Tiling Help: Get help with tiling,
grouting and sealing.
Choosing: Ceramic tiles; Granite tiles; Marble tiles; Mosaic tiles; Porcelain tiles; Terracotta tiles; Travertine tiles
Preparing: Preparing to tile
Grouting: Grouting tips; How to grout floor tiles

Mosaic tiles

Home :
Tiles :
Mosaic tiles

Tiles are a mixture of clays which are pressed into shape and processed at high temperatures which results in the tile solidifying and becoming hard. The bisque (body) of ceramic tile can be glazed, or left unglazed which actually depends on its intended use.

Ceramic and natural stone tiles have high availability. There are several types of ceramic tile which are in popular use. One example is glazed ceramic tile which is baked, coated with glaze, and baked again, creating an extremely hard surface layer. Quarry tile on the other hand is baked but left unglazed, leaving it porous, softer and thicker than a glazed tile. On the other hand, porcelain mosaic tiles are made in units of less than 6 square inches from natural clay composition with either a plain or abrasive mixture throughout. Natural-stone tile is just cut direct from stone. Granite and marble tiles are generally polished and sealed after cutting, while slate tiles are cut along natural faults, which is the reason for its textured appearance.

The most common form of mosaic tiles is Smalti, which is a hand-made glass mosaic tile available in either transparent or opaque. This can be produced by melting at a very high temperature and at the same time cooling of a mixture of silica (vitrifier), consisting of sand, calcium oxide (stabilizer), sodium or potassium oxide (fluxes). Metal oxides like opacifying and coloring agents are also sometimes added to this basic vitreous mixture. This same material and technique has been in use since the ancient Byzantine and Roman mosaics.

There are instances where tiny air bubbles are visible: this is not a defect, instead it means that it's a high quality product. Mosaic tiles are available in square pieces (0.40" x 0.40" or 0.80" x 0.80" or 2" x 2"). Vitreous pastes do not contain lead oxide therefore making them slightly opaque and hard to cut. Furthermore, they are also not shiny unlike the smalti.

Mosaic tiles » » Benefits & drawbacks