Glass Tiles

Although not as popular as tiles comprising more traditional materials such as granite, limestone, marble, ceramic and porcelain, glass tiles are durable and aesthetically pleasing products for use in the home. Indeed, glass tiles can be used in just about any room of the home and are purchased predominantly for their natural transparency, which can achieve a truly stunning look when combined with the appropriate lighting. However, glass is not always seen as the ideal choice of tile for use on floors in bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens as the material can become slippery when wet. Needless to say, slippery glass floor tiles in a bathroom or wet room is extremely undesirable, although certain types of glass floor tile that do not pose a significant slip hazard are now available. As with so many aspects of buying wall and floor tiles, it is often sensible to speak to sales assistants in regard to the suitability of a particular tile, whilst physically inspecting the tiles can also prove useful.

Aside from the potential slip hazard, glass tiles feature a number of key benefits for customers. Notably, glass tiles are impervious to water, which brings them back into contention for use in bathrooms and wet rooms. Indeed, glass wall tiles are especially beneficial for customers as the moisture that frequently builds up in bathrooms and wet rooms cannot penetrate through the tiles, which helps to protect the wall underneath. In fact, glass tiles are particularly advantageous in this respect as, unlike tiles comprising solid stone materials such as limestone, granite, slate and especially marble, they are completely non-porous and do not require sealing or waxing in order to make waterproof. By protecting the wall underneath, glass tiles are not only able to eliminate the risk of rot and damp affecting the structure itself but they can also prove useful in maintaining human health by reducing the risk of mould growth, the spores of which are particularly damaging when travelling through the steamy air surrounding showers.

Moreover, glass tiles can also help to aid human health by reducing the build up of bacteria in bathrooms and kitchens. Indeed, where walls in such rooms are not tiled – and even where specialist kitchen or bathroom paint is used – the probability that bacteria will thrive is relatively high. Of course, painted walls are not all that easy to clean thoroughly and many will harbour food particles and grease stains that, over a short passage of time, will allow bacteria to multiple and spread throughout the room. This is especially damaging in kitchens, which must be kept clean for the safe preparation of food. Thus, glass tiles, which are typically smooth in texture, can be very easily wiped clean. Not only will this allow bacteria to be removed before they have the chance to become a major health issue but the very food and grease particles that encourage their growth can be easily spotted on glass tiles. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of painted surfaces and, in fact, some other types of tile.

The same properties affecting hygiene also make glass tiles useful on floors throughout the home. However, as stated above, it is always important to install glass floor tiles that will not become slippery when wet. This is especially important where children or the elderly are concerned. Thus, glass floor tiles that have an unglazed finish and are slightly roughened will offer a compromise between the smooth hygienic appeal of traditional glass tiles and commonsense principles of safety and practicality. As always, it is important to inspect or enquire about a particular type of glass tile – and its suitability for use on kitchen and bathroom floors – before actually making a purchase. Nevertheless, glass floor and wall tiles are exceptionally easy to clean and are resistant to most chemicals and cleaning agents designed for domestic use. Furthermore, glass tiles will not scratch easily, so slightly more abrasive cleaning materials can be used than would be suitable for, say, natural stone tiles.

Glass tiles are also ideally suited to anybody suffering from allergies. Indeed, carpets, rugs and some other kinds of flooring, not least wallpaper and painted walls, tend to provide the perfect breeding ground for dust, mites and other such nasties that can have a damaging effect on the human lungs. Although air purifiers can reduce or eliminate many of these problems, the easiest and most effective solution is to replace carpets and wallpaper for glass tiles that do not attract mites and can be easily dusted and cleaned.

One common misconception held by those buying floor and wall tiles is that glass tiles are less durable than natural stone products such as granite, limestone and slate. Whilst solid rock tiles can be immensely strong, glass tiles are actually surprisingly durable, which makes them ideal for use in high traffic areas of the home such as kitchens and hallways. However, in respect to using glass tiles throughout the home, some people will find that their cold feel is a little too uninviting for the living room or bedrooms. Furthermore, glass tiles are not all that cheap when compared to some other types of tiles, although they are not usually the most expensive products available. In fact, glass tiles are very often made from recycled glass, so the costs involved in their construction can be balanced against the environmental benefits they offer.

Coming in a range of different styles, shapes, sizes and colours, glass tiles can be easily installed to subfloors and wall surfaces without the level of preparation required for solid stone tiles. Due to their durable nature and non-porous composition, glass tiles can be fitted to floors and walls directly without the need for PVC membranes, sealant or wax. However, a common mistake made by those installing glass tiles is that they fail to undertake a dry run, which refers to the act of arranging an outer row and column of tiles that meet at a right angle and are an equal distance from the walls. When placed into this temporary position, the tiles can be outlined using a pencil before being fixed into place. This basic template will shape the remaining installation and ensure that mistakes are kept to a minimum. Floors and walls must always be made level and clean before glass tiles are laid.

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