I am looking for a company that can use a computer to design custom
mosaic floor tile OR regular tile floor murals.  I have an area that
is approx. 22' X 22' (490 sq ft) and I would like to provide a large
image to the company and have them produce the tile with a mesh
backing so that I can be easily installed onsite.  Please provide
several sources for this and prices (per square foot) if possible. 
Thanks.

Hi curiogeorges:

After extensive searching, I was able to come up with only three
companies that fit your requirements. However, I think any one of
these three can do what you are asking for and they all provide a
certain amount of flexibility.

I have listed them below and highlighted some important information
about each company.


Company: Sierra Custom Design 
*****************************

Website: http://www.tilemagic.com/

Quote: "We do specialize in custom pieces. Starting with your
photograph, negative, slide or art print of any size, your image is
digitized and sized to your project requirements."

Examples: http://www.tilemagic.com/projects.html

Cost: Between $65 and $95 per sq. ft. (depending on tile size) + $100
- $200 set-up fee.
http://www.tilemagic.com/prices.html

Drawbacks: It doesn't appear like they use mesh backings for
installation. They use numbered tiles. "Mosaic tile sets are numbered
and marked for layout left to right and top to bottom. "

Contact:
Sierra Custom Design
2316 Loch Lomond
Bishop, CA  93514 
Email: tilemagic@earthlink.net
Phone: 888-829-3667 
Fax: 760-873-5919


Company: KIMBALL BROOK MURALS 
*****************************

Website: http://www.customtilemurals.com/

Quote: "Kimball Brook Murals uses the latest computer image design and
transfer technology (sublimation process) to create beautiful ceramic
tile murals.
Murals can be made using your art or you can select from our art."

Cost: Between $37.50 and $67.50 per sq. ft. (depending on tile sizes)
+ $50/hour for set-up.
http://www.customtilemurals.com/prices.htm

Drawbacks: They don't mention anything on the website about how the
tiles are installed.

Contact: 
phone: 207 697-2240
fax: 207 697-5466
email : sales@customtilemurals.com
Kimball Brook Murals
HCR 68 Box 259
Fryeburg ME 04037


Company: Zydeco 
***************

Website: http://www.zydeco.co.uk/index.htm

Quote: "Simply provide us with a drawing, photograph, a scanned image,
or even a fabric design, together with final dimensions and we can
quote for converting into a custom mosaic panel. Whether it is a small
mural or a large company logo, we can accommodate whatever you request
using the range of colours and shades within the mosaic ranges
presented within these glass mosaic pages."

Examples: http://www.zydeco.co.uk/zydeco/glass_mosaic_design_services.htm
(bottom of page)

Installation: This company doesn't transfer your image to tiles, it
selects tiles that will make up your image. They do provide larger
"sheets" for installation. "Upon confirmation this design can then
begin to be made up onto numbered sheets of mosaics."
http://www.zydeco.co.uk/zydeco/glass_mosaic_design_services.htm

Drawbacks: No prices quoted. "Firstly, designs in the form of
drawings, photographs etc can be sent to us, whereby we will provide a
preliminary quotation."

Contact:
FAX: +44 (0) 2392 423755 
Electronic mail: mail@zydeco.demon.co.uk   


I hope this is sufficient for your project. If you require
clarification of anything I've written, please ask before you rate
this answer.

Thanks. 

websearcher-ga


Search Strategies on Google:

custom tile from picture
://www.google.com/search?q=custom+tile+from+picture&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N

mosaic tile custom photograph
://www.google.com/search?q=mosaic+tile+custom+photograph&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=40&sa=N

"tile mosaic" photograph
://www.google.com/search?q=%22tile+mosaic%22+photograph&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

photograph mosaic computer tiles
://www.google.com/search?q=photograph+mosaic+computer+tiles&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

photograph custom mosaic
://www.google.com/search?q=photograph+custom+mosaic&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=20&sa=N

---

Request for Answer Clarification by curiogeorges-ga on 25 Sep 2002 15:58 PDT

None of these appear to be the typical small mosaic tile.  Have you
found any that arent necessarily mesh backed, but smaller tile pieces?

---

Clarification of Answer by websearcher-ga on 25 Sep 2002 19:30 PDT

Hi curiogeorges:

Unfortunately, these were all that I was able to find for *any* size
of tiles.

Actually, the tiles used at Zydeco: 

http://www.zydeco.co.uk/zydeco/glass_mosaic_design_services.htm

seem to be quite small (around 1/2 inch * 1/2 inch). You can tell the
scale from the picture with the hands about halfway down the page. As
well, they also appear to use non-square tiles (as can be seen in the
two images nearest the bottom of the page) as are often found in
"traditional" mosaics.

I'd suggest contacting them for more information on the options for
tile selection and "backing".

I hope this helps. 

websearcher-ga

Are you looking for ceramic tiles or glass tiles? If glass would do,
try this website:

http://www.bettini.com/mosaico.htm

Good luck.

Just wanted to let you know you can also check out http://www.mosaiclegs.com

Just wanted to let you know you can also check out
http://www.mosaiclegs.com for custom mosaic in Hand cut Byzantine or
Opus regulatum style