If you are thinking about using tile in your home, you are probably wondering exactly what type of tile it is that you want and need. There are so many choices of tile, and some varieties are better used in certain areas of your home and in certain applications than other forms of tile. Knowing what to use and when can be confusing.
While looking at tile, you may have heard a number of different terms, such as penny round, mosaic, textured, etc. What do they all mean? Let us start with the basics of tile to give us a good foundation for getting started.
I’ll go through the main types of tile: glass, ceramic and stone, and give you the pros and cons of each to help you make the right decision for your home.
Glass Tile
Glass tile comes in its own set of variations. You can get it in many different shapes, including bricks and penny rounds (which are round, flat tile, resembling the shape of pennies).
Glass tile comes in both translucent (you can see through it) and opaque forms. Glass tile is very strong and has a nice glow that will really take your room to the next level. With the luminosity of glass, you can make a strong style statement, from the cool blues of the beach to fiery reds that will spice up any space.
The main problem with glass tile is that it is hard to apply because proper installation is critical. If a bit of dirt gets underneath the tile when it is being applied, it will show through, ruining the look. If you have never applied tile before but prefer glass tile, you may want to call in a qualified professional to install it for you.
While some glass can be used on the floor, in general, glass tile is too fragile for this application.