• Usually ¼” thick and available in 12 x 12” sheets

• sizes of individual tiles can vary from 1/2x1/2" to 4x4" 

• Shapes of tiles vary from squares to hexagons

• Can be made of ceramic, glass, or stone

• Commonly arranged in a decorative design to create a pattern or image.

• Can be used on walls, floors, showers, and a variety of other applications as well as different rooms throughout the house.

Organization:

Ceramic Tile Foundation https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/

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The American Ceramic Society

https://ceramics.org/

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Production:

• Ceramic Mosaic tiles are made of clay mined from the earth

• The clay and coloring materials are mixed together with water into a paste and pressed or formed into the preferred shape 

• Once formed the tiles are commonly glazed and fired to the preferred style

• Mosaic tiles come in sheets held together by a mesh backing

• To apply mosaic tiles, a joint compound or thin-set is applied first then the sheet of tile is pressed down

• The tiler must  tamp down the tile to be sure it has fully adhered to the surface and each tile is even with the others

• Grout is then applied across the surface to seal the spaces between the tiles

Maintenance:

• After installation, there will be excess grout and joint compound that can cause roughness and scratching so the surface must be wiped down to clean off the excess

• Be sure not to use acidic cleaners, as that can cause discoloration in the tiles

• Routine cleaning includes simple wiping with a mild detergent and soft cloth to avoid scratches and fading

The firing process uses high amounts of fuel and shipping costs can be prohibitive

Environmental costs can be decreased by using grog in the process 

Many mosaic tiles can be made using glass and are often made of recycled materials