Cap de Creus – Dark Grey Glass-Ceramic Pool Mosaic 25×25

Description

Cap de Creus is a glass-ceramic mosaic with square 25 × 25 mm chips, made from 100% recycled glass. Its colour is dark grey, and the sheets (317 × 317 mm) come on a silicone dot backing that makes installation easier.

Why it is worth it

• Non-porous surface: water absorption is up to 0.04%, so the mosaic does not grow mould and does not hold stains or odours.
• Works underwater: it can stay permanently submerged – in pools, hot tubs, fountains and overflow channels.
• Lasting colour: sunlight (ISO 4892) and cleaning agents (class A per ASTM C650) do not change the shade.
• Frost-resistant: winter freezing and subsequent thawing (ASTM C1026) do not damage it, so it can also be used outdoors.
• Stable under load: it has a flexural strength of 55 N/mm² (EN ISO 10545-4), and the face of the chips is free of defects.
• Eco-friendly: the glass is 100% recycled, and the colours contain no lead, cadmium or other heavy-metal pigments.

All specifications

How Cap de Creus looks on the wall and in the water

A solid dark grey with a smooth gloss and only very slight tonal differences – it resembles polished slate. It conveys a stern elegance. Submerged and lit by the sun, the tone rises slightly towards blue and glitters with silver.

It fits best in refined pools and bathrooms where you want a solid, contrasting background. A dark grey grout creates a monolithic look, while a light grey one outlines the grid of individual chips.

Where to use it

• a pool clad entirely – from the floor to the edge;
• water steps, seats and shallow areas;
• hot tubs, spa areas and steam rooms;
• home bathrooms, showers and accent walls.

The silicone dot backing – why it is better

The chips of Cap de Creus are fixed on the back with tiny silicone (polyurethane) dots that hold them together without covering their backs. This leaves more than 95% of each chip's surface free for the adhesive, and the bond is very stable. The layer does not thicken the mosaic, withstands the adhesive and the grout, and does not warp in storage. With such a flexible sheet, rounded walls, steps and inside corners are easy to go around.

Installation step by step

1. Preparing the substrate: level (deviation up to 2 mm over 2 m), dry, sound and dust-free. In a pool, an elastic cement-based waterproofing is applied first.
2. Adhesive: white flexible cement-based adhesive, class C2TE S1.
3. Application: with a 3–4 mm notched trowel, spread the adhesive over an area for 2–3 sheets.
4. Laying: press the sheet evenly with a rubber float and keep the same 2 mm gap between the sheets.
5. Cutting: near corners and nozzles the dots are cut with a utility knife, and individual chips are shaped with special glass mosaic pliers.
6. Grouting: wait a day and then grout. Clean off residue with a damp sponge before it dries; epoxy residue immediately, with a special cleaner.
7. Filling: fill the pool with water only after the grout has fully cured, usually after about 7 days.

Materials and tools needed: elastic waterproofing, white adhesive (C2TE S1), grouting compound – epoxy or water-resistant, 3–4 mm notched trowel, rubber float, utility knife, glass mosaic pliers, sponge, bucket and clean water for rinsing. Old tiles can stay as a substrate only when they are sound, clean, grease-free and primed (in a pool, however, it is still better to lay new waterproofing).

Choosing grout and adhesive

A dark grey grout creates a monolithic look, while a light grey one outlines the grid of individual chips. For a pool, choose an epoxy grout – it is waterproof, does not react to chlorine and keeps its colour. The adhesive is white, flexible, cement-based, class C2TE S1: the glass is slightly translucent, and a grey adhesive would darken the shade.

What the tests show

• UV ageing resistance (ISO 4892): the colour remains unchanged.
• Repeated freezing and thawing (ASTM C1026): the mosaic withstands it.
• Bending (EN ISO 10545-4): 55 N/mm².
• Surface defects on the face (EN ISO 10545-2): none, 100% of the chips are flawless.
• Contact with chemicals (ASTM C650): class A, no visible change.
• Water absorption (EN ISO 10545-3): 0.04% at most.
• Thermal expansion (EN ISO 10545): withstands it.

Material consumption

Measure the area of the pool floor and walls and add a 5–10% reserve for cutting. As a guide: the adhesive consumption is about 2 kg per square metre for chips up to 25 mm (2.5 kg at 40 mm, and 3 kg for even larger ones). The grout is calculated with the formula (A + B) / (A × B) × C × D × 1.6 kg per square metre; here A and B are the chip dimensions, C is the thickness and D is the width of the gap (25 × 25 mm, 4 mm and 2 mm). The exact consumption varies with how level and absorbent the substrate is, which adhesive and grout you use, how coarse the trowel is, how the joint is finished, the geometry of the site and how experienced the installer is. Therefore check with the technical data sheets and with the contractor.

Since the mosaic is sold by the full carton of 1 m², take the whole quantity at once – that way everything comes from one batch and has the same shade.

The colour in real life may differ from the photos

Glass mosaic is a “living” material, and its shade changes depending on the circumstances. The influences are: the screen of your phone or monitor; the light (sun, overcast sky, lamps, time of day); the viewing angle; the water in the pool – depth, clarity, chemistry and the reflection of the sky; the colour of the grout and adhesive and the size of the clad area; the surrounding colours; the production batch; the natural differences between chips in the mixes. The visualisations are illustrative and serve as a guide.

Surface care

• For everyday cleaning, a damp sponge and a mild, acid-free cleaner are enough.
• Do not use abrasive powders, metal scouring pads or aggressive acidic agents on the grout.
• Keep the water pH between 7.0 and 7.4 and a suitable hardness so that limescale does not build up on the grout.
• Clean the waterline regularly with a sponge and a special cleaner.

Frequently asked questions about Cap de Creus