 & 29 can't remember the name begins with a C I think 27. hollyhock 28. coreopsis
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Thank you jeannienpc99, dilly_dally, and lyfia for responding. I had a long seminar yesterday (I take seminars for knowledge in my profession and to keep my license since I need 120 Continuing Professional Education Credits every 3 years) so I was so tired when I wrote the post last night. I have a home office and have tax and business clients who come to me for my expertise. A few of many clients have become friends from knowing them for so many years. One client is the age my father was when he died last year. This client is retired and lives very close to me and keeps asking me if I need help since he likes to keep himself busy and helps anyone that needs help which makes him feel good. A few months ago, I had told him I was going to Lowes's to get the tiles I decided on. He told me he would go with me since amazingly he is very strong and he would help me get the tiles in the car and into my home. That is when someone came up to us with that extra coupon that they did not need and we used both which was the mistake since then I would have the lighter lot number still here. The other client I withdraw from the engagement since he needed really a full-time bookkeeper as well as a CPA for his two corporations that was more work than I had time for since his other two corporations are out of state. He promised to buy me tiles and get them installed if I helped out with a sales tax audit despite my resigning. I decided to stay on as a consultant since the new accountant needed my help. The tile guy he had come here (that tiles a few of his buildings he owns) that does great work seems to be much to busy for me and despite buying the tiles myself is still not showing up so I just want to find someone to pay myself to get the job done. I did not realize until yesterday that the new lot I bought (7 boxes of Rialto Beige Tiles to have extra in case needed due to wanting the tiles on the diagonal and also having a closet to put the tiles in) was a darker color. I can live with the darker color but I prefer the lighter color of the Rialto Beige Tiles but I have no idea what lot number the lighter color is. I need to do the tiles first before I can remove this rug to do the hardwood floors. My busy season is coming up and I am starting to get busy with special projects and a new estate project that was just dropped off. Some of my clients have been with me over 18 years and have become friends. Most of my clients only have a professional relationship with me, mailing me their work, or dropping it off and the relationship is 100% business. Thank you for your time. Do you find the lighter Rialto Beige tiles match better also in my area or at least look nicer?
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texaswild
15 years ago
I forgot to mention, HOPELESS, that if you have access to the book by Kafe Fassett and Candace Behouth, Kafe's patio is another inspirational piece. In fact, that's my favorite mosaic book. You can get a used one at Amazon.com. A link for you.
Inspirational book
flagtruck
15 years ago
I agree with Slow, that patio is the greatest. I would have trouble moving away from that. Slow is telling you right about the book too. My hero, I love his book and patio and walls. I will get mine all done that way soon..I wish I had the problem with all those tiles..lol..My patio and back wall would already be covered. Good luck, get busy and don't forget the pics.
texasfern
15 years ago
What a problem to have!
I'm telling you, don't be intimidated, just dive in.
That is what I have to do , and it works!
Can't wait for photos!
rchovey
15 years ago
Oh yeah, go for it! I'm going to start mine this spring. May take me several years to get it finished but I'm tired of looking at it, so I'm diving in. You do the same and we'll exchange photos.
emtnest
15 years ago
Thank you Slow... I never thought we would move, but we've moved up to the pines... and it's nice here too...and cooler. That book looks great. I like the feature of taking a look at it by turning the pages... lots of great ideas there. I wonder if other tile stores would be so kind as to save their discontinued and sampled ones for someone...
texaswild
15 years ago
There's one here that w/give me discontinued tiles, but I have no use for thick floor tiles. However, they are good substrates - FREE. You have to drill holes for hangers, but I found it easy enough w/the proper drill bit. I have used them several times - small tiles.
squirrellycanadian
15 years ago
Wow! Emtnest, I LOVE that floor!! What a great idea! It looks awesome! I'd much rather have that than one that all matched, it has character!
cathyscache
15 years ago
OMG what a great patio. That would me soo hard to leave!!! Hopeless Tex is right just go for it!! It'll be great...And yeah I wish I had that problem. I wish I could get tiles like that. mine cost $...I do luck out at yard sales every once in a while...looking forward to seeing pics....Cathy
bettycbowen
15 years ago
We did the front porch of our last house from random tiles we got at Habitat resale, and really liked the results a lot, as did everybody else. So now we are adding a deck/patio onto the bedroom of our forever house, and will do a slab just so we can tile again! It wasn't hard, just a lot of work and you will love it forever.

And that Kafe Fassett book is the thing that finally pushed me over the edge into mosaics!
susiewantsroses
15 years ago
We bought some tile left over from a McDonalds construction. They were 5 cents each. We broke them up and made a type of mosaic. susie

{{gwi:130445}}

{{gwi:130446}}
texaswild
15 years ago
And you're asking US what to do w/TILES? My goodness, girlie. Looks like you could teach us a whole lot about your original question. I absolutely LOVE your walkway, and w/love to see pictures of your whole garden BEAUTIFUL!! Before you start your patio, there's a birdbath standing there in that beautiful garden that sure could use a coat of colorful tiles.
emtnest
15 years ago
Hey Slow... that was Hopelessjunker who asked the Q... and Susiwantsroses who posted the path...btw Susie I love your path, it is beautiful!!!!
susiewantsroses
15 years ago
That was the house we had in Houston TX. Now we are in the Dallas Area. That was our only major mosaic project. The front porch was also done. We did not know what we were doing. I took a hammer and tried to soften all of the sharp edges before the mosaic part began. Major job but I understand there are more safisticated ways of doing it now. Ha

At our house here I have a bunch of scrap tile that I got from Freecycle.com I am probably going to do the same thing for the back porch. I have never done a patterned mosaic picture before so I'm not quite brave about trying that.

But this was just an example of what busted up tile would look like.

Susie
texaswild
15 years ago
Told y'all I was losin' it! What a dufus I am!! Sorry about that. I'm always in such a hurry, I should pay more attention. Whatever - that is an absolutely spectacular job on your front walk, SUSIE!!! Hey, HOPELESS - you done yet?
cathyscache
15 years ago
Susie the walkway is gorgeous! I'm sure it was hard to leave. Hopeless Im w/ Slow where's the pics, we wanta see??!!! We're waiting...

What do do with lots of misc. tiles??

Comments (17)

emtnest

texaswild

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