Pros and Cons of Glass Tile

Learn important information to consider when choosing glass tile for your next project.

Glass tile, and especially glass mosaic tile, is a very popular choice for many different applications. While most types of glass tile are not suitable for flooring, there are still many other opportunities for incorporating this type of tile into your home or business, including kitchen backsplashes, shower stalls, and accent walls. Before you decide whether or not to pursue glass wall tile for your next design project, consider these pros and cons of glass tile.

Pros

Beautiful Appearance: The chief appeal of glass tile is of course its beautiful appearance. Glass tile is available in a huge variety of colors and styles, and some manufacturers even offer the choice of a smooth edge or a rustic cut to create different textural looks. The reflective nature of the tile also helps to unify disparate tones so that you can create a cohesive look even when using very different colors within the same space.

Brightens Spaces: Glass tile is an excellent choice for small or dark spaces because it reflects light, making rooms look bigger and brighter. It can also help complement rooms with lots of natural light by spreading that light around.

Easy Cleaning & Maintenance: Glass tile is resistant to most chemicals and to moisture, making it a natural choice for the kitchen or the bathroom. It is very easy to clean with simple soap and water.

Green Building Material: Another advantage of glass tile is that it is considered an eco-friendly building material. If you like, you can find recycled glass tile to use in your project, or you can just enjoy peace of mind knowing that when you tire of your glass tile, it can easily be recycled into other products.

Cons

Can Be Costly: Depending on the type of glass tile chosen, it might run from $7 per square foot to $30 or more. If you have a very large expanse of space to cover, you might be constrained by your budget to using a different sort of tile. However, you can always use glass tile for a cost-effective border or accent.

May Scratch: Some types of glass tile can scratch if exposed to abrasive cleaners or other abuse.

Requires Careful Professional Installation: Glass tile can be difficult to use in a DIY project for two reasons. First of all, if you need to cut the tile this often requires a bit more care than cutting your average ceramic tile. Secondly, depending on the translucency of your glass tile, you may need to be very careful about spreading the adhesive. Any comb marks or other imperfections will be visible through the tile. Some types of small glass mosaic tile come preset on a backing which helps to mitigate this difficulty.