Large winter project...looking for input

14 years ago

I posted this over on the garden junk forum and they suggested I post it here as you guys are the experts. Hope you can help out a newbie to the field. Thanks

I haven't been here in a while but I am gearing up with some ideas for the coming winter months.

I am planning on doing a large (6')mosaic mirrored oblique for the garden through the winter months. The frame work has just been built and I will be picking it up this week.

I am looking for any insight into mosaic work you can offer as I have never done mosaic work before but have worked with stained glass over the years.

My hope is to incorporate some stained glass dragonflies, birds, pond related items into the piece with the mirrors. I will probably use the reflective silver tape under the stained glass so it will show nicely. I decided to do smaller broken pieces of mirror because in our climate it really would never last as a single sheet...our winters are incredibly harsh at times.

I plan on using GE silicone II for the "glue" and wondered if this would be best? Also I planned on using a sand base grout, does that sound right?

So that's my plan...any thoughts, hints, tips?

Taigen

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Calamity_J
14 years ago
This project sounds awesome!!! Welcome aboard too!!! I am glad to hear that the mirror won't be left as is as the birds are likely to injure them seves with it, at least I heard that somewhere....What substrate are you using? This will be 4 sided(oblisk you said?), ohhh, sounds cool! Have you been checking out Flag's Triple Garden Bling Extravaganza??? She used mirror too!
So harsh winters make me hope that your substrate will not be wood, as it will swell and crack the mosaicing....I use outdoor grout, I buy it in a tile shop(flooring shop) not at a box store, and also use outdoor sealer, but that is because we get wet,cold,freezing here...If it's metal...well show us pics!!!! We will cheer you on all winter with works in progress pics..that's all we ask...heh heh! So with mosaicing, it's a good rule to make sure your grout lines(space between pcs) is no more than 1/4 inch, as it will be more prone to crack during bad freezes...even with sealer...I have learned! So either outdoor mortar or the silicone is fine. Hopefully someone else will chime in to add more stuff for you!!! Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:134360}}
taigen_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks calamity for the input...That shower door is amazing, how long did it take you to do?

The frame is made of wood but it will be sealed with an outdoor sealer. Hopefully that will be alright?
Yes it is 4 sided "obelisk". Hahaha I never know how to pronounce it let alone spell it LOL!! I first saw a solid mirror one at a garden tour and have wanted one ever since but I know our winters would crack it for sure.

The link below takes you to a photo of one almost identical to the one I saw. I'd love to own one like it, it's breathtaking, but I think mine with the stained glass accents will also be nice. I have two ponds and it would be perfect out there. I hope to use larger pieces of mirror than would normally be used in mosaics I think.

I'm really looking forward to learning and joining in this side of the forum. Thanks for the welcome.
Taigen

