Dover – glass-ceramic mosaic 50×50 mm, white-silver with a grey stripe

Description

Dover is a sheet mosaic made of glass-ceramic with square 50 × 50 mm chips. The base tone is white-silver, and a grey stripe runs through every sheet, resembling a glint on a water surface.

The surface is glossy and radiant, and the overall impression is one of ice and freshness. The mosaic works well in bathrooms, showers and spa areas where a clean, bright look is wanted.

What to expect from Dover

• Non-porous glass-ceramic – water absorption of 0.04% at most, so there is no mould, staining or odour.
• The colour does not fade in sunlight (ISO 4892) or on contact with cleaning agents (class A under ASTM C650).
• Withstands freeze–thaw cycles (ASTM C1026), so it is also suitable for outdoor use.
• Strong: has a flexural strength of 55 N/mm², and the surface is free of defects.
• Made entirely from recycled glass and contains no lead, cadmium or other heavy-metal pigments.

Technical specifications of Dover

Silicone dot backing instead of mesh and paper

The Dover chips are held by small silicone (polyurethane) dots on the back. They do not cover the back of the chips, so over 95% of their surface stays free and the adhesive bonds very well.

Neither the adhesive nor the grout breaks them down, the thickness of the mosaic does not change and the sheets do not warp in storage. The flexibility of the sheet allows tiling of curves, steps and corners.

Where to use Dover

• Pool – the whole interior or just part of it
• Steps, seats and shallow lounging areas in the water
• Bathrooms, showers and accent walls
• Steam rooms, spa centres and jacuzzis

Which grout to choose

White grout emphasises the clean look, while grey grout highlights the silver stripe.

When the mosaic goes in a shower or another wet area, choose an epoxy or waterproof C2 grout – it does not absorb water and does not darken over time.

Step-by-step installation

1. Substrate preparation. The substrate must be level (tolerance 2 mm per 2 m), dry, stable and dust-free. In a shower area, waterproofing is applied first.
2. Adhesive. Use a white flexible cement adhesive of class C2TE S1. Its colour matters – glass lets a little light through, and a darker adhesive would darken the mosaic.
3. Spreading. Spread the adhesive with a 3–4 mm notched trowel, each time for 2–3 sheets.
4. Pressing. Lay the sheet onto the adhesive and press over its whole area with the rubber float. The gap between sheets must be 2 mm, the same as the gap between the chips.
5. Trimming. At corners and around pool jets, cut the silicone dots with a utility knife; single chips are shaped with special glass mosaic nippers.
6. Grouting. Start grouting 24 hours after bonding. In a shower area use epoxy grout or a waterproof class C2 grout.
7. Cleaning. While the grout is still soft, wipe off any excess with a slightly damp sponge; if the grout is epoxy, act immediately with a special cleaner.
8. Putting into use. The shower can be used only after the grout has fully cured.

What you need to prepare

White adhesive C2TE S1, grout – epoxy or waterproof, a notched trowel and a rubber float, a utility knife, special nippers, a sponge, a bucket and clean water.

How much material is needed

The area of each wall to be tiled is its height multiplied by its width; add up the walls and add 5–10% for cutting. The example rates are as follows. Adhesive: 2 kg/m² for chips up to 25 mm, 2.5 kg/m² for 40 mm and 3 kg/m² for larger ones. The grout is calculated as follows: 1.6 × C × D × (A + B) / (A × B), in kg per m², where for this model the dimensions are: chip 50 × 50 mm, thickness 6 mm, gap 2 mm. The actual consumption varies with the substrate (whether it is level, how much it absorbs), the chosen adhesive and grout, the trowel notches, the joint profile, the geometry of the site and the skill of the installer – so check the quantities against the technical data sheets and with your installer.

Laboratory test results

• ASTM C650 – chemical resistance: highest class A, no visible change.
• ASTM C1026 – freeze/thaw cycles: withstands.
• ISO 4892 – prolonged UV exposure: the colour remains unchanged.
• EN ISO 10545-2 – surface: all chips free of defects.
• EN ISO 10545-3 – water absorption: 0.04% at most.
• EN ISO 10545-4 – flexural load: 55 N/mm².
• EN ISO 10545 – thermal expansion: withstands.

Caring for the mosaic

• Clean with a soft cloth or sponge and a neutral cleaner.
• Avoid abrasive cleaning powders, wire brushes and acidic cleaners on the grout.
• After a shower, go over the glass with a squeegee and no water spots will remain on the glass.

Purchase

• Dover is sold only in whole cartons of 1 m².
• Buy what you need in a single order and add a 5–10% reserve: this way the sheets come from the same production run and do not differ in shade.

Questions and answers

Colour on screen and in place

The colour of glass looks different depending on the circumstances, so there may be differences between the photos and the actual mosaic. The influences are:

• the screen on which you view the photos (brightness, type, settings);
• the lighting – sunny, overcast or artificial, the colour of the lamps, day and evening;
• the viewing angle, because glass reflects light differently;
• in a pool – the depth, the clarity of the water, its chemical composition and the sky above it intensify the blue;
• the chosen grout and adhesive, as well as the size of the tiled area;
• the surrounding colours – coping, paving, walls, vegetation;
• the production batch, between which a slight difference in shade is possible;
• the natural variations between individual chips in mixes and effect glass.

The images of pools and interiors are illustrative. If the colour is decisive, write to us before ordering – we will help with both the area and the number of cartons.

See also: Wellness, Pools and Equipment, Cladding and Paving, Pools, Pool Chemicals, Pool Accessories.