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Sep-25-2019

Key Differences Between Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tiles

Posted by creatingyourspace under Uncategorized

If you have ever visited a flooring showroom, you will notice how inspiring and beautiful tile’s design element can be. With numerous spectacular displays, there are literally hundreds of different options and designs, all at various price points. But before you make your purchase, it is important to know what types of materials are available to you and the key differences in tile products. To help, here is the lowdown on a few popular types of tile.

Glass

Glass tiles consist of really thin pieces of glass that are usually sold independently or in a mosaic-form, supported with a mesh material. Additionally, glass tiles are more colorful than other tile options. They are reflective and are ideal for backsplashes and walls.

Glass tile can create a really beautiful look, but it can be more expensive. Additionally, since glass is transparent, the adhesive can be visible through the material. That is why it requires installation from a flooring contractor to achieve the best, most flawless results.

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are produced from a mixture of water, clay, which is then heated at high temperatures. Most ceramic tiles are treated with a liquid coating that is heated under high temperatures to make it really durable. It is also considered more affordable, and you can purchase ceramic products in a variety of colors and patterns.

Stone

Stone tiles tend to be more expensive than most flooring products since stone tiles are handmade from natural materials. You will find that stone products typically have unique and bold patterns or designs. Additionally, when installing stone tiles, they must be sealed since they are prone to etching when encountering to harsh products.

Do you want to learn more about one of the tile products we discussed? If so, do not hesitate to call or visit us for more information. One of our expert sales associates would love to assist you. Thanks for reading!

Sep-9-2014

What Type Of Grout Should I Use With Glass Tiles?

Posted by creatingyourspace under Tile

There are a lot of different types of grout on the market today. Sanded, unsanded, epoxy, presealed – it can be difficult to figure out what type of grout to use with what type of tile. It’s important to use the right type of grout, however, to ensure that the installation looks right and lasts as long as possible.

Glass is very fragile with a low tensile strength. This means that it does not flex in any way and will crack instead. Therefore the grout and caulk joints in the installation need to do the bending and flexing for the glass. So your grout joints will typically not be any smaller than 1/8-inch, regardless of the size or style of the glass tile.

At 1/8-inch the grout joint begins to get large enough that it becomes more difficult to fill with a standard grout. Sand is used in this size joint and larger to help fill the joint and make it more stable. Most people get a little hesitant about using sanded grout with their glass tile – after all, won’t the sand scratch the glass? In most cases, the sand will not affect your glass at all. There are a few types of color backed glass tile that do need an unsanded grout; if this is the case, you salesperson should indicate it to you at time of purchase, or the tile should have instructions that includes this information.

In addition to the size of the joint, your grout needs to be able to flex as much as possible to protect the glass. Therefore, latex additive grout is usually recommended. The added latex will help the grout to bend without popping out of the joint or harming the glass it surrounds.

Occasionally, epoxy grout can also be used with some types of glass tile. Epoxy is hard to spread and work with, but it flexes and it fills up grout joints without scratching the glass. If you’re worried about mold and mildew in your bathroom, for example, epoxy grout can be a good option to use.