Mosaic tiles for bathroom

One of the most popular, affordable and practical options for finishing the bathroom is ceramic tiles. The number of its names, sizes, types and colors is even difficult to imagine.

Tiles imitating a mosaic are highly water resistant. That's why it is often used in rooms with high humidity, including pools, saunas or bathrooms. The aesthetic beauty of mosaic masonry is impossible to describe with words: iridescent, shimmering surface as if carved from a set of tiny crystals.

The mosaic has been known since ancient times, but even today it is one of the main facing materials for bathrooms, thanks to its appearance, ease of laying, durability and affordability.

When comparing different materials for the design of the bathroom, first of all, you should pay attention to the clear advantages of one material over others.

The advantages of tiles under the mosaic include:

• Decorative appeal.
• Small size, allowing you to lay tiles even in the most inaccessible places.
• Durability of the finished coating.
• High moisture resistance.
• Resistance to the action of chemically active reagents.
• The possibility of laying on concrete, metal, plaster and other surfaces.
• Coloring resistance to burnout.
• Eco-friendliness.
• Easy care and operation.
• A huge choice.

In addition, the mosaic coating is characterized by high durability, reliability, resistance to abrasion, resistance to sudden changes in temperature. Mosaic is ideal for tiling uneven or complex architectural surfaces, which may not be possible with conventional tile or other tiling materials.

Every material, in addition to the obvious advantages, has disadvantages. To the disadvantages of tiles under the mosaic can be attributed only a relatively high cost of the material and its installation in comparison with counterparts. But this is only at first glance. If we consider how many years this coating can last without repair and replacement, the benefit becomes obvious.

The variety of sizes, shapes, colors and materials from which the mosaic is made, strikes even the most sophisticated imagination.

Among the most popular types of mosaic tiles can be distinguished mosaic of:

• glass;
• ceramics;
• natural stone;;
• Metal (not suitable for wet rooms).

Stone mosaic is mainly used as a floor covering because of its strength, durability and resistance to abrasion. For the manufacture of such a mosaic used granite, marble, jasper, onyx, etc..

Ceramic mosaic is the most popular and affordable type of cladding of the options presented. Its popularity is due to a wide range of mosaic, excellent performance and low price.

Glass mosaic simple and unpretentious in care, resistant to moisture and reagents. Allows you to create an amazingly beautiful coating. One of the varieties of glass mosaics is the smalt coating.

Metal mosaic is practically not used in humid areas due to the possibility of water on it. Sometimes used as a decorative finish in rooms with moderate humidity.

Ceramic or glass tiles are mainly used as wall coverings. Such coatings always look neat and aesthetic, they can visually correct small irregularities or roughnesses in the walls, beautifully beat the complex architectural elements such as arches, etc.

Wall and floor coating can be made of mosaic of the same or contrasting colors. The mosaic may not cover the entire surface, but can be used in combination with other material. For example, ceramic tiles of large size or wall panels.

When developing a design project for the bathroom should be guided not only by your own desire, taste and characteristics of the material. Correctly chosen color scheme will help to visually expand and make even the smallest and darkest room brighter.

For visual space enlargement, giving it more volume and lightness are used cold shades of pastel colors: light blue, turquoise, lilac, green.

An excellent solution to visually increase the space will be the use of marble mosaic. It can be a combination with a ceramic mosaic of light color or a monolithic marble coating.

The classic combination of white walls and black floor will never lose its relevance. The original solution would be the same combination, but used exactly the opposite: black walls and white floor.

The nautical theme is still one of the most popular options for decorating the bathroom. In this case, you can use a combination of white and blue, blue, lettuce, azure, turquoise and other shades.

To create an unusual, bright interior, you can use juicy, saturated tones or original color combinations. For example, red perfectly harmonizes with white or black. Such a bathroom looks very modern and stylish.

The price range of mosaic tiles from different manufacturers is quite wide. It depends on the material from which the tile is made, its size, characteristics, appearance, country and company-manufacturer, etc. The most inexpensive tile can be purchased in the range of 400 - 2000 rubles per square meter. The cost of exclusive options from the latest collections of world manufacturers can amount to more than one tens of thousands of rubles per square meter.

When choosing a suitable tile, the following points must be taken into account:

1. The number of tiles should be about 10% more than calculated.
2. Light mosaic visually expands the room, dark - makes the room smaller.
3. Tile grade. The higher the grade, the better the performance characteristics of the material, its durability, strength, etc.
4. The quality of tile adhesive. For wall cladding, the glue should have sufficient viscosity, and for flooring - be elastic.

Facing mosaic tiles includes several stages of work:

• Preparation, leveling the surface.
• Drawing a marking on the floor or walls.
• Application of glue to a small area (it is not necessary to cover the entire working surface with glue, otherwise it will harden before the moment of tiling).
• The tiles are spread over the surface, making an adjustment, and then fixing the mosaic.
• Grouting the seams.
• Final cleaning of the finished coating from traces of grout with a damp sponge.
• Polishing the coating.

In order to make the finished coating last as long as possible, you just need to follow a few simple rules:

• Ventilation. The lack of constant air exchange can have a detrimental effect on the color of the mosaic: it will fade. In addition, mold and mildew may appear.
• Treatment of mosaic joints with special products to prevent mold. After treatment, remove excess product, and wipe the seams with a clean cloth.
• To care for the coating itself is not recommended to use metal brushes and aggressive cleaners and detergents. A brush with soft bristles or a damp cloth is sufficient.