There are two ways to tile a pool in Mallorca, and both are right. The question is not which material is better, but what you are asking of your pool: whether it has curves or straight lines, whether you want the water to read deep blue or sand, whether the terrace floor should continue inside or stop at the edge.

This guide compares glass mosaic and porcelain against checkable criteria, so you reach the decision with the questions already answered.

What each material is

Glass mosaic

Glass mosaic comes in small tesserae — usually 2.5 cm a side — held together on mesh or paper-faced sheets so they can be laid in panels. Because the pieces are small, the sheet folds: it climbs a Roman step, turns a tight radius and resolves an organic shape without forced cuts.

Glass does not absorb water. That is its starting advantage in a shell that stays full all year. In exchange, it multiplies the grout surface, and the grout becomes the critical part of the assembly.

At Ezarri we work with mosaic made from recycled glass, with collections such as 50mm — tesserae four times larger than the usual 25 mm — Aquarelle, with soft anti-slip textures, and Gemma, with a gloss finish and distinctive veining. At Onix and Mosaico+ you will find other mosaic families for water and wet areas.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a ceramic tile pressed and fired at high temperature until the body is very dense. For pools you want the kind that declares a water absorption of 0.5 % or less and is expressly rated for permanent immersion: not all porcelain is.

Its logic is the opposite of mosaic: few pieces, few joints, continuous surfaces. In a rectangular shell the result is clean and quiet, and it lets you carry the same material — or its outdoor version — out to the beach area and the terrace.

At Rosa Gres you will find collections made for pools and terraces, such as Trésor — Bali, in turquoise tones, and Java, volcanic — or Mistery, whose Blue Stone is described as «perfect for terraces thanks to its resistance and excellent anti-slip finish». Also Sophy, with anti-slip, low-maintenance surfaces, plus Cuore and Coral in a light Mediterranean range.

Head to head

Zone by zone: where each one fits

The decision is rarely «all mosaic» or «all porcelain». Combining them is the norm:

• Inside the shell, with curves or a Roman step. Glass mosaic. This is where its ability to fold makes the difference.
• Inside the shell, rectangular. Either. Immersion-rated porcelain gives a more continuous finish; mosaic gives more depth of colour.
• Coping and edge. Specific trim pieces, with a rounded nose and an anti-slip finish.
• Beach area and terrace. Anti-slip outdoor porcelain. Mosaic does not compete here: you want broad surfaces, easy cleaning and comfort underfoot.
• Steps and level changes. They should be legible. A change of tone or texture helps more than any signage.

If you like the idea of the terrace floor continuing indoors, we cover it in our guide to the same floor inside and out.

The three things that actually decide it

Water absorption

This is the figure that separates a suitable tile from an unsuitable one. It appears on the data sheet as water absorption and must be 0.5 % or less for permanent immersion. The glass in mosaic does not absorb, so the question only applies to porcelain. Learning to read that figure — and the rest — is more useful than it sounds: we explain it in how to read a tile data sheet.

Slip resistance

Inside the shell it matters less; around it, it comes first. In barefoot, wet areas the usual reference is R11 and Class 3. It is a declared value, not an impression: if it is not on the data sheet, do not assume it. We have a dedicated guide to which anti-slip class a pool needs.

The grout

This is where the service life of the finish is decided, and where the budget is most often underestimated. Grout and adhesive must be rated for permanent immersion and compatible with the water treatment — chlorine or salt chlorination. Excellent mosaic with the wrong grout ages badly; perfect porcelain over a shell that moves does too.

We sell and advise on the material; the installation is your fitter’s job. What we can give you is everything they need to know in order to specify the right system: you can pass on our guide to laying porcelain floor tiles.

The water colour changes with the finish

This is the part that surprises people most. Water has no colour: it reflects the shell. A white finish gives a very pale, almost crystalline blue; sand gives green-turquoise tones; grey or black give depth and the look of a still sheet of water.

It is worth settling the colour before the material, because it shapes the choice more than you would expect. We go into it in what colour your pool water will look, and in the specific case of Trésor Bali by Rosa Gres.

What you will find at Gomila

In our Palma showroom you can see and handle both families before deciding: glass mosaic from Ezarri, Onix and Mosaico+, and pool and outdoor porcelain from Rosa Gres, among other brands in our porcelain flooring and mosaic catalogue.

We work with private clients and with professionals across Mallorca, advising on formats, finishes, trim pieces and material compatibility. If you already have the shell measurements or the project drawings, get in touch and we will go through it with you.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for a pool, glass mosaic or porcelain?
It depends on the geometry. For shells with curves, a Roman step or organic shapes, glass mosaic adapts better. For rectangular shells and continuous finishes, immersion-rated porcelain gives a cleaner result and lets the same floor continue onto the terrace. Combining the two — mosaic inside, porcelain outside — is very common.

Can I use ordinary porcelain in a pool?
No. Only porcelain with a water absorption of 0.5 % or less and expressly rated by the manufacturer for permanent immersion. Indoor porcelain is not designed to sit submerged continuously or to withstand chlorine or salt chlorination.

