Blog : glass tile | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 2Flooring Supplies

The fact about Glass Tile

For centuries, glass has been a featured material in mosaic media to decorate and articulate a building. Glass tiles are essentially pieces of glass formed into consistent shapes. Glass mosaic tiles are suitable for both internal and external applications as they are impervious to frost, sunlight, and water. This quality makes it best suited for wet or constantly submerged areas. They are easy to clean, maintain, and they never discolor. Glass tiles have a varied application in black slashes of drawing-room, dining, kitchen, bath-room etc…, They are also used to highlight certain features. The spot lighting has further increased their use. Although glass tiles are complex to install the benefits and beauty makes us over see.

Production methods determine look and feel of a glass tile. There are four major types of glass tile based on their manufacturing method.

They are Smalti tile, Fused glass, Sintered and Glass casting

In addition, there are two other eminent glass surface treatments for these tiles: slumping and etching.

Smalti tile is type of glass tile which is Frosted glass, or opaque glass. It has been in use from ancient times. “Smalti” is an Italian word, and refers to a glass paste. Smalti is made by mixing molten glass with metal oxides for color. Translucent Smalti is a popular variant of smalti glass tile. It looks like stained glass with uniform colors.

Byzantine Glass is another smalti variant made from thinner slabs of glass. Metallic Smalti is a swirl of a copper-bearing mineral added into the molten glass before it is pressed. Gold Smalti are made by applying a gold leaf and a thin layer of blown glass.

Fused Tile is manufactured using the fusion method. In this type a flat glass is cut into tiles shapes and then fired in a furnace. The clear glass will show the tile until treated with a color. In this method colors are added to the top or bottom of the glass. Fused glass tiles are characterized with a translucent area and a layer of opaque color visible through the tile. These tiles are further treated with an etching or other coating, for aesthetics or abrasion.

Sintered glass tile is a variety made by pressing glass powder into dies and then heated until the particles fuse. The color is either added into the powder or added topically after cooling. Unlike smalti tiles, sintered tiles tend to have a uniform look. This milky and scratch-resistant finish makes it versatile.

Cast tile is made by inserting chunks of glass into a mold which gives it a layered look. Most recycled glass tile products are made using this method making it environment friendly.

All these variants can be treated to slumping and etching. Slumped glasses are curved into convex/concave shape during firing. Etched glass is a process of applying a thin-translucent layer on the surface of a tile. All these features give glass tile a unique appearance which is unachievable with the conventional tiles. The reverberant and depth of color makes them unique.

Creating custom bathroom designs using standard tiles

Tiles are one of the most widely used home décor materials. Tiles are renowned for their high durability, and the aesthetic appeal provided by them to a room. It is due to these reasons that tiles are ideal for different areas of the house, such as the kitchen and the bathroom. Tiles can ideally be used as tabletops, flooring or a simple wall design. Although tiles can be used on different area, they are generally used to enhance the décor and the effectiveness of the bathroom.

You can easily find tiles made up of different materials; however, ceramic and porcelain are ideal for bathrooms. This is so, since ceramic and porcelain generally do not absorb water, thereby minimizing the chances of dirt settlement and mold. Furthermore, these tiles are easy to maintain and do not require regular cleaning.

Apart from the durability and maintenance aspect, the other major reason for the popularity of tiles is the wide range of colors and designs available. While selecting tiles for your bathroom you should decide on the size of the tiles, as well as the décor that you want. However, if you want a solid colored bathroom then size would not play such a major role.

In case you plan to tile a small bathroom area then it is important to select light colored tiles. Light colors will reflect the available light in the bathroom, thereby making it look larger than it actually is. Furthermore, light colors will also give your bathroom an airy look, thereby making it a lot more comfortable. Along with the colors you should keep in mind that the designs on the tiles should not be too large. Tiles with extensive designs generally do not suit small bathroom areas.

