Glass Tile: Add A Little Shine To Your New Year

Glass tile brings shine, drama and depth to your home's surfaces and its lovely luminescent quality makes it an ever more popular choice for kitchens and baths. True, it is a little more expensive than ceramic tiles, but the artistry it brings to the project makes it well worth the extra cost.

How's It Made

Glass tiles can be made in several ways including cut and cold-cooled, processes in which there is no heat, just cutting or casting (which means mixed chemicals and sands are melted in a tank, then dropped into cooling trays). The glass will vary in color and shape—even texture—with some tiles retaining little bubbles within. Each tile will be as unique as a fingerprint and with infinite varieties comes many ways to customize each tile project to suit your individual taste.

How Does It Hold Up?

Don't let glass tiles fragile appearance fool you—it can be as strong and durable as ceramic tiles. Since glass is not porous, it doesn't absorb moisture (which allows for the growth of mold and mildew). If the glass tiles are properly installed, they will last (and remain beautiful) through years of use.

What Is “Proper Installation”?

An experienced installer will be knowledgeable in both cutting the glass or setting the individual tiles correctly. In the case of glass tiles, where the tiles are translucent, the thin-set (subsurface) must be perfect and is usually white to create a clear background that won't affect the color of the glass. Grouting is important, too. Usually epoxy grouts are used because they last a long time, are non-porous and non-absorbent (like the glass tiles themselves) and resist breakdown and stains. They are mixed with hues (and even sparkles if you choose) as well as with antimicrobial products, like Microbran, to discourage the growth of mold and mildew. This also means the grout will need very little maintenance over the years--though it's rubbery characteristics required an experienced installer. Amazing Spaces, LLC hires the best installers in the business for our clients' installations.

Types Of Glass Tile

From hot crayon colors to shimmering opalescent, the palette and types of glass tiles are infinite. Recycled glass tiles are eco-friendly, mosaic tiles come on a mesh backing allowing you to create flowing shapes and there are hundreds of handcrafted tiles from which to choose. Squares are no longer the only shape—now you can intersperse different colored rectangles or even shapes reminiscent of nature, like glass pebbles. Your imagination is your only limit.

How To Care For Glass Tile

Since the tiles aren't porous, they are very easy to clean, but be aware--you never want to scratch glass tiles, so use a soft cloth and water. Also hard water might cause some mineral spots. These are best removed with white vinegar sprayed on to the tiles. Rinse and neutralize with baking soda. Wipe with a soft cloth. With gentle care, your glass tile installation will remain shining and gorgeous for years.

If you are considering adding a bit of dazzle to your kitchen in 2012, the professional team at Amazing Spaces, LLC stands ready to help. Headed by Jason Landau (an award-winning kitchen designer with a Masters degree in Architecture) the team at Amazing Spaces, LLC will make your dream a reality. Please visit our website at www.amazingspacesllc.com or call us at 914-239-3725.

Stone Tiles: Which Texture Should You Use?

While deciding whether to go with the beauty and durability of stone tile for your kitchen or bath project, there are a few decisions left to make and a bit more information you'll need to make informed choices.

Here are the six most basic stone tile textures and what are the characteristics of each:

Polished stone tiles are shiny and the gloss helps bring out the inner beauty of the stone. The shiny surface comes not from something applied to the stone, but by manipulating the stone itself. This texture is most often used on countertops and walls, because though it doesn’t absorb moisture, it does get slippery making it a less-than-ideal choice for flooring.

Honed stone tile has an unglazed surface and less gloss than a polished stone. Since it has a more porous surface, it does present a duller (or flatter) appearance, but it's rough surface provides traction—making it a good choice for floors.

Tumbled stone tile has a slightly rough texture (it gets it when it is tumbled with other types of natural stone) to make it look slightly worn or weathered.

Sandblasted stone tiles have a slightly glossy finish on a textured surface. The sandblasting process can also etch designs and images in stone tiles.

Sawn stone tile has a unique surface made by using a “gang saw”-- a circular blade machine. Combining this technique with others like sandblasting can work together to create a truly one-of-a-kind tile.

Flamed stone tile is exposed to a very high level of heat, making the natural crystals in the stone literally explore leaving behind a textured surface. This type of stone tile is porous, making it a bit rough and adding some slip resistance.

Working with a professional kitchen and bath designer like Jason Landau at Amazing Spaces, LLC can help with you make the right decisions about your stone tile and all materials choices. Jason Landau at Jason brings two decades worth of experience in space planning, kitchen and bath design and working with the world's finest cabinetry firms to your project. 

Call him today at 914-239-3725 or visit www.amazingspacesllc.com.