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Tips for Grout Issues from CMA

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This was in an email sent to members of CMA (Contemporary Mosaic Art) website…

A message to all members of CMA

CMA Member News Reporter

Submitted by Tricia Huffman

May 14, 2011

Grouting Continued..

Since this is the finishing touch to your hard work, I am expanding on the issue of grout issues from last report to address some questions that came to me as a result.
I went to the experts whom manufacture these products, with my questions about it; here is what they said. “Over mixing or adding too much water to the mix would indeed weaken the strength of the grout joint and cause pin-holes and possibly efflorescence. If mixed according to manufacture instructions, adding more dry grout would not be needed. ( Though some artists use this technique when water supplies are limited, and have claimed great success with it.)
As far as using pigment to over-colour cured, unsealed ,non-epoxy grout joints, he indicated that using dry (French) pigments mixed with a tiny amount of water would indeed be permanent, and would have the same effect as grout stains currently on the market .
The last issue to address this month would be efflorescence, which is a white, chalky haze that sometimes appears on grout after it has cured. Here is a list of some of the causes.
1. Too Much Water was used when grout was mixed.

2. Concrete substrate had not fully cured or had a moisture vapor issue prior to adhering mosaic.

3. Water used in mixing or cleaning the grout was high in chlorine or had a high mineral content.( Pond water or home water softeners and city water that is heavily chlorinated or has a high mineral content can contribute to efflorescence.)

4   Temperatures were too cold while grout was curing.

5. Grout joints were wiped excessively during initial cleanup.

6. Standing water was left in empty grout joints prior to
grouting.

7 Tile was especially dense and nonporous.

8 Grout was prematurely exposed to heavy amounts of water before it had a chance to cure.

Always consult manufacture instructions for your particular needs.

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Tropical Bird Crafts and Learning Activities

I don’t know why tropical animals feel like something you should learn about in the summer, because these tropical bird crafts and activities are great to do any time of year. Let’s take a look. 

Homeschool Giveaways has a printable tropical birds copywork book kids can use to practice cursive or print writing. They also have links to more fun printable activities, mostly about parrots, toucans and cockatoos.

Homeschool Share has a printable lapbook all about parrots. This one is a lot of fun because it includes things like the pros and cons of owning a pet parrot and some parrot jokes alongside information about where parrots live, why they have hooked beaks and their lifespan, among other things. 

Use colorful bird puzzles to reinforce number order with this free printable puzzle collection from Craft Play Learn. It includes five different bird puzzles that are each eight pieces. 

And if you want to look at toucans in particular, check out this toucan study guide aimed at elementary students from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus. This isn’t a free resource but it’s 31 pages all about toucans, their life cycle, anatomy, what they eat, role in the rainforest ecosystem, activities and more well worth the cost. 

How about some tropical bird crafts? This 3D macaw parrot from The Craft Train is a great one, also not free but super cute and easy to make with the printables. 

I Heart Crafty Things has a super cute parrot made with cardboard and card stock. If you hang it from the ceiling it will even spin.

Or try the cute cardboard tube parrots from Kids Craft Room, which kids will love to decorate (you could even use feathers if you have some). You can also make a parrot (or whatever other tropical bird you like) from a paper plate with these instructions from Crafts on Sea.