Ceramic Mosaic Tile
We sell fine unglazed porcelain tiles. It's important to understand that porcelain tiles ARE ceramic tiles, but not all ceramic tiles are porcelain. Our ceramic mosaic tiles are made from fine porcelain.
Visit our online store to browse colors. A color chart is also located below.
Reasons our ceramic mosaic tile is
the best choice for beginner mosaic artists:
LOW COST. Less expensive than many other types of mosaic tile.
CONVENIENT SIZE. Each tile is just under 3/4" x 3/4" and over 1/8" thick (18.5mm x 18.5mm x 4.3mm) and can be used without cutting.
LITTLE WASTE.
No large bevel on the edge like most ceramic tile, SO 100% of the tile is flat and usable.
COLOR PALLET. Rich cermaic tile color pallet that includes warm and cool colors in light and dark shades.
VERSITILITY. Ceramic tile can be easily used on almost any home surface.
QUALITY. Made of fine porcelain with solid color throughout.
NO GLAZE. There is no surface glaze like on ordinary ceramic tile.
Reasons our ceramic mosaic tile is also a great choice for experienced mosaic artists:
Ceramic tiles are thin enough to be easily cut into desired shapes.
Our ceramic mosaic tiles are perfect for outdoor mosaic projects such as fountains, pools and birdbaths.
Ceramic tile can be cut with an ordinary tile nipper, however ceramic tiles will cut better with our porcelain tile
nipper. It is a hard material.
Ceramic mosaic tiles also work well for indoor projects like wall mosaics.
These are fine porcelain tiles and are water-proof, frost-proof and weatherproof.
Tips for working with unglazed porcelain ceramic
tile:
Ceramic materials are made from thin layers of fired clay, including our tiles, which are made of high-fired unglazed porcelain. Fine unglazed porcelain is long-lasting and water resistant, with a water absorption rate of around 0.5% or less, making it highly durable. Many mosaic artists rely on ceramic as a basic material that they return to over and over, while many beginners choose to start out on ceramic. The wide range of colors and the ease with which they can be cut makes them a staple in mosaic art.
These are a few things to keep in mind when working with our unglazed porcelain tile.
Our porcelain tile is unglazed, so its surface can be stained by grout or a surface haze can result. To preserve the full color of the tile, you should seal your mosaic with tile and grout sealer from the hardware store before grouting. It's easy and inexpensive.
It's best to use a good quality tile sealant, especially if you will be using a grout that is dyed or darker than the tile itself.
For architectural installations, porcelain tile should be installed with a latex-modified thin set mortar instead of glue. This prevents the possibility of moisture seeping through the micro-pores of the porcelain over the years and weakening any glue. For fine-art indoor mosaics, Weldbond glue will do well.
With unglazed tiles, the color goes all the way through the piece, so it'll never wear out. This is what the term "through-body" tile refers to.
Our porcelain tiles are suitable for walls, floors, high traffic areas and wet areas, including standing water.
They have completely squared corners rather then the beveled edge.
Differences between porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles:
Porcelain tiles are typically made with "porcelain" clays. Typically, these tiles are dense and by definition, they have water absorption of 0.5% or less. Non-porcelain tiles have water absorption of less than 0.5%. Because of this, they are usually frost resistant. There are both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles. Glazed porcelain tiles have filled in microscopic holes that could be present in the unglazed tile, thus why they should be sealed before grouting. Glazed is usually a little easier to clean. Unglazed porcelains have better slip resistance.
Non-porcelain tiles come in a wide variety: typically they are glazed and the glaze layer can be extremely durable. However, differences from one glaze to another make them more unpredictable. If using some form of glazed ceramic, it's important to check if the tile has been tested and to make sure the glaze hardness is suitable for your project. In general, non-porcelain ceramic tiles are easier to bond to the floor and usually easier to cut, but they are weaker in the long run and not as enduring. For mosaic artists, the endurance of a piece of art is priority, which is why most serious artists use unglazed. In exchange for their material strength, porcelain tiles are harder to bond and harder to cut than other ceramic tiles.
Here is a color chart that includes most of the standard
colors we offer:
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