Bisazza - help needed

[ajc]

Hi all,

Got to do a job in a few weeks using Bisazza mosaics, which I've never used before. I've seen in an earlier thread that people charge up to £100 per square metre (inc epoxy grout and shiner). Is there anything specific to Bisazza that makes it require such a fee? Is it much harder to fix than other glass mosaic?

I know they require using a 3mm trowel at best, using BAL mosaic fix and epoxy grout. Any special techniques I need to know about?

It's for a wetroom floor (preformed Impey tray) and 8 square metres of surrounding wall.

I quoted the job on basis of fixing large format porcelain, so how much extra do you reckon I need to add on (i.e. how much more time consuming will it be?)

thanks all

 

[Time's Ran Out]

:welcome:ajc.

If its just the Shower tray that you are fixing the mosaic to it will be easier than cutting a large format tile.
As long as the floor is perfectly flat (not level) and smooth you'll find the job a lot easier in Bisazza.
They are smaller in size but if you set it out correctly and do the floor first you may find that there is very little cutting, if any, which is the time element.

You never know but it may be that much quicker that you end up refunding some money to the customer! ( only joking!)

Have fun.
John.

 

[davy_G]

Hi, it depends how you want to do it.
I did the Bisazza course at pts and this is the trpe of thing bisazza fixers are supposed to be doing. Rounding off corners and grout lines following so rooms must be square as well as flat.
Have you used the paper backed mosaics before, they can be a bit of a pain getting the water onto them in the correct time and best use bisazza addy to fix and skim the walls with first.

It is a bit slower but the finish can be really classy.

What size are the mosaics?

 

[White Room]

You can get an instruction book on fixing, 8m2 on the walls won't be a big pattern but they maybe numbered. They do pride themselves on a full mosaic with next to no cutting. Try to get the small book which will explain in detail for opening and closing the joints

 

[cjones]

If your going to do these types of mosaics properly skiming all the walls white and spreading or closing gaps so there's no cuts then this is going to take you an age. Which justify's the price people charge to install these mosaics.

Before you go ahead and mess it up be cautious as some of these mosaics can cost in excess of £grands a metre.

I wanted to learn how to install these properly which is why i went an done the bisazza course at PTS harlow - I would highly recomend

Good Luck

 

[ajc]

the tiles are of a size similar to the ones in Davy G's (very impressive) picture.

I've not used paper back tiles before and when you all say 'skim' the walls first i'm a bit at a loss, and I wouldn't know how to round the corners like that, so I think it's clear I'm gonna be out of my depth - 3 1/2 years tiling with standard ceramic/porcelain/trav tiles etc suddenly seems to count for very little.

Any idea if there is a directory of Bisazza trained fixers I can get hoild of to out-source the work?

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

just checked out the bisazza website:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes: how much?????dont think many of my customers will be buying them most of mine think focus is expensive lol

 

[White Room]

Your'll find that the people who have large areas done tend to live very very big houses

 

[davy_G]

the tiles are of a size similar to the ones in Davy G's (very impressive) picture.

I've not used paper back tiles before and when you all say 'skim' the walls first i'm a bit at a loss, and I wouldn't know how to round the corners like that, so I think it's clear I'm gonna be out of my depth - 3 1/2 years tiling with standard ceramic/porcelain/trav tiles etc suddenly seems to count for very little.

Any idea if there is a directory of Bisazza trained fixers I can get hoild of to out-source the work?

Might be worth chatting to the customer about their expectations for the spec of the finished job, and cost of the mosaics. Find out where they got them and see the display so you can see the standard they expect.

If you have been tiling for 3 1/2 years you have already got all the basic skills for fixing these. Rather than out source it, give PTS a buzz, do the course and cash in yourself. Im sure some of the forums sponsored courses could also help you, its just PTS is where I did my course.

Good luck.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

ajc.

I'am with Davy G!
Not all Bisazza tiles are intricate designs and have curved details.
You should have enough knowledge by now to go for it!
This bathroom below is a Bisazza tile I did a few years ago (not all bathroom are photogenic) and its pretty plain - until I put a few lines in!



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You'll have fun!

John.

 

[White Room]

Good work there John

 

[ajc]

Might be worth chatting to the customer about their expectations for the spec of the finished job, and cost of the mosaics. Find out where they got them and see the display so you can see the standard they expect.

If you have been tiling for 3 1/2 years you have already got all the basic skills for fixing these. Rather than out source it, give PTS a buzz, do the course and cash in yourself. Im sure some of the forums sponsored courses could also help you, its just PTS is where I did my course.

Good luck.

I am tempted to do the course, trouble is it looks like its gonna be £500, plus accom, plus a weeks lost wages. I can't see a whole lot more customers spending this kinda cash, so I just don't know if its financially viable.

I'll see what the customer wants to do and take it from there. Thanks all for the advice, I'll post pics if I do go ahead.

 

[White Room]

You don't say what area your from ajc

 

[milan11]

There is only 3 basic rules for fitting mosaic - surface, surface and again surface.

As good is your surface as good is your final finished tiles.

Make sure your surface under the tiles is perfectly straight and smooth, then use small trowell - depend of thicknes of mosaic, for bisazza use 1-2 mm trowel and you can start tiling.
If your surface is good, soon you'll find out that fitting mosaic is one of the fastest and easiest tiling jobs ever.

There is only one really nightmare - epoxy grout.
If you get one of the two parts epoxy grouts - you'll cry on the job.
B/C of the epoxy grout, price for fitting mosaic is high, if you have ordinary grout - job is very easy and very simple.

Here are few samples of my previous jobs:

 

[White Room]

Cracking work mate, Bisazza mosaic trowels are 3.5mm, 1-2mm seems very small for mosaic though

 

[milan11]

Cracking work mate, Bisazza mosaic trowels are 3.5mm, 1-2mm seems very small for mosaic though

It depend of the thickness of mosaic, if your mosaic is only 5 mmm thick, trowel 3.5 mm might be too big.

But of course for 1-2 mm trowel your surface must be really good - plasterbord, and on the other hand - 3.5 mm trowel you can always hold under smaller angle, so you are right.

 

[ajc]

I'm based in Birmingham Whitebeam.

The job has been put off until August so I may well have time to do the PTS course.

This question is aimed at Timeless John, Davy G, CJones and all who have done the course - have you had enough Bisazza work since to justify the cost of the course and the weeks lost wages? Would be a wounder to spend the cash and miss a weeks work then never get another Bisazza job ever again!

 

[White Room]

It's not how many jobs you do, it's the fact you will know how to if asked. It maybe the only one you get this year but if you don't do it and get asked again, your'll be turning the work down