Congratulations!

You now own a Perch Mosaic. It's a one of a kind piece of art made in beautiful Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The bulk of your mosaic surface is mainly upcycled tesserae*. Generally glass and (or) crockery adhered to various substrates*. You will see imperfections & flaws - scratches, rough or sharp edges (use caution) and different thicknesses in the materials. Although Perch art may be considered “unrefined”, much of the materials have been given a new purpose and have dodged the landfill which PM feels that it gives it even more value. The Perch makes both indoor and outdoor pieces. 

Indoor : Adhesive may be water soluble and (or) substrate is porous. It can absorb moisture, warp and crack your grout. The wood and grout have been sealed - if you place it outdoors or in high humidity, you do so at your own risk.  

Outdoor : Materials will withstand moisture. It is recommended that your mosaic be taken in and stored above freezing. It should withstand the fluctuations in temperatures but you do so at your own risk. Plows and strong winds have the upper hand. If there is crockery incorporated into your piece, it does have a sealant applied to it, but water could still make its way into the material. If left out in -0° temps, it could expand and break. The Perch generally only uses non porous materials such as glass for outdoor pieces to avoid this issue altogether. 

Your piece is :

•Indoor - Porous substrate. Recommended that it remains indoors. 

•Outdoor - Can be left outside year round. The elements can be hard on anything left out for the winter. You do so at your own risk.

•Outdoor with non porous substrate & mixed tesserae - Can be left outdoors above freezing temps. Recommended that it be stored in above freezing if it was displayed outdoors during the warmer months. Moisture could be present in crockery and expand if frozen.

*Tesserae - material adhered on surface of substrate.

*Substrate - material used as the base in which the tesserae is adhered. 

Care :

 Indoor : Can be gently wiped with damp cloth with water or water/vinegar mixture. Do not submerge.

Outdoor : Can be gently washed with damp soapy water or vinegar mixture but best not to submerge it. If placed outdoors, you may notice after some time that your grout may be turning white (efflorescence). You can gently clean it with a toothbrush with a vinegar water mixture. If you choose to reseal it, use an outdoor impregnating sealant. Contact the Perch if you need any assistance or if you have any questions. 

I hope you enjoy your unique art and it will last you for years to come. A lot of time and care went into creating every piece. If you have any inquiries concerning your mosaic, do not hesitate to message Perch Mosaics on various social media platforms or perchmosaics@outlook.com 

Thank you

   Tessa