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Mosaics Comparison Table

Mosaic Types	Glass	Ceramic	Marble/Granite	Nusantara
Backing	Plastic or fiberglass mesh or a composite paper sheet on the surface of the mosaic acts to hold the pieces in place. After application, paper sheet is removed and discarded. The sheets are not reusable or recyclable.	Primary backing is woven fiberglass mesh.	Primary backing is woven fiberglass, plastic or metal mesh.	PVC coated fiberglass mesh.
Backing Adhesive	Rubber cement is used to adhere the mosaic pieces to the mesh. In the case of paper, the adhesive is part of surface paper fronting the tile material.	A variety of adhesives are used to adhere ceramic pieces to mesh. Backing types of adhesives are polymer adhesives, rubber cement or catalyzed polyvinyl acetate.	A variety of adhesives are used to adhere stone to mesh backing types of adhesives are polymer adhesives, rubber cement or catalyzed polyvinyl acetate.	Rubber cement manufactured in Surabaya, Indonesia
Substrate	Wood, concrete or mortar are the dominant materials used as a base for mosaic tile applications.	Wood, concrete or mortar	Wood, concrete or mortar	Wood, concrete or mortar
Mosaic to Substrate	Thinset applied to the substrate with 3/15 inch trowel. The mosaic must be back buttered with a thin layer of thinset. Recommended brand - Tec's Superflex latex-modified thinset, TA-393	Mastic or thinset bonding mortar applied with a trowel to the thickness required for the mosaic to be installed	Thinset bonding mortar applied with a trowel to the thickness required for the mosaic to be installed	A flexible adhesive should be applied with a 12 x 12mm notched trowel. We recommend Nusantara Stone Products be pre sealed before grouting.
Grout	Grout between tile pieces and seams. Amount of grout varies due to design of mosaic sheet. Some tile pieces are small and widely spaced and others are more tightly spaced.	Grout is primarily concrete filler used to keep individual mosaic pieces in place.	Grout is primarily concrete filler used to keep individual mosaic pieces in place.	Nusantara recommends Albacor Wide Joint, mixed with ABA Grout booster and clean water at a ratio of 1:1
Sealant	Any commercial water or solvent based sealant can be used on grout. Glass mosaic surface does not require sealing.	Both solvent and water based sealants are used to resist water absorption and protect both the surface of the stone and the grout.	Both solvent and water-based sealants are used to resist water absorption and protect both the surface of the stone and the grout.	We recommend a water based sealant, however installers have their own preferences.
Thickness	Glass mosaics come in thickness from ¼ to 1 inch.	Ceramic tiles are from ¼ to ¾ inch thick.	Stone tiles are from 1/3 to 1 inch thick.	Beachstones, cut stones and Terra Cotta are between 1/3 to ½ inch thick.

Conclusion:

All mosaics share a number of common characteristics.

They are composed of several small pieces of material such as stone, glass and ceramics.
These small pieces are adhered by glue, rubber cement or other common adhesives to a backing that holds the piece together until applied to a floor or wall surface.
A substrate of wood, concrete or mortar is used as a base for holding and supporting the mosaic piece to the wall or floor.
An adhesive such as mastic or thinset is used to affix the mosaic sheet to the substrate.
A grout is applied to fill the spaces between individual pieces within the ceramic tile and the seams around each mosaic sheet.
A sealer is used to protect and water proof the grout and in the case of porous materials such a marble, granite, travertine, limestone and terra cotta to seal and protect them from moisture.

Research into the mosaics industry and its manufacturing process indicates little difference between Nusantara Mosaics and the traditional market in regards to the individual product components.

The main difference is in Nusantara’s use of a very flexible mesh backing that allows for easy installation on curved or contoured surfaces. The backing can be cut with scissors to fit around plumbing and bathroom fixtures. This feature provided architects and designers with far more creative latitude and installers with an easier material with which to work.

When the installation is complete, Nusantara compares favourably to other mosaics in regards to the amount of substrate, adhesive and grout used. In the case of close fitting pieces such as some ceramic mosaics, less grout will be used. With some thicker pieces of marble or granite mosaics more grout will be used.

Nusantara Mosaics have neither a clear advantage nor disadvantage in offsetting environmental costs over competitive mosaic products in the category of material components