Tile with Style: Tile Murals

Tile has been a very popular building material for ages. It is durable, versatile, and, above all, nice to look at. Tile murals take the beauty of tile a step further. Though common in commercial buildings, tile murals are finally making their way into the home with some wonderful results.

Types of Tile Murals
Mosaic tile murals are perhaps the most well known. These murals are made up of different colored tiles that are very small (usually squares that are an inch or less per side). They are arranged in such a manner that, from afar, the tiles form a picture or pattern.

Cracked glass or cracked ceramic tile can be used to make a picture or pattern in much the same way. As the pieces are not uniform, each of these tile murals is one of a kind. While it is certainly possible to hire someone to make one of these for you, many people enjoy making this type of tile mural themselves. The tools and materials needed for this sort of project are easy to use and the concepts involved are not difficult to understand. No one will say that the work isn't a bit tedious, but the end result will truly be an individual expression and inexpensive to boot.

Hand-painted ceramic tile murals are made of larger tile. Color is applied to the tile, then the tile is baked and glazed. The end result is a tile not unlike any you'd find in a store, though the picture is custom. The picture on these tiles will not wash off and will be very fade resistant. Hand-painted marble tiles look very similar, but the color is painted on then glazed over. It doesn't actually get baked into the marble, so the picture can be scraped or removed.

The newest trend in ceramic tile murals is putting a photograph directly onto one or more tiles. Any picture you can produce can now be made into a tile mural using computer technology. The size you want the mural to be is unlimited, and the number of tiles necessary will depend only on how large you want the picture to be. This technology is also being used to put any desired picture onto glass and porcelain as well.

Where Can They Go?
Since tile is durable by design, most tile murals can be put almost anywhere. Though most often found inside in bathrooms or kitchens, tile murals can be found outside on walls, or on garden paths. In most cases, where you put your tile mural is only limited by your imagination.

Tile Mural Prices
Photographic tile and hand painted tile are generally priced by the square foot. If you are looking for a large tile mural, the price will easily be in the thousands. Prices of smaller murals will vary, especially for hand painted tile.

If not done yourself, mosaic and cracked tile works are usually priced on an individual basis. Both are less expensive to make than photographic or hand painted tile, but depending on whom you hire to do the job, the price could be very different. These types of tile murals can sometimes be found already made. If you don't need a custom job, a ready-made mosaic or cracked tile piece can be bought outright and installed wherever you like.

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