It is the History of Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiles – we’ve all seen them, be it in a church’s floor, ornate mural, or your grandmother’s bathroom. These tiny ceramic squares of marvel appear to have been in use for an time, yet many aren’t aware of their history. If you’re one of them then read on as we’re going to dig a little deeper into the mosaics’ background story…
Like any other tradition, the story of mosaic tiles is interspersed with the history of its more renowned brothers: porcelain and ceramic tile, first appearing about 4000 years ago during the Mesopotamian time. Those initial mosaics were hastily fashioned out of ivory, shell and stone, and were used by artists to create images and representations of gods and kings.
In 200 BC however it was 200 BC, at the time of 200 BC, Roman Empire was in full motion and brought the introduction of new manufacturing processes and aesthetic ideals. Craftsmen quickly realized that there was a great deal of money in producing the tiny ‘tesserae’ (or uniform) ready-made pieces that artists could use to create mosaics. And that’s what they did! In the next few years, these small blighters were all over the place as Roman artists made use of small squares of stone (marble particularly) to create massive floor mosaics that depicted the lavishness of splendour, glamour, debauchery and the squalor of Roman life.
As the history of the world progressed into the Byzantine period, so did the position of mosaics. They were moved from ceilings to floors, walls and floors. This era saw glass being increasingly used, with the creation of ornate glass tesserae known as’smalti which were often covered with gold or silver leaf to add lavishness. A majority Byzantine mosaics were religious in nature and as such, were typically found in cathedrals. If you’re ever within Ravenna in Italy You can go to it as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites there and see some fine examples.
The subsequent wave of development in mosaics came in the era of Islamic empires (such as the Ottoman Empire) which had a huge influence and extended from into the Middle east to North Africa in its pomp. Islamic mosaics often featured a strong theme of religion running through them and utilised numerous different-shaped tiles and geometric shapes were popular for creating patterns and motifs.
Then we move to the late 1800s and that’s when the Art Nouveau movement was really expanding its reach with the likes of Anton Gaudi and Josep Maria Julol, who were shaking things up and making more dramatic naturalistic mosaic art, something which the great and the famous sought to emulate in their own homes. This application of mosaics really set the stage for how they are used and viewed in contemporary settings into the present.
What is the reason to use Mosaics
It’s cost-effective, easy installation, and ability to design your own designs . They’re only three reasons why renovators and DIYers around the globe appreciate mosaics. Although domestic installations tend not to adopt an artistic approach , such as. making large murals mosaics are a great way to show off an personalization such as borders or accents, or even via personalised text inset into walls. If you visit any high-end bar, hotel or even public space, and you’ll see mosaics used in all manner of innovative ways, outside and inside.
Installing Mosaics
At first glance, mosaics may appear like a real painful experience to set up, but they’re really not. Many people believe that you have to painstakingly put grout on each mosaic however this isn’t the reality at all. Mosaics come in tile-like square panels that are joined by an a mesh which is fixed to walls and floors in the same way as tiles. You can use them as you would porcelain or ceramic tiles (more on adhesives in the future).
They can be cut using cutters to any shape that will fit the space in which you’re installing them and once they’re down they are applied to fill the spaces between each piece , and then removed with a damp sponge, as you would do with larger tiles! Instructions for installing mosaics on floors and walls can be found later on in this tutorial.
Mosaic Colours & Types
Our selection of mosaics will turn other tile retailers’ offerings into an eagle’s hat, and you’d be here all day if we told you about the top ones (hey we have a lot of people are a fan of a number from our tile selection). We wouldn’t be being honest if we didn’t let you know about a few amazing corkers that make a stunning addition to bathrooms wall, kitchens, walls and floors, regardless of what your personal design style.
Mosaic Sizes
Mosaic sheets are by and large 300 x 300 and come in a square format of tile-lie. The amount and size that the tiles (the tiny pieces of tiles that form the mosaic) are wildly different. For example, glass mosaics such as Alaska Glass Mosaics generally feature uniform square chips that measure around 23mm sq or 48mm sq and something similar to Nice Stoneglass Mix Mosaics sport similar to modular chips that come in an array of sizes, all contained in one tile.
