mosaic fire pit

12 years ago

Hi all,

This is my first time posting and would like some advice! I am helping my son's class with their classroom art project which will be auctioned off.

I have been seeing amazing fire pits that other schools have done and they have bordered with tiles or mosaics.

I have attached some examples I have seen:

http://allinthekiln.com/school_projects

I especially like this:

http://www.beniciaunified.org/turner/auction/2011classproj/bishop.jpg

My question to any of you is how do I do this? What kind of materials do I need? How do I attach the mosaics onto the fire pit? Will tiles or mosaic pieces get ruined from the fire?

I have emailed several people and have had no responses. I really want to do this but need some advice.

Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Calamity_J
12 years ago
I would contact a specialty tile/flooring store and ask what kind of adhesive they recomend to start. I would think that the ceramics would need to be porceline in finished state also. Hope that helps!
texaswild
12 years ago
IMO I can't see any other way to adhere the tiles than w/a good tile mortar, and of course I'll repeat my favorite - Mapei Ultra Flex II, found at Lowes. I agree w/CALAM that the tiles should be porcelain.
Related Professionals
Paradise Valley Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Pearland Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Vallejo Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Indian Trail Glass & Shower Door Dealers · Cincinnati Window Contractors · Gibsonton Window Contractors · Muncie Window Contractors · Oxnard Window Contractors · Palm River-Clair Mel Window Contractors · Linthicum Window Contractors · Beaumont Custom Closet Designers · El Segundo Custom Closet Designers · La Grange Park Custom Closet Designers · Weehawken Custom Closet Designers · Gardere Window Contractors
silvamae
12 years ago
Porcelain tile would be good. However, what do you all think about vitreous glass tile? Wouldn't it be appropriate also? I think it would, but I'm not an expert, so I would like to hear what you think.
texaswild
12 years ago
Yep - those w/work too, IMO.
shrillmtb
12 years ago
It's hard to tell from the pictures what the base that the tiles are on is made of. If it is something that would expand/contract as the pit heats up and cools down (like metal, which is what my fire pit is made of) that could lead to problems with the mosaic cracking or pieces popping off if they were attached directly on the surface. If the pit is made of something that expands you could still make a mosaic on something like a thin piece of cement backer board and attach that to the pit, I think (not an expert here!!).
nicethyme
12 years ago
shrill, I'm thinking the same thing, metal is going to change pretty drastic just in the sun.. I don't think I would adhere a mosaic to metal. I agree that I would make a cement board base and screw it to the pit rim before mosaicing. I also would trust silicone over anything else for the heat resistance
wackyweeder
12 years ago
According to the label on the silicone I use, It is resistant to 350 degrees farenheit. Some epoxies go much higher, you have to check the labels. there are pple on flickr who have mosaicked outdoor pizza ovens. they used mortar-but the ovens are so well insulated there is snow on the outside of it while the oven is fired up and running. sorry for the spelling nd grammar-in a hurry!