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Expert Answers
Was the glass tile in my shower installed correctly?
QUESTION
We are having glass tile installed in our shower. The tile is clear with white at the back. We are noticing that the edges of the tile as installed and grouted are not a uniform color. They within the same tile there are areas of light and dark. The shower has been used and the discoloration seems to be worse after shower use, but it is there all the time. I'm looking to see if the tile was installed properly.ANSWER
ANSWER - Some translucent glass tiles are coated with a white coating so that you can't see the conditions under the glass tile. When there isn't a white coating on the back of the glass tile, then the installer has to make sure the thin-set mortar adhesive is a uniform color and that the thin-set mortar is applied with continuous flat manner. Otherwise you can see the difference in color of the thin-set mortar and any voids in the thin-set mortar with translucent glass tiles.You say that the edges of the glass tile, after it is grouted, are not uniform in color, and that the discoloration worsens when the shower is used. I'm assume that you are saying that the top side/edge of the glass tile is visible. So maybe there are some voids along the edges of those class tiles that fill with water after the shower is used and that is what you are seeing?
Maybe you are describing that grout that has color variation. It is normal for cementitious grouts to have some grout color variation when dry and wet.
Either way this condition may or may not be considered a problem depending on whether there are any resultant damages caused by the condition other than aesthetic concerns. Glass tile mosaics are normally a fairly irregular material dimensionally, so it tends to have many more imperfections which gives it its character. The larger modular glass tiles are more consistent, but still has variations.
These tiles are installed in a craftsmanship manner so there will be inconsistencies in the installation, which is inherent in the material and process. Of course there can be poor workmanship that results in variations that are excessive.
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Hello, blue glass tiles were recently installed in our shower. The glass tiles have a white back coating with an eggshell feel. The glass tile is from China but sold from Floor Decor. The thinset used was Mapei Adesilex P10 Premium Glass tile thinset, also sold from Floor Decor. The tiles were installed on RedGuarded cement board. The tiles showed discoloration (white spots behind the glass) a day or two after installation. When some tiles were removed, it seems the white spots/discoloration are bubbling up of the back decorative coating of the tile. The back coating seems to give the glass the blue color and seems to be getting pulled off after the tiles are installed. Interestingly, the Mapei thinset bag says not to use with glass tiles with decorative back coating. We are trying to install more of these tiles but unsure whether to use the same thinset or perhaps the thinset was mixed inappropriately? Floor Decor and Mapei both do not think the thinset reacting with the tile is the problem. Floor Decor maintains that the Mapei thinset can/should be used with the tiles. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
There must be a reason why Mapei thinset bag says not to use with glass tiles with decorative back coating…. So I would not use that thinset. That would be a good test, to use an ANSI A118.15 improved polymer modified thinset that does not have that limitation that is suitable for a glass tile. See if you still have the same problem.
Translucent glass tiles will show differences based on the color of the thinset mortar or if there are voids in the thinset mortar. Normally the white backing on the glass tile is to limit what can show through. Apparently that coating is being compromised in some way where perhaps it creates these white spots.