Comments on: Glass (mosaic tile) for kitchen counter? http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/ Sat, 19 May 2012 07:14:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Seth http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-360 Seth Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:41:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-360 Great question. I install custom high-end tiles and I retailed such for many years. I have to say... just about every answer to this quesiton that I have read thus far is incorrect. If you do choose to use a glass mosaic tile, be sure and use one that is manufactured by a reputable company. I recommend Bisazza... IT IS GLASS, sold in the US, and its found in many European countries in social areas where people actually walk! Anotherwards, it is very durable, difficult to scratch and when installed correctly, nearly impossible to break. Also, with a glass mosaic tile, you want to be sure and use an epoxy grout. These grouts are much more difficult to install but will not stain, fade, or change color... EVER. As for cons... the first would be price. Bisazza starts at $8.00 a sq and that would be for a very basic looking glass mosaic tile. Also, if you're paying for the installation, contractors do get more money for installing glass... you need an installer that has experience installing glass (not just ceramic tile)... very important. Lastly, most contractors also get more money for installing the epoxy grouts... but whether you use glass or any other kind of tile on a COUNTER TOP, make sure you use epoxy grout so you don' t ever have to worry about stains and maintenance of your grout. I say if that's what you want... pay for it and do it. Tile installations are already costly and it's worth paying for what you want. I just can't stress enough that you want to use good material, a tile setter that is well-experienced working with glass, and an epoxy grout. Good Luck<br><b>References : </b><br>Seth Gatewood - Tile Contractor. Great question. I install custom high-end tiles and I retailed such for many years. I have to say… just about every answer to this quesiton that I have read thus far is incorrect.

If you do choose to use a glass mosaic tile, be sure and use one that is manufactured by a reputable company. I recommend Bisazza… IT IS GLASS, sold in the US, and its found in many European countries in social areas where people actually walk! Anotherwards, it is very durable, difficult to scratch and when installed correctly, nearly impossible to break.

Also, with a glass mosaic tile, you want to be sure and use an epoxy grout. These grouts are much more difficult to install but will not stain, fade, or change color… EVER.

As for cons… the first would be price. Bisazza starts at $8.00 a sq and that would be for a very basic looking glass mosaic tile. Also, if you’re paying for the installation, contractors do get more money for installing glass… you need an installer that has experience installing glass (not just ceramic tile)… very important. Lastly, most contractors also get more money for installing the epoxy grouts… but whether you use glass or any other kind of tile on a COUNTER TOP, make sure you use epoxy grout so you don’ t ever have to worry about stains and maintenance of your grout.

I say if that’s what you want… pay for it and do it. Tile installations are already costly and it’s worth paying for what you want. I just can’t stress enough that you want to use good material, a tile setter that is well-experienced working with glass, and an epoxy grout. Good Luck
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Seth Gatewood – Tile Contractor.

]]> By: Bellz B http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-359 Bellz B Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:20:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-359 I just have to say this. I'm in the tile business and sell glass tiles on a daily basis. I might reccomend them for a light duty bathroom counter,but I most certainly woul NOT reccommend them for Kitchen counter use. They will withstand the heat just fine,that isnt the problem. They WILL scratch and the grout maintenance involved (even if sealed) would be horrendous. Save them for the backsplash use. Good Luck. Ballzie<br><b>References : </b><br> I just have to say this. I’m in the tile business and sell glass tiles on a daily basis. I might reccomend them for a light duty bathroom counter,but I most certainly woul NOT reccommend them for Kitchen counter use.

They will withstand the heat just fine,that isnt the problem.
They WILL scratch and the grout maintenance involved (even if sealed) would be horrendous.

Save them for the backsplash use.

Good Luck.

Ballzie
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]]> By: sglmom http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-358 sglmom Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:54:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-358 Not real functional -- and the problems of keeping them clean (especially mosiacs for any kitchen surface) would say to me (NO! Not for the Kitchen at all!).<br><b>References : </b><br>Does NOT matter where on the Kitchen Countertop -- I use ALL my countertop surfaces -- and that is a FACT. So no matter where, I will have something ready to cook, something I am mixing, something I am letting cool before serving, something ready to clean, etc etc etc. Not real functional — and the problems of keeping them clean (especially mosiacs for any kitchen surface) would say to me (NO! Not for the Kitchen at all!).
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Does NOT matter where on the Kitchen Countertop — I use ALL my countertop surfaces — and that is a FACT. So no matter where, I will have something ready to cook, something I am mixing, something I am letting cool before serving, something ready to clean, etc etc etc.

]]> By: altin http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-357 altin Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:11:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-357 nice thought. i work on mosaic and have make some nice kitchen works... i work a lot with sicis tiles. wonderfull colors and some good transparent tiles too if you're gonna put light behind www.sicis.com there you can find some nice tiles... good luck<br><b>References : </b><br> nice thought. i work on mosaic and have make some nice kitchen works… i work a lot with sicis tiles. wonderfull colors and some good transparent tiles too if you’re gonna put light behind
http://www.sicis.com there you can find some nice tiles… good luck
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]]> By: Michael W http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-356 Michael W Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:43:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-356 Are you using one color? Or a multitude of colors? The more colors you use the more it's going to look like a circus. I don't understand "a lightly used are by the sink". At our house that area has the most traffic. (Heavy pots, canned goods, wine bottles (or even soda cans and bottles) could cause chipping at the least. We have ceramic tile, there's just my wife and I. I wish you could see the chipped tile. (We're replacing it this fall). Once you've dropped a fragile object you can kiss that goodbye, as glass mosaic is as hard as tile. I don't mean to be negative and burst your bubble, I just shared what it's like at our house. Good luck.<br><b>References : </b><br> Are you using one color? Or a multitude of colors? The more colors you use the more it’s going to look like a circus.

I don’t understand "a lightly used are by the sink". At our house that area has the most traffic. (Heavy pots, canned goods, wine bottles (or even soda cans and bottles) could cause chipping at the least.

We have ceramic tile, there’s just my wife and I. I wish you could see the chipped tile. (We’re replacing it this fall).

Once you’ve dropped a fragile object you can kiss that goodbye, as glass mosaic is as hard as tile.

I don’t mean to be negative and burst your bubble, I just shared what it’s like at our house. Good luck.
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]]> By: Erica G http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-355 Erica G Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:59:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-355 It will probably look great but not the best functional idea... those tiles are very fragile... Once they get scratched or cracked they wont look as fresh as they did...<br><b>References : </b><br> It will probably look great but not the best functional idea… those tiles are very fragile… Once they get scratched or cracked they wont look as fresh as they did…
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]]> By: hamburger http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-354 hamburger Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:39:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-354 my parents did it in their bathroom - so far, so good.. and it looks great too!<br><b>References : </b><br> my parents did it in their bathroom – so far, so good.. and it looks great too!
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]]> By: kazak http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter/#comment-353 kazak Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:21:59 +0000 http://www.glassbythebay.org/glass-mosaic-tile/glass-mosaic-tile-for-kitchen-counter#comment-353 More likely to scratch or break, not heat resistant and the tiling can retain bacteria. Careful where you lay it down, can make any future work on your kitchen a nightmare.<br><b>References : </b><br> More likely to scratch or break, not heat resistant and the tiling can retain bacteria. Careful where you lay it down, can make any future work on your kitchen a nightmare.
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