Mosaics are one of the most durable art mediums known to exist. Its use of natural stone or mosaic glass means it can withstand harsh environmental conditions and last for centuries. If you’re fortunate to have mosaics in your home, you too will want them to last, and in this feature, Mozaico offers some tips on how to do it.
Recently, some researchers at the Università di Napoli L’Orientale in Naples uncovered a 2,000-year-old hall, and one of the most striking aspects of their discovery was its Mosaic floor. Two millennia later, the passion for this exquisite art form is still with us.
However, the correct care is needed to ensure that any Mosaic art in a home continues to preserve its colours and shines for decades to come. For this guide, Mozaico, the artisan makers of the highest-quality mosaics, have shared with us some simple tips on how to clean and maintain mosaics, ensuring they will look their best and, equally important, will last.
Yearly Maintenance
With time and interaction with the mosaic, the grout may lose its primary look and become duller, and the stone colour may change too, which can affect the general aesthetic of the piece. Inspecting the mosaic at least once a year to determine any damage or tessera loss and refresh the grout is advisable.
“Many mosaic owners think you only need to grout it once — when it is being installed. However, mosaic art can benefit greatly from annual grout refresh and sealing. You may want to do it every six months for high foot-traffic areas or such places as the shower. We recommend using the acetone-based solution to remove any glue excess on natural stone mosaics.
A general rule of thumb is to perform yearly maintenance of your mosaic by applying a 2-in-1 stone colour enhancer and sealer to preserve the mosaic. By sealing your mosaic tiles, you will prevent the penetration of spills, dirt and, most importantly, mop water from soaking into the grout,” shares Chady Tawil, CEO at Mozaico.
Deep Cleaning and Service
Once in a while, even the most durable materials need full maintenance to protect their beauty. This especially applies to floor mosaics located in high-foot-traffic areas.
Depending on the state of the mosaic, it might require a thorough cleaning, regrouting, or even replacing any missing parts.
“Mosaic art is very resilient and resistant to normal wear and tear that happens during its lifecycle. To make sure it serves you for a long time, make it a habit to deep clean and regrout it once every few years.
Once a decade should be enough if the mosaic is not in a high foot-traffic area. Remove the old grout completely with a grout removing tool and replace it with a new one matching the colour palette of your mosaics — and it will look as fresh and new as it was when you first installed it,” concludes Tawil.
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