| Glass mosaic tiles can give you many options that | | | | easiest to install. Check with your installer to make |
| ceramic tiles cannot. Glass tiles are available in | | | | sure s/he is capable of installing face mounted tile. |
| hundreds of colors including those hard to find reds, | | | | Once you pick the type of tile best for your area, |
| oranges, and yellows. There are also many sizes but | | | | you need to pick the color or colors. This is where |
| by definition are usually no larger than 2". You will find | | | | many people get frustrated. You can choose to use |
| these sold as squares, circles, and rectangles. So with | | | | a solid color or you can create a custom blend of |
| all of these possibilities, how do you choose what is | | | | colors. This is the most popular because you can |
| best for your space? | | | | create a blend that is unique to you and your space. |
| First decide where the tile will go. Some of the most | | | | To create a blend, you have to use tiles of the same |
| popular applications are kitchen backsplashes, | | | | size. It is recommended that you choose between 3 |
| bathroom shower and tub surrounds, fireplaces, | | | | and 5 colors. You can add as many colors as needed |
| swimming pools, and spas. It is not recommended to | | | | to get your desired effect but it will start to look |
| put tiles onto a countertop because of all of the | | | | cluttered if you add too many. |
| grout lines where food can get stuck. However many | | | | Choosing the colors is the most difficult part. It is |
| glass tiles can be used on flooring. | | | | recommended that you choose one color that |
| Now you need to decide which type of glass tile you | | | | matches your area such as your granite or bathroom |
| want to use. There are basically 4 types of glass tiles | | | | floor tile. Now pick a second color that brings out a |
| used for installations; vitreous, crystal, metallic glass, | | | | color in your space that is a little more hidden but |
| and iridescent. All of these types are easy to clean | | | | you would like to see. This could be one of the faint |
| and can be used on all vertical surfaces. Vitreous | | | | veins of color in your granite or a bathroom towel |
| glass is the most durable. It is very difficult to scratch | | | | color. Now pick out a color that is uniquely you. This |
| this tile and it is has hundreds of colors available. | | | | could be the color you want to accent your kitchen |
| Crystal glass tile cannot be used on floors or other | | | | in or the color in your curtains that you love. |
| horizontal surfaces. It will scratch. Some of these tiles | | | | Once you choose the first three colors you can |
| will even fade in direct sunlight. Metallic glass tiles have | | | | adjust them to what is visually appealing to you. You |
| a metallic vein that runs through each tile. These are | | | | might want 50% of one color, 30% of the second, |
| gorgeous tiles and durable. The iridescent tiles are | | | | 15% of the third, and 5% of some other color that |
| pretty but not for floors. The iridescent may scratch | | | | ties everything together. Custom blends give you |
| off over time. | | | | many options to get the perfect tile combination for |
| These tiles come mounted in various ways but are | | | | your space. |
| usually in a square foot section. The most popular | | | | Glass mosaic tile can be installed by you but it is |
| mounting for glass tiles is face mounted on paper. | | | | always recommended to hire a professional with |
| This allows the entire back of these tiny tiles to | | | | experience installing glass tile. There have been many |
| touch the adhesive. The second best mounting is | | | | instances where a glass tile installation has been |
| face mounted on tile tape for the same reason as | | | | ruined because an unknowledgeable installer puts the |
| the paper. The tape is just a little harder to pull off | | | | tile on backwards (paper side down), doesn't use |
| so you have to let your adhesive dry before | | | | spacers between sheets, or grouts in the wrong |
| removal. The last mounting style is back mounted on | | | | color. |
| mesh. This is what installers prefer because it is the | | | | |