Glass Tile
Translucent glass tiles are increasingly popular for backsplashes and bathrooms.
Although glass tile has been around for a very long time, it has only been reinvented in recent decades and currently comes in many forms and colors suitable for modern installations. Today, you can find all kinds of decorative and unusual glass tiles, including iridescent and glitter glass, tiles made from recycled wine bottles, and even clear tiles with imbedded flowers and a floral scent. Many kinds of glass tile have a translucency and/or shininess that can give your project an extra dimension and reflective highlights.
Most glass tiles are too fragile to use on countertops, floors, and other high-use surfaces (the exceptions are UltraGlas tiles and Bedrock Industries glass tiles which are rated for floor installation). Applied to a backsplash, glass tile can create a very classy look in a kitchen or bar. These tiles are a bit trickier to install than clay-based tiles due to their transparency and expansion and contraction properties. Glass tiles tend to be more expensive than clay-based tiles, but if you like the look, it’s clearly worth it. If using glass tiles for your entire project breaks your budget, you might try using only a few of them as decorative accents.
| TRADE SECRET: If you fall in love with an exorbitantly expensive glass mosaic tile or beautiful decorative border, try pairing it with complementary ceramic tiles, which will typically be more affordable and will help the project stay within your budget. |
Excerpted from Tiling Complete, 2nd Edition by Robin Nicholas and Michael Schweit.
Available in the Taunton Store and at Amazon.com.