How to Choose Mosaics of High-Quality
The fact that we have a wide collection of mosaics is priced at a reasonable price does not necessarily mean they’re not of high quality. Prices can be quite different from market where some retailers offer this kind of tile at close to double the cost of the tiles sold by online stores. The best method to determine which tiles are worth the cost is getting samples of tiles to evaluate their quality. When you receive your sample The finish shouldn’t be smudges, markings, scratches or imperfections on the surface. Also, when you’ve bought solid color mosaics, they should be clean and crisp and free of any fading.
Using Grout with Mosaics
You’ll know this by going through this article, there are numerous mosaic designs to pick from. But did you be aware that there’s a wealth of options when it comes to grouting too. While the range of colors may not be as wide as the number of mosaics available, but there’s enough to allow you to create your own unique design.
How to Install Mosaics
Wall Preparation
Making your wall ready for huge doses of mosaic action is really similar to preparing walls for normal tiles. A majority of mosaics come mounted on mesh backings and are generally 300 x 300 in size. Just as you would do for regular tiles, you’ll need to ensure that the substrate is primed and level (if it’s rendered, plywood board, screeds of cement or sand you’re tiling on). Applying Mapei Primer G using a brush or roller and allowing to dry for at least two hours before beginning to tile for improved adhesion will make a huge difference there!
Floor Preparation
Mosaics come in many different materials , including stone, travertine, glass and marble. No matter what tiles you choose to make them of, it’s important to ensure that the floor you’re laying them on is level. Mapei Ultraplan Renovation Screed can be a blessing for those who have floors that are uneven – it’s easily applied by pump or hand and, finished with a trowel or spiked roller. When your floor is cleaned (leave the screed to dry for 24 hours) then you’re ready to start laying your tiles. The same guidance you receive when tiling onto the floor, such as plasterboard, or render walls is applicable here as well Make sure you’re primed to prime!
Setting Out
Find the middle of the wall or floor and mark a horizontal and a vertical horizontal line with a spirit level. Dry lay your mosaic sheets starting from the center and before moving to the end of the wall or floor. If you need the tiles on either side to be cut to approximately the same size, do this by altering your Vertical reference line.
Fixing
It’s vital to realize that mosaics can be difficult to apply directly onto wall surfaces coated with adhesive due to the mesh backing not being rigid. This means that you’ll often encounter the ’tile’ (made up of many mosaic chips) will flop about when being handled. To avoid this problem, we suggest using Mosaic Backer Sheets grid-like, inflexible structures made of plastic that have are coated with a self-adhesive back. It is attached to the self-adhesive side making a rigid “full tile’ which is then much easier to push into the adhesive on floors and walls. Backer sheets eliminate the need to press on every mosaic chip, and guarantees that the pressure that you apply to the tile while pushing it in the adhesive has been evenly distributed and creates a flat, smooth surface.
Cutting
Making mosaics is a little more straightforward than cutting ceramic and porcelain tiles as you can simple cut the back of the mesh to the appropriate size using scissors of a stanley knife. If you have to break through any of the tiles however (such for resizing them to accommodate gaps or corners) you’ll need the score and snap cutter, the same way you would for ‘full’ ceramic tiles.
Grouting
We’d suggest using Mapei’s Keracolour grout when making mosaics as this type of grout is more fine and can fit into smaller spaces with ease. But if you’d like to go with such as Kerapoxy Design then that’s no issue, but you’ll find installing using a finer grout faster and easier.
The final stage
It’s highly unlikely that you’d tile an entire floor or wall using mosaics, but in the case of a mosaic piece being the final tile prior to the wall’s edge, worktop counter or shower tray, be certain to apply a matching silicone seal to avoid cracking due to movement. As mentioned earlier mosaics are available in all sorts of designs and materials, the majority aren’t required to have any additional post-installation procedures. However, there are some exceptions. These are natural stone mosaics, such as marble or the travertine. These mosaics are best sealed using Fila Stone Plus Colour Enhancing Sealer to ensure they look great for years to follow.
How To Care for Mosaics
Once the mosaics have been installed, they are very easy to take care of. Mosaics that have gloss or satin finishesrequire just wiping down with a damp , clean cloth and warm water . They can then be dried or buffed with an incredibly soft microfibre or soft cloth to ensure they look their best. For mosaics with matt or riven finish, you’ll need similar methods, however, minus the buffing.
