| Glass
tiles
are a wonderful new material for the home. They come in a large
variety of sizes, shapes, colors and designs offering a terrific
opportunity to individualize the design of a room. This material
is most commonly used in the bathroom but can be used in the
kitchen or other parts of the house as well. They can be used
on their own as field tile or combined with ceramic, porcelain
or stone as an accent tile. They are beautiful as a total look
or an excellent accent. Glass tiles can be
used to frame a bathroom mirror, for a counter top or interspersed
with other tiles.  The
main advantage of using glass tiles is their
beautiful appearance. The many options available in this material
make it a desirable choice of materials. There is no need
for a bull nose with glass tile because there are no raw exposed
edges. The only possible disadvantage can be the cost of some
glass tiles and the added expense of the installation. It
is also necessary to find an experienced or very careful installer.
Glass
tiles come in a large variety of colors. Custom colors
also can be ordered with a minimum quantity from some companies.
There are numerous novelty tiles available in a large variety
of designs including fish, flowers, stripes, etc., which can
be mixed as accents for borders or interspersed with solid
tiles.
Tiles
are available in a large range of sizes and shapes depending
on the manufacturer. Tiles come in a glossy, clear finish
which, have a see-through or translucent surface and can only
be used on the wall. These are generally 1/4 “thick
to be consistent with the depth of other tiles being used.
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Also
available are tiles with a sanded or opaque finish which are
available in 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch thickness. The thicker
tiles must be used on the floor, although they can be used
on the wall as well. The thicker tiles tend to be twice as
expensive as the flatter ones. Some opaque tiles are sand
blasted and are very porous requiring that they be sealed
with an impregnating sealer.
Glass
tiles are considered to be durable if they are installed
properly. Professional installation of glass tiles is essential.
It is best if the installer is experienced, but if he is not,
he must follow the manufacturers’ directions carefully.
Because
glass can expand and contract, the adhesive used to install
the tiles must be flexible. If the tiles are too close together
there will be no room for expansion and they could crack.
White
adhesive must be used because the tiles are see-through. If
for example a notched trowel is used to apply the adhesive
to the wall, then the lines of adhesive will show through
the tile.
The
substrate or wall behind the tile must be clean, smooth and
even. An uneven substrate could cause the tile to crack. Installation
instructions are generally given to the customer when the
tiles are purchased and if they are strictly adhered to, the
tiles should be as durable as any others available.
Glass
tile can be used outside but it should be limited
to areas which will not encounter large changes in temperature
or excessive abrasion. The thicker tiles can be used for pools
and other outside applications. • |
