Glass mosaic tiles can give you many options that ceramic tiles cannot. Glass tiles are available in hundreds of colors including those hard to find reds, oranges, and yellows. There are also many sizes but by definition are usually no larger than 2". You will find these sold as squares, circles, and rectangles. So with all of these possibilities, how do you choose what is best for your space?
First decide where the tile will go. Some of the most popular applications are kitchen backsplashes, bathroom shower and tub surrounds, fireplaces, swimming pools, and spas. It is not recommended to put tiles onto a countertop because of all of the grout lines where food can get stuck. However many glass tiles can be used on flooring.
Now you need to decide which type of glass tile you want to use. There are basically 4 types of glass tiles used for installations; vitreous, crystal, metallic glass, and iridescent. All of these types are easy to clean and can be used on all vertical surfaces. Vitreous glass is the most durable. It is very difficult to scratch this tile and it is has hundreds of colors available. Crystal glass tile cannot be used on floors or other horizontal surfaces. It will scratch. Some of these tiles will even fade in direct sunlight. Metallic glass tiles have a metallic vein that runs through each tile. These are gorgeous tiles and durable. The iridescent tiles are pretty but not for floors. The iridescent may scratch off over time.
These tiles come mounted in various ways but are usually in a square foot section. The most popular mounting for glass tiles is face mounted on paper. This allows the entire back of these tiny tiles to touch the adhesive. The second best mounting is face mounted on tile tape for the same reason as the paper. The tape is just a little harder to pull off so you have to let your adhesive dry before removal. The last mounting style is back mounted on mesh. This is what installers prefer because it is the easiest to install. Check with your installer to make sure s/he is capable of installing face mounted tile.
Once you pick the type of tile best for your area, you need to pick the color or colors. This is where many people get frustrated. You can choose to use a solid color or you can create a custom blend of colors. This is the most popular because you can create a blend that is unique to you and your space. To create a blend, you have to use tiles of the same size. It is recommended that you choose between 3 and 5 colors. You can add as many colors as needed to get your desired effect but it will start to look cluttered if you add too many.
Choosing the colors is the most difficult part. It is recommended that you choose one color that matches your area such as your granite or bathroom floor tile. Now pick a second color that brings out a color in your space that is a little more hidden but you would like to see. This could be one of the faint veins of color in your granite or a bathroom towel color. Now pick out a color that is uniquely you. This could be the color you want to accent your kitchen in or the color in your curtains that you love.
Once you choose the first three colors you can adjust them to what is visually appealing to you. You might want 50% of one color, 30% of the second, 15% of the third, and 5% of some other color that ties everything together. Custom blends give you many options to get the perfect tile combination for your space.
Glass mosaic tile can be installed by you but it is always recommended to hire a professional with experience installing glass tile. There have been many instances where a glass tile installation has been ruined because an unknowledgeable installer puts the tile on backwards (paper side down), doesn't use spacers between sheets, or grouts in the wrong color.
Tammy Wise has been creating mosaic art for over 8 years. She has been published in major glass magazines and has done mosaic commission work for businesses. Tammy currently owns her own mosaic business in Owasso, Oklahoma. Tile Shack Mosaic Supplies ships superior products all over the world. Find plenty of supplies plus more information on mosaics at http://www.tileshack.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tammy_Wise |
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment