osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 15, 2016 8:05:59 GMT -5
Hi All,
This spring the wife and I are going to be putting in a new backsplash around the kitchen. She really likes the sheets that are various river gravel attached to a mesh backing. She has a particular one that is mainly black, gray, and white rocks to match out kitchen. She is afraid that it will be too "bland" though and has suggested that we add in some of the rocks I have/will be tumbling to add some color. Has anyone tried this before? This tile is only rounded rock, not polished, and has a mesh backing to help hold it in the Thinset. Will a polished rock hold how it is, or do you think I will have to scuff/cut the side is being put into the Thinset? I think this my come out rather interesting, but I don't want to waste my time or rocks if it isn't going to work correctly.
Thanks,
Jake
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 15, 2016 9:34:23 GMT -5
I don't see why not! I use to build fire places with field rock,putting in fossils,agate and petwood...They held up great with the everyday punishment of getting banged up,hit and getting wet once in a great while... Backsplash should work the same way....Use a good glue...
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Post by MrP on Feb 15, 2016 13:44:26 GMT -5
I don't see why not! I use to build fire places with field rock,putting in fossils,agate and petwood...They held up great with the everyday punishment of getting banged up,hit and getting wet once in a great while... Backsplash should work the same way....Use a good glue... Fossilman 30+ years ago my young bride and I built a 18' wide 9.5' tall split rock fireplace. Other then the entryway and garage, which had cabinets from floor to ceiling-wall to wall, I miss it the most in the house that we built. It was a lot of work facing the stones and building it but sure was nice for heat the years we lived in the house.........................MrP
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Feb 15, 2016 16:18:33 GMT -5
I also built a fireplace with beach tumbled stones. When finished, I coated it with a matte finish oil based product that I bought in the tile dept. of Home Depot. For a backsplash, I'd definitely coat it to protect it from grease splatter. Many stones are porous. Lynn
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Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 15, 2016 16:18:54 GMT -5
I have tried a similar experiment (decorative patio stones)with "mirror finish" tumbled rocks, and they all popped out soon after. The grout shrinks and pulls away from the rock as it cures and the rock has no pores/voids for the grout to stick to.
If you rough-up the non-visible surfaces, the grout will have a far better chance of adhesion. You may want to glue the rocks in place with epoxy prior to the grout to improve your chances even more.
Good luck and post a photo when you are done.
Darryl.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Feb 15, 2016 16:22:50 GMT -5
BTW, I mixed a product called Admix with Thinset (no water at all) to adhere my stones to the fireplace. Of course they're not as slick as tumbled stones. I'm not sure if it would hold the shiny tumbled stones as well. Lynn
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