What slip resistance does a pool edge need?
In barefoot, wet areas the usual reference is R11 and Class 3. It is a value declared on the product data sheet and worth checking before you choose, especially for the beach area, coping and steps.

Does glass mosaic need more maintenance than porcelain?
It has more grout surface, so the grout is the thing to watch. With a grout rated for permanent immersion and compatible with the water treatment, maintenance is perfectly reasonable. Porcelain, with fewer joints, makes cleaning simpler.

Can I use the same material in the shell and on the terrace?
You can use the same collection in different finishes: the immersion-rated one inside the shell and the anti-slip outdoor version on the beach area. That is the usual way to get visual continuity without giving up grip.

Where can I buy pool mosaic and porcelain in Mallorca?
At Gomila Cerámica in Palma de Mallorca. We have a showroom with glass mosaic and with pool and outdoor porcelain, and we advise on formats, finishes and trim pieces for private clients and professionals across the island.

There is a moment, around midday, when the water in a pool stops being transparent and becomes colour. That colour — Caribbean turquoise, deep blue, lagoon green — almost never comes from the water itself. It comes from what lies beneath. And few materials decide it as precisely as glass mosaic, laid tessera by tessera across the shell.

In this guide we explain what glass mosaic actually is, how it differs from porcelain, which formats and finishes exist, how to choose the water tone you have in mind, and why it ages well even in salt-water pools.

What is glass mosaic?

Glass mosaic — often called gresite in Spain — is made of small pressed-glass tesserae, usually 2.5 × 2.5 cm, mounted on mesh sheets that are laid side by side until they cover the entire pool shell, including curved corners, steps and the overflow channel.

Unlike a large tile, mosaic works through the fragmentation of light: each tessera reflects the sun at a slightly different angle, and that vibration is what gives the water its living, shifting quality — something a continuous surface cannot quite reproduce.

At Gomila we work with glass mosaic by Ezarri, a manufacturer specialising in pool mosaic, with plain ranges, colour blends and anti-slip series.

Glass mosaic vs. porcelain: which one for my pool?

There is no absolute winner — there are two different ways of understanding a pool.

If you picture luminous turquoise water and a pool with soft shapes, glass mosaic is your material. If you want continuity between the interior of the house and the terrace, with a stone or wood finish, look at our anti-slip porcelain and stoneware options for outdoor use.

And if you are still choosing the material before the colour, our guide to the best ceramic tiles for pools compares the three families — anti-slip porcelain, stone-effect stoneware and mosaic — alongside the collections we carry.

Water colour, by mosaic tone

This is the decision that generates the most excitement — and the most doubt. The colour of the tessera is not the colour of the water: water deepens and cools it. As a guide:

• Whites and sands → very pale, crystalline sky-blue water; the hotel look.
• Light blues and turquoises → the Caribbean classic, luminous and transparent.
• Greens and beige/pinks → green, lagoon-like tones that settle the pool into the garden.
• Greys, dark blues and blacks → deep, mirrored water; elegant and contemporary.

Ezarri’s blends combine several tesserae on a single sheet to produce a background with life in it, one that never reads as flat. We develop the subject with more examples in our guide what colour will my pool water be?

And if you want to see mosaic beyond the pool — in bathrooms, kitchens or wellness areas — we cover it in full in our guide to glass and ceramic mosaic.

Anti-slip, salt water and durability

Three technical reasons why glass mosaic remains a pool standard:

• Anti-slip. There are mosaic series with a specific anti-slip finish for steps, beach entries and walkways, without giving up colour.
• Salt water and saline chlorination. Glass is non-porous, so it stands up particularly well to the chemical demands of salt water and saline chlorination systems, which are increasingly common.
• Colour stability. Being pressed glass, the colour does not fade with sun or use; the surface holds its tone season after season.

How it is installed (and why the detail matters)

Glass mosaic is supplied in mesh sheets that the installer lays over the already waterproofed shell, using adhesive and grout suited to pool conditions. Two details shape the final result:

1. The grout colour, which can reinforce or soften the tone of the mosaic.
2. The setting-out on curves and steps, where the small tessera shows its greatest advantage.

This is specialist installation work: at Gomila we advise you on the material and the formats, and put you in touch with the right channel.

In short

Glass mosaic is the material that turns a pool into that pool: the one with nuanced water, the one that changes with the light of day. Choose the colour with the water tone you imagine in mind, consider an anti-slip series for walkways, and if your pool runs on salt water you will gain peace of mind.

👉 Discover glass mosaic by Ezarri and the rest of our pool solutions at gomila-ceramica.com.

