Bathroom Tiles

Not many people use these but they are nevertheless beginning toh have their presence felt in the bathroom interior decoration circles. These, if used well, can bring an exciting touch to the bathroom. Glass bathroom tiles, while being more costly than their ceramic counterparts are quickly gaining in popularity.

Glass tiles can be very different. The market offers at least 6 main types of glass tiles. These include Smalti, Slumped, etched, Cast, Fused and Gintered. Their names are derived from the way they are processed and formulated into tiles.

Smalti tiles are usually opaque and their popularity stems from their ability to hold intense colour. They are usually small and usually appear in mosaics. The word “Smalti” is actually Italian. This type of glass is derived from sodium/potassium carbonate melted together with a compound named silica.

Then there is the slumped tile. This ‘pillow’-shaped glass is usually curved during the process of reheating and usually ends up being flat.

The fused bathroom tile is also a flat pierce of glass time that undergoes factory heating and reprocessing to make it a clear tile. It also comes with a layer of opaque colour visible only through the tile.

Etched glass tiles share some similarities to fused tiles. The only difference is that they come with a thin translucent surface layer which gives them a hazy appearance. That explains why they have a “cloudy” look once they form the bathroom tile decor.

Cast tiles are very interesting tiles. They can have many different colours and can sometimes take on the appearance of a precious stone. They are created by placing small pieces of different glass together in a mould and firing them until they start to melt and fuse. This is a common look for recycled tiles.

Then there is the sintered glass bathroom tile. These are preferred because of their scratch proof and durable qualities making them ideal for bathrooms which have children or which have a lot of traffic. Their creation involves placing a glass powder in a mould and then heating it until the powder fuses with the compounds. Then the color particles are added by heating and this creates quite an alluring look.

Before installing glass tiles, ensure that you have adequate clothing. The first and foremost protective clothing is eye protection because glass particles are usually in abundance. Glass installation is usually different from that of ceramic or porcelain tiles.

This is some information regarding glass tiles. While porcelain and ceramic still dominate the bathroom tile market, glass bathroom tiles is becoming more vogue mostly because it is attractive and also durable and hygienic.