I’ve done a number of small tiling jobs using ceramic and slate but not the new trendy glass tiles. How different is the installation? I’ve heard that it is trickier to install and grout. Any input would be appreciated.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding is excited to be the official media partner of the 2024 Building Science Symposium series! This event offers builders, tradesmen, architects, designers and suppliers to discuss topics ranging…
Featured Video
Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With ViewrailHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
White thinset only, please.
I wonder if anyone has dyed the thinset with say red or black or blue to make it show through on purpose?.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
"Most" of the glass tile have an applied surface on the back of the tile.
If there weren't, the mastic would show through on many of them. Or they are obscure enough that nthing shows through.
Eric[email protected]
On the finsih of the TOH project in Boston they where installing glass tile.
Said that they use the flat of the tile to put thinset on both the wall and the tile. A notched tile would leave ridges that would show through.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
From my experience, you are best off to contact the manufacturer of the particular tile ti find out exactly what they specify for installation materials as well as grout.
That way you have got your butt covered.
Eric
[email protected]
Glass tile IS tricky. My first one was a bit of a disaster. Adhesive squeezed between the tile, (1''x1" ) which then had to be removed before grout. (don't ask) Your working blind (paper face) so you can't see this during install. The tile guy on the site I'm at now laughed when I told him the story.(thanks) His solution, a latex additive for the grout, which basically turns the grout into a thinset. If it squeezes through, it dosen't matter. Grout as usual. Use a dry grout float to embed the tile flat.(if your working with small tile) Soak the paper face ALOT before trying to remove it.(another "don't ask" story) Glass tile nippers are handy as well.
Good luck
I've never done glass tile, but the last job I was at a small backsplash area was being done. The tile's applied backing was all chipped off the back where it had been cut. When I asked the installer about it, he said it always chipped and that he wasn't supplied with the touch up paint for this job. It really didn't look very good at the edges. the white mastic/thinset shwed through, pretty visible on the black tile.
Just something I'd never considered about the glass tile before. I don't know if anybody else has had that experience.