Mosaic tiles are small tiles, usually 10 to 50 mm square, glued to mesh sheets so they can be laid in one piece. They are made in glass, porcelain, natural stone and metal, and they turn up on shower floors, splashbacks, feature walls and pool edges. The small size follows curves and slopes, but the many joints take careful grouting. Send us the area, the material and the room, and tile suppliers and tilers quote you directly. The request is free and there is no obligation.
Glass, porcelain, stone and metal
Glass mosaic is bright and reflective and suits splashbacks, feature walls and pools, but the tiles are thin and show the adhesive behind them, so a white adhesive and a flat, even bed are needed. Porcelain mosaic is the most practical choice for floors: it is hard, takes little water and comes in matt, non-slip finishes. Stone mosaic in marble, slate or travertine gives a natural look but needs sealing, like other natural stone. Metal mosaic in stainless steel or aluminium is best kept for dry accents, as some metals tarnish or react with cleaners.
Sheets are usually about 300 x 300 mm, and a sheet covers about 0.09 m², so 11 sheets make a square metre. Sheets from different batches can differ in shade, so order everything together.
Mosaics on shower floors
Mosaics are the classic shower floor tile because the small pieces follow the falls to the drain without having to be cut into awkward wedges. The many grout joints also give grip underfoot. The slope should be about 1:50 to 1:80 and formed in the screed, and the shower must be waterproofed before tiling, with the membrane taken up the walls and into the drain flange. See bathroom tiles for how floors, walls and drains fit together.
Grout is the weak spot of a mosaic floor, because there is so much of it. Use an epoxy grout in showers and wet rooms: it is stain-proof and does not absorb water or grow mould as easily as cement grout.
Laying, cutting and grouting
Mosaic sheets are laid with a small notched trowel, about 6 mm, and pressed or tapped flat with a rubber float so all the tiles sit at one level. Gaps between sheets must match the gaps between tiles, or the join will show as a line. Cut sheets with a tile nipper, a wet saw or an angle grinder with a diamond blade, cutting through the mesh from the back where possible, and wear a dust mask because cutting tile produces silica dust.
- Unsanded grout suits narrow joints under about 3 mm, such as glass mosaic, as sanded grout can scratch the face.
- Epoxy grout is best for wet areas and pools but sets quickly, so tilers work in small sections.
- Clean haze off glass and polished tiles promptly, before it sets.
Prices and what to check
A rough 2026 range is R350 to R1,800 per m² for the tiles, with glass and metal at the top, and R220 to R450 per m² to lay because of the fiddly cutting and grouting. Ask for the price per sheet and per m², the sheet size, and whether the quote includes adhesive, grout and trims. Compare with pool tiles if the mosaic will sit under water.
What to include in your request
- Glass, porcelain, stone or metal
- Where it goes: floor, wall or pool
- Area in m² or the number of sheets
- Epoxy or cement grout wanted
- A photo of the wall or shower
Mosaic Tiles for different projects
- Homeowners renovating: a shower floor, a kitchen splashback or a feature wall in the bathroom
- New builds and extensions: mosaic feature walls and shower floors specified from the plans and ordered once
- Landlords and body corporates: a small mosaic splashback to lift a plain flat without much cost
- Guesthouses, hotels and restaurants: glass and stone mosaics for spa walls, bar fronts and bathroom feature panels
- Shops, offices and showrooms: mosaic panels behind counters and in entrances, in tougher porcelain or stone
- Schools, clinics and public buildings: small non-slip porcelain mosaics for ablution and shower floors in clinics
- Workshops, warehouses and gyms: porcelain mosaics for wash bays and ablutions where a grippy floor matters
- Patios, stoeps and pool areas: frost-rated porcelain and glass mosaic for pool edges, steps and outdoor showers
Frequently asked questions
How many mosaic sheets do I need?
Are mosaic tiles slippery on a shower floor?
Which grout should I use for mosaics?
Can mosaic go over existing tiles?
Mosaic Tiles by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg