The use of tiles in the home has been around for ages. They are used for both decorative and personal purposes and there is a wide range available, not only in terms of colour and design but also in the materials used for the construction. These days the glass mosaic tile is becoming popular and you will find that glass mosaic tiles UK are increasingly being used.
There is more than one type of glass mosaic tile and you have the:
Vitreous Glass Tile
This is an opaque, almost stone-like glass that is also one of the most inexpensive and common glass mosaic tiles type. They are easy to cut and will leave a clean edge that is not as sharp as the more expensive glass tile. The average size is 1" square and is most commonly sold in bulk sized bags of 100 or more. They are good for indoor and outdoor use but not recommended for floor projects. Glass mosaics are mainly used to make a surface look attractive rather than durable.
Smalti Glass Tile
These are the jewels of the mosaic tile world. Made by hand in Venice Italy, they are the most beautiful and expensive of all the tesserae available today. The price will vary, determined by the colour and weight of the tile. They are famous for their applications throughout the world. First used by the Romans and the Byzantines, they have stood the test of time and continue to appear in higher-end design contracts. The reflective properties are second to none and the brilliant light refractions are unsurpassed by no other tile on the market.
There are 2 styles of Smalti glass tile available: "Light Reflective" and "Gold & Silver." The "Light Reflective" type is described above while the "Gold & Silver" includes gold or silver pressed between 2 thin, glass sheets and then fired.
Glass mosaic tiles can contain one or more of the following properties:
A glass mosaic item will look good placed where there is plenty of light and you will find that glass mosaic wall tiles will reflect the light and brighten up a room as well making it appear bigger. The surface of the tiles has to be kept clean and polished in order to look good.
Creative Tile
These are tiles made from broken china, glass, marbles, jewellery, wine bottles or even stone. Craft stores often carry a variety of these "broken" objects or you can simply make them yourself. The basic consideration is to find materials that are all about the same width so your arrangement will not become irregular and bumpy. Glass mosaic tile sheets are available to make installation and handling easier.
There is more than one type of glass mosaic tile and you have the:
Vitreous Glass Tile
This is an opaque, almost stone-like glass that is also one of the most inexpensive and common glass mosaic tiles type. They are easy to cut and will leave a clean edge that is not as sharp as the more expensive glass tile. The average size is 1" square and is most commonly sold in bulk sized bags of 100 or more. They are good for indoor and outdoor use but not recommended for floor projects. Glass mosaics are mainly used to make a surface look attractive rather than durable.
Smalti Glass Tile
These are the jewels of the mosaic tile world. Made by hand in Venice Italy, they are the most beautiful and expensive of all the tesserae available today. The price will vary, determined by the colour and weight of the tile. They are famous for their applications throughout the world. First used by the Romans and the Byzantines, they have stood the test of time and continue to appear in higher-end design contracts. The reflective properties are second to none and the brilliant light refractions are unsurpassed by no other tile on the market.
There are 2 styles of Smalti glass tile available: "Light Reflective" and "Gold & Silver." The "Light Reflective" type is described above while the "Gold & Silver" includes gold or silver pressed between 2 thin, glass sheets and then fired.
Glass mosaic tiles can contain one or more of the following properties:
- Iridescent - glass firing process that includes mineral salts to give the glass a pearlised appearance.
- Metallic - tiny metallic flakes are swirled into the glass and then fired, which creates a beautiful shimmer within the tile.
- Swirled - Mixture of different glass colours swirled into the base colour, creates various depths of hue and colour within each tile.
A glass mosaic item will look good placed where there is plenty of light and you will find that glass mosaic wall tiles will reflect the light and brighten up a room as well making it appear bigger. The surface of the tiles has to be kept clean and polished in order to look good.
Creative Tile
These are tiles made from broken china, glass, marbles, jewellery, wine bottles or even stone. Craft stores often carry a variety of these "broken" objects or you can simply make them yourself. The basic consideration is to find materials that are all about the same width so your arrangement will not become irregular and bumpy. Glass mosaic tile sheets are available to make installation and handling easier.
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