We live in a world where we have come from having few options when it comes to décor and what’s available, to a selection that’s broader than the smile of a child who has a mouth full of candy.

Where to go, and what to choose quickly become questions that can take hours to answer. Let Global Stone give you some basic Pro’s and Con’s of each material type so that you can weigh up what will work for you.

Glass

Pro’s: Glass is generally considered a great option for those who like things to be “clean” – let me explain. Clean in the literal sense of being hygienic thanks to its resistance to absorbing bacteria and other substances, while also generally also being visually clean and generally visually calming. This is of course a generalization as many designs are very exciting and the colour options are virtually endless from a manufacture point of view.

Glass is suitable for so many applications that it’s easy to match your backsplash with whichever other surface you decide to clad with mosaic.
Also, glass as material is quite consistent in terms of quality from one retailer to the next, with subtle, but inconsequential differences only.

Con’s:

Glass is a cold, inflexible material that does need to be regularly wiped to look clean. Colour tone matches with tile can be hard to find.

Tip: when searching for a complementary tile for the mosaic, consider using something that suits the style, but it different as it’s quite hard to match the colours exactly if you are going for a monotone look.

See our range of glass mosaics.

Wood

Pros: Wood has great uniqueness, as like a fingerprint, no two are the same. It is full of character, has an ornate sense of warmth and can often be easy to install and well-priced too.

Cons: Using wood for a backsplash generally has “no no” written all over it. However, if there is not going to be a lot of splashing and you are ready for regular maintenance and even replacement, you could possibly consider it.

The good news is that we have also got plenty of wood-look mosaics to choose from.

Metal

Pro’s: Metals are generally quite hardy, hygienic and handsome. Metals tend to have a masculine nature that is confident, outspoken and everlasting. The reflective nature of the material illuminates its surroundings, making a space appear larger than it may be.

Cons: You need to know your metals and how to maintain them if you are even thinking about installing it. Most metals are expensive and often quite hard to source, unless you are Global Stone of course. Damage to the area if often quite noticeable and can ruin the entire backsplash.

Natural Stone

Pro’s: It’s natural, and natural means authentic and unique. No other person on earth will have the same design and natural stone has it’s own sense of royalty in the material world.

Cons: Stone is often porous, which makes it a high maintenance feature in the home. As it get’s wet, it will change colour until the water dries, unless it is sealed regularly.

Porcelain

This is the most obvious choice, and for good reason. There are so many variants – shapes, sizes and colours. Porcelain is produced at fairly affordable rates and is both hygienic and suitable for both floor and wall use. All in all a great choice for any splash back.

So now that you have all the knowledge that you wish for, you can go out and choose the one that’s just right for you.