In case you are looking for appealing shades in your bathroom then a mosaic tile design would be an ideal option. For example, you can use a mix of blue and white tiles, with blue tiles forming the lower portion of the walls and the white ones covering the rest. There are various complex mosaic designs available in the market for you to select from, as per your preference.

As far as the floor of the bathroom is considered you can either use the same designs as that on the walls, or you can opt for a completely new pattern. Generally, different designs on the wall and the floor help in balancing the colors of fixtures, in case they are different in color. If you are planning to install radiant heating system beneath the flooring you can go in for warm colored tiles. This will create a comfortable environment inside the bathroom, especially during the winters.

Tiles can be selected on the basis of their color, size, designs as well as material that they are made up of. In order to custom design your bathroom you can either use your imagination, or can take the help of a professional decorator. Whichever option you opt for, you can be sure that tiles are going to last for a long duration and will enhance the visuals of your bathroom.

Experiment with a wide variety of flooring options

Flooring is an integral part of any home, which enhances its visual appeal. The entire outlook of a room can be changed based on the kind of flooring used in it. There are different types of flooring options available nowadays; and you can select the one you feel, would look the best for your room.

While choosing the right kind of flooring, there are various factors that you have to take into consideration. The flooring you choose should blend easily with the interiors of your room. In case the room has less lighting or have dark colored interiors then you may select light colored polished floor as such a surface would reflect more light. Though light colored floors get dirty

Further, you must choose flooring which is comfortable for everyone in the house. For example, the highly glossy floors can be slippery and in case you have children who run around the house then there is danger of them slipping and sustaining injuries. Areas where plenty of water is used, you must choose the flooring that provides a better grip.

The most important factor when it comes to choosing the right kind of flooring is your budget. Some very important aspects\ that you must take into consideration while estimating the budget for your flooring are its type, installation, transportation and labor costs.

There are various flooring options available for you, such as tiles, marble, granite and hardwood flooring. Among the available options, tiles are preferred by many, since these are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes, along with being affordable. These are easy to install with minimal maintenance requirements. Tiles are available in different varieties, including vinyl, ceramic, vitrified, porcelain, glass and metal tiles. Another popular option is the hardwood flooring which is aesthetically pleasing and gives a warm-cozy look to the place. The hardwood flooring blends easily with every kind of decor; whether your room has a traditional outlook or has been designed in stylish manner, wooden flooring goes best with all sorts of interiors.

Other flooring options that you can consider include laminate flooring, carpet flooring and resilient flooring which encompasses cork, vinyl, rubber and linoleum. You can also opt for the stone flooring which offers a natural ambiance to your home. A popular stone flooring option is marble, which has gained immense popularity over the years and are available in different varieties. In case the budget is not an issue, then you should consider purchasing Greek, Italian or Spanish marble. However, marble floor requires a high degree of maintenance since it needs to be polished regularly to retain its luster and has a tendency to develop cracks. In contrast, another popular stone flooring option is granite; it is easy to maintain, though a little expensive than marble. You can use a combination of granite and marble for beautiful flooring patterns.

Before making a decision, sift through the various flooring options and wisely select the one which best suits your needs and budget, along with enhancing the look of your home.

Check out our Installation Schemes Pattern and Tile Calculator

State of the art bathroom within your budget

As with the other parts of your home, you would surely like your bathroom to be unique. Nowadays, most of the houses have state-of-the-art bathrooms which are a perfect blend of functionality and creativity. With just a little research & effort you could make your bathroom distinctive & attractive

A bathroom is the most personal space in your house and you would like it to be a reflection of your personal taste. In case you are constructing your home or renovating your bathroom, you should first consider the various options you have and work accordingly. You must research the market and see what all is available within your budget; thereafter you need to make a proper layout and plan your work accordingly. Before you actually start on planning the decor of your bathroom, you need to finalize the layout of pipes, sewer etc.

To begin with, you must decide the color that will primarily dominate your bathroom space. In case the size of the bathroom is small, consider light color as it will make your bathroom look bigger than it actually is. You can also mix & match contrasting colors to add an artistic touch and make the bathroom look more appealing.

