Glass is not always associated with durability, but in truth, glass tile can be just as strong and long-lasting as ceramic tile. By nature, glass tile retains certain properties that make it more resilient than ceramic tile. Glass tile is also a versatile material, and thanks to the wide range of colors, opacities, and finishes available, it can add a unique sense of eclectism to designs. Glass tile backsplashes may be where most people are most accustomed to seeing this material, but glass tile has many options for other applications.

• Choices - Glass tile is one of the most fun materials to design. There are endless options of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes available today. The last decade has allowed glass tile innovation to flourish, making glass tile one of the easiest materials to fit into any design style. 
• Stainproof - Glass tile is impervious to moisture and will not stain. However, keep Glade plug-ins and other oil-based products away from all tiled walls as they will stain the grout.
• Nonporous - Glass tile is not porous and does not absorb moisture. Moisture penetration is the enemy of any tile project since it can lead to mold and mildew. However, if it is properly installed, glass tile has no such worry. 
• Unaffected by UV rays means it won't fade from exposure to sunlight  
• Easy to clean 
• Thickness from 1/8" to 3/8" - Glass comes in various thicknesses. That can be helpful when you need a specific thickness based on jobsite requirements. Talk to your installer about suitability before purchasing or specifying glass less than 3/8" thick. 

Glass tiles come in various forms and colors, depending on the process used to create them. Some tiles are cut and cold-cooled, while others are melted, cast, and cooled. The result can vary by color, texture, thickness, size, shape, and application. The varieties of glass tile allow for endless customization options, and its versatility opens the door to indoor and outdoor projects alike. 

Cast Glass Tile:

• Through-body color—The casting process involves pouring molten glass into a mold and allowing it to cool, resulting in glass tiles that can be any shape, size, and through-body color.  
• Cast glass tile textures vary from smooth to wavy with inherent folds, bubbles, and creases. The texture can also show fissures, which are often mislabeled as cracks. Grout left in fissures will highlight them.
• Versatile—Cast glass can be installed anywhere, including a shower floor, exterior freeze/thaw conditions, and submerged applications. Before specifying any material in these areas, it is important to check with the manufacturer.
• Due to the color (pigment) being in the tile rather than painted on the back, this tile can often be opaque.  A white thinset should be used, and the grout color should be well thought out so as not to interfere with the glass color and design. 
• Examples: Agate, Tommy Bahama 

Fused Glass Tile:

• The fusing process for glass tiles involves altering sheet glass units through heat, allowing for different materials and glazes to be fused to the glass and allowing for any color or pattern.
• The fusing process allows for a variety of textures and finishes, which can be smooth, textured, uniform, or non-uniform.
• It may not be approved for floors or exterior use. Check with the manufacturer before installation.
• Examples: Glass Hues

Low Temperature-Coated Glass Tiles:

• Manufacturing low-temperature-coated glass tiles involves transferring decorative coatings through heat, typically on the back of transparent sheet glass units, at temperatures lower than the fusing process.
• A broad spectrum of colors and patterns are available.
• Examples: Tomei, Savoy Glass 

Sintered Glass Tile:

• They are made by pressing glass powder into dies and heating until the particles fuse.   
• In this method, color is either added to the powder or added topically after cooling.   
• These tiles are often sold in arrays of 1x1 squares but can come in sizes up to 3x3.   
• Unlike Smalti tiles, sintered tiles tend to have a uniform look.   
• With their milky-scratch-resistant finish, sintered tiles are known for their versatility & are floor-safe.                                                  
• Examples:  The Press, Sugar & Truffle Collections 

Stained Glass Tile:

• Cut down from large sheets (typically 24" by 48")  
• Stained glass tile is the thinnest of all the glass types.
• The color is through the glass, not painted on.
• Colorful, often swirly in texture.
• It is not safe for floors but beautiful on walls and windows, especially with back-lighting or in waterjet patterns.  
• Stained glass is typically pricey because of its design and creation complexity, but lower-priced options are available.   
• Examples: Jazz Glass, Jazz Glass Patterns, Billie, and Botanicus 

If you are installing your glass tile in a location other than an interior drywall, always check with the manufacturer for acceptable application use. Glass tile has many characteristics that determine whether it is suitable for your project requirements. This is the most important nuance to learn. Read on to learn why.

Thermal Shock: Glass is more sensitive to temperature changes. Thermal Shock - ANSI A137.2 requires thermal shock resistance testing using a 100°F temperature range and passing the test is mandatory for all glass tiles except those intended for dry interior wall applications. Unlike ceramic, not all glass tiles in the market can withstand the range of temperatures outdoors. Always confirm with the manufacturer before using glass tile in exterior applications, kitchens, fireplaces or other areas where rapid temperature changes might occur. 

• Anything larger than 3x6 is open to cracking in places with major temperature changes. Therefore, nothing bigger than 3x6 glass can be placed in wet areas or fireplaces. Some exceptions may apply depending on the product manufacturing process.
• Expansion or caulked joints must be used in wet applications for sizes larger than 3x3 glass tile.

Opacity:Glass tiles are produced in a wide array of opacities, from opaque to transparent. The extent to which you can see through a tile is important when selecting installation materials and even how the tile is installed. Whether to use white or gray mortar and smooth out the trowel lines relates directly to the tile opacity.

