Choosing the right tile for your house or office can be a little overwhelming especially because of all the options available out there. Even if its your first time buying tiles, you do know the fact that there are hundreds of different types of tiles, thousands of different styles and patterns, and several different materials. In a nutshell, your first challenging decision would be regarding which material to opt for. This article will guide you about Glass Mosaic Tiles Buying Guide in detail.
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Speaking of material, if you want premium quality tiles that dont just look good but last long too then you should go for glass mosaic tiles. Yes, you read that right! Glass mosaic tiles have the ability to turn any plain platform into an artistic masterpiece without any hassle. Whether its your bathroom, your kitchen, your patio, or your office, if you want to decorate your space and make it look more elegant then glass mosaic is definitely the one for you.
The best thing about glass mosaic tiles is that they are available in a variety of different colors, shapes, sizes, and even styles. So when looking for the perfect tile in the market or in the online stores, we assure you that you wont ever run short of options.
Even in glass tiles, there are several different materials for you to choose from. Some of the most common ones are porcelain, steel, ceramic, and glass. Glass mosaic tiles are growing in popularity with each passing day and its quite justified because they really can work wonders when it comes to upgrading your space.
Main Advantages of Glass Mosaic Tiles
You can easily find glass mosaics for sale both in the market and in online stores. Its easily available and you wont ever have to worry about going through a lot of hassle to find one.
Other than this, here are some important benefits of glass mosaic tiles that you need to know about;
1-They Are Visually Appealing
Glass mosaic tiles have this shiny coating that looks really luminous and it can brighten up any space easily. Not just this but if you want to make your kitchen or bathroom look more spacious than it is then yes, glass mosaic tiles can really come in handy here.
2-You Have Several Options Available
The best thing about glass mosaic tiles is that they are available in almost all stores and people keep quite a huge quantity and variety of these tiles. So when you visit a store, youll have multiple options of tiles with different colors and styles etc.
3-Flexibility in Design
Glass mosaic tiles arent just to be used for your kitchens backsplash. In fact, these tiles are versatile and can be combined with metal or stone elements in your bathroom. You can even use the tile for your kitchen countertops as it would look really luxurious. If not this, you can use mosaic tiles for decorating your art walls too.
4-Glass Mosaic Tiles are Easy To Maintain and Durable
Glass mosaic tiles come with a non-porous surface which means that they are very easy to clean and maintain. You wont ever have to worry about the tiles picking up stains from any spills or splashes because the glass is strong and it's resistant to chemicals so it's very easy to wipe off any splash of water or any grease etc. Durability is one of the main reasons why glass mosaic tiles are growing in popularity with each passing day.
5- Glass Mosaic Tiles are Environment Friendly
If you are the kind of person who is concerned about the environment then you should use recycled glass mosaic tiles. These tiles are easily available and the best part is that they are environmentally friendly.
In a nutshell, glass mosaic tiles offer plenty of benefits that bring you the best value for your money. However, the one thing you must know about these tiles is that they are a little more expensive than other materials like ceramic and porcelain. Also, you might need some professional help to install the glass tiles as its a little difficult to do this yourself. Overall, for someone who doesnt compromise on quality just for the sake of saving some money, the glass mosaic tile is going to be the best decision.
Now that you are well aware of the benefits of glass mosaic tiles, its high time to learn about the types that are available in the market.
These tiles come in different styles and variations but today we are going to talk about the most common ones. When choosing the style, you need to consider a few things, including your taste in home decor, your budget, and your existing interior.
1-Recycled Glass Tile
Just what the name implies, this tile is made up of recycled glass and its environmentally friendly so using it in your house will actually be great. Youll find various glass mosaic designs in this category because broken or discarded glass is used to make these tiles. So theres no one perfect design that comes in the recycled glass tile category. You can choose anything you like, according to your preference.
2-Stained Glass Tile
Have you ever seen the beautiful glass artwork in a church? Its like the glass tiles are telling a story and they have a history. This is what a stained glass mosaic tile is used for. It makes the place look really artistic like it has some kind of a deep story behind it. If you are the kind of person who wants to add a little dramatic effect in his house then yes, this is the type of mosaic tile you should opt for. The stains you see in these tiles are basically added intentionally using different dye colors. You can get different styles and designs by choosing the dye you like. Because of their dramatic effect, you can use stained glass tiles to cover an entire art wall in your house, especially the one that you want to be the focal point of your house.
3-Translucent Glass Tile
Translucent tiles are often used in bathrooms to cover the shower area and well, they do look great. With this tile, you can add a little privacy in the bathroom but at the same time, youll be able to add a little style there. Some other great uses of this tile are; spa bathroom, kitchen backsplash, or a semi-private window.
