Create a Pebble Mosaic

Make edging, stepping stones, or even a small patio with river rocks and mortar

I plunk up pebbles everywhere I go . I may have inherited this obsession from my grandparents , both geologist , whosegardenwas filled with beautiful stones they had gathered on expeditions . I inherited many of these Lucy Stone and I ’ve gathered infinite others over the year . My collection piled up in buckets along the side of my house for a retentive meter , waiting to be put to use .

Then I discovered pebblemosaicas an art form when I travel to Spain and Portugal . I had no idea that pavement could be so beautiful . The Plaza de España in Sevilla is carpeted in acres of river pebble set in waves , and the sidewalks of Lisbon swirl with exquisite black - and - livid patterns .

At my home in Portland , Oregon , I set about instruct myself how to make these mosaics , taking my collection of pebble and fix them in mortar . I ’ve been using fundamentally the same technique for many years now .

My first project was thepatio in my backyard . I build it over an old pea plant - crushed rock patio , using arc form for an undulating form ( photo at right ) . Since I ’m interested in natural system of rules and universal symbol , I turned my terrace into a series of mandalas , medicine wheels , part cells , quantum energy waves , snakes and spirals , eyes , and stone flower . In addition to pebble , I included colored marbles , which sparkle in sun and play in moonlight .

The possible applications of pebble arial mosaic are amazingly diverse , the materials are relatively inexpensive , and the results can be spectacular . I ’ve used this spiritualist to craftstepping stones , pathways , patios , wall , steps , pool , fountains , and butt on strips for lawn .

A showcase of mosaics

1.The outer spirals of this purpose represent the full moonshine of the twelvemonth . It ’s made with green and black pebbles and iridescent spyglass marbles .

2.These stepping rock were build without form .

3.Pebbles fill the space between large flat rock in this edging along a streetside check .

4.These sunburst Mosaic frame the water spout in a bulwark above a puddle .

5.This walkway represents the river of life-time . It leads to the Persian carpet patio from lead photo above .

Gather and sort the pebbles

For the process to go smoothly , I always sort pebbles in onward motion . If I want to make patterns using rock that are specific colors and sizes , I divide them into freestanding containers . Wetting rocks is the unspoiled way to see their colors and striations . Large plastic glasshouse sight sour well for the sort and wetting .

I purchase pebbles in bulk in the form of drain rock . They are cheap , but it takes prison term to class them . I unremarkably do my categorization at the provision G , throwing water on the heap so it ’s prosperous to see the colour . In addition to sorting for people of color , I ’m also looking for specific shapes . I select John Rock with the idea that when I set them in the trench mortar , the surface confront up will be fairly flat .

The stones I expend depart in size from about 8 inches in diam to flyspeck piece of pea plant gravel for filling small gap . Marbles work well for this , too . matte , smooth stones of any size can be used . Presorted rock can also be purchased in bag , but it ’s well more expensive .

My preferred place to gather rocks is out in nature . For instance , gravel bars along river are good spots to appear . In many places , stone - assemblage is prohibited , so check that it is legal to compile the rocks , and be sensitive to the impact that removing them might have .

Tools and materials

The measure of materials need will deviate reckon on the exfoliation of the project .

instrument

Materials

Draw a design and prep the site

There ’s a certain amount of decision - making I do on the spot when I create a photomosaic , but I always rely on a drawing , regardless of the weighing machine of the project . I pose out the blueprint on report first ( see representative at right ) , then mock it up on site so that I have a exonerated construct of what I ’m fit to do before I protrude . For example , if I ’m using some big rock as edge , I ’ll place them roughly where they will go to make trusted they ’ll tally nicely and look good .

I commend practicing on a belittled labor like a step stone to get the hang of the proficiency before mold up to more ambitious projects like a patio . Big undertaking require a lot of pebbles and perhaps the level of fixation I inherit from my grandparents .

Once I work out a invention , I dig out the orbit where I need to work up the mosaic to get a level base . After I dig down 5 inch below the intended complete horizontal surface , I rake the area until it ’s completely legato . calculate on the site , sometimes range is involved . For example , if the area demand to drain , a 2 percent class is distinctive .

In my USDA Hardiness Zone 7 clime , I contrive for 2 inches of compacted mash rock as a pedestal for the mosaic and a 3 - inch seam of mortar . Then I scatter the crushed gravel over the bottom of the hole I ’ve prepare and tamp it down by stamp with my feet until it ’s firm . For large area like a patio , I rent a vibrating plate compactor for this phase .

A deep bed of crushed rock may be need in areas where Robert Frost heave occurs , which can create cracks in mortar . Another alternative is to build your arial mosaic on top of a concrete slab , which will increase the mosaic ’s durability . If the terra firma freezes in your domain , check with your local building department or a Freemasonry supplier to determine the requirements for a sufficiently stalwart base .

For a design with straight edge , I build a form with stakes and 2×6 boards before I put the crushed rock in office . To make a shape for curving lines , I use sturdy plastic lawn edging or bender board , which I install above the crushed rock base , since they are unremarkably more shallow and wo n’t reach ground level otherwise . The top of the form will serve as a guide for leveling the mosaic , so it must be at the desire finished stratum . When installing a mosaic longer than a few feet , a string level is utile . Small mosaic , such as stepping stones or edging funnies , can be built using the smother soil as the form .

I expect a few daylight until the mortar is completely set up before hit a form . I use a picking ax or shovel to poke out baseball bat or bender instrument panel and just pull formative lawn edging away by script .

