That comment about glass cracking for no reason is absolutely true. We just installed glass tile mosaic with 1 inch squares, and it's already cracking, despite using the high polymer and leaving room to expand and whatnot. Nobody mentioned this to us at any point when we were shopping for it. I honestly can't believe glass tile is even a thing. Had I had any idea I never would have used it.
Yet another video full of exactly what I needed to know, thanks again for the education. I'm a carpenter turned tile layer thanks to the videos you make.
My first "Sal" video. Your experience shines through. I removed a hideous 3-inch wide, hunter green accent strip of individual diamond shaped 1.5 inch tiles...about 11 linear feet, shoulder high, in our master bath walk-in shower...leaving the 4 x 4 white tiles in place. Tough to get out without damaging adjacent tile and the wall behind the tile. No tile-guy I talked to wanted to tackle it. About to replace with glass and marble mosaic tiles. REALLY appreciate the tip on sealing marble BEFORE grouting...I was planning to do it after, not knowing any better, and also the tip on how the paper backing on glass tiles chips. Both really great tips for my little project.
the most surprising thing in this lesson is that glass tiles expand and contract at a greater rate than do ceramic tiles. Since glass is far less forgiving, the main message to take heed from is, as you've already stated, to read the instructions accompanying the tile, and follow them to a "t". it could mean the difference between the manufacturer paying for any subsequent replacement of defective tiles, and re-doing the entire installation at one's own expense
Hey Sal, as usual you’re a straight flying eagle. Just to confirm what you’re conveying. Very hard to inform someone who is in charge and has his customer base. I was part of a backsplash install where mastic was used. I wasn’t on the wall so to speak but was making cuts. Returned the next day to do the grouting and there were two tile cracked around the outlets. There was a slight wave and the tile just suctioned til it cracked. From my experience (15 years on and off with tiles). Everything you said is spot on. Leave expansion, caulk or silicone ends and surrounds, and when a wet saw won’t do it I score and snap, tape it then cut or polish what I can after a cut. I’ll have email you the results of this back splash I’ll be installing this week. Once again Sal you are a great instructor!
If the glass tile chips, is there a drill attachment or grinder attachment to help clean it up roughly? Considering the ends' imperfections will be concealed by siliconed anyway. In my case, I don't need a total "edge polish" just a clean up
Hey Sal! Another question about glass tile if you dont mind:) If the glass tile chips, is there a drill attachment or grinder attachment to help clean it up roughly? Considering the ends' imperfections will be concealed by silicone anyway. In my case, I don't need a total "edge polish" like you showed with the different grit papers, just a grinding wheel or something to clean up the edges enough. What do you think?
Have a glass tile backsplash to install. Thank you so much for all the information. You are definitely very knowledgeable. I do appreciate you sharing with us. “FLIP”.
Great video! So informative. If you educate people-installers and customers-the overall satisfaction level goes way up. I believe it! Thanks Sal! Another great video. I always learn so much!
It’s great seeing someone so knowledgeable. My only tip on backsplashs is I usually use Shulter expansion track against the counter top and back splash. Work very well and no need to calk ever. Usually set with silicone.
Well Splain sal worst thing is when a costumer gets a different results than what they had in mind because it wasn't install correctly glass it's one of them if you don't follow instructions or don't in know what you are doing you be answering questions lather get educated thanks for the info sal you're the best
I think this should be a "must watch" video for a DIY! Your information is so critical to know and it sure doesn't say nearly any of this on directions. Great to know about the possibility of not using mastic on the bathroom wall.
I put a niche in my shower and I have tile sheets. I need to come up with something to put in for the edges of my niche. I used to do tile back in the mastic days, early mid 90s. I'm just a home diyer now. First time working with glass.
You know what you are talking about! Thank you for this video. I have clients thinking about Glass. I am sharing this video with them! I try to tell folks to double think glass tile over porcelain as we do not have many installers like you around my stomping grounds. ;0)
Great content. I am using ARDEX 77 for glass tile in pool and the bags instructions say not for glass tile. I am using this because my pool building friend uses it.. Just concerned since I am installing glass art as well.
@@terabyte6166 As in Carl Jung? Well, well, well, it looks like we’ve stumbled upon a deep thinker here. A deep thinker who also likes tiling. I like the cut of you jib, Sir.
Very helpful how-to videos. Thank you. Do you caulk the glass tile backsplash corners first before you grout the tile? You mentioned the cracking potential in the corners with glass tile and not to grout. Do you recommend caulking first in the corners before grouting if time is not a constraint?
