When I decided to remodel my kitchen, recycled glass tile was one of the materials I considered using. While I ultimately chose another material, recycled glass tile has become popular with architects and homeowners who are drawn to its unique aesthetic.
Ralart Mosaic contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
It&#;s difficult to say exactly how environmentally sensitive recycled glass tile is when you consider that the only environmental benefit is that it uses recycled materials. The glass must be melted to be used, a process that expends tremendous amounts of energy. And while it&#;s good to keep consumer waste out of landfills, glass can be recycled into many different things, not just tiles.
It is also difficult to get consistent color with recycled glass. For this reason, many manufacturers combine the types of glass they use. Some colors of glass tile may contain less than 25 percent of post consumer glass. That&#;s not to say that these tiles aren&#;t better environmentally than other options, just keep in mind that the actual environmental benefit may be quite small.
Glass Tile is Fragile
While glass tile manufacturers will often emphasize the ability of glass to resist stains and chemical damage, they are not as forthcoming with their product&#;s tendency to scratch and even shatter . For this reason, glass tile is probably best regulated to a backsplash or as a decorative accent to another material. If you are determined to use it on a more high traffic area, such as a foyer or even a kitchen countertop, choose a rough, cloudy variety to hide the inevitable scratches.
Glass Tile Installation: My Pro Tips
Installing glass tile is particularly difficult job when compared with other tiles. When you install ceramic tile, for example, you begin by applying the adhesive with a notched trowel, then pressing the tile onto the wall. With translucent glass tile the process is much more complex, as the individual lines of adhesive can be seen through the glass if care is not taken.
I have found the easiest way to avoid this is to smooth the adhesive with a metal trowel after applying it to the wall. The key is to make sure that the layers are even, and you must also know how much thin set is required to keep the tile in place. In general, I&#;ve found a 1/16" layer works well.
What I&#;ve found works even better is calling a professional to lay the tile, especially if you are using a mosaic variety. Mosaics up the complexity of installation, as well as the cost when compared to other glass tile varieties. Simply put, don&#;t attempt to install this tile until you&#;ve completed a few jobs using ceramic tile.
Disregard this advice and you may get lucky, and you may also ruin tile that can easily cost $30 per square foot.
Glass Tile: Green Building Material&#;or not?
With no particular green credentials, questionable durability and a high price point you may be inclined to believe that only the foolish are buying glass tile. However, recycled glass tile, no matter what its drawbacks, is an incredibly beautiful material. The right tile can elevate the entire appearance of the room, reflecting light where most tiles simply absorb it. Combined with other materials, even a small amount can give the whole room a greater appeal.
Related:
AboutGlassTile has a fantastic DIY How-To Tutorial on everything you need to know to cut, drill into, and install glass tile. And that&#;s not all&#;learn how to lay mosaic glass tile sheets!
Beautiful glass tile photo galleries of installed glass tile in bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, in and around pools, and flooring.
See how the 4 main types of glass tiles are made:
How are the 2 prominent glass tile surface treatments made?
For more information, please visit Recycled Glass Mosaics.
Glass Tile: A Sustainable Building Material
Oceanside GlassTile, a leader in handcrafted glass tile, reuses more than 2 million pounds of recycled glass collected curbside (cullet) and turns it into some of the world&#;s finest handcrafted glass tiles. Learn more about Oceanside GlassTile if you&#;re into it.
Image courtesy: David Ritter
I have a lot of hands-on experience in the home construction industry, with a good deal of experience in sustainable building. I&#;m mostly interested in home restoration and home renovations.
Did you know that Americans throw away enough glass bottles every two weeks to fill a 1,350 ft skyscraper? What a monumental waste of recyclable materials!
As glass is one of our most fascinating and recyclable materials, knowing more about it will do our environment a huge favor. Using recycled glass has become an important part of &#;going green&#;; such that recycled glass tiles are no longer only a trend, but also a new customer niche in remodeling and home decor. With more consumers seeking environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible solutions for their homes and businesses, there is a continuously growing demand for recycled glass in home remodeling projects. Eco flooring is on the rise!
creates a stylish and eco-friendly fireplace surround for a modern living area
Recycled Glass Herringbone Mosaic In Wood Color
What Recycling Means for the Environment
If you&#;ve ever dropped a glass, it&#;s easy to think of glass as a fragile material. Actually, glass is one of the longest-lasting man-made materials on earth given the fact that it takes around 1 million years for one glass bottle to decompose in nature!
- via Glass and Packaging Institute
To give you an example of the importance of using recyclable materials in your home, recycling one glass bottle will save enough energy to run a computer for 25 minutes. Additionally, materials produced from recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. Recycling glass also saves 30% of the energy needed to produce glass from scratch.
To transform from an empty bottle to beautiful tiles you're proud to display on your walls, glass goes through an amazing recycling loop until it is ready to become a recycled glass tile backsplash or floor. The process starts with the collection of these materials followed by careful selection and color sorting by the recycling production. The old glass is crushed and mixed with sand and other materials to form beautiful new glass. The result are beautiful sustainable building materials that will benefit generations to come!
Benefits of Recycled Glass Tile
Remodeling your home with sustainability in mind can significantly contribute to world's energy consumption. Many 'green' products and materials are also more durable and effective compared to non-sustainable products. Washington state&#;s CWC reports that &#;the strength and absorption properties of well-made recycled glass tiles is as good as, and often much better than, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) requirements for similar types of material.&#;
for a creative kitchen backsplash
Glass tile can be used on walls, floors, or as accents in combination with other materials. Certain glass tiles can also be installed outdoors for pools or spas - always look for the Area of Use when deciding which tiles are right for your project. Glass tiles are known to be non-absorptive, meaning they do not hold water or stains, and are resistant to chemicals. This makes them low-maintenance and easy to clean, reducing the use of harsh cleaning materials and adding another eco-friendly benefit!
In terms of aesthetics, glass tiles offer a wide variety of color options with a highly reflective quality. Ranging from neutrals to the most vibrant colors, these lustrous tiles offer a unique visual appeal for your home decor! In addition to offering an earth friendly building material, they come in classic designs like subway and penny round tile options.
See more of our Recycled Glass Tile collection to find the right look for your design!
Recycled Glass 2" Hexagon Mosaic In Blue Wood Color
The awesome thing about glass is that it's 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality. That means that recycled tiles are not just an eco-friendly solution for your next design project, but are a choice that will continue to benefit future generations. The gift that keeps on giving! So what's stopping you from going green?
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Pool Mosaic Tiles. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.