Mosaic Templates

Ensuring a good fit for a mosaic wall or floor begins with creating an accurate template of the surface.

	Templates should be created using craft paper (which can be purchased at a building supply store) or some other type of heavy paper. Do not use roofing tarpaper, plastic, gift-wrap, newspaper or wood. These materials do not work well.
	Place the craft paper on the floor or wall and cut to size. You should use sharp scissors or a razor blade knife to ensure cleanly cut edges.
	If you are unable to create a template in one piece, you will have to tape multiple sheets of paper together to accommodate the surface. Please try to make your pieces as large as possible, showing clearly how they fit together. Be sure to use 2" (or wider) packaging or sealing tape to hold the pieces of paper together. The wide blue masking tape that painters use works well. Narrow tape, such as the type used for gift-wrap, does not secure the heavy sections of craft paper, especially when the template is folded or rolled.
	For the design to be placed properly on the surface, we need to know the location of various objects.   For a floor template, mark the locations of: Doorways Tubs Toilets Vanities/Cabinets (Be sure to include the toe-kick area and any cut-outs) Pedestal sinks Electrical outlets in the floor HVAC vents If baseboards are already installed, please indicate that on the template.   For a wall template, mark the locations of: Doorways Windows Light switches Light fixtures Electrical outlets In order to accommodate many of these objects, the mosaic is cut on-site, but it is still important to note their location for proper placement of the design.
	For borders, it is very important, whether the surface is a wall or floor, that the placement of the border is clearly labeled on the template. For example, if you would like the border to start 6" from the wall, draw the border clearly on the template.   If there is a field to be installed inside or outside of a border, we need to know in which direction to install the field as well as whether it is to be laid straight or on the diagonal.
	Clearly label the template with the purchase order number, name of the room, name of the showroom and the sales associate.
	Arches and angles: These are some of the most difficult mosaics for an installer to manipulate on-site, particularly if the mosaic is going on an arch. Arches and angles need to be copied with the highest degree of accuracy possible.
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