If a sample is not readily available, you may have to pay to have one shipped from the factory.Ĭontinuity: Get a full-size sheet for a true idea of the color and pattern, and ask the tile store if it’s from a dye lot that’s in stock. Ask for samples you can take with you many retailers will charge a few dollars for these. Samples: Do your research online, then visit a variety of showrooms to see tile that’s installed. for dealers Shop Smarter Courtesy of Crossvilleįollow these tips to get the best product for your project: Similar to shown: Opulence Mosaic Tile in Opal, $22 per sq. If you’re covering a large area, skill and patience are required to achieve a seamless effect, so labor can be more costly. It’s pricier than some other options, like ceramic.While a mesh backing or paper facing helps the mosaic tile stay evenly spaced, it can be a challenge to keep the many pieces aligned, and to make precision cuts for outlets and other openings. Like many other kinds of tile, it can break with heavy impact-if a cast-iron tub bumps into it on the way to being installed, say, or a pan bangs the kitchen backsplash.With a swipe of a damp cloth, it’s easy to maintain, too. It’s impervious to moisture and unaffected by UV rays, so it won’t stain from spills or fade from exposure to detergent or sunlight.A kitchen backsplash or a simple border set into field tile in a bath will ramp up the glamour. Countless options for color, shape, and surface texture let you create a standout effect even with just a little bit of tile, so you needn’t bust your budget.Whether translucent or opaque, glass mosaics catch and reflect light to brighten up a space, and they marry well with other natural surfaces, including stone, ceramic, and wood.But you do need to take care with where and how you place it Its lustrous beauty belies its more practical properties. Is It for You? Photo by Tria Giovan/GAP Interiors But with care and proper installation, glass mosaic tile will last as long as you want it to. Will it hold up? Drop a heavy object on it and it can crack, like ceramic or stone. Where to use it? It’s popular for backsplashes and in bathrooms, but consider it anywhere you’d use other tile, from a fireplace front to an accent wall. But you may want to leave projects with lots of complex cuts, or installation in a wet area, to a tile setter. But you can find many options for $15 to $20 per square foot.ĭIY or hire a pro? A mesh backing or a paper front connects pieces to ease installation.

What’s the cost? Sold in sheets about 1 foot square prices start at about $5 per square foot and can go up to $90-and higher. Glass Mosaic Tile Vitals Photo by Paula Thomas/Getty Images Their lustrous beauty was prized for its decorative impact, as shown in St. Glass mosaics first appeared in Egypt 3,500 years ago, traveled to Greece and India, then on to the Byzantine Empire and the West. Originally, mosaics were assembled from small, hand-cut pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic set in mortar to create a pattern or picture.

Uson Tile Solutions Bits of History Photo by Sylvester Adams/Getty Images Shown: A floor-to-ceiling expanse of glass mosaic tile makes the cabinets appear to float in this sleek cook space.

So how do you choose? Shop around, bring samples home, read our guide-and you’re on your way. And more good news: As demand and improvements in manufacturing have made the style options soar, they’ve also brought prices down. In terms of performance, livability, and hygiene, it offers an impervious surface that inhibits mold, mildew, and bacteria. “Glass mosaic tiles offer so much variety today, you can really put your own stamp on a room,” says Bellavita Tile’s Ryan Fasan, an 18-year veteran of the industry.īut glass mosaic tile is more than just a pretty face. They show off plenty of special effects, too, from “hammered” metallics to matte sea glass to textural treatments that mimic variegated stone or woven fabric. Pretty Surface Workhorse Photo by Andrea Rugg/Peterssen Keller Architecture/CollinStockįrom a design perspective, glass mosaic tiles provide wonderful opportunities to play with color, whether subdued neutrals or bold brights.

History of mosaic shapes