4 Reasons to Install Glass Subway Tile
Don’t look now but glass tile is gaining in popularity over ceramic tile as the surface of choice in home tiling projects. That, combined with an old favorite pattern, has both designers and consumers excited over glass subway tile.
While typically more expensive (although prices have been coming down), glass tile adds a handcrafted, artistic quality that is easily worth the cost in terms of aesthetics as well as boosting property values.
Glass tile comes in a variety of forms and colors, which depend on the process used to create them. Some tiles are cut and cold-cooled while others are melted, cast and cooled.
In cold-manufacturing, there is no heat, just cutting of the glass. On the other hand, cast glass involves mixing sands and chemicals and melting them in a tank, which is then dropped into trays for cooling.
The end result can vary by color, thickness, size and shape. Some glass mosaic tiles contain tiny bubbles within each tile, which create a “still wet” look and makes for individual tiles that, like snowflakes, are one-of-a-kind. The varieties of glass mosaics allow for endless customization options, and its versatility fits both indoor and outdoor projects alike.
People are often surprised about the durability of glass. In fact, glass subway tiles 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. For example, glass is not porous so it does not absorb moisture.
Moisture penetration is the enemy of any tile project since it can spell mold and mildew. There is no such worry with glass tiles as long as it is properly installed.
Accolades for the subway tile pattern keep on coming even after years of design use. Simple but chic, there’s a reason subway tile is a classic. The ways you can utilize subway tiles in your home are only limited by your creativity.
Want to learn more? Here’s four reasons to use glass subway tile:
1. Beautiful Kitchen Backsplash
A glass mosaic tile backsplash is a great way to add color and visual interest to your kitchen. And with a subway pattern you can get a classic kitchen vibe in a snap. There are many ways to go to achieve the perfect glass subway kitchen design. The lines of a classic subway brick pattern are an excellent compliment to the vertical and horizontal lines of kitchen cabinets. For dark cabinets, go with a lighter colored subway tile such as pure white or sand. Darker glass mosaic tiles such as gray, blue gray, smoke or blue subway tile provide a compelling contrast for lighter kitchen cabinets.
And don’t be afraid of black. If you desire a modern looking kitchen with a sophisticated touch, black is great choice, especially contrasted with white or cream-colored cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
2. Elegant Bathrooms
An excellent choice for your bathroom, glass subway tile creates a unique glossy-glam look with a shiny, stylish finish.
Glass tile is a natural choice for shower walls because it’s water-resistant and is an effective way to add a pop of color and reflection.
There are many popular ways to incorporate subway tile into your bathroom. If you’re a fan of the classic white subway tile, this works well as a full tile wall in the shower as well as a half-wall as a backsplash. For contrast and added visual interest, consider using a darker grout.
Another interesting motif is to use a variegated simulated wood grain color on the full wall in your bath. This looks especially nice if you have a bathtub/shower combination. AquaBlu offers several simulated wood grains including Aspen and Bay.
3. Pattern and Size Variance
Another reason for subway tile’s ongoing usefulness in design is the endless array of patterns that can be composed from its rectangular shape. Besides the common brick pattern, they can be stacked vertically for a different grid-type look, or kept horizontal but with grout lines lining up one over another.
Subway-patterned glass from AquaBlu is available in several different sizes: 3” x 6”, 2” x 6”, 2” x 4”, 2” x 3”, 3” x 9” and 3” x 12”. These different sizes also help to create pattern variances.
One of those variances is called herringbone and is a compelling change of pace pattern from the classic subway pattern. The herringbone pattern is an arrangement of rectangles so named for a fancied resemblance to the bones of a fish such as a herring. This works well for both kitchen backsplashes and baths. Green or blue herringbone glass tile projects a calm, relaxing ambience for showers and bath space.
4. Immense Color Choices
When it comes to glass mosaic tiles, the colors are basically endless. At AquaBlu, a multitude of options are available to match your specific palette. Whether you want to brighten your kitchen walls with icy white subway tile or make it pop with a mosaic backsplash of natural and colored glass tiles, the choice is yours.
Grout also impacts the durability and look of the glass tile installation. Epoxy grouts are becoming popular for use with glass tile because of their longevity, strength and relationship with the glass. Epoxy grouts also come in a variety of colors, can be mixed with additives to adjust hue or create sparkles, and will not fade or change color over time.
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Want to know more about glass subway tile? Or maybe there’s something else on your mind. Talk to one of our experts. You can call us at (800) 971-1442 or fill out our contact form. You can visit our website at https://www.aquablumosaics.com/.