The Comprehensive Guide for Mosaic Pool Tiles

30 Sep.,2024

 

The Comprehensive Guide for Mosaic Pool Tiles

The world of tile is diverse. Homeowners have a litany of options to consider, ranging in color, layout, size, finish, and more. What better way to make the most of your choices than with a mosaic tile design? 

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Mosaic tile is an increasingly popular design choice for pools of all kinds. This article will explain why and outline everything else you need to know before settling on a mosaic theme for your project.

What are Mosaic Pool Tiles?

Mosaic pool tile is any spread of tile that takes on a mixed or fragmented look. Unlike conventional pool tile, which is usually one solid color, mosaic tiles come in various shapes and sizes and are often used to create unique patterns both inside and outside the pool.

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Are Mosaic Tiles Good for Pools?

Yes, mosaic tiles are a great choice for backsplash, bathroom, and pools, or any other water-exposed surface. 

The combination of durability, design flexibility, and low maintenance make mosaic tiles a particularly great choice for pool owners looking to create an attractive space without having to worry about upkeep.

 

Why You Should Choose Mosaic Pool Tiles

With so many options available when choosing pool tile, you may wonder: what makes mosaic pool tile so special? 

Lots of things. This artistic pool tile has so many advantages over other varieties, offering the absolute best in practicality and design. Let's take a closer look at the benefits:

Long Lasting and No Fading

Mosaic pool tiles are made of high-quality materials like glass and porcelain. Glass pool tile, in particular, is an excellent outdoor tile, as it's resistant to fading, chipping, and cracking. Porcelain mosaics are durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions like extreme temperatures and heavy rains. Whatever layout you choose, you can rest assured that the tile lasts a long time.

Beautiful Designs Create Infinite Possibilities

Swimming pool mosaic tiles offer limitless design possibilities. You can use a variety of vibrant pool tiles to create stunning patterns and shapes. There&#;s also no wondering what color is best for your pool &#; you can include them all if you&#;d like!

Going with a mosaic concept doesn't have to mean embracing colorful pool tiles all over. A gorgeous effect can be created with more subtle tones and hues, adding a touch of visual interest that doesn't go overboard.

Affordable

Mosaic tile floor might sound expensive but it isn't! In fact, mosaic tiles are surprisingly affordable &#; and since they are so strong, you won't have to replace them for years. With the right installation techniques and grout, your mosaic will look stunning without breaking the bank.

Easy to Repair and Replace 

Nothing's worse than having a stunning pool design crack or chip then find out that your tile is no longer available. With mosaic bath and pool tiles, this isn't as much of a problem. Spontaneity and creativity is a key when it comes to mosaics, so you can mix and match tiles or easily replace one individual tile without having to redo the entire area.

Practicality Combined With Art 

Mosaic tiles are great for creating a stand-out feature in your pool, but they're also practical. When it comes to safety concerns such as slip resistance and thermal insulation, mosaic tiles can do the job just as well, if not better.

They'll Look New for Years

Mosaic pool tiles last a really long time. All you need to do is practice good pool tile maintenance with a brush and rinse each season and they'll look like new for years!

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Mosaic Tile Installation

You may wonder whether mosaic tile is more complicated to install than regular tile. In most cases, the answer is no. Many products today have a mosaic design but are cohesively built with a single backing. This makes them just as easy to install as any other kind.

Are you interested in learning more about Swimming Pool Mosaic Wholesale? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Should I Seal My Mosaic Tile?

One thing to keep in mind with mosaic tile is that some products may require sealing. It depends on the material in question. Mosaic glass tiles are a non-porous tile, meaning they are completely waterproof and typically do not require sealing. Other materials, such as ceramic tiles and tumbled marble, may retain moisture and need to be sealed.

 

Mosaic Pool Tile Ideas

Now that we&#;ve covered all the bases, we're on to the fun part. Read below to find inspiration for your new mosaic pool tile installation.

Keep Things Consistent, But Different

Not everyone wants a flashy mosaic tile design, and that's okay. You can still add some variety to your pool by mixing products of similar shape and size, like Sapphire Blue glossy glass tile and Uniform Silver Feather tile. Other options like River Blue Ripple Blend Uniform Brick glossy and iridescent glass tile do this for you.

Have Fun With Mosaic Square Tiles

Mosaic square tiles are super versatile. So why not have fun with them? Products like our Turquoise 1x1 Blue tile, River Blue Ripple Blend 3/4x3/4 tile, Galaxie Turquoise 1x1 iridescent tile, Maybe Mushroom 1x1 tile, Ice Bay 1x1 tile, and Overcast Blue tile can all be easily mixed and matched with one another.

Try Different Textures and Patterns

You don't have to play it safe. If you really want to make a statement, try a colorful glass tile like Darling Indigo Blue on the pool's waterline and textured Aqua Art Planetarium uniform brick tile around the sides. 

There are tons of interesting pool tile trends for worth considering!

