WHAT ARE PEBBLE MOSAICS?

Pebble mosaics have been used as a decorative pavement for thousands of years by many cultures. On a strong foundation, every stone is individually set into concrete by hand. 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 it's edge so that most of it is buried below the surface. Due to the inherent strength of the building materials and the techniques used to set them in cement, there is no opportunity for movement. Some of these stone mosaics have endured for hundreds of years!

There are many sizes and shapes of possible building materials, with small river rock being the most widely used, but other non-porous materials also work - tiles, glass tesserae, specially-cut or engraved stones such as slate, granite and basalt, etc. The cost of your mosaic will be affected by the proximity of available stones in your area. Alternatively, you can gather or purchase your own stones and we'll make a mosaic out of them!

WHO IS METAMOSAICS?

Metamosaics is a small company in Portland, Oregon dedicated to creating decorative pavements that are as beautiful as they are permanent. With over 10 years of experience creating mosaics, we're Licensed, Bonded and Insured so you know this is going to be a professional installation.

Mark Kretzmeier has been designing and creating pebble mosaics since 1995 when he installed his first mosaic at The Hostel Sedona in Arizona. Experienced 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?

These mosaics can be built into almost any environment - patios, entryways, borders, pathways - or simply as points of interest in your garden or building design. They also function well indoors as floors or on walls. Their textured, non-slip qualities make them ideal as a pavement around swimming pools, hot tubs and fountains. MetaMosaics is available anywhere in the world to build a pebble mosaic at your location.

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.

WHAT ABOUT DESIGNING A PEBBLE MOSAIC?

There is only so much design that can fit into any given space using the medium of stones or pebbles. Metamosaics can give you a realistic idea of what designs can be accomplished in the alloted space. Look how close this drawing resembles the completed mosaic. We can work directly off of your existing design plans or for a design fee, we can translate your ideas into a design or create multiple original design options for you to choose from. And 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 make a natural piece of functional art that will last for years. I suggest getting UK artist Maggy Howarth's book "The Art of Pebble Mosaics". 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.