Which surface is suitable?

Our beautiful Mosaic Miro range products can be applied to any architectural and stable surface, including concrete, plaster, ceramics, plaster walls, wood, plastic and any other material as long as the base is static and stable. The surface needs to be clean and a glue that supports the product must be used.

What kind of glue should be applied?

Care has to be taken to ensure that the surface you intend to use is flat and even. No bumps should be visible. Also, the surface must be dust free for the adhesion to work properly. The remaining dirt can be identified later on the upper side. The floor or wall should be properly levelled off before starting the project. The composite mats with small stones are very flexible and will follow every bump. It is not possible to convert the mosaic as with mosaic ceramic tiles.

The product should be handled with a cement-based adhesive on a hardened, levelled and prepared surface. The product, the adhesive and the surface must correspond.

How do you process Mosaic Miro on corners and edges?

When you process Mosaic Miro on corners and edges, you must make sure that you reach a good finish in the distribution of the pattern. Bevelled angles can be easily cut. When making an external right angle, take great care that strips of glue netting are cut off so that they are no longer visible after grouting.

You must also take into account the fragment size of the material in rounded corners. Large fragments require a larger diameter for a rounded corner.

External right-angled corners may be finely processed by taking into account the pattern to be cut as well as the fragments. Patience and precision is needed to create the design, but this will be rewarded with a satisfactory result.

Another solution for edges is a metal or plastic finish profile, which is available in most building materials outlets.

In general, the material can be cut with a grinding wheel or diamond saw at any desired angle. It can be done after the polishing process. You can also use a grinding tool, such as a steel punch.

Where can’t Mosaic Miro be applied?

Our Mosaic Miro products can be administered almost everywhere. The material is less suitable in very heavy mechanical loads where forklifts or heavy trucks have to be used unless a normal ramp can be put in place. Of course, in this case the surface has to be sufficiently sturdy.

Furthermore, the material can be applied in any climate, both indoors and outdoors. In some climates certain stones are prone to damage. Some stone types have to be processed in a special way if there is a combination of high humidity or heavy frost. In this case, please contact us first.

Miro mosaic cannot be applied in a very aggressively acidic environment. Many types of the stones used are marble, and acids are known to cause damage to this stone type. Mosaic Miro can easily be used for standard applications in home and garden. For special applications, be aware of the chemical environment, such as saunas and swimming pools.

A fact to be considered is that acid can be present in cleaning agents, but also in water resources management. The product will have to be finished with a 2-component waterproofing product which will seal the material completely and will protect the stone against any form of attack by acids.

Will the material discolour?

The material can discolour through prolonged use of chemicals or through the influence of UV radiation. This is because the natural character of the stone depends on the protection of the surface where the material is treated to some extent.

What adhesive and grout should be applied?

In most cases the pre-prepared mats can be used with conventional cement-based adhesive on the surface. Exceptions are special surfaces which are not made with cement-bound materials. For this you can contact us for advice or you can contact a professional dealer.

For heavy mats like Beachstone or Palladiana XL, extra-strong adhesive should be used for bonding on vertical surfaces. The adhesive and grout must be suitable for natural stone and bonding with your surface. In damp and wet areas, it is highly recommended to work with waterproof glue and grout.

Depending on the type of product, the quantity can be variable. That can sometimes vary from 0-10 millimetres. When that is the case, apply a flexible grout.

Which colour should I add?

The choice of a colour for the joints is an aesthetic issue that determines how the product will look. To help you make a choice, start by testing one or more sampling patches. You can get the colour pigment that is mixed with the grout from dealers. Please note that the ratio of the added colour pigment must be measured and correct when you create the new grout.

Of course you can add any colour of choice, but in general the result will be much more pleasing to the eye if you choose a colour as close as possible to the material. Be careful to get the desired result if you choose different colours.

It is advisable to match your adhesive colour to your added colour. After gluing, the adhesive residue will have to be removed carefully. Later on, the exposed adhesive will weaken your add but will also create disturbing elements.

Make sure to remove the adhesive residue with a damp sponge immediately after bonding. Make sure you add the stone as evenly as possible and remove the grout residue on the stone with a damp sponge.

Do this repeatedly until all add remnants of the stone have disappeared. When the joints have dried, do the last round of cleaning.

Can Mosaic Miro be used in floor or solar heating?

Our products can be combined with under-floor heating.

Take care, though, as at floor temperatures of above 25 degrees, discoloration may occur in some types of stone if it is in direct contact with either the sun or hot water at these temperatures. The dark colours will then produce the greatest effect, whereby dark grey becomes light grey. This has no effect on the strength. Waterproofing the product helps to prevent discoloration.

How should I clean the product?

All acid-free soft cleaning agents can be used to clean the mosaic. Use a damp or wet cloth or scrubbing brush according to your needs. Our products are generally easy to keep clean. Products with a rough surface, such as Beachstone, are more sensitive to dirt.

In frequently used areas with more dirt, you can consider choosing a product with a smoother surface, such as Palladiana. Products with many joint surfaces with light colours are more susceptible to contamination. Waterproofing can be a solution. Think of the back wall of your kitchen: it must be waterproofed so grease and grime don’t stand a chance.

How and when should I impregnate the product?

Our products are made of natural stone. Some of these types of stone, in combination with the added resources, have a porous surface which picks up dirt and moisture.

If you want the mosaic to be dirt and moisture resistant, it has to be waterproofed. The choice to waterproof can also be an aesthetic consideration. Waterproofing the product will give a deeper colour and give it a glossy or matt effect, depending on the agent used. The choice of the agent may be natural or chemical. In most cases, a more natural remedy requires more maintenance. However, using a chemical agent means that some layers will be maintenance-free.

A two-component product that completely covers and protects against corrosion can be used in more aggressive environments. It can be naturally impregnated with natural oils such as olive oil, coconut oil or beeswax. Rub the product evenly until it is absorbed, then rub it out for a shiny effect. There are many chemicals available on the market which you can get on our advice or consult your retailer.

What tools do I need to process the product?

Use measuring tools to measure up. There are many useful ones, like a square, plumb (for walls), a level (for floors) and a tape measure, or you can just use some construction string and a pencil.

Use a custom grinding wheel to make the tile mats. Use an angle grinder or a diamond saw to cut the stone. Small loose stones can be cut with customised pliers or you can break stones with a hammer and chisel.

For bonding you will need a mixer and a cement bucket, a 7mm trowel and a cleaning sponge with a wash bucket. It is advisable to use a trowel to knock the mats into the still wet glue and to position them in the way you want them to look as a finished product.

For grouting, use a mixer, cement bowl, trowel and a grout trowel or sponge. Use a sponge and a wet cloth for cleaning up afterwards. Stand back and admire the finished product.