Dunin Mosaic Installation in Warsaw: Stone and Glass, No Stains

What the mosaic is made of, and why it matters

Dunin is a Polish mosaic brand whose range covers several materials, glass and stone among them. The material changes how the job is done, so check the product description before you buy.

Natural stone is porous. Rub grout into unsealed stone and the pigment soaks into the pores, leaving dark rings around each piece. That is why stone mosaic is usually sealed before grouting, and often after as well. Glass absorbs nothing, but it is translucent, so pale glass goes onto white adhesive.

Mosaic sheets have irregular edges so the joins do not stand out. It is still easy to shift a sheet by a millimetre, and then a wider gap runs across the whole wall. A careful tiler checks level and plumb every few sheets.

Behind a hob, mosaic takes grease and steam. The grout there has to be easy to clean, so talk it through with the tiler before settling on grout type and colour.

Mosaic is rarely laid and grouted in one short visit. Grout goes in once the adhesive has set, and the time is printed on the bag. Give the new splashback a rest as well: let the grout harden before the first splash of grease lands on it.

What it costs and how to book: tiling services in Warsaw.

Common mosaic mistakes

• Grouting stone without sealing it. Dark rings around the pieces stay for good.
• Grey adhesive under glass. The colour turns muddy.
• Sheets laid without checking plumb. Gaps between sheets end up wider than gaps between pieces.
• Too much adhesive. It squeezes into the joints and leaves no room for grout.
• Acidic cleaners on stone after fitting. The surface goes dull.

What to have ready

• Mosaic from a single batch, with spare for cuts.
• A grout colour and, for stone, the sealer the seller recommends.
• Photos of the wall showing sockets, window and cabinets, so the amount of cutting is clear.
• A clear worktop and access to the wall: shelves down, appliances pulled out.

For sockets on a splashback, the circuit is switched off at the fuse box before the plates come off.

Ordering the job

Say in the app where the mosaic goes, what it is made of and how many square metres, and add photos. Tilers in Warsaw reply with bids at their own price. Choose one by price, rating and reviews; they get your number and address after that. You pay them directly, and the invoice is theirs.

Mosaic, adhesive, grout and sealer are separate costs, as are rubbish removal and carrying materials in. The tiler who laid it answers for the job and fixes their own mistakes. A crooked wall or hidden plaster defects are not on them.