4-Tumbled Glass Tiles
Tumbled glass tiles are made up of recycled glass which is why they have sharp edges. To make the best use out of these tiles, its important to first remove the sharp edges so that theres no risk of any injury. Just like any other glass tile, its important that you use professional help when installing this one in your kitchen or bathroom.
5-Van Gogh Glass Tile
The Van Gogh glass tile is one of the most expensive glass mosaic tiles but its totally worth the use. Its expensive because its rare and unique and it resembles stained glass tiles alot. A metallic pigment is used to paint the backside of these tiles and then to make it opaque, the metallic paint is then coated with black paint. This helps give the glass tile the depth it should have to look like a mirror. The overall effect created with the help of multiple colors is just great and it looks extremely stunning and artistic. Especially if theres a wall art space in your house, you should use the Van Gogh glass tile on it to make it look beautiful.
Pros and Cons of Installing Glass Mosaic Tile
Just like any other tile in the world, the glass mosaic tile comes with its own pros and cons. Now before you make the decision of choosing a glass mosaic tile for your house, its of utmost importance that you know about the pros and cons involved.
Cons of Using Mosaic Glass Tiles
One of the best things about glass mosaic tile is that it offers flexibility in both application and design. The very first thing that comes to peoples mind is the kitchen backsplash when they buy a glass mosaic tile and well without a doubt, it really looks great there but there are other places too where you can use these tiles. Another great place where you can use glass mosaic tiles is for your bathroom remodeling projects. If you want to upgrade your bathroom and make it look more modern and unique then again, glass mosaic tiles are going to be the best option for you here.
If you are new to glass mosaic tiles, you should know that they are resistant to water and are non-porous so they cant be damaged by moisture. In fact, these tiles cant generally get damaged easily. The one place where we wouldnt recommend you use these tiles is the floor. Its risky because these tiles are a little slippery and that can pose some safety risk if you opt for it for your floorings.
If you want to get more creative with the use of glass mosaic tiles then here are some ideas that can come in handy for you;
1-Accent Wall
Instead of limiting the use of these tiles to just bathrooms and kitchens, you can even use them for your accent walls. No matter which wall you want to decorate in your house or office, you can pick a great mosaic tile design and then install it on the wall that you want to be the focal point of your house.
2-Around the Fireplace
Glass tiles are easy to clean and maintain so you can definitely use them around your fireplace. You should go for a subtle mosaic tile style because thats what usually looks good near the fireplace. As far as the colors are concerned, try something in cream, light brown or light grey if you want the tiles to compliment your fireplace.
3-Framing
If you want to enhance a certain picture or a painting, you can use a glass mosaic tile for framing it. To get the best results, wed recommend that you use small pieces of glass mosaic tile and install it around the picture in a unique way.
4-In Your Backyard
It might sound like an odd idea to you but yes, you can always use glass mosaic tiles outdoors. From decorating your porch to using the tiles in your outdoor kitchen, you can do anything with the glass tiles to make your outdoor area look great.
Cutting Glass Mosaic Tile
If you have the time and the right skills, you might not even need to call a professional to cut and install the glass mosaic tile in your kitchen or bathroom. Its a simple skill that just requires some attention and time. The challenging part however is when you have to cut the tile. Moreover, if your project is about making certain place or wall look more artistic then its obvious that youll have to invest more time and be more careful while cutting the glass tile according to the space you have.
Speaking of cutting, the very thing you need to do is to find the right tool to cut the tile. One of the most common tools used here is a wet saw but you should know that a wet saw only works when you have to cut bigger pieces of the tile. A wet saw isnt the right tool if you are cutting the tile for your kitchens backsplash because, for that area, you of course need small pieces of tile. To cut small pieces of the tile where you really need precision, its better to use some glass nippers or a double-sided wheel scorer. Other great options are; a Dremel or a handheld pen cutter for even tinier pieces. To make sure that theres no hurdle while cutting the tile, we recommend you that you first remove the back mesh part and then start cutting the tile.
For work safety, you should always take precautionary measures and wear gloves or goggles because when you are using a wet saw to cut the tiles, you might get injury with the small sharp pieces. So take the precautionary measures, ensure that everything is safe for you first and then start cutting the tile accordingly.
It goes without saying that the difficulty youll be facing during installing the glass mosaic tile directly depends on the project. If you are cutting tiles for your sink or kitchen countertop, it might not be as difficult for you but if you want to install small or curved pieces of tile around different outlets then yes, it will be a little bit of a hassle for you.
Usually, when it comes to installing glass mosaic tiles, we recommend that you use some professional help. You can easily find glass mosaic tile installers around. Now it does mean that youll have to spend some money on paying them for their services but at the end of the day, youll be saving yourself a lot of time and you wont even have to worry about getting injured or not getting the things done right. In other words, hiring professional help is always the wiser option.
