Article by JackJ Reynolds
Based on the requirements it is available in various patterns, colors, shapes and styles. Any stain or moisture wont affect the quality of the glass tiles. It is traditionally stylish and has a new modern look. The tiles which are small and light weighing are used for decorating the walls and backsplash and the heavier ones are used for floors and counters. One of the best thing about the glass is that it shines and produces a glittering experience
In windows, mirror frames, floors and art works the glass tiles are used for edging. The tiles can be purchased with a reasonable price which is of good quality and is durable. These glass tiles needs no special care as it can be easily cleaned with a wet sponge. These tiles are a new add on to the modular kitchen and bathrooms. The tiles are reflective and shiny that adds beauty to that place. Its sparkling appearance attracts the people so that they also remodel their houses.
The larger tiles are often used in bathrooms as in shower areas or on the lower part of the bathroom walls. Mainly there are four types of glass tiles smalti, fused, sintered and cast.Smalti is colorful, textured and small format tiles. It can be used as a good building blocks for artistic mosaics. The glass tile is made from a paste or a glaze containing silica melted with potassium or sodium carbonate. The paste is heated at high temperature and rolled into a pancake-like slab of minimum 6 inches thick. After cooling the slab is cut into rectangular pieces of tiles.Fused is nothing but a flat glass cut into tile shapes and then heated. These tiles come in various sizes and it has a layer of opaque color which is visble through it and is shiny.
Sintered glass tiles are made from glass particles by pressing and heating until the glass particles are fused.These tiles are well known for its versatility and a scratch resistant finish. Cast type are made bymoulding a chunk of glass. These type of tiles are made by heating the mould until all the pieces melt and fuse together into a single layer. This type is mainly used in recycled tiles. Slumping and etching is done as surface treatments.During firing the slumped glass has been curved into concave or convex shapes. The slumped glasses are melted to relief molds with low heating.After cooling, the glass tile forms unique shapes.Etching applies a thin, luminous layer on the tile’s surface. Using abrasion, applying an acid etches like hydrofluoric acid or by applying cloudy glass surface on the top the etching layer can be formed.
