Few names in the world of glass tile carry the prestige of Bisazza. Since its founding in 1956 in Vicenza, Italy, the company has grown into one of the most respected producers of luxury glass tile. Its collections combine craftsmanship with bold, contemporary design, and its collaborations with top architects and designers have helped cement Bisazza’s reputation as a leader in decorative surfaces.
But nowhere does Bisazza shine brighter than in swimming pools. When submerged, its mosaics reflect and refract light in ways that create depth, shimmer, and movement. It’s an effect that has made Bisazza a favorite for homeowners, designers, and builders who want pools that transcend utility and become works of art.
To better understand Bisazza’s role in luxury pool design, Pool Magazine spoke with Jimmy Reed, president of Rock Solid Tile, and Frank Vitori, founder of AquaBlu Mosaics. Reed is widely recognized as one of the top installers of all-tile swimming pools in the country. Vitori, through his online distribution platform, connects homeowners and builders with premium brands like Bisazza every day. Together, they provided insight into what makes the brand special in water.
Why Bisazza Belongs in Pools
For Reed, Bisazza has long been the gold standard. “To me, Bisazza represents really the cream of the crop, glass mosaic surfaces,” he said. That reputation isn’t just about the tile itself, but the support he has received over decades of working with the company. “From the beginning, they’ve been there for me with enthusiasm and support. Connection and communication are a big thing to me, and Bisazza has always delivered that.”
From the retail side, Vitori sees Bisazza’s appeal in how it resonates with pool buyers. “When customers ask for Bisazza, it’s usually for pools,” he explained. “They want those deep blues, aquas, and iridescent blacks that make the water look incredible.”
Part of the allure lies in the ability to customize. Reed noted that most of his Bisazza projects either draw from the Le Gemme series or involve custom blends. “Sometimes there are stock blends that fit beautifully,” he said. “But I like to tweak those stock blends just a little—add or take something away—to make it personal for the client.”
Vitori confirmed the same demand. “North America stocks well over 50 SKUs now, shipping out of New Jersey,” he said. “The real sellers are definitely the blends—dark blue, aqua, iridescent blacks. Higher-end clients don’t mind taking the time to customize. That aspect really appeals to them.”
Customization in pools is about more than color — it’s about how the pool interacts with its surroundings. Homeowners often want the water to mirror the sky, or for the surface to pick up tones from the landscaping and architecture. Vitori said it’s those desires that frequently drive specifiers to Bisazza: “People come to us with a vision. Maybe they want the pool to look like the Caribbean, or they want something dark and dramatic. Bisazza has the palette to make that happen.”
For many homeowners, the moment of truth comes when they first see water flowing over their chosen tile. Reed said that reaction is one of the reasons he continues to use Bisazza. “The excitement when the pool is finally filled — you can see it on their faces. The way the colors shift under water, it feels alive. It’s why we do this.”
Despite its luxury reputation, both men cautioned against assuming Bisazza is out of reach. “One misconception is that Bisazza is always outrageously expensive,” Reed said. “That’s not true. They have several lines at different price points. Some are very reasonable, and just as beautiful as the high-end series.”
Vitori agreed. “From a distributor’s standpoint, it’s a luxury product, but still quite achievable,” he noted.
Context also matters. Reed explained that while Bisazza is perfect for many modern, high-end settings, it isn’t right for every home. “If I’m working on a California bungalow, Bisazza may not fit. But for modern or high-end homes, it definitely belongs. When it’s presented, it’s usually an appropriate fit.”
The Technical Side of Pool Installations
Installing glass mosaics in a swimming pool is a demanding craft, and both Reed and Vitori were quick to point out the challenges that make proper technique essential.
Translucent glass, for example, can magnify imperfections. “Personally, I try to stay away from translucent,” Reed said. “Anything that happens under the glass is visible. It’s not a failure, but in a pool, every bubble and impurity is magnified. Technique matters—using the right products like Laticrete’s Litokol Epoxy and ensuring 100% coverage. But it’s still one more step of risk.”
Vitori sees it similarly. “The Opera series is a popular collection, but to Jimmy’s point, it’s translucent and a more difficult look to pull off in all-tile pool applications,” he explained. “I usually recommend it exclusively for waterlines, not full pool interiors.”
When it comes to adhesives and grout, Reed is unequivocal. “We prefer epoxy,” he said. “The bond strength combined with flexibility is key. Glass moves differently than the substrate. That’s the biggest issue with glass tile installations.”