Adding the board on top of “wavey” drywall is such a Great tip. Wish I would have caught that before doing my kitchen blacksplash...... but since I’m a DIYer and it’s my house I’m good with it. However, the “wavey” drywall and durrock ended up and is causing us a lot of problems in the bathrooms too. Of course we didn’t realize it until the tile was going up. We hired a contractor for tile work in our previous house and they did not do as good as job as we expected, so this time we did it ourselves. If I could have hired Sal I definitely would have. I don’t think you travel out of state, do you?
QUESTION...I accidentally used some Mapei Type 1 adhesive for a few rows of glass tile (3"x3") for a backsplash. Do I need to start over or should I live with it and wait it out for any issues down the road? Thanks!
Hello Sal I have a quick question if it's not too much trouble. I'm installing 2×6 glass subway tile with mesh backer onto new drywall. Manufacturer recommends white bonding mortar. The wall is 8'×10' and is not a shower wall. My question is do I have to waterproof my drywall and if so what should I use. Thanks Sal
Very informative, We had a mosaic backsplash installed that has a combo of tiles including glass. The idea was good but something went wrong with the execution,. After setting and grouting, the mesh backing can be seen through the edges of many of the glass tiles. Could you provide some insight please? Thank you so much, Sal!
Hey Sal, not sure if this was asked. I'm installing LFT (porcelain 12"x24") on a permabase substrate - with a glass mosaic stripe in the middle (the 1" wide glass strips on the 12"x12" mesh - some are 2" long, some are over 3" long) - (shower and non-shower wall). Aware I need to use a 1/2" trowel for the porcelain tile - but hearing that I don't want that much mortar behind the glass, how would you do it? float the line? also I'm using 'Prolite premium large format white tile mortar 118.15T' (think I'm gonna go back and look for 118.15TE). If the requirement is to float (and let dry before installing the glass mosaic) under the glass, can I use this same mortar to float?
@@SalDiBlasi i submerged the tiles in water and cut with a 3/8 bit underwater and then met the corner with a wetsaw, will this be enough of a radius? Again i cannot thank you enough
Before watching this video, I bought the same exact gray tiles you're showing to do above my shower surround. I haven't started the install yet and now I'm concerned that I might've made a bad choice, after watching this. The walls are very flat, so I'm not too concerned about that. I'm using score and snap to cut, as all the cuts will be straight, except I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to cut around the shower arm without using a wet saw. I'm using Schluter Schiene profile at the top and sides. Important lessons learned from this video: knock down trowel ridges, use as little thinset as possible while still getting 100% coverage, and make sure to leave expansion gap in corners. Thanks for another helpful video.
What size(type) trowel should I use for glass tile backsplash size 4x12 inch? Thanks for all the info in the previous videos, made my kitchen floor perfect.
Glass tile is best set with the thinnest bond coat that will give full coverage. So try a 1/4x1/4/14, if that does not work move up one size. You need to have as close to 100% as possible, but at the same time you don't want a thick bond coat that can lead to cracking. Glass is a very difficult animal to satisfy.
We would like to put up this tile on our kitchen and then put steel shelves up what do you suggest for the right tools to make sure the glass isn't break while we're putting the shelves on
That is really tricky, glass will crack for no reason at all, let alone when you try to drill through it. Can it be done? Sure. Will you crack some tiles and have to replace them? Probably. Go Slow, keep the bit cool, and use the best possible bit you can, preferably a diamond bit.
@@SalDiBlasi thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I'm sure I will be hitting you up in the future! Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Thanks for another great video. I hate to find out I was doing something wrong after install! Your tips help so much. Could u do a video on finishing edges, like where to end when cabinets don't go to counter edge and the wall runs out to a dining area? And types of edging to use?
One of the most important things to remember when installing glass that you did not mention, is, installer must put a primer like Ardex P4 on the back of glass tiles, if something happens to the job and the glass tiles do not adhere, and x77 was used alone with no primer that is not sufficient enough it has to be the P4 primer then x77 obviously the next day after the primer dries or when it's dry, Plus back buttering every single tile the day of after P4 is dry and of course keying in the substrate and directional troweling.
Most glass tiles come with directions, they usually will give a list of thinsets that are suitable for installing the glass. I have never seen instructions that say to prime every glass tile separately. An ANSI A118.15 adhesive designed for glass tile is usually all that is required.
