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What Is Mosaic Tile?: Everything You Need to Know
They may be tiny, but they make a big design impact
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Mosaic tile refers to small tiles measuring less than 2-by-2 inches that come on mesh-backed sheets for easier installation in your home.
Your mosaic tile needs more grout lines than larger tiles, which means you should clean and reseal your grout every couple of years.
You can choose from glass, ceramic, natural stone, or porcelain mosaic tiles to match your bathroom, kitchen backsplash, or fireplace design preferences.
Hiring a local tile professional takes the guesswork out of lining up mesh-backed sheets and leveling subfloors for proper mosaic tile installation.
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If you're looking for a way to make your home feel more sophisticated or artsy, mosaic tile is one of the simplest ways to achieve your goals. Exactly what is mosaic tile, and is it right for your home? Keep reading to learn about this popular design choice.
What Is Mosaic Tile?
Mosaic is an ancient form of art that utilizes small pieces of tile, stone, glass, and the like. But today, when people talk about mosaic tile, they are usually referring to tiles that are smaller than 2-by-2-inches each and are arranged together. The tiles come in various shapes, including round, square, and hexagon, and they are usually sold as sheets with mesh backing to make installation a little easier.
Mosaic tiles are often used to create a pattern such as chevron, herringbone, or arabesque. Or, a homeowner might choose tiles that are slightly different shades of the same color to create a variegated effect. If you’ve been following the latest bathroom tile trends, you’ll know that mosaic tile showers have become popular. So have mosaic flooring, kitchen backsplashes, and fireplaces.
Types of Mosaic Tile
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Whether you're looking for floor, kitchen, or shower tile ideas, there are numerous options for mosaic tiles that will help you get the look you want.
Glass
Glass continues to be one of the more popular types of mosaic tile. You can choose from a variety of finishes, including mirrored, transparent, and opaque.
Glass tiles reflect the light in the room, and some finishes create a shimmery effect.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are made of natural clay and topped with a protective glaze. This makes the tiles resistant to moisture and stains.
Because it is so durable, ceramic is often considered the best tile for a bathroom floor, which sees a lot of foot traffic and splashing water. Homeowners also love ceramic tiles because they come in a wide range of textures and shapes.
Natural Stone
For a timeless, high-end look, you can’t go wrong with natural stone mosaic tile such as granite, marble, or slate. Natural stone tiles may increase your tile installation cost because they typically cost more than other tile types. But they’re a great way to add texture, and they blend seamlessly with nearly any decor.
Porcelain
Porcelain is one of the sturdiest options for mosaic flooring, backsplashes, and showers. It consists of feldspar, quartz, and clay. It's even sturdier than ceramic because it's fired at a much higher temperature, making it a great option for areas that get a lot of use.
How to Care For Mosaic Tile
Mosaic tiles have more grout lines than larger tiles—and those grout lines will collect spills, dirt, and debris if you don’t clean your tile regularly. Be sure to wipe up any spills immediately, and in addition to routine vacuuming, sweeping, or mopping, you’ll want to deep clean the tile grout periodically. If you have cement grout, it will benefit from resealing every couple of years; this helps protect the grout from stains, odors, and mold growth.
Even with regular upkeep, some areas of your mosaic tile may eventually need to be regrouted—especially if they get a lot of foot traffic. It’s worth learning how to regrout tile to keep your mosaic tile looking its best.
Pros and Cons of Mosaic Tile
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Understanding the good and bad sides of mosaic tile can help you determine if it’s the right choice for your home.
Pros
Many Design Options. Whether you want a bold, unique look or something soothing and organic, the options are endless when it comes to mosaic tile.
Durable. Mosaic tiles are made of strong materials and can withstand a lot of use or heavy traffic.
Less Slippery. More grout lines means more traction, so mosaic tile can be a smart choice in a slippery area such as a bathroom or mudroom. Choosing textured tiles will give you even more traction.
Cons
Challenging Installation. Lining up individual sheets of mosaic tile is a tedious and often frustrating task. Plus, because mosaic tiles tend to be thin, they are less forgiving when installed on a subfloor that’s not perfectly level. For this reason, DIY mosaic tile installation isn't suitable for most people. Finding a professional tile installer near you is best to ensure they are correctly installed.
Ceramic tile services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.6★ avg. • 42 total reviews
- Sue B.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriors - Manoj K.
It was wonderful working with Yordy and his team. They were very professional and are experts in what they do. They have completed the work on time, with better quality and with in fairly reasonable price. We just started with backsplash work , but liking his work, we went on to provide...
Flooring Solutions - Bob T.
We were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTile - Stephanie S.
For several months I was looking for somebody to tile a wall in my master bath and move lighting fixtures, and could not find anybody who was responsive. I contacted Rowe through Home Advisor and within days they came by to assess the job and provide an estimate. The cost was very...
Rowe House Development - Timothy C.
It went very well! The end product was amazing and we keep getting a lot of compliments from friends! M&E were very professional and they made sure we were happy with the product before leaving. They met with us in our home and at the tile shop to make sure we were okay with our tile and...
M&E Remodeling - Kendrick V.
Involved an extensive bathroom remodel, including removing tub & installing walk in shower, new drywall, custome tile work to ceiling, plumbing, etc. Overall, job was done on time and on budget. Nick & his team were very professional and had high attention to detail. Quality was great. Highly...
Stamos Flooring and Remodeling LLC - Locke M.
Very pleased with the service and level of professionalism. Courteous and very unobtrusive in performing service. Unlike several other companies, Bradford Xteriors was willing to perform work on a three story home with a clay tile roof. <br />
Bradford Xteriors - Jeffrey B.
This company did a very good job on the brick wall and it looks just amazing. The staff was always professional and was practically OCD on how the bricks were stacked and how they were laid. Although it took longer than expected, I am willing to sacrifice time over perfection anyday. The...
My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling - Gary D.
He did the tile work and he was good at it. He used other subcontractors for the rest of the work (like putting in the cabinetry) and they were okay but not great. He was a great guy! He was easy to work with and had a good eye for the detail of his work. There were a couple of things that I...
Brian Miller Custom Remodeling - Michael S.
I was very impressed with Miller Cantrell! I live in an old home in which the sewage line that runs from my home to the sewage system is a line of clay tile. These eventually collapse and need to be replaced - an expensive problem and sure to happen at the worst time. I told them that my...
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