He is also an advocate for newer grout technologies. “Starlike Evo is easier to use, environmentally safer, and more flexible than other epoxy grouts,” Reed said. “But there is a learning curve. You need to read the specs and lean on technical support before jumping in.”
Vitori highlighted how grout selection can enhance Bisazza’s brilliance. “Starlike Crystal is also known as the ‘chameleon grout,’” he noted. “With Bisazza, it grips and radiates the color of the tile. When used correctly, the results are spectacular.”
Beyond materials, installation demands painstaking attention to detail. Reed takes pride in the craftsmanship his team brings to steps, benches, and transitions. “Every job is alive,” he said. “Curves, steps, complex geometry—we adapt on site. Layout is critical. Each corner can take hours, but the end results are what make Bisazza such a standout material to work with.”
But it’s not only about beauty on day one — longevity is where Bisazza proves its worth. Reed emphasized that poor installations can haunt homeowners years down the line, even when they’ve chosen a premium product. “It’s not just about how it looks when it’s finished. You want it to look that way ten, fifteen years later. If you don’t use the right products or if you rush the layout, it will come back to bite you.” With Bisazza, he explained, the material will stand the test of time, but only when paired with the right adhesives, grout, and craftsmanship to let it perform at its best
Vitori agreed, adding that cutting corners is one of the most common mistakes he sees. “Some installers don’t take the time to get 100% coverage. Others don’t understand paper-face mounting. And when things go wrong, it’s not just cosmetic — it’s structural. That’s why experience matters so much with Bisazza.”
Pools as Showpieces
Bisazza’s range makes it suitable for everything from quiet elegance to bold artistry.
One Los Angeles project stands out in Reed’s memory. “It was a long rectangular pool, one consistent depth, very clean and classic,” he recalled. “We explored custom blends, but the client settled on the stock Elide blend. It gave a timeless, elegant look that won’t feel visually dated over time.”
Another project pushed boundaries by turning a painting into a pool interior. “We worked with art dealers whose daughter was an accomplished artist,” Reed said. “We digitized one of her paintings with Bisazza, scaled it to the pool floor, and created custom gradient blends on the walls. That pool became an absolute showstopper.”
The Damasco Opale design offered a different opportunity for creativity. “It was a dark blue and black mix, very bold,” Reed explained. “We redesigned the pool interior to accommodate it—making it shallower, changing transitions, creating a graceful slope. The result was striking, but still clean and beautiful.”
Guidance for Builders and Homeowners
For builders and homeowners considering Bisazza, both men stressed the importance of working with experienced professionals.
“Ask them: do you know what you’re doing? And can you prove it?” Reed advised. “Experience is everything. I’ve even seen people install Bisazza backwards, with the paper to the wall. It still happens.”
Vitori agreed. “That’s why the right installer matters so much,” he said.
Both also cautioned that Bisazza is best when thoughtfully specified. Reed put it simply: “If a design team has already specified Bisazza, it’s not my position to change it. But when I’m presenting materials, I’ll only suggest it when it’s appropriate.”
For homeowners worried about cost, both Reed and Vitori stressed that Bisazza is not out of reach. “Some lines are very reasonably priced,” Reed said. “Beauty isn’t just in the top tier.”
The Future of All-Tile Pools
Asked about trends, Reed was confident that glass mosaics — and Bisazza in particular — aren’t going anywhere. “People always ask what’s next,” he said. “I don’t see glass mosaic tile ever going away. It’s a tried-and-true medium for water features going back thousands of years. Large format glass and thin porcelain are coming on strong, but glass mosaics will stay in the lead. Bisazza has earned its reputation with installers in this regard.”
Vitori sees the same trajectory. “Customization, versatility, timeless beauty — Bisazza checks all the boxes for designers and homeowners looking to make a pool truly special.”
The future of all-tile pools, both agreed, is tied to larger design shifts in outdoor living. As homeowners invest in creating backyard environments that match the sophistication of their interiors, pools are no longer just recreational spaces — they are showpieces. Reed noted, “People want pools that match the architecture of the home, that feel like an extension of the design. Bisazza’s glass mosaics certainly give you that flexibility.”
Vitori added that durability is part of the appeal. “When someone invests in Bisazza, they’re not just buying a look — they’re buying performance. Ten years, twenty years from now, if properly maintained, that tile is still going to look amazing.”
Ready to take a deeper dive?
Listen to our entire conversation with Jimmy Reed of Rock Solid Tile and Frank Vitori of Aqua Blu Mosaics on the Pool Magazine Podcast.
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