What are Mixed Mosaics Tile?

Mosaics have been traced all the way back to the fourth millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia. Objects were decorated semi-precious stones, mother-of-pearl and shells. The Romans would raise the level of refinement in mosaics in the second century B.C. Christians art also helped the world learn more about mosaics as the technique was often used in churches and other religious buildings. The Byzantines, though, are credited with expressing mystic, supernatural and divine themes, with materials as precious as gold.

Today plywood is the most common substrate used for mosaic art, but the tiles can be placed on floors, walls, ceilings and more. Natural materials used today include marble, shells, sea pebbles, crystals, semi-precious stones and minerals. Natural materials are duller in color than the brighter-toned color glass of smalti, which is a manmade material. It is completely opaque, brilliantly colored and available in several thousand shades. Glass and ceramic tiles are the most common substances used for mosaic tiles.

Caring for mixed mosaics should be done regularly, or the grout can begin to look dingy. If placed in a shower, the tiles can begin to develop a film of dirt. Household detergent, a commercial tub and tile cleaner, trisodium phosphate cleaner and bleach can all be used on mosaic tile to remove soap scum. Avoid using abrasive cleaners, sponges or brushes, as these can scratch the surface of the tiles.

Caring for mixed mosaic floors can be done about the same way. A spray bottle with a mixture of household detergent and water is a good cleaner to use with soft mop after sweeping. If your mosaic floor has many types of tiles, you may be best off just to use water and to sweep frequently.

The price of mixed mosaic tiles depends on many factors, such as the materials used in the mosaic. Some can be under $3 or $4 for a 12” x 12” square. Other handmade mosaic pieces for floors or walls could sell for hundreds or more. The size of the tile, the designer, the style and much more influence the cost of the tiles.

Mixed mosaic floor and walls tiles can provide a unique touch to projects using other materials, too. For example, a mixed mosaic floor tile piece could be used as the centerpiece of a walkway, room or patio space. It can be used as a border on a room’s wall or floor. The applications are of mosaic tile are a varied as the colors and styles.