XPS Foam-Core Backer Board

XPS Foam-Core Mosaic Backer Board is 1/2-inch foam core backer that has been hand-cut to size. Compare to “wedi®*” brand “wedi® Building Panel”. Dimensions can vary by approximately 1/16-inch. The edges are unfinished cuts, which can be painted with a neutral color of acrylic paint or enclosed by a frame, such as can be made with miter-cut wooden molding.

This material is an expanded polystyrene (XPS) foam laminated front and back with a fibreglass mesh and a very thin layer of polymer-modified cement.

XPS Foam-Core Mosaic Backer Board

  • Material: polystyrene foam laminated with fibreglass mesh and cement
  • Dimensions: as stated
  • Tolerance: within 1/16 inch of nominal dimensions.
  • Thickness: Approximately 1/2 inch, but has texture from the mesh

Backers for Mosaic Art Projects

Using XPS Foam Core Mosaic Backer Board

May irritate skin; wear tiling gloves while handling if you have sensitive skin.

This material is has been rated for use on walls in wet locations such as showers. It should NOT be used in permanently-submerged installations such as pools or bird baths. It should NOT be used for floor-mounted mosaics. Not for commercial installations. We would recommend the smaller cut pieces we sell to be used as plaques for mosaic wall art, or for a light-duty installation like the inset top of a small decorative end table. The main advantages this material has over plywood backers is the lighter weight, and suitability for use in humid environments.

Make sure that your tile doesn’t stick out beyond the edge of the backer, which would make it particularly vulnerable to being knocked loose or chipped by random blows over time.

Indoor Vs Outdoor Mosaics

Outdoors

This material should NOT be used as a base for mosaic stepping stones. It should only be used for wall art or very light-duty applications.

Indoors

Indoor wall-art mosaics can be made using this material instead of plywood to save weight. For dry indoor installations, the tiles can be mounted using a white PVA adhesive such as Weldbond and then grouted. For humid locations or outdoors you should use thinset to adhere tiles to the board.

How To Make Mosaic Art

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

*wedi® is a registered trademark of the ©wedi Corporation and is unaffiliated with Mosaic Art Supply. This product is NOT wedi® Building Panel.

Foam-Core Mosaic Backer Board JM GoBoard

Foam-Core Mosaic Backer Board is 1/2-inch foam core backer manufactured by Johns Manville and branded as “GoBoard” that has been hand-cut to size. Dimensions can vary by approximately 1/16-inch. The edges are unfinished cuts, which can be painted with a neutral color of acrylic paint our enclosed by a frame, such as can be made with miter-cut wooden molding.

The faces of some boards may have small imperfections or printing from the factory, but these will be covered by the mosaic.

Foam-Core Mosaic Backer Board JM GoBoard

  • Material: polyisocyanurate foam laminated with fibreglass facing
  • Dimensions: as stated
  • Tolerance: within 1/16 inch of nominal dimensions.
  • Thickness: Nominally 1/2 inch, exact is 15/32 of an inch

Backers for Mosaic Art Projects

Using Foam-Core Mosaic Backer

May irritate skin; wear nitrile gloves while handling if you have sensitive skin.

This material is more rigid than plywood or MDF and has been rated for use in wet locations such as showers. It should NOT be used in permanently-submerged installations such as pools or bird baths. It should NOT be used for floor-mounted mosaics in areas with even semi-frequent foot traffic, unless you use durable tiles and it is supported with a proper sub-floor. Not for commercial installations. We would recommend the smaller cut pieces we sell to be used as plaques for mosaic wall art, or for a light-duty installation like the inset top of a small decorative end table. The main advantages this material has over plywood backers is the lighter weight, and suitability for use in humid environments.

Make sure that your tile doesn’t stick out beyond the edge of the backer, which would make it particularly vulnerable to being knocked loose or chipped by random blows over time.

Indoor Vs Outdoor Mosaics

Outdoors

This material should NOT be used as a base for mosaic stepping stones. It’s rigid, but not strong enough to be walked on without a proper subfloor beneath it.

Indoors

Indoor wall-art mosaics can be made using this material instead of plywood to save weight. For dry indoor installations, the tiles can be mounted using a white PVA adhesive such as Weldbond and then grouted.

How To Make Mosaic Art

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

ANTIQUE NEUTRALS Iridescent Tile Assortment – 12mm Morjo™ 1-lb

ANTIQUE NEUTRALS Iridescent Assortment is a limited mix of black, white, gray, brown, and cream Morjo Recycled Iridescent 12mm Glass Mosaic Tile. This 1-lb assortment will include about 320+ loose tiles in simple universal neutrals for mosaic details, outdoor decor, backsplash designs, and ornaments.

12mm Morjo Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile

These wonderful tiles cut cleanly into tiny pieces with minimal waste and have an iridescent finish with solid opaque color throughout. Durable and UV-resistant, they make fantastic material for commercial building exteriors and other architectural applications. This recycled tile product is manufactured by fusing powdered recycled glass in a process known as “warm glass,” “enamel glass,” or “pate de verre.”

ANTIQUE NEUTRALS Iridescent Assortment 12mm Glass Tile 1-lb

  • tile size: ~1/2 inch (12mm)
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm), but runs slightly thicker than most other brands nominally 4mm. Can be used in the same mosaics.
  • sales unit: 1 pound, which is approximately 320+ LOOSE pieces.
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • finish: iridized
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

One pound (~320 tiles) covers 91 square inches or 0.6 square feet assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. You need about 508 tiles (1.6 pounds) to cover one square foot assuming a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. You need about 645 tiles (2 pounds) for a square foot assuming no grout gap. Use our tile estimator to calculate how much you need for your grouted project. Use a mounting grid to plan and design.

