What is a mosaic tile installation? Tiles with a plaster or mortar background and colorful pieces of glass and stone embedded on them are called mosaic tiles. Mosaic tile is any combination of tile sizes, colors, shapes and/or materials. They can be ceramic, porcelain, glass, natural stone and even metal or mirror, set randomly or in a pattern. While mosaic styles can range from simple to complex, these artistic creations nearly always feature repeating shapes or sets of shapes.

Mosaic tiles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and that’s what makes them harder to manufacture. Sometimes mosaic may be pricier than a natural stone backsplash, simply because it was more difficult to produce it. Most mosaic tiles use high-end glass and marble and most are hand-cut. Mosaic tiles are smaller than other tiles, and they require a type of grout that won’t damage their surface when you apply it.