Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely not, ANYONE can do this! If you can bake a cake then you can make your own concrete tile using our easy-to-use Maker Mix and well-thought-out forms! We designed our bagged mix to come in 20 lb bags so anyone can lift them. Simply measure the water needed, add it to the Maker Mix, mix and pour into the molds. De-mold the next day and bask in the glory, you will be the envy of your friends!
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Great question! Each tile is 9" x 9", or 0.56 square feet. One bag of Maker mix will yield 4 square feet of tile, which equates to 7 tiles. To calculate how much mix you need, begin by measuring the wall to determine the square footage. Once you know how many square feet you need, divide that number by 4 to calculate the number of bags of Maker Mix required. It's a good idea to add 10% to the amount of tile you'll need to account for cuts, etc.
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+ A mixer, either the Collomix included in some of the kits, or a high-powered corded drill with a tile grout mixing paddle (these are available at Home Improvement stores).
+ 5 gallon buckets.
+ Disposable gloves.
+ A gram scale if you intend to mix up partial bags or add pigment (The Ohaus CS Compact Scale Model H-2717 is a great scale. You can pick one up from Uline for $130 via http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-2717/Ohaus-Compact-Bench-Scales/Ohaus-CS-Compact-Scale-5000-grams-x-1-gram)
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The short answer is, no. You can use a standard corded drill with a grout mixing paddle available from any home improvement store in the tile department. The Collomix Mixer is more powerful and is needed when you want to mix 2 or more bags of Maker Mix at once. If you are planning to tackle a lot of concrete projects in the future then investing in the Collomix Mixer is a good idea!
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Our tile molds are made of 100% recycled ABS plastic, the same plastic used to make car bumpers. It is extremely durable and long-lasting. As long as you take care of your molds they should last you for many years to come.
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Prior to casting, apply a coat of Mold Release Spray and allow to dry for 20 minutes. Always clean them directly after de-molding with water and a Scotch-Brite. Store them laying flat in a cool, shaded area that is not in direct sunlight.
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We retail this concrete tile starting at $35 per square foot. 40 lbs of Maker Mix is $89, shipping included, which equates to $11.13 per square foot if you cast the tile yourself. That is a savings of 68%!
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No! The type of mix we use is extremely specialized and is needed for these thin tile. If you try to use a normal concrete mix it will not survive de-molding and handling.
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The diamond polishing pads are used to flatten the underside of the tile and bevel any sharp edges. The work great with water and will last a long time.
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Our standard pigment colors are:
Stone: This is a dark brownish-grey.
Earth: This is a tan color, and is one of the most popular in the concrete industry.
Flora: This is a very nice greenish-grey.
All of the pigments create different colors depending on the amount of pigment added. Additionally, you can experiment on mixing pigments to create your own custom colors.
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You can add a maximum of up to a half pound of pigment per 20 lbs of Maker Mix, but a lower loading is fine as well.
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The concrete needs to cure overnight, so each tray will make two tiles per day. If you have a small project then one tray will be fine. If you have a larger project you will want to cast more than one tray per day. A 20 lb bag of Maker Mix makes 4 square feet of tile, which is 7 tiles. We sell two kits that come with 7 trays, which make 14 tiles per day. You can mix two 20 lb bags of Maker Mix at once in a 5 gallon bucket making the process of casting a large number of tiles quick and easy.
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Each bag of Maker Mix yields 7 tiles, an odd number, but each tray makes 2, an even number. If you cast a full bag of Maker Mix at once you will need 4 trays, but one of the tiles will be left empty. The solution to maximize production and efficiency is to cast 2 bags of mix at once. If you have 7 trays you can make 14 tiles at once. You can mix two bags of Maker Mix at the same time in a 5 gallon bucket to quickly and easily cast a large number of tiles.
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