Compatibility

With a NOMINAL industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm), 12mm Morjo glass tile combines well with most mosaic tile.

Cutting Morjo 12mm Glass Mosaic Tile

Morjo Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile cuts easily with clean edges using a pair of Mosaic Glass Cutters.

Use in Mosaic Art

Create decorative iridescent accents and borders, or make outdoor decor, backsplash designs, and gifts with the simple universal neutral palette of Antique Neutrals. The size and quality of 12mm Morjo glass tile renders small detailed images and large scale works with equal versatility.

Sun-Faded Flag 12mm U-Mix [01+47+74]

Sun-Faded Flag 12mm U-Mix [01+47+74] Mosaic Tile Assortment is a bundle of 3 tile colors (0.55 lb each) that you mix yourself to create an assortment. You receive 3 bags of mosaic tile (approx 175 pieces per bag), adding up to over 500 tiles total. This amount covers approximately 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. The numbers in the assortment name indicate each color in the mix. These assortments come as separate individual colors so that artists can tweak the ratios while mixing or arranging in gradients to create unique results.

Colors included: 01-White, 47-Fiery Orange, and 74-Ultramarine Blue. Shop individual 12mm glass mosaic tile colors here.

3-Color U-Mix 12mm Mosaic Tile Assortment

  • tile size: 12mm (~1/2 inch)
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm). Compatible with other brands.
  • sales unit: (3) 1/2-lb bags of individual colors
  • yield: 1.65-lb assortment, 500+ tiles.
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

The complete 1.65-lb tile assortment covers about 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

These recycled glass tiles have a nominal industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm) and therefore can combine with most other tile types and brands.

Cutting Morjo 12mm Glass Mosaic Tile

Morjo Recycled Glass Tile cuts like butter into tiny pieces using a pair of Mosaic Glass Cutters. You can make tiny cubes without a lot slivers or cutting waste. This makes them ideal for mini mosaics or rendering small details in larger work. See our square coasters for a mini mosaic base!

Making Mosaic Art with U-Mix Assortments

U-Mix tile assortments give artists the unique option to customize their color blend between 3 separate colors. They provide an inspiring range of mosaic color palettes including landscape, monochromatic, pastel, and colorful themes to start a new project.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page, the How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Porcelain Doll 12mm U-Mix [01+02+76]

Porcelain Doll 12mm U-Mix [01+02+76] Mosaic Tile Assortment is a bundle of 3 tile colors (0.55 lb each) that you mix yourself to create an assortment. You receive 3 bags of mosaic tile (approx 175 pieces per bag), adding up to over 500 tiles total. This amount covers approximately 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. The numbers in the assortment name indicate each color in the mix. These assortments come as separate individual colors so that artists can tweak the ratios while mixing or arranging in gradients to create unique results.

Colors included: 01-White, 02-Warm Fog White, and 76-Cyan Blue T4. Shop individual 12mm glass mosaic tile colors here.

3-Color U-Mix 12mm Mosaic Tile Assortment

  • tile size: 12mm (~1/2 inch)
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm). Compatible with other brands.
  • sales unit: (3) 1/2-lb bags of individual colors
  • yield: 1.65-lb assortment, 500+ tiles.
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

The complete 1.65-lb tile assortment covers about 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

These recycled glass tiles have a nominal industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm) and therefore can combine with most other tile types and brands.

Cutting Morjo 12mm Glass Mosaic Tile

Morjo Recycled Glass Tile cuts like butter into tiny pieces using a pair of Mosaic Glass Cutters. You can make tiny cubes without a lot slivers or cutting waste. This makes them ideal for mini mosaics or rendering small details in larger work. See our square coasters for a mini mosaic base!

Making Mosaic Art with U-Mix Assortments

U-Mix tile assortments give artists the unique option to customize their color blend between 3 separate colors. They provide an inspiring range of mosaic color palettes including landscape, monochromatic, pastel, and colorful themes to start a new project.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page, the How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Nymphaea Dorata 12mm U-Mix [01+43+96]

Nymphaea Dorata 12mm U-Mix [01+43+96] Mosaic Tile Assortment is a bundle of 3 yellow-green tile colors (0.55 lb each) that you mix yourself to create an assortment. You receive 3 bags of mosaic tile (approx 175 pieces per bag), adding up to over 500 tiles total. This amount covers approximately 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch. The numbers in the assortment name indicate each color in the mix. These assortments come as separate individual colors so that artists can tweak the ratios while mixing or arranging in gradients to create unique results.

Colors included: 01-white, 43-yellow, and 96-forest green. Shop individual 12mm glass mosaic tile colors here.

3-Color U-Mix 12mm Mosaic Tile Assortment

  • tile size: 12mm (~1/2 inch)
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm). Compatible with other brands.
  • sales unit: (3) 1/2-lb bags of individual colors
  • yield: 1.65-lb assortment, 500+ tiles.
  • material: glass
  • variety: recycled glass
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

The complete 1.65-lb tile assortment covers about 1 square foot with a standard grout gap of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

These recycled glass tiles have a nominal industry-standard thickness of 1/8 inch (4mm) and therefore can combine with most other tile types and brands.

Cutting Morjo 12mm Glass Mosaic Tile

Morjo Recycled Glass Tile cuts like butter into tiny pieces using a pair of Mosaic Glass Cutters. You can make tiny cubes without a lot slivers or cutting waste. This makes them ideal for mini mosaics or rendering small details in larger work. See our square coasters for a mini mosaic base!

Making Mosaic Art with U-Mix Assortments

U-Mix tile assortments give artists the unique option to customize their color blend between 3 separate colors. They provide an inspiring range of mosaic color palettes including landscape, monochromatic, pastel, and colorful themes to start a new project.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on making mosaic art, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page, the How To Mosaic blog, or our Mosaic Information Guide.