Mosaic Tiles For The Bathroom

One of the most involved home improvement projects is the bathroom remodel. It can be expensive, but if done well, it can greatly add to the value of your home. One way to ensure that the makeover will look great and last a long time is by using mosaic tiles.

Mosaic tiles are small pieces of tile made out of materials like ceramic, travertine, glass, stone, marble, porcelain, or even stainless steel. The tiles can be purchased individually, or they can be grouped and mounted on a mesh backing. The tiles can be in any shape such as squares, octagons, hexagons, or abstract shapes. The type of mosaic tiles you choose will be based on many factors. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should keep in mind when shopping for tiles.

Ceramic mosaic tiles are durable, customizable, and water and bacteria resistant. They are typically inexpensive when compared with other types of tiles, and are low maintenance. Ceramic tiles are also easy to work with, therefore, they are a good choice for someone to do themselves. However, ceramic mosaic tiles can be slippery when wet, especially if they are glazed, so they are not the best choice for a shower or flooring. The tiles may also crack or break.

Travertine mosaic tiles are made up of crystallized minerals and limestone. They provide a beautiful, polished and high end look with their intricate veining of the colors. These tiles can easily be cleaned with warm water and a cloth. Natural stone such as limestone, marble, granite and slate are quarried from the earth and will have a neutral or earthy color to them. Depending on the stone, they can be either very soft or extremely hard.

Porcelain tiles are ceramic tiles, but with a very low absorbency. They are made by a method of pressing dust, which gives the tile a smooth surface with clear luminous colors and appearance. They are hard wearing and very durable once they are installed, but they can break or crack easily during instillation.

Glass mosaic tiles are not as durable as the others. They are resistant to moisture, water and dirt. They are non-porous, smooth, bacteria and allergen resistant, however, they too will be slippery when wet, and need a non-slip sealant. Glass tiles will require more daily maintenance when cleaning because they easily show fingerprints, dirt, and steam, as well as other marks like toothpaste or soap, but can be cleaned with a glass cleaner. They can be more expensive than other types of tiles. With glass tiles you can do all one color, different shades of one color, or a mixture of different colors.

The type of material you choose will also depending on who will be using the bathroom. If it is a kid's room, then you will want something that is very durable, slip resistant, and low maintenance. On the other hand, a small powder room that is used only occasionally by guests can be more lavish and won't need to be as durable, or cleaned as frequently. This is the room where you can go all out.

Once you decide on the material, then you need to choose a color and pattern. You can create your own pattern with the individual tiles, or you can select a solid color, or a style that is made into a pattern for you. You can do the sheets of tile and then create a boarder along the top, bottom, or center for more detail with individual tiles or special boarder tiles. You can also use tile to create a mosaic mirror, or a mosaic backsplash.

Once you determine the color palette you want for your bathroom, then this will narrow your choices considerably. If you are redoing the entire bathroom then you can start from scratch, but if you are redoing parts, such as the shower or countertop, then you will need to blend the tiles with the existing features, like the sink bowl and the fixtures. You can do a black and white color scheme which will give either a very retro look, or very modern look, depending on how the tiles are placed. A popular choice is to use all neutral mosaic tiles like brown, gray, off-white, or beige. This will give a look that is less taste specific, which would be good if you plan to ever sell your home. Metallics like gold, bronze, silver, coper, and chrome will need to blend with fixtures. A monochromatic scheme, which is different shades of one color, appear relaxing, calm, and serene. All black mosaic tiles can give a very sophisticated look to the bathroom.

Decide if you want a custom pattern with intricate boarders, insets, and details or a simple, all over look. Of course, the more intricate the design, the more expensive and time consuming the task will be. Also, decide what will be tiled. It can be just the shower, the sink, the wall, or the whole room. Do you want the tile to go the whole way up or half way. You can have just one color, or more than one color. You can just have a few accent pieces, such as a mirror framed in mosaic tile, or you can create an art piece out of mosaic tile, such as a flower, or shells, or just an abstract piece.

You can work with a designer to help you choose your tiles, or you can do it yourself. You can hire someone to measure, buy, and install the tile, you can get the tile yourself and have someone else install it, or you can do it all yourself. Hiring a designer will add to the total cost, as will hiring installers, however, it can save you time and hassle, not to mention ensuring a well-done final outcome. Mosaic tiles can be purchased at a large home improvement center, in a store, or online from a mosaic tile company that specializes in the product.

To figure out just how much tile you will need, first create your design and pattern. This plan will also serve as your guide for reference when laying the tile. It can be computer generated, or done by hand. Next, you will need to measure the total square feet of the areas that you will be tiling. This includes both the length and the width. You will multiply these two numbers, then you will divide the total number you get by the dimensions of the tile you will be using. There are online calculators to help with determining the amount of tile, or you can ask for help at the store.

When ordering tile it is best to order more than you need. This way, if any tiles get damaged or broken, or you make any changes to the bathroom in the future, you will be sure that you have an exact match. It will also come in handy if there are any mistakes made when cutting or laying the tile. Get about one fifth of the total square footage extra to be safe. In some cases you may be able to buy half tiles which are useful to fill in spaces.