WHAT ARE PEBBLE MOSAICS?

Visually captivating and vibrantly textured, pebble mosaics make any surface a sensory experience. From traditional Chinese gardens to large public plazas in Spain, pebble and stone mosaics brilliantly blend natural elements into a flat, solid pavement that does not break or fade and is easy to maintain.

Meticulously set into concrete by hand, each stone is like a "pixel" that combines to create a bigger design. Some people try to save time by laying the pebbles flat on the surface of the concrete, but it's critical to the long-term strength of the mosaic that each stone be positioned on edge, with most of it buried below the surface.

There are many sizes and shapes of possible stones to use. River rocks or beach pebbles are the most often used, but other non-porous materials can also be incorporated, such as ceramic tiles, glass tesserae, specially-cut or engraved stones such as slate, granite and basalt, etc.

Due to the indestructible building materials and the time-proven techniques used to set them in concrete, there is no opportunity for movement. Some of these mosaics have endured for hundreds of years!

WHO IS METAMOSAICS?

Metamosaics is a small company in Portland, Oregon dedicated to creating decorative pavements as unique and beautiful as they are durable and impervious to weather and wear. With over 12 years of experience creating mosaics in a wide variety of settings, MetaMosaics is Licensed, Bonded and Insured. We have the construction acumen and artistic vision to complete your project professionally.

Mark Kretzmeier has been designing and creating pebble mosaics since 1995 when he installed his first mosaic at The Hostel Sedona in Arizona. Proficient in a wide variety of artistic and construction applications, he has since designed and installed numerous mosaics at many residential, business and public locations - including The Jacksonville Zoo in Jacksonville, Florida and the Gardens at Four Corners in Port Townsend, WA.

CAN A PEBBLE MOSAIC BE INSTALLED IN MY LOCATION?

Whether your site is an established garden or under construction, MetaMosaics can build pebble mosaics anywhere in the world. Their textured, non-slip qualities make them ideal as a pavement for public spaces, patios, pathways and around swimming pools and fountains. They also function well indoors as floors or even on walls.

If on-site installation is inconvenient, we have a selection of Pebble Pavers that make it easy to create your own pebble mosaic.

HOW MUCH DOES A MOSAIC COST?

Price varies widely but starts at about $50 per square foot. Foundation requirements, local availability and types of stones, square footage and complexity of design all factor into the cost, which we would be happy to estimate for you. Please contact us for more information.

Our Pebble Pavers, which can be delivered to your site, are priced on a sliding scale depending on how many you order; the more you order, the less they cost. Let us know how many you want and your zip code, and we can send you an estimate that includes shipping charges.

WHAT ABOUT DESIGNING A PEBBLE MOSAIC?

There is only so much design that can fit into a given space using the medium of stones or pebbles. Metamosaics can give you a realistic idea of what designs can be accomplished in your alloted space. Look how close this drawing resembles the completed mosaic. We can work directly off of your existing design plans, refine your rough ideas into a design or create multiple original design options for you to choose from. We can even create "virtual illustrations" of what the mosaic will look like in your space. Please contact us for more information.

CAN I BUILD A PEBBLE MOSAIC?

Yes! With a little patience, you can create a natural piece of art for your garden or landscape.

Start small, take your time and enjoy the process. It can sometimes be tedious and seem to take forever, but is very rewarding when you have a finished piece that will be enjoyed for years to come.

I suggest getting UK artist Maggy Howarth's book "The Complete Pebble Mosaic Handbook". I was inspired and instructed by her first book and this book shows different step-by-step techniques and amazing examples of pebble mosaic from around the world - including ours!