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