Mosaic tile installation

Looking for a professional mosaic tile installation service? Look no further than Bathroom tile Remodeling LLC

We are a team of experienced and qualified mosaic tile installers who can help you transform your space with beautiful and stunning mosaic tilework. We offer a wide variety of mosaic tiles to choose from, including glass, ceramic, stone, and metal tiles. We can also custom-create mosaic tiles to your specifications.

Our mosaic tile installation services include:

Measuring and planning
Surface preparation
Tile setting
Grouting
Sealing

We guarantee that our work will be done to the highest standards and that you will be happy with the results. We also offer a warranty on our work.

Please reach out to us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our mosaic tile installation services. We look forward to helping you create your dream space!

Tile mosaic - technical characteristics, properties, types.

Features of modern mosaic

Mosaic tile has a lot of advantages that have made it one of the leaders among materials for interior decoration. Finishing with this material should not be done according to the old canons: when each element was individually selected and attached to the wall. Such work is monotonous, tedious and lengthy. Modern mosaic ceramic tile is a fiberglass or paper sheet on which individual parts are already glued.

That is why it has the following advantages:

Great looking material. If you perform the installation correctly, then the “wow effect” is guaranteed.
Ease of installation. Although the size of the mosaic tile is small, it is formed into large sections that are easy to work with, just like ceramic tiles.
Ease of maintenance. The material is not afraid of moisture and detergents. It can be used for kitchen, bathroom.
Products are not afraid of temperature changes.
Cutting is carried out with an ordinary mounting knife. Unlike the same ceramic inflow, the process is much simpler, faster and does not require skills and expensive tools.
Ecological purity. The material is 100% safe for humans.
Long service life.
High strength. The elements have a small surface area. This means that they can withstand a large load without damage.

Production material

Here’s what mosaic modules are made of:

Glass : the current level of development of processing technologies for this material makes it possible to obtain parts of any shape and color from it, therefore glass mosaic has become widespread. Methods are used that increase the strength of glass, in addition to dyes, additives are introduced that make it milky. But there are also transparent, as well as translucent varieties. In terms of attractiveness, glass mosaic is ahead of all other variations.
Smalt : a special type of glass obtained by pressing and sintering multi-colored glass chips. Thanks to this structure, it seems that the smalt radiates light from the inside. When the nature of the lighting changes, the lining changes and can even change shades. The material is characterized by high strength, therefore it is used in places with increased load. There is a mosaic of smalt quite expensive.
Ceramics : an inexpensive variety, various grades of clay serve as raw materials. Being affordable, ceramic mosaic looks quite attractive, as it can be painted in a variety of colors and have any texture. In addition to uniform in tone, modules are produced with divorces, multi-colored inclusions, and craquelures (small cracks). According to the type of coating, ceramic tiles are divided into two types – glazed (glossy) and unglazed (matte).
Stone : such tiles are expensive, especially those made from semi-precious stones – jasper, malachite, lapis lazuli or amethyst. But this is a rare option. More often they use marble, granite or volcanic tuff. This lining looks noble and lasts a long time. The material is characterized by high wear resistance, therefore, it is often used for flooring.

Mosaic tile type sizes

The mosaic is produced in several versions. Separate modules of various shapes are in demand:

square;
rectangular;
diamond-shaped;
polygonal;
round;
oval.

Such details make the most exquisite mosaic panels, but working with them is a real art.

Bathroom interior mosaic tile

More technologically advanced group of modules on flexible material:

glass: on the grid;
ceramic: on mesh or paper.

It is easier to work with such a mosaic than with individual modules, but the pattern is standardized.

Mosaic imitation ceramic tiles: the surface of such tiles is divided by grooves into small squares, possibly of different colors.

Otherwise, it is no different from a regular tile:

easy to install;
fit only on a flat base;
used to create standardized patterns;
provides more reliable, in comparison with a mosaic, waterproofing, since fewer seams are formed during installation.

Dimensions mosaic tile

The size of individual mosaic modules varies from 1×1 to 5×5 cm. The most common tiles are 1×1 in size. Matrices of several tiles on a flexible base have different sizes, more often – 12×12 in. Ready-made panels of large sizes are also made. A significant cost distinguishes them.

An example of the use of mosaics in the bathroom

The thickness of the mosaic is important. On this basis, the material is divided into two types:

wall tiles: thickness – up to 1/4 in;
floor: thickness – from 1/4 to 3/8 in.

Concrete mosaic floor tiles have dimensions of 15x15x1 in.

Manufacturers mosaic tile

Glass mosaic is made today by many famous factories located abroad and in the USA. Recognized leaders in the production of finishing materials are Italy and Spain.

Their products are a tandem of the highest quality with stunning design solutions.

