Pebble Mosaics and Borders

Where can I put pebble mosaics?

Shower Floors

Multicolor pebble shower pan with dark grout

The most popular location for pebble mosaics is on shower floors.


Pebbles on a shower floor? That sounds bumpy and uncomfortable.


Some homeowners like the little pebble foot massage every morning. If that's not for you, there are several flat pebble mosaics where the pebbles have been cut and honed for a smoother surface.


You can usually tell how the pebbles will feel on your feet by laying your hand palm-down and flat upon the pebbles and applying pressure, keeping in mind that your feet are less sensitive than your hands. 

How easy is it to clean/maintain pebble mosaics?

Clean-ability depends on a number of factors: the texture and shape of the pebbles, the mineral composition of the pebbles, and the grout used with the pebbles. 



With a good sealer and a stone-friendly cleaner, day-to-day maintenance should be easy and worry-free.

What are the pebbles made of?

Travertine Pebbles

If the pebbles are made out of a calcium-based stone (for example, travertine, limestone, or onyx), they're susceptible to acidic damage and should be cleaned with either a soapy, neutral cleaner or a stone-specific cleaner such as Kleen & Reseal, which adds a bit of sealer with each cleaning. Avoid all-natural cleaners that have lemon juice or vinegar bases and harsh, calcium-eroding cleaners like Scrubbing Bubbles or bleach. Seal your pebbles with a penetrating sealer.

Olive green pebbles

If the pebbles are standard beach pebbles (most pebble mosaics), they are not acid-sensitive and you can use many common cleaners without harming the pebbles. However, a harsh or strong chemical cleaner will strip the sealer from your pebbles, allowing potential stains or discoloration. We recommend Kleen & Reseal to protect your pebbles and sealer. Seal your pebbles with a penetrating sealer.

If you have a specialty material, such as porcelain or metallic pebbles, you probably do not need to seal your pebbles. Porcelain and stainless steel mosaics are very easy to clean and maintain; you can use almost any household cleaner on them. Your primary concern is grout maintenance.

What type of grout did you use?

Cement-based grout needs to be sealed and can be bleached/discolored by certain cleaners. Learn more on our cement grout page.


Pre-mixed and epoxy grouts don't need to be sealed and are fairly low maintenance; they're perfect for porcelain pebbles. Learn more on our grout maintenance page.

How flush are your grout joints?

In the grouting process, after you push the grout in with your grout float, you wipe away excess grout with a grout sponge. In this clean up stage, if you only use a light touch, less grout will be removed and your grout joints will be closer to the top of your pebbles. If you are more aggressive with your cleaning, you will wipe away more grout and your grount joints will be deeper. 


Deep grout joints are not a bad thing; they add definition and depth to the installation and will reveal more surface area of round pebbles. But it will take a little bit more scrubbing to get into the grout joints and clean them out. This does not necessarily mean that extra soap scum will build up in your grout joints or that they will get dirtier faster. In fact, the little grout canals allow the water to efficiently flow towards the drain.

Create a Custom Pebble Design

All of the pebble mosaics come mounted on mesh sheets, and the individual pebbles can easily be peeled off the sheet to create custom patterns or shapes.


We also have a supplier for bulk loose pebbles if you're really ambitious! Talk one-on-one with a Tile Lines designer and we can make your pebble mosaic dreams come true!


Schedule a free in-store design consultation today.


Pebbles & Fish: A Beautiful Combination

Incorporate one of our custom salmon-shaped tiles into your pebble installation for an organic-looking pebble stream. 


This popular option is perfect for a natural, rustic home or a whimsical contemporary design. 

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