Characteristic or Defect: Inherent properties such as folds, creases, and bubbles can result from casting, which many consider to add to the beauty and individuality of cast glass tiles. ANSI A137.2 establishes the appropriate aesthetic attributes and defects. For example, if a cast glass tile has a bubble inside the body, the bubble is classified as a beauty mark, but if that tile has a bubble on the surface that creates a sharp edge or crater, the bubble is classified as a defect.

The aesthetic criteria, though, for fused and low-temperature-coated products are different from those of cast glass tiles. Greater uniformity is more easily achieved for fused and low-temperature-coated products, and the aesthetic criteria reflect that.

Matte Surfaces: Sintered glass with a matte surface, or any matte glass in general, may show dirt more and be more difficult to clean. Sintered glass may require denatured alcohol to remove difficult stains.

Mounted Tiles:Since glass tiles are generally sold and installed as mounted assemblies, whether they are back-mounted or face-mounted products is an important aspect to consider. ANSI A137.2 recommends that glass tiles intended for submerged applications be face-mounted to prevent problems stemming from improper coverage or backing material failure. This is also true for steam showers.

• Paper Faced- Some glass tiles, particularly in mosaic tile sheets, are adhered with a piece of paper on the FRONT side of the tile. This is done to achieve a 100% bond during installation. It then looks like you are installing it wrong, but that's not the case. The paper is easily removed after the tile has been installed, but before the thin set has cured any placement issue can be rectified. It is recommended that the tile in a submerged application be paper-faced. This is a common mistake, and very easy to avoid.  
• Mesh Backed: This is the most common mosaic backing for tile because it is inexpensive and easy to install.  The main drawback to mesh-mounted mosaics is that the mesh contributes to a lower direct bond rate, which can vary depending on the mesh used. 
• Face Taped: Certain glass types, such as cast glass, are potentially transparent.  Any mesh backing would be seen through the glass tile, taking away from the tile design itself.  The backing is not intended to be seen!  So, instead of assembling the mosaic from the back, they are assembled and held together from the front. Due to this, during installation, the paper or clear tape should be facing out and will be removed after the tile has been installed for a certain amount of time (for example, 15 minutes after installation).   

Some information in Glass Tile Nuances sourced from "Introducing ANSI A137.2 – The New Standard for Glass Tile," by Ryan Marino

From a design perspective, glass mosaic tiles provide wonderful opportunities to play with color, whether subdued neutrals or bold brights. Whether translucent or opaque, they catch and reflect light to brighten up a space and marry well with other natural surfaces, including stone, ceramic, and wood. They also show off plenty of special effects, from "hammered" metallic to matte sea glass to textural treatments that mimic variegated stone or woven fabric.

• Colors - don't be fooled by all the pictures of blue glass tile. Glass tile comes in every color and hue in the rainbow. It just so happens that blue glass tile is popular so there is lots of nice photography to inspire you.
• Grout is part of the Design - Because its reflective, glass picks up the colors of the materials near it, including grout. If you want to highlight a mosaic shape, opt for a contrasting grout color. For a blended look, match tile and grout. Contrasting grout makes any spacing irregularities very obvious and will also highlight where sheets connect, which can be an issue with low-quality material or a sloppy installation. For more information on grout's featuring role in design, check out the Architessa Expert Guide on Grout.
• Applications - Glass tile is often seen on glass tile kitchen backsplashes, as glass pool tile, glass shower tile, and glass tile mosaic murals; but the truth is, glass tile can be used in most applications as long as you are weary of its nuances such as temperature changes.
• Glass pairs nicely with other surfaces, particularly stone and ceramic. Many mosaics are available with mixed materials, providing texture and a tactile-focused design. 
• Glass pigments are natural minerals like ceramic tile glazes, so dye lots can vary from batch to batch. This means ordering the required material plus extra is important when possible. 
• Discuss the thickness of all specified materials with your installer before purchasing or planning your project. 
• Always check on special instructions or specialized setting materials with glass tile installations. There may be special requirements for proper bonding & grouting. 

GENERAL TIPS

• Soft Grout Joints & Thermal Expansion: Glass has a higher expansion coefficient, making more movement accommodation necessary. This makes soft grout joints and an experienced installer important.
• Cutting: Use a glass blade to cut glass tile. Experienced installers will use tricks to prevent breakage during cutting, such as taping the front and back or applying silicone beads (although this can be messy) over the area right before cutting. 
• Substrates:Glass tiles have high breaking strengths but require a more rigid substrate. See an example of our waterproofing products, such as Hydroban or Kerdi. Substrates must be very stable and rigid. A waterproof, anti-fracture membrane like Laticrete Hydroban is recommended to cover your substrate. Glass tile should never be bonded to wood substrates, and any organic adhesive is typically not recommended for use with glass. Some manufacturers even recommend that mortar bends be cured for 7 days prior to installation due to the impervious nature of glass tile.
• Metallic-Backed tile-  specialty glass with metallic backing may require a specialized epoxy thin set or other specialized setting material. Always check with the manufacturer before installing specialty glass.
• White Thinset is required with opaque glass. A special glass tile thinset is available formulated specifically for this material. Always check with the manufacturer on what thinnest is required, as some glass requires epoxy.

CLEANING

Use a soft, lint-free cloth and a nonabrasive cleaner to keep glass gleaming. With cementitious grout, avoid acid-based cleansers, including distilled white vinegar, which can weaken it. The mineral buildup may necessitate more frequent cleaning in areas like the shower.

ARCHITESSA RESOURCES

For more information on the installation and care of glass tile, see the comprehensive Care & Maintenance, glass tile installation, and case studies below.