The Spanish factory Ezarri SA is famous for its opaque glass ecomosaic. The company has patented a special fastening of chips on the grid using PVC ties made of polyvinyl chloride.
Alttoglass produces interesting products with a large number of shades .
One-color, gradient and mix mosaics are produced by the Italian company Vitrex .
The practical Germans are not far behind in terms of performance: Baerwolf ‘s high-quality products include a diverse range of mosaic varieties.

There is a stereotype that things made in China are of poor quality. Chinese-made glass mosaic pleases with the price, variety of colors and textures, durability, and the quality is not far from European counterparts.

The well-known brand JNJ offers a wide range of finishing products.
The Ice Jade range represents products with an icy mother-of-pearl effect.
Bonaparte (China) produces high – quality and amazingly diverse glass mosaics.
The manufacturer Artaic (USA) manufactures more than 100 variants of various products that are suitable for facing various surfaces, including facade ones.
The popular domestic manufacturer American Glass Mosaic is engaged in the production of glass mosaics of increased thickness and strength.
Material is the USA

Mosaic laying technology on the grid

The main difficulty, which is directly related to laying mosaics with your own hands, is the presence of a quality foundation. As a rule, in order to beautifully lay a mosaic on a wall or other surface, it must be made perfectly even. Unlike tile, this material is flexible, and if the base is uneven, it will simply repeat all surface shapes.

Foundation preparation

The base for the tiles must be level. Mosaic is not suitable for facing exposed surfaces. Any inaccuracy of the wall will be visible after the adhesive has dried. The sequence of work for preparing the base:

clean the walls from coating and construction dust;
depressions must be plastered, cracks that need to be filled with plaster must first be embroidered and cleaned;
check the horizontal and vertical surfaces using the building level;
to level the base, it is necessary to use an elastic composition, it will also protect against the formation of mold and fungus on the surface during operation.

layout

The mosaic on the grid is laid out on the surface in order to have a clear picture of the color match. If the master skips this stage, then in the middle of work a surprise may await him, there is a grid of a different format or color.

Numbering

After the material is laid out, it is best to number it, so it will be easiest to correctly lay the mosaic on the grid on the surface.

Assembly

After laying out, the material must be put back into the boxes in the reverse order.

Wall marking

This is the last step before installation. The best option for this may be the building level. The first line is drawn to a height equal to the mosaic sheet. Then the entire layout scheme is transferred to the wall. Marking lines are applied horizontal and vertical, they are guided by them when gluing the sheet. Proper markup allows you to hide cropped areas.

Mosaic tiles

Determine the largest areas and those surfaces that come into view first. From them you need to start gluing fragments of the mosaic.

Laying algorithm

Apply a mixture of glue evenly on the surface, distributing the material with wave-like movements (it is recommended to apply liquid glue to the coverage area of 5-10 canvases).
Apply a thin layer of adhesive mixture to the grid.
Lay the canvas relative to the vertical and horizontal lines.
Go over the sheet with a rubber roller to secure. When gluing, move from the bottom up, from the middle to the corners.
After laying each row, check the parallels with a level (bubble or laser).

You do not need planks, as when laying ordinary tiles. After all, the mosaic tile is lighter, besides, its elements are fixed by the grid, which means that it will not move out. To ensure that the sheets lie evenly, do not press or dent them. It can only be fixed with a roller.

For splitting the material, if necessary, use special tongs.

Grouting seams

24 hours after laying the mosaic, you can start grouting. To do this, use a rubber float, with which the grout is rubbed into the seam spaces with smooth movements.

Beautiful examples in the interior

A scattering of mosaic highlights can be placed in any room of the house: in the hallway, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, the choice of decor variations is endless.
Golden mosaic is an undoubted sign of chic. Such products are often used individually, since the price is high. However, the amazing effect is worth it.
The Chinese mosaic contains a layer of 995 gold. The cost of such decor varies within $ 2,000.
Mother-of-pearl mosaic will decorate any room that has a window – a source of natural light. In an ordinary bathroom without windows there will be no such play of light.
Volumetric mosaic patterns look great in any room (from the bathroom to the pool in the spa). The artistic value of such paintings can be equated to painting. Three-dimensional mosaic drawings look great in any room (from the bathroom to the pool in the spa). The artistic value of such paintings can be equated to the picturesque.
In the interior, the inlay of individual pieces of furniture with small mosaics looks great (countertops, mirror frames, caskets, cabinet doors).
Volumetric finish is used in expensive interiors, pretentious clubs, restaurants because of the unique appearance, high cost. Manufacturers offer various forms of products (circles, stars, grains), the combination of gloss with a matte surface looks spectacular.
Glass mosaic is a luxury that is available to everyone. Your interior will sparkle in a new way if you diversify it with an elegant pattern of glass pieces.