How to Buy Glass Mosaic Tiles
Glass mosaic tiles are gaining wide acceptance among homeowners as an attractive alternative to ceramic, clay, stone, or wood tiles either for floors, walls, or counters. These offer a wider range of colors to choose from, and these have an appealing sheen that can only come from glass. They are impervious to water and are just as durable as ceramic or stone tiles.
Most serious do-it-yourselfers with the proper tools can probably install the glass mosaic tiles themselves, but if you can’t tell the difference between a tile cutter and a wet saw, you might be better off hiring a professional for the job. Buying the tiles, however, is something you can do on your own.
Start by deciding which area of your house you want tiled. The most common places where they are used are in the kitchen, bathroom, and pool or spa. Get an accurate measurement of the area. Square and rectangular areas are easiest to measure as you only need to take their lengths and widths. For circles, you will need the radius; and for triangles, measure its base and height. Irregularly shaped areas are more difficult to measure but what you can do is to divide them into several small squares and rectangles.
Browse the Internet or visit local stores in you area to survey and examine the different glass mosaic tiles available. What you want depends on the intended use of the tiles. A set of tiles for your kitchen backsplash does not need to be as sturdy as another set suitable for floors. Decide whether you want a single or a combination of tile colors. Ask the dealer about the proper adhesive and grout for the tile as well as the recommended substrate.
Remember that although you may have more options when buying online, the colors that appear on your monitor may differ from the actual tiles. You can probably order a few samples from the supplier to verify the color, but keep in mind that different production batches may have different color tones. This is especially true with recycled glass tiles. However, if you are not too particular about subtle differences in colors, this may not be an issue.