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Stained Glass & Mosaics

sealing outdoor wood for glass or tile

16 years ago

I want to mosiac glass or floor tile onto plywood for outdoor use. A temporary seasonal patio. Place it up on a frame of 2x4s on top of a woodchip sitting area.

Do I have to seal the wood first and with what? It has a few coats of stain on it.

If I spray paint it silver and then glue glass down will that help with a bit of reflection?

Does Weldbond work with the glass for outdoor use?

What type of glue can I use in a caulking gun to glue tile on wood?

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Comments (8)

mosaicwench1
16 years ago
Plywood soaks up water like a sponge - from the air or from precipitation. Once it starts to soak up water the plys separate and the wood twists and warps. Plywood is never recommended for outdoors. Your patio would indeed be temporary at best.

Weldbond is a water based glue that would not hold up on wood outdoors. Any wetness in the wood will reactivate the water based glue and thus your tesserae will break away from the substrate.
tiffy_z5_6_can
16 years ago
What about using something like concrete backerboard? It's what they use instead of gyprock in kitchen and bathroom where it's going to get wet. It's heavy and tough. Check it out locally and see if it might be a feasible solution.
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purplelurcher
Original Author
16 years ago
Do I have to seal the wood first and with what? It has a few coats of stain on it.
If I spray paint it silver and then glue glass down will that help with a bit of reflection?
Does Weldbond work with the glass for outdoor use?
What type of glue can I use in a caulking gun to glue tile on wood?
I am using scrap tile or scrap glass. If it works one summer I am ok with that.
As I mentioned its a temporary removable mosiac glass or floor tile on plywood outdoor patio. It will be on top of 2x4s on top of a woodchip sitting area.
nicethyme
16 years ago
Purple, why in the world would you go through all the work and effort to create something that you won't care if it falls apart in one season???
nicethyme
16 years ago
well, Wench is correct about the plywood and even if you don't care about the swelling, I can't see it being solid enough either. The likelyhood that it will flex when walked on will quickly crack the grout, so I doubt it will last even one summer.

so, moisture being the main problem. Of course you would need to seal it with Kilz. A white background is plenty reflective unless you are planning to blind pilots as they fly over. No Weldbond is not for outdoors. GEII silcone will work in a caulking gun. And I doubt you will find anyone who will encourage you to proceed as planned. Why bother asking all these questions if you don't care? Mosaiking is alot of work and I can't imagine expending all that energy on something you are informed will not work?
purplelurcher
Original Author
16 years ago
Because I am being paid $2,000 by a theatre repertoire for a one time 5 day canopied out-doors performance of Shakespeare in the park. Set creation in short-term plays have different parameters. It doesnÂt need to last in this case.
crystal01
16 years ago
LOL! That reminds me of the West Side Story play my DD HS put together. It had this beautiful tile fountain in the center of the stage but when one of the actors sat on the edge of it during one of his songs, tiles starting popping off!! He handled it real well didn't bat an eye, while singing he pressed them back in! He got a standing ovation at the end of the song! And that was indoors theater! LOL!
lascatx
16 years ago
Why glass and why wood? Both have problems with being outdoors and walked on, the glass is not cheap and it's not the easiest or most durable thing to be handled backstage.

If you want glass like colors, why not use glossy paint? If it needs a light to shine through it, use lighting gels on a heavy sheet of acrylic. Or use the gels on top of a painted silver or white surface. Make your life easier and forget about gambling on one rain ruining your creation before the dress rehersal is over.

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