Frequently asked questions

• Is gresite the same as glass mosaic? Yes. Gresite is the common Spanish name for glass mosaic: small glass tesserae mounted on mesh, used above all to line swimming pools.
• What colour will the water be with glass mosaic? It depends on the tile colour: whites give a very pale sky-blue; blues and turquoises the Caribbean classic; greens and beiges lagoon tones; greys and darks a deep, mirrored water. Water always deepens and cools the tone of the tile slightly.
• Is glass mosaic anti-slip? There are mosaic series with an anti-slip finish designed for steps and walkways, colour-matched to the rest of the collection so the surface stays continuous.
• Does glass mosaic cope with salt water? Yes. Glass is non-porous, so it withstands saline chlorination and salt water well — both common in pools today.
• Glass mosaic or porcelain for my pool? Glass mosaic gives depth and sparkle and adapts to curved shapes; porcelain offers a more matt, natural look, ideal for straight lines and for continuity with the terrace. It depends on the style of water and pool you are after.
• Where can I see pool mosaic in Mallorca? At Gomila Cerámica in Palma we work with glass mosaic by Ezarri and other pool solutions. You can browse the catalogue and options at gomila-ceramica.com.

Anti-slip pool flooring outdoors needs Class 3 (Rd > 45 under UNE-ENV 12633) across every barefoot, wet-tread zone, which corresponds to an R11 ramp finish. That is the level building codes require for the perimeter, the coping and the shallow parts of the basin. Inside the basin, the reference material is glass mosaic such as Ezarri; on the deck and coping, technical porcelain from Inalco MDi or Keope in 20 mm thickness. This guide shows you how to read the slip rating, where each class applies, and what actually withstands chlorine, salts and frost.

Why does a pool edge demand Class 3 / R11?

A pool edge stacks up the three worst conditions for slipping: standing water, bare feet and a surface that often tilts toward the basin. Building regulations rank these zones as Class 3, the highest tier — slip resistance Rd above 45, measured with the friction pendulum under UNE-ENV 12633. In the trade that level is labelled R11 (DIN 51130 ramp test). Rd (pendulum) and R (ramp) are separate tests measuring the same property. R11 is the sensible minimum for coping, steps and entry; on steep falls, step up to R12.

What’s the difference between the deck and the basin?

Two environments, two materials. The deck and coping face splashing water, direct sun and barefoot traffic — large-format, 20 mm anti-slip porcelain. The basin sits permanently submerged and in constant contact with treatment chemicals — a watertight, chemically inert glass mosaic that bends around curves and steps. On the deck and shallow areas under 1.50 m (where a person stands), Class 3 is required; the deep submerged zone needs watertightness rather than grip. See our pools page.

Why is Ezarri mosaic the standard for the basin?

Because glass neither absorbs water nor reacts with chlorine. Ezarri glass mosaic has near-zero absorption, shrugs off salts, chlorine and pH swings without fading, and its tessera format clads coves, steps and overflow channels without forced cuts. For stand-up areas — steps, interior beach, shallow floors — Ezarri offers dedicated anti-slip series reaching Class 3 without giving up the glass finish. Browse Ezarri.

Will any porcelain do for the coping and deck?

No. You need technical, rectified porcelain in 20 mm with a declared anti-slip finish. That 20 mm slab carries more than four times the breaking strength of a conventional 8–10 mm tile — laid on pedestals, over gravel or glued down, taking point loads without cracking. Inalco MDi or Keope in 20 mm deliver water absorption ≤ 0.5%, frost and thermal-shock resistance, UV colour stability, and R11 surfaces cleared for the wet bare foot, resisting chlorine and salts. Find them at Inalco MDi and Keope, within porcelain flooring.

How do you read the slip classification?

Two systems run in parallel. The building-code system (UNE-ENV 12633) sorts floors into Classes 0–3 by the pendulum Rd value; an outdoor pool needs Class 3 (Rd > 45). The German ramp system uses R for shod testing (DIN 51130: R9–R13) and classes A/B/C for the wet bare foot (DIN 51097). A good pool porcelain declares Class 3, R11 and barefoot class C at once.

Conclusion

Anti-slip pool flooring done properly isn’t one decision but two: Class 3 / R11 across everything walked on wet and barefoot — coping, deck and stand-up areas of the basin — plus a watertight glass mosaic like Ezarri for the rest of the pool. At Gomila we stock both families and help you read each technical sheet so the declared class matches what your Mallorca project actually requires.

Frequently asked questions

• What slip class does an outdoor pool floor need? Class 3 (UNE-ENV 12633), Rd > 45; in ramp terms, R11. Applies to perimeter, coping and stand-up basin areas.
• Are R11 and Class 3 the same thing? Not exactly — two tests, same property. Class 3 = pendulum (Rd > 45), legal reference; R11 = DIN 51130 ramp. An R11 tile clears the Class 3 threshold.
• Can I use the same material in the basin and on the deck? Not ideal: basin = watertight glass mosaic (Ezarri); deck/coping = 20 mm porcelain R11.
• Does porcelain withstand chlorine and salts? Yes: ≤ 0.5% absorption, practically impermeable and chemically stable; resists frost, thermal shock and UV.
• Why is 20 mm recommended for pools? More than four times the breaking strength versus 8–10 mm: raised on pedestals or gravel, point loads without cracking.

Related: A perfect example of Class 3 slip-resistant porcelain for the pool surround is Trésor Bali by Rosa Gres.

Fond of the natural look? In our guide to stone effect porcelain tiles you’ll find collections with the R11 Soft & Safe anti-slip finish — like Sinai by Coem — perfect for pool areas.