In situ
Pool and spa work
A pool is the one place where a mosaic is walked on, submerged in chlorinated water and left outside in the sun for decades. The material has to be right before the design is even discussed.
Vitreous glass mosaic has been the standard pool-lining material for over a century and for good reason. It does not absorb water, so it does not freeze and spall in winter. It is unaffected by chlorine, bromine or salt systems. It does not fade under UV. And because each tessera is bedded individually, it tolerates the thermal and structural movement of a pool shell better than large-format tile — the joints flex rather than crack.
\n| Zone | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pool interior — walls and floor | Vitreous glass tesserae, epoxy or pool-grade cementitious adhesive, epoxy grout |
| Waterline band | Glass, typically in a contrasting colour; the most visually exposed metre of the pool |
| Surround and deck | Slip-rated stone or glass mosaic (R11 or better) — do not use smooth gloss glass where people walk barefoot |
| Exterior wall alongside the pool | Frost-proof glass or natural stone; the same detail work as an interior mural |
One safety point worth repeating: polished glass is not a deck material. If the mosaic continues out of the water onto the surround, we specify a slip-rated finish or switch to stone for the walking surface.
Underwater distortion, refraction and the movement of the surface change how a design is read. Three practical rules:
\nTypical commissioned work includes water-lily and lotus floors, coral and reef scenes, wave and current motifs, illuminated infinity-edge features, spa medallions, and freeform backyard pools where the mosaic follows the shell’s own shape.
\nYes. Vitreous glass is unaffected by salt chlorination. The critical items are the adhesive and grout — both must be specified for the water chemistry, and we issue that specification with the mosaic.
Frost-proof glass mosaic does, provided the pool is correctly constructed with proper drainage and the shell is not subject to ground movement. This is the standard lining method for outdoor pools in cold climates.
Yes. Send a dimensioned plan of the shell, or a surveyed drawing. Freeform and kidney shapes are where a cut mosaic outperforms any modular system, because everything is cut to fit rather than cut to a grid.
Yes, and we will advise where to use glass and where to switch to a slip-rated stone. The aesthetic can be continuous while the friction underfoot changes with the zone.
Send us your artwork and wall size — get a free custom mosaic design plan and quotation within 24 hours.