Things to Consider When Buying Glass Mosaic Tiles
Before you start looking for glass mosaics for sale, there are a few things that you should take under consideration. One of the biggest problems with people is that they always rush into buying tiles. You need to understand that with glass mosaic tiles, you have thousands of options and you really need to be patient before finalizing one. Especially if you want the best value for your money, you should take your time, research different styles and designs, and then purchase the best suitable one.
Moreover, you need to consider these factors;
1-Size
You probably already know the place where you want to install the mosaic tile so its better to first measure the space and then choose the size of the mosaic tile accordingly. Yes, you can always cut the tile and make it according to the space you have but again, its always better to consider the size first.
2-Color
The color is the most important of all factors when buying glass mosaic tile. You want the tile to be excellent on your walls, kitchen, or bathroom so consider the color carefully and always keep the interior of your house in mind.
3-Design
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Recycled Glass Mosaics.
Theres no one design that we can call perfect for you. Its all about your own taste and likes and dislikes so again, its all about taking your time and searching for different designs to find the perfect one for yourself.
Final Word
Glass mosaic tiles can work wonders for you if you want to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your place. From kitchens to bathrooms to accent walls, you can install these tiles anywhere easily. Its just that you first need to find the right tile and then the right people who can help you install it in your desired place. Always remember that DIY tile installation is great but hiring professional help means you can get the best work properly and the tiles installation will be proper wherever you want them to be.
If you are also in search of amazing tile then buy Siver Glass/Metal/Stone Mosaic Tiles. You can also reach us at our FACEBOOK page.
When I decided to remodel my kitchen, recycled glass tile was one of the materials I considered using. While I ultimately chose another material, recycled glass tile has become popular with architects and homeowners who are drawn to its unique aesthetic.
Its difficult to say exactly how environmentally sensitive recycled glass tile is when you consider that the only environmental benefit is that it uses recycled materials. The glass must be melted to be used, a process that expends tremendous amounts of energy. And while its good to keep consumer waste out of landfills, glass can be recycled into many different things, not just tiles.
It is also difficult to get consistent color with recycled glass. For this reason, many manufacturers combine the types of glass they use. Some colors of glass tile may contain less than 25 percent of post consumer glass. Thats not to say that these tiles arent better environmentally than other options, just keep in mind that the actual environmental benefit may be quite small.
Glass Tile is Fragile
While glass tile manufacturers will often emphasize the ability of glass to resist stains and chemical damage, they are not as forthcoming with their products tendency to scratch and even shatter . For this reason, glass tile is probably best regulated to a backsplash or as a decorative accent to another material. If you are determined to use it on a more high traffic area, such as a foyer or even a kitchen countertop, choose a rough, cloudy variety to hide the inevitable scratches.
Glass Tile Installation: My Pro Tips
Installing glass tile is particularly difficult job when compared with other tiles. When you install ceramic tile, for example, you begin by applying the adhesive with a notched trowel, then pressing the tile onto the wall. With translucent glass tile the process is much more complex, as the individual lines of adhesive can be seen through the glass if care is not taken.
I have found the easiest way to avoid this is to smooth the adhesive with a metal trowel after applying it to the wall. The key is to make sure that the layers are even, and you must also know how much thin set is required to keep the tile in place. In general, Ive found a 1/16" layer works well.
What Ive found works even better is calling a professional to lay the tile, especially if you are using a mosaic variety. Mosaics up the complexity of installation, as well as the cost when compared to other glass tile varieties. Simply put, dont attempt to install this tile until youve completed a few jobs using ceramic tile.
Disregard this advice and you may get lucky, and you may also ruin tile that can easily cost $30 per square foot.
Glass Tile: Green Building Materialor not?
With no particular green credentials, questionable durability and a high price point you may be inclined to believe that only the foolish are buying glass tile. However, recycled glass tile, no matter what its drawbacks, is an incredibly beautiful material. The right tile can elevate the entire appearance of the room, reflecting light where most tiles simply absorb it. Combined with other materials, even a small amount can give the whole room a greater appeal.
Related:
AboutGlassTile has a fantastic DIY How-To Tutorial on everything you need to know to cut, drill into, and install glass tile. And thats not alllearn how to lay mosaic glass tile sheets!
Beautiful glass tile photo galleries of installed glass tile in bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, in and around pools, and flooring.
See how the 4 main types of glass tiles are made:
How are the 2 prominent glass tile surface treatments made?
Glass Tile: A Sustainable Building Material
Oceanside GlassTile, a leader in handcrafted glass tile, reuses more than 2 million pounds of recycled glass collected curbside (cullet) and turns it into some of the worlds finest handcrafted glass tiles. Learn more about Oceanside GlassTile if youre into it.
Image courtesy: David Ritter
I have a lot of hands-on experience in the home construction industry, with a good deal of experience in sustainable building. Im mostly interested in home restoration and home renovations.
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