Once you have decided the color, the next thing you need to choose is the flooring and walls. There are many options that are available, such as tiles, marble and granite. Amongst the various options, tiles are generally preferred as these are affordable, durable and easy to install and maintain. Moreover, these are available in various colors, patterns and types, such as glass, metal and ceramic tiles. Furthermore, decide about the various other essential components of your bathroom, such as sink, shower, bathtub and more. All these are available in various shapes patterns and sizes; hence give some due deliberation before you purchase these. With little experimentation and patience, it is possible to have a beautiful bathroom.

After all the basics have been taken care of, you can spruce up the bathroom interiors by using some dynamic bathroom accessories. Even if your bathroom is simple, you can make it lavish by adding style and grace with the help of light fixtures, vanities and accent. You can use contemporary light fixtures, such as ones with the steel body. Then according to the bathroom decor and color, select bathroom vanities such as shelves, shower seats and mirrors. To add the final touch to your bathroom, use accents to make your bathroom attractive. Use some beautiful paintings, houseplants, vases, potpourri, mats and other decorative items of your choice. All this will make your bathroom look grand and luxurious.

There are various companies offering such items, however, we provide durable and quality range of products, which is well within your budget so that you can have a splendid bathroom, without burning a hole in your pocket. Hence, a little planning and effort on your part, along with quality and affordable range offered by us; you will be proud owner of a state of the art bathroom.

Tiling ideas for your bathroom

Although you have the option of using a number of different types of materials in your bathroom; most people prefer to use ceramic tiles due to the various benefits these offer. Tiles can be conveniently placed and come in a variety of designs, colors shapes and sizes. Most people prefer ceramic tiles since they are highly durable, resistant to dampness and easy to clean. However, there are a number of other tiling options that you can avail in order to make your bathroom more attractive and aesthetically appealing.

In case you have used ceramic tiles of the same color in your bathroom you can create a contrasting border by using tiles of different colors. Such an integration of colors will significantly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom.

The grout is an important aspect of your bathroom, and selecting a contrasting grout color can enable you to create an attractive color combination in your bathroom. For example, if you have white tiles in your bathroom, you can select grout colors such as red, blue or green.

You can mix and match the size of tiles that you use in your bathroom. It is not necessary to use the traditional sized tiles; you can easily pick from a number of different options that are available in the market these days. Use your creativity in order to achieve a look that is as per your requirements.

Another great tiling idea for your bathroom is to use metal tiles instead of ceramic. Metal tiles, although a bit costly, are in vogue when it comes to designing the bathrooms, and are being used widely. Metal tiles are generally used to integrate mosaic with stone tiles.

The color combination of the tiles is not meant only to enhance the looks of the bathroom but also to give a soothing sensation. Therefore, you should carefully select the colors of the tiles for the floor or the walls of your bathroom in order to have a comforting experience while taking a shower or lying in the tub.

The colors selected can also make your bathroom look large or small. Dark colored tiles generally reduce the perceived size of your bathroom, while on the other hand light colored tiles reflect light and make your bathroom area look more spacious.

Another idea to improve the aesthetics of your bathroom is to use multi-colored tiles in the shower area and in other parts of the bathroom. Or in case you want to use the same colored tiles in the entire bathroom you can arrange them differently in the shower area and the rest of the bathroom.

These are just a few of the many innovative ideas that you can make use of, while tiling your bathroom. In order to make the right choice of tiles to select for your bathroom you should visit the website of reputed tile suppliers such as FlooringSupplyShop; here you will be able to shortlist and select tiles of colors and designs that best suit your specific taste.

Check out our Installation Schemes Pattern and Tile Calculator

Tag: glass tile

The fact about Glass Tile

Creating custom bathroom designs using standard tiles

Experiment with a wide variety of flooring options

State of the art bathroom within your budget

Tiling ideas for your bathroom

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