How concrete mosaic floors are made

Concrete mosaic floors are an exquisite and long-lasting way to infuse any area with artistic flair. These floors combine the beauty and adaptability of mosaic designs with the durability and strength of concrete. Small bits of stone, glass, or other materials can be embedded into the concrete surface to create distinctive patterns that can turn plain floors into works of art.

Preparing the concrete base layer is the first step in the creation of concrete mosaic floors. To guarantee that the mosaic pieces adhere correctly, this foundation needs to be level and smooth. The mosaic design is meticulously planned and laid out after the base is prepared. A good eye for detail is needed for this step since the intended pattern needs to be created by precisely placing each piece.

The mosaic pieces must then be embedded into the wet concrete once the design has been established. Although it can take some time, this procedure is necessary to guarantee a smooth and long-lasting finish. To ensure that every component is level with the surface, it is pressed into the concrete. After the entire pattern is completed, the floor is allowed to cure so that the mosaic pieces are held in place by the concrete’s ability to harden.

Ultimately, the concrete mosaic floor’s surface is polished to improve both its durability and appearance. The mosaic pieces’ colors and textures are brought out by polishing, which also produces a glossy, smooth finish. This not only improves the floor’s appearance but also makes cleaning and maintenance simple. Concrete mosaic floors, when maintained properly, can add a distinctive and refined touch to any indoor or outdoor area for many years to come.

Technology for arranging mosaic floors

The stages involved in arranging a covering like a mosaic floor are as follows:

• preliminary preparation of the base surface;
• installation of dividing structures (when installing multi-color mosaic flooring) or installation of beacons (when installing a single-color floor);
• preparation of mosaic concrete;
• laying the mortar;
• finishing of the finished floor.

Crucial! Every step of the process of putting in a mosaic concrete floor requires the air to be at least 5 degrees Celsius. This temperature is precisely maintained in the space until the concrete reaches 50% of its strength. After all installation, construction, electrical installation, and facing work, we advise laying mosaic floors.

Preparation of the base surface

If a monolithic reinforced concrete slab serves as the mosaic floor’s base, we perform the following preparatory work:

• we determine the unevenness of the slab surface (they should not exceed 10 mm), using a rule and a ruler;
• cut off protruding irregularities with a hammer or a hammer drill;
• potholes and cracks are repaired with a quick-hardening repair compound;
• using a metal brush (manual or electric) we give the surface a rough structure;
• clean the base from dirt, collect dust with a vacuum cleaner;
• prime the surface of the slab with a special compound.

A standard cement-sand screed that is 2-3 cm thick is the perfect foundation for a concrete mosaic floor; occasionally, it can be as thick as 4 cm, especially when installing a water heating system. Make sure the screed’s base is free of dust and debris, then thoroughly moisten it with water. Create a thin cement-sand mortar (1:3 or 1:4), fill in all the spaces, and smooth out any surface imperfections. Once the screed is safe for walking on, brush it with a metal brush and use a vacuum to get rid of any dust. Prior to beginning the mosaic concrete installation process, we choose between a single-color and multi-colored floor.

Installation of a single-color mosaic covering

If a single-color concrete mosaic floor was selected, the mosaic mixture is laid on top of metal profiles that have been installed at a step of one or one and a half meters on the "buns" of the solution (we use them as beacons). Additionally, we only use a trowel to level it because a rule causes the stone chips to be distributed unevenly.

We tamp the laid solution with a light rammer or a vibrating screed until it stops moving. Using a rag, we remove the sticking white liquid, also known as "cement milk," from the surface, leveling and smoothing the coating. We take out the profiles and seal the furrows after the solution has set.

We measure the uniformity of the stone chips’ distribution across the floor surface and look for discrepancies between the coating and the rule to assess the caliber of the work done. If flaws are discovered, we fix them by leveling and tamping the mortar, adding more where it is needed, and leveling the surface with a trowel.

Arrangement of a multi-colored covering

We carry out the following tasks in order to produce a floor with a pattern:

• Using a cord, tape measure and square, we draw the contours of the floor pattern. To mark straight lines, we apply the marked cord to the marked points, stretch it, pull it up and release it sharply: a chalk trace remains on the base. For patterns with complex geometry, we use pre-made templates and a compass.

• For the manufacture of guides (veins), we use glass, polymer material, aluminum or other stainless metal (thickness – 0.8 ÷ 1 mm). We cut out metal veins with roofing scissors and straighten them with a mallet, and cut out glass guides with a roller glass cutter.
• We highlight the contours of the ornament with the help of guides (that is, we install dividing veins for rasters of different colors), and fix them with concrete mortar. If the screed has not completely hardened, you can make cuts in it along the contour of the pattern using a spatula, into which you insert veins and additionally strengthen them with mortar. The width of the guides depends on the thickness of the terrace composition.