Oasis Tile is Committed to You

Buying pool tile doesn't have to be complicated. At Oasis Tile, we want to make it easy. Our large selection of glamorous pool tiles includes something for everyone, and our dedicated customer service team is always ready to help answer questions or provide design advice. You can always trust us to deliver the best products at an unbeatable price! 
Start exploring our mosaic tiles collection and order your tile samples today.

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Related Products:

Iridescent Tiles

Blue Tiles

Green Tiles

Swimming Pool Mosaic Tiles vs. Other Tiles

The primary difference between Swimming Pool Mosaic tile and wall or floor tile is their resistance to Freezing, amount of Water Absorption, and resistance to Chemicals.  Now unless you would like to dig through the ASTM standards for various applications of ceramic tile, just know that the major manufacturers of Swimming Pool Mosaics use porcelain-type clay and a glass glaze to cover the surface of the tile. 

Resistance to Freezing

The amount of water that is absorbed is important, especially for outdoor use.  As you know, when water freezes it expands.  If your tile were to absorb too much water and freezes, then your tile will crack&#;not good.  The way tiles are tested, using the ASTM C testing procedure, is to freeze the tile to negative 0.4 F and then quickly heat it to 50 &#; 60 F.  This procedure is repeated 15 times. This criterion is especially important if you are putting your mosaics in an area that may freeze, such as steps, swim-out, pool seats, waterfall features above the pool&#;s water surface, outdoor table tops, outdoor kitchen backsplashes, or on the pool deck.  In climates where the temperature drops below freezing for any period, the pool water will most likely freeze.  As long as your mosaics are well below the freeze depth of your pool, they will be fine, but I still would put only mosaics that are specified as &#;Frost Proof&#;.  Be sure you review the product&#;s specification to determine if it is described as &#;Frost Proof&#;.  If you are seriously concerned about your mosaics freezing, then I would suggest getting ones that are specified as Frost Proof Porcelain. 

 Water Absorption

Water absorption rates are determined by using the ASTM C373 testing procedure. Standard wall tiles will absorb about 7% water, while ceramic Swimming Pool Tiles absorb about 3%.  Porcelain tiles absorb around 0.5%.  Why the wide differences in absorption rates?  Cost and application.  Tiles that are used on a wall in your home do not see much in the way of water if any at all.  It makes sense to not use the more expensive clays which have lower absorption rates for an application that does not require low absorption rates.  On the other hand, tiles that are going to be immersed in water 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, would require tiles made from materials that have the lowest absorption rate. Besides the low absorption rate of the clay used, to further improve the resistance to water absorption of Swimming Pool Tiles, the top surface of all mosaics is made vitreous by covering them with a glass glaze which has a color pigment in the glass.  This colored glass glaze is what gives the Swimming Pool Mosaics their brilliant color which will last a lifetime.  The sides and bottom of each mosaic piece are not glazed.  This is done on purpose.  Your mosaic is attached to the pool surface, gunite, using a material referred to as thinset. Both the mosaic bottom surface and the pool surface must be porous enough to absorb the thinset thereby making a strong bond between the two surfaces.  During the application of the finish coat, every mosaic is covered with the finish coat material.  This material will seep into the space between each mosaic piece thereby further bonding the mosaic to the pool&#;s surface.  Done properly, your mosaic will then be completely sealed. 

Chemical Resistance

The Swimming Pool Mosaics that live in your swimming pool live in a very harsh environment&#;for them, not you.  Besides the water, your pool contains chlorine, acid, and a few other chemicals which help prevent algae and fungus from growing.  If you think about it, every time your children or yourself are finished swimming one of the first things you do is rinse off the chlorine and other chemicals so they will not remain on your body after drying.  Unfortunately, the Swimming Pool Mosaics do not get that treatment, so the Swimming Pool Mosaics must be completely impervious to the pool&#;s chemicals.  Tiles are tested using the ASTM C650 testing procedure.  In this procedure, tiles are soaked in a test solution for 24 hours at 74 F.  The tiles are then inspected to see if there is any visible damage.  As with water absorption, the glass glaze on the top surface of the mosaic helps prevent damage to the mosaics caused by chemicals.  To insure that your mosaics stay bright and beautiful for the life of your pool, it is important to make sure your pool&#;s chemistry is always &#;in balance&#;.  Keeping your pool in balance will also help prevent the calcium in your pool&#;s finish from being absorbed into the water. 

Summary

In this article, I have given you a lot of technical information which you may find interesting, but the bottom line is that the major manufacturers of mosaics for swimming pools, such as Artistry in Mosaics and Custom Mosaics make their products specifically to be used in a swimming pool.  Both manufacturers guarantee their products for the life of your pool.  I can say, from my personal experience of having been working in this industry for the past 20+ years, that I have never had an experience where a mosaic was damaged by freezing or chemical abuse.  Remember, when installed properly, the only surface exposed to the water is covered with a glass glaze, making it completely impervious.  So go ahead and focus on your design concept and the mosaics that will work best in your pool.

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