Here is a link that might be useful: mirrored obelisk
Related Discussions
Backyard landscape designs: need input
Q
Comments (5)
I'm not qualified to answer any drainage questions, but just going by aesthetics I like design 1. However I have some comments. The square veg/herb patch (far right in the pic) is about 10x10 ft and you probably need a path or some stepping stones, some way to work within that garden. Ditto for the round veg garden. If you are in zone 9 California, does that sunroom get too much sun and would it make sense to put some kind of arbor on the outside of it (where you have "walkway" indicated on the drawing), or a shade tree? My mom has a sunroom in zone 8 Mississippi and she had to put awnings on the windows, it got too much sun. A comment about wisteria, I believe there are several kinds, but the one I am familiar with here in the south will take down even a large sturdy arbor in a few years. So you might want to investigate and be sure if you plant wisteria it is appropriate for the size, strength of your arbor. One more thing, in design 1 the retaining wall comes all the way around the oval veg garden and that has its pros and cons. It encloses the patio and could provide seating, but it might make access to the gardens difficult and also obstruct the view, if you want to see the gardens, or maybe you want to keep that part of the gardens out of site? Very ambitious plans, and I bet it will be outstanding when you're all done. Laurie
...See More
Large winter project...looking for some insight
Q
Comments (1)
Hi, will be a great project but the best place to get answers is the "Stained glass & mosaics forum" Go to top of the GJ page where it says forums & click on that & 3 come up"Garden" "Home" & "Nature". Click on "Home" * then go down the list & it is on right side ,last forum. They are the experts & some are teachers of the art!! You can click on some of their work to see what I'm talking about. Good Luck with your project!! Jan
...See More
I need a little input, please
Q
Comments (13)
Oh, no, no, no! Please! It took me months to decide on WHAT plants to choose, and now it's taking me weeks to decide WHERE to plant them (despite making a plan - second-guessing my placement now). Please don't throw any more into the mix, lol! Decision-making is not a strong point of mine!... although a nice Red Sprite or two might look pretty good.... :) Just to clarify on the question about the four feet of space - I'm not worried about the size of the shrub (well, I am, kinda, because I hate to prune, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it) but I was concerned that there is enough space for good root growth to make a strong shrub. Katy, I see your point (no pun intended, lol) about the focal point, but I really think there is no way around the fact that this shed IS the focal point. From almost any angle on the property, your eye is drawn to it. I think we'd have to totally obscure it to not let the eye go immediately to it. And in winter it is worse because behind it is nothing but bare woods with brown leaves on the ground. The shed really stands out. So I figured I would work WITH it and plant the ilexes near it to complement it. But I'm really leaning toward putting ilex closer to the house to be enjoyed. George, I think perhaps a callicarpa might be nice, if you can spare one in the fall. Not in the original plan, but I'm sure I can fit it in, if it likes wet feet. Of course, you mentioned that dirty word again - "prune"... shudder. Any thoughts on that area being enough for root growth? Thank you all! :) Dee
...See More
Is it worth having large water containers in the winter hoops?
Q
Comments (5)
:D I've read his book, I have it. And love it. I didn't know about the Greenhouse forum here, sorry. I am new here. For sure this will not work all year where I live, I know. But with a cold frame I can have stuff out of the garden until december. I wonder if the same setup on my porch would work. If I can get 2-3 hours of heat extension everyday, it is still pretty good! I suppose I will try it, it will only cost me the plastic. Although I am not sure it will hold up properly. I wish someone else attempted this haha. Sometimes I get snow on my porch during winter (the roof goes above a foot further then the porch roof, so usually I get no rain or snow on the porch). So I wonder if a regular, cheap, thin plastic would hold or with the wind and snow hitting it, it will tear. I'm thinking it will tear. I'll get some tarp instead but they cost more and let in less sun... humm.. well, thanks for your input, I'll go find the greenhouse forum :)
...See More
flagtruck
14 years ago
WOW! Now you have me thinking...I have two metal ones but the sides are not solid enough to mosaic. Beware of the wood. The only wood things I have used outside in my garden are some wood sticks that I put rebar into and stuck in the ground. I first did some stuff and used wood sealer like Thompson's Deck sealer. NO NO NO. The sealer and the thinset had a reaction and my tess fell off. Then I did some with about 3 coats of Kilz on them to seal them and they are still standing and holding well. I would advise you to set yours on stepping stones or concrete so that it is not in contact with the ground and seal the heck out of it with KILZ then do a slurry coat of thinset or mortar on it and then adhere your mirror with thinset also. Silicone is okay if you are working on metal or another substrate but wood I would do the slurry coat and then use thinset and you should not have any problems. Use a good outdoor grout and seal the grout with TileLab sealer. Hope this helps, I am going out and look at my metal obleisk..lol..more ideas. ugh
daisyme
14 years ago
Taigen, hi! And...

You've gotten some good information from Calamity and Flag who both do loads of wonderful enduring outdoor work. Good luck with your project. I can see why you fell for the oblisque. It's beautiful. We'll all enjoy seeing your project as it develops!
solstice98
14 years ago
The project sounds wonderful, the picture of the mirrored obelisk is beautiful and OMG Jane the shower door is an inspiration! I love this forum!
taigen_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Flag...thanks for the info, I do have some Kilz here and I will treat the wood with that. I will be picking up the frame on Thurs but I am not sure when I will actually start the project as our weather is still quite nice so far. I want this to be a winter project I will do in my artroom. I will seal it before though.
It will be placed on a large rock out in the flower bed but I will make sure it doesn't sit in the soil to rott.
I will have to look for the tile sealer you mentioned.
Thanks everyone for the welcome and the info.
flagtruck
14 years ago
We are glad to have you. The Tilelab sealer is avail at Lowes in their ceramic tile flooring dept.
You have me thinking mirrored obelisk now and I am looking at my metal one and trying to figure a way to turn it into a mirrored one.
Good luck

Large winter project...looking for input

Comments (7)

Calamity_J

taigen_gw
Original Author

Related Discussions

flagtruck

daisyme

solstice98

taigen_gw
Original Author

flagtruck

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Large winter project...looking for input

Comments (7)

Calamity_J

taigen_gwOriginal Author

Related Discussions

flagtruck

daisyme

solstice98

taigen_gwOriginal Author

flagtruck

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

taigen_gw
Original Author

taigen_gw
Original Author