Bathtub with mosaic: the standard of elegance

Everyone will note that a mosaic bathtub is distinguished by its practicality, elegance and noble finish. On top of that, mosaic tiles have all the benefits of ceramic tiles with greater design potential. This is expressed in the ability to create attractive designs and original finishing options.

What kind of mosaic is there?

Types of mosaics

There are several types of mosaics on the market, which differ from each other in aesthetic and performance characteristics. Most often people buy mosaics:

• glass;
• ceramic;
• from natural stone;
• metal.

Many people choose the latter look, wanting to make their bathroom as original as possible. But it is not suitable for the bathroom due to its high susceptibility to corrosion. Finishing the bathroom with ceramic mosaics has proven itself best. This type of material is very similar to regular tiles and has all its advantages, including:

• strength;
• resistance to damage and chemicals;
• durability;
• attractive appearance.

You can often find mosaics made of natural stone. It is mainly used for finishing floors, since the material is highly durable and resistant to moisture. Since different types of stones can be used in the production process, the material is available in a wide range of prices.

Glass mosaic perfectly withstands direct exposure to water and chemicals. However, it is laid only in places where the mechanical load is not too high.

Main advantages

A bathroom with mosaic tiles has many advantages, due to which the material used is one of the most popular on the market. The main thing is the aesthetic properties that allow you to turn an ordinary bathroom into a unique work of art. The use of plastic and ordinary tiles does not allow for decor such as mosaics.

Mosaic in the interior allows you to ennoble the room. At the same time, the surfaces receive effective protection from exposure to damp environments and the frequency of expensive repair work is significantly reduced. This is achieved thanks to resistance to ultraviolet radiation, high humidity, direct contact with water and aggressive environments. For many years, the material will retain its appearance and will not fade in the sun. And although the process of laying mosaics can hardly be called simple, this building material is one of the highest quality and most practical on the market.

How does installation work?

Preparation of the bridgehead

Every apartment owner knows that a bathroom tiled with mosaics looks perfect. But to obtain an attractive and high-quality finish, the base must be properly prepared. Otherwise, this may lead to a delay in the installation process or poor quality installation.

Walls and floors must be prepared in advance:

1. To level the surfaces, a special screed is used, which requires at least 10 days to dry.
2. For bathroom walls, moisture-resistant plasterboard is sometimes used, which allows you to obtain a flat surface in the shortest possible time.

Let's start laying

A bathroom with mosaic tiles can be one of the most attractive rooms in the home. But for this it is necessary to carry out all the installation work correctly. The installation process is practically no different from laying ordinary tiles, but it is more painstaking and lengthy, since the size of the mosaic is much smaller. Before starting work, you need to stock up on all the necessary tools, including:

• plumb line;
• roulette;
• marking cord,
• level;
• notched spatula;
• interval crosses.

The installation process involves the following steps:

1. Before laying the mosaic on the walls or floor, it is recommended to lay it side by side so that you can see the final picture. For a one-color material, this step can be skipped, but a stretch mosaic for a bathroom (when one color turns into another) or a pattern will turn out to be of better quality if you “practice” in advance.

2. The adhesive solution is applied to the walls in an even layer. Its layer should not exceed 10 mm.
3. Mosaic tiles are being laid.
4. To maintain intervals between individual parts of the mosaic, special plastic crosses are used.
5. The final stage is grouting the joints between the mosaics. It is done only after the adhesive solution has completely dried. For colored options, you should use a special tinting for grouting so that the pattern is solid or to highlight individual elements.
6. After the grout has set, remove excess from the tiles with a rag.

[note]More popular options are when you don’t need to lay out each individual tile - the tile has a mesh or paper backing on the back. This greatly simplifies the installation process. But before you start laying, you should still lay out the pattern without glue on the floor. [/note]

This design of a bathtub with mosaics will have an attractive appearance only if all the requirements of the installation technology are met. If you want to carry out repairs yourself, then you need to correctly carry out all the calculations, select the appropriate mosaic and perform its installation efficiently.

Mosaic care

The issue of caring for a mosaic bathroom deserves special attention. In order for the finish to last as long as possible and delight you for many years, you must follow simple care rules:

1. The first step is to ensure high-quality ventilation of the room. Otherwise, the mosaic, like some other types of finishing materials, will fade due to insufficient air outflow.
2. High air humidity will also lead to the development of fungi and other microorganisms on the seams. The material itself will not be damaged, but moisture will affect the seams, which may soon collapse. To make a mosaic bathtub durable, it is enough to install a hood and periodically wipe the seams with special compounds that prevent the formation of fungi.
3. It is not recommended to use abrasive substances for cleaning. They will have virtually no effect on the performance characteristics, but can seriously damage the appearance of the mosaic. As a result, the tiles will become dull or scratched.

[note]It is recommended to use special care products for polished surfaces, which will preserve the shine of the walls and floor coverings for a long time. [/note]

Whether the mosaic was installed in a small bathroom or a large room, care products should be selected depending on the origin and characteristics of the material. Experts do not recommend using aggressive solutions that effectively remove stains, as they can negatively affect the appearance of the finished surface.

[note]It is best to use soapy water and a soft cloth. This will require more effort, but will preserve the original appearance of the mosaic.[/note]

The mosaic decoration of the bathroom makes this room truly fabulous. Taking water treatments in such a bathroom is simply a pleasure.