Crucial! The guides’ upper end is situated at the level of the purported future coating surface.

• On the perimeter of the room we fasten the damping tape to prevent the deformation of the floor.
• We prepare a terrace mixture.
• In accordance with the pattern, we lay mosaic solutions of different colors over the entire area of ​​the floor, in segments, level them and compact them. The white liquid that appears on the surface is removed with a rag or a special brush.

Crucial! We compact the solution using only light tampings (not including the vibro-barrier) to prevent vein displacement.

• To prevent the rapid drying of the mosaic coating, we protect it as follows: after one day, pour the surface of the floor with sawdust with a thickness of about 30 mm and pour water (once a day) for 8-11 days). Another method (instead of sawdust): cover the surface with polyethylene film, remove it once a day, wet the floor with water and cover it again.

Counseling! We advise watering the newly laid floor from a garden watering can to avoid damaging it with a powerful stream of water.

• After a week, scrub, putty, grind, polish and wax the finished coating.

Preparing the mixture

The mixture for the terrazzo mosaic floor is prepared from cement, stone chips, pigments and stone flour (mineral additive). First, mix the cement (grade not lower than 200) with pigments that are resistant to light and sift through a sieve (the amount of dye should not exceed 15% of the cement weight). Use manganese peroxide, chromium oxide or iron red lead as a pigment. Then add stone chips (size from 2.5 to 15 mm), pre-washed from dirt and dust. And remember: the smaller the chips, the more evenly they will be distributed in the mixture. Also, the quality of the solution depends on how thoroughly the mixing is done: therefore, it is better to use a concrete mixer for these purposes. When preparing the solution, observe the following proportions: 1 part of cement to 0.5 parts of water; the ratio between the chips and the solution is 8:2 (that is, by increasing the percentage of stone filler, we increase the strength of the coating). Use the prepared mixture within 2 hours (otherwise it will begin to harden).

Counseling! Prepare the mixture for the entire room at once (or separately for each segment) to ensure structural and color homogeneity in the mosaic coating.

Finishing work on the arrangement of the mosaic floor

Completing work on the floor layout:

• 4-5 days after laying the mosaic concrete, wipe the surface using a coarse abrasive material. Pour water onto the floor (in a thin layer) and add sand. Move the mosaic grinding machine slowly over the concrete, removing the upper concrete layer and exposing the stone chips. Remove the resulting sludge.

• We putty pores and scratches by rubbing marble bars of tinted or untinted cement into the pre-wetted surface.
• We grind the surface using medium and fine abrasive stones.
• When all finishing works are completed, we remove debris and dust, wash the floor, wipe it, dry it and bring it to a shine using wax.

Crucial! When using a grinding machine is impractical, we manually grind and polish the surface using a clip that has an abrasive stone clamped inside. Wet the surface with water beforehand.

In order to create complex patterns and designs, colorful pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic are embedded into a freshly laid concrete surface to create concrete mosaic floors. To achieve a smooth, glossy finish, the process entails carefully positioning these decorative elements onto a wet concrete base, leveling the surface, and then polishing it. Through the use of mosaic art and concrete durability, this technique creates a flooring option that is both distinctive and long-lasting, adding character and beauty to any area.

Concrete mosaic floors are a stunning and long-lasting choice that can give any area a distinctive feel. These floors are the result of painstaking planning and expert craftsmanship. A beautiful finish depends on every step, from mixing the concrete to placing the mosaic pieces precisely.

Concrete mosaic floors’ adaptability opens up countless design options. Concrete can be shaped and colored to fit your vision, whether you like complex patterns or straightforward, sophisticated designs. It is a well-liked option for both residential and commercial spaces because of its adaptability.

The longevity of concrete mosaic floors is one of their best qualities. These floors can withstand daily wear and tear and heavy foot traffic for decades if installed and maintained correctly. They are therefore a wise long-term investment.

Concrete mosaic floors have many aesthetic and practical advantages, but they also require little upkeep. They can maintain their best appearance for many years with routine cleaning and the occasional resealing. Their maintenance-free nature makes them more appealing to both busy homes and business settings.

In general, concrete mosaic floors combine durability, practicality, and aesthetic appeal. You can add a distinctive and long-lasting feature to your room that will be appreciated for years to come by selecting this kind of flooring.

Video on the topic

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