Glass mosaic
Glass has a translucent, jewel-like depth: light goes into the chip and back out, so the pool shimmers as the water moves. Glass pool mosaics usually come as blends of several shades on one sheet, often with some marbled or speckled pieces, which makes the water look lively and hides small marks. See the Paradise glass blends.
Porcelain mosaic
Glazed porcelain gives one solid, even colour, in gloss or matt. It suits pools with a clean, modern look, colour-matched steps and waterline bands, and designs that mix mosaic with larger tiles in the same colour. The Color2 range comes in 21 colours across several tile sizes, with selected colours also in mosaic.
Side by side
- Look: glass shimmers and blends; porcelain is solid and even.
- Colour: glass mostly comes in mixed blends; porcelain in single colours you can match across sizes.
- Finish: glass is glossy; porcelain comes in gloss or matt.
- Laying: both come as sheets that follow curves. Check the sheet backing is rated for use under water: not every mosaic backing is, which is why some mosaics are sold for walls and pool surrounds only. Glass needs a white adhesive, because the adhesive colour shows through translucent chips.
Which should you choose?
If you want the water to sparkle and change through the day, choose glass. If you want a precise, solid colour, a matching waterline or a mix of mosaic and larger tiles, choose porcelain. Either way, order a sample and look at it in water first.