The Return of Glass Mosaic Tiles
As early as 2500 BCE glass was already used in mosaics although these were of irregular and jagged shape. It was not until about 300 BCE that the Greeks, Persians, and Indians created the first glass tiles. These glass tiles were used extensively in the early Byzantine mosaics in the Middle East from the 6th to the 15th Century. They have been used to decorate and enhance royal palaces and castles, as well as cathedrals and monasteries. Most of them, however, were destroyed in wars and conquests.
Glass tile mosaics may have gone in the background for a while, but they are staging a resurgence. Their most popular uses today are in kitchens, bathrooms, pools, or spa areas. This comeback is because glass mosaic tiles offer a colorful and attractive luster that could liven up any room. They exude a certain kind of appeal that rivals that of ceramics or stones. Combined with creative lighting arrangements, glass tiles can really make you feel like you are in one of those royal palaces and castles.
Perhaps another reason for their increasing popularity is that they allow you to express your individuality by giving you the opportunity to make your own design in any color combination and in any pattern you want. Glass mosaic tiles come in sizes of 1″ or 2″ square or 1″ x 2″. This means it is easy to come up with even elaborate or intricate designs.
Technology has a played an important part in making glass mosaic tiles a feasible alternative to ceramic and stone tiles. With improvements in the annealing process of glass, it is now more durable and less prone to crack and shatter when subjected to pressure or stress. Also, the use of cast and fused glass methods provides a degree of plasticity that results in glass tiles of different colors and patterns providing you with an almost unlimited choice of designs and styles.
The growing environmental consciousness is also helping. Plenty of available glass mosaic tiles in the market come from recycled glass. They are sourced from broken windshields, windows of demolished buildings, and even glass bottles. Using glass tiles would free you from the guilt of having caused the felling of trees or quarrying of granite or marble for your floors.