1.Dig a level groundwork , then total well - tamped vanquish crushed rock . The depth of the groundwork depends on the clime .

2.Wet the rocks to accent their colouring distinctions .

Adirondack chairs on mosaic patio

3.Choose smooth rocks with a flat side .

4.When creating a “ framed edge ” with bombastic stones , set up a raspy layout before pour any mortar , then remove the Stone before start the actual design .

5.When the mortar is like thick pud , pour it to within 1/2 in of the desired finished story of the mosaic .

The outer spirals of this design represent the full moons of the year. It’s made with green and black pebbles and iridescent glass marbles.

6.Place little pebbles sideways , with a flat open peril , plant as much rock as possible .

7.Set the pebble come together together , pressing them into the howitzer .

8.After completing a discussion section , lay the tearing down board on top and stand on it .

These stepping stones were built without forms.

9.Spray off displaced mortar .

10.Clean the border of a section with a small pick ax or chisel before start a new section .

11.This mosaic ’s design reflects the natural bound of a flow .

Pebbles fill the spaces between large flat stones in this edging along a streetside curb.

Mix mortar in batches

trench mortar , rather than concrete , must be used in mosaics . There ’s sand in the mix but no crushed rock , so it ’s smoother than concrete and adheres well to the Harlan Stone .

To install a mosaic I go with small batches of mortar one pocketbook at a clock time , covering a 3- or 4 - satisfying - foot area . Being organize is important because I have to work cursorily . I never do this on live , sunny days . cultivate on an overcast day or in the shade gives me some 20 second until the batch starts to determine .

To prepare the mortar , I use a wheelbarrow and a hosiery with a spray honker . First , I add an in of water to the wheelbarrow and then a bag of howitzer mixture . These come in 60- and 80 - pound bags . When work with trench mortar , it ’s a just idea to wear sturdy rubber mitt and a debris masquerade party during mixing to keep from inhaling trench mortar debris . I evoke the mixing by actuate a garden hoe back and forth , being indisputable to skin the bottom so that all the mortar is moistened , and adding water as needed .

These sunburst mosaics frame the water spouts in a wall above a pool.

When a batch of trench mortar is the eubstance of squiffy pudding , I pour it on the layer of compact gravel . I propagate the howitzer set out at an edge of the form . The howitzer should be about a half - inch lower than the finished grade so that when the pebbles are pressed in , they will be at the desired surface tallness . Depending on the size of the stones , some mortar will be displaced , especially when the mosaic is flatten . So , when placing larger piece , I usually scoop some howitzer out .

I pay up a lot of aid to how the gemstone fit together . I generally set modest pebble on edge so that more than half of the stone is pose in trench mortar . It ’s important that the Stone be embedded well so they do n’t dislodge later ( slideshow photo # 6 ) . Wetting the stones before localize them helps the mortar adhere to them . Mosaics look best if the Edward Durell Stone are spaced closely and there ’s as little mortar as possible display ( slideshow photo # 7 ) . Using pebble in contrasting colors makes a pattern more visible . I go away a margin of mortar along the sharpness of the field I ’m act upon on to prevent pebble near this edge from slumping before the howitzer curing .

After I ’ve embedded rocks into an expanse of sozzled howitzer that ’s begun to set , I place a part of 1/2 - in - chummy contractor’s - grade plyboard over my study and mistreat on it to urge on the pebbles to a grade even with the top of the form ( slideshow photo # 8) . Then I lift the plyboard and check the mosaic again to check that all the Lucy Stone are well attached . I sometimes have to repeat this process until the mosaic is at the level I want it to be .

This walkway represents the river of life. It leads to the Persian carpet patio from lede photo above

Once it ’s level , I gently spray away any sack mortar until that area of mosaic is clean ( slideshow photo # 9 ) and trim away any remnant margin of mortar with a pointed trowel , chisel , or small pick ax ( slideshow pic # 10 ) . I spread this superfluous trench mortar over the bottom of the next country , then cover it with another batch of mortar as I continue the process of correct pebbles and flattening them with the plywood . For a large projection , like a terrace , I can leave a ruined section and persist in the task in a day or so .

The dim the mortar curative , the stronger it will be . As mortar prohibitionist , it contract from the surface faster than it does on the inside . This can cause flaking and cracking , so it is a well estimation to wet the surface of a curing mosaic frequently for a few days to prolong the dry process . If there ’s a film of mortar on the pebble after the mosaic dries , I commonly remove it with muriatic acid , also known as hydrochloric window pane . When this acid is wiped on the mosaic with a rag , it dissolves the howitzer on the surface of the pebbles . I always make trusted I wear adequate cutis protection and a respirator when working with muriatic acid . I then rinse it away with water , which counterbalance the dose .

If a pebble in a mosaic gets dislodged later and I want to reattach it , I mix up a small-scale amount of a polymer product call Thinset , which is used for setting roofing tile . It ’s acrylic - based and very sticky . Since Thinset is a different color than the trench mortar and will stick out out , I use it sparingly and ensure to clean house up any surfeit that exudate out of the hole of the replaced pebble .

Dig a level base, then add well-tamped crushed gravel. The depth of the base depends on the climate

In a world of mineral pitch and gray concrete , a beautifully construct pebble arial mosaic will capture the attention of those who see it . People rarely pass by my sign without stopping to look up to the mosaics I ’ve created here . There ’s a magic about them that get all that obsessional workplace worthwhile .

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