@@SalDiBlasi yes I understand most people I've talked to have never heard of it either but when push comes to shove and Ardex representative in my area just told us that if you're doing an 8x13 glass with a white back it must be P4 on the back then x77 flashing the backs and everything else. There was an 8 inch of dust on the P4 bottle. Lol. So x77 alone even though most supply stores will tell you is fine for glass, we just found out otherwise. So P4 must be used, if we're speaking about Ardex every company has their own I'm sure. ... also this glass came from a mom and pop and it was from China and it was very expensive and it had no directions. So at that rate it's up to the representative at your supply house and then their representative
Always learning from you Sal and always amazed by your work. I am installing Sicis 15mm x 15mm 4mm thick transparent glass mosaic on Wedi board on shower walls. I was planning to use Laticrete latapoxy 300 adhesive with a 3/16" v notch trowel and knock down the ridges to get 100% coverage with no ghosting behind the tiles. Am I better off skim coating the wedi board first with Laticrete super white glass tile adhesive to get homogeneous white color, let it dry then apply the glass mosaic with the epoxy adhesive or just use the epoxy adhesive without skim coating? I tend to overthink these things. Appreciate your help.
I am planning on doing my back shower wall in glass tile and the two side walls in ceramic. On the back wall it will have 1’ wide ceramic then a marble pencil then it will be the glass. 9’ high and 5’ wide. The glass is going down to the shower pan also. Should we leave a gap where it meets the pan and the marble pencil and fill with caulk rather than grout? Thank you. Do you have a one time donation option for PayPal or patroeon rather than a subscription?
Glass moves a lot more than tile, so you need to be sure to leave room for movement all around the perimeter of the glass tile, do not use caulk, use 100% silicone. And if you like here is a link www.paypal.com/donate/?token=VFWk9dCBK0u5t43EPEayGXwNTt5d9dBn9542DYUgPO-pUZM_ly3Ge40J6rHWgFVKX1-EdcpwWQlc3MCp&locale.x=US
Sal DiBlasi Thank you so much for the information. I am having a tile guy do the job. But i want to make sure it is done correctly. Love all the videos.
Mr sal... question.... i am doing a 2x6 glass tile with the aame backing as you're using in this video...i have great nice straight and smooth walls but they have been painted.... what do you suggest for prepping the wall and what material should be used? The paint is clean... was never exposed to kitchen elements.... i have thought about scuffing the walls and using redgaurd water proofing just for that extra moisture barrier.... love your videos... ive done 3 projects already from your videos... but this one stumped me a little due to the price we are paying for the tile... also... if i use a scoring tool to cut the tile... is there a specific blade or just use a fresh replacement on my scoring tool?? Tha ks again.... chip from alabama....
Hello Sal. We are considering installing 1" glass hex mosaic tiles on our shower floor. Daltile has a no slip coating on them so slipping is not an issue. My question is whether 1" mosaic on a shower floor will be subject to even more movement than on a kitchen wall because of hot to cold water exposure? The tile is rated for a shower floor, but is this feasible for a non professional to install and limit potential cracking on a 24 sf shower floor?
Did you wet shim the 1/8 inch wedi board? how out of wack were the walls? i always seem to have wacked out walls in showers but i use durock so it becomes a nightmare trying to keep things flat and plumb
Hey Pisano, excellent video. Was curious to know if glass tile can be set over cultured marble? I'd planned to do a decorative edging or trim to highlight my master bedroom, Thanks,
Just a heads up. I recently installed a glass tile that had a white epoxy paint on the back. There is no thinset that will adhere to this. I used Sika Flex. Worked awesome.
Hi Sal, just to explain further - we tried a high polymer thinset as per the mfg. spec. It had no adhesion whatsoever. The sika flex adhered beautifully, and our thinking was that the sika remains flexible, so should work fine with the glass. This is a new tile they are selling, had not encountered anything like this before. I would be very interested in your opinion as to what may go wrong with this application. It's been about 3 months since install - so far so good. John.
Great video as always! Question: You mentioned sealing the tile which made me think of a shower I just saw. Looks like marble tile with a border 2/3 up. The border tile was thinner than the marble and the installer didn't flush them up. What a mess... To my real question though. There was remnants of grout and haze after grouting it looks like. You have always said to seal marble before grouting, so what if they didn't? What happens if they didn't seal first? Long question I know! Thank you for your help.
The problem with not sealing a porous tile like marble is that it can be stained by the grout, have a haze like you say that can not be removed, if the dies in the grout streek, it will leave a permanent color streak in the stone, and a bunch of other problems that can happen to an unprotected stone. Be it polished or honed. A polished stone must still be protected. ruclips.net/video/RaTJlhugePs/видео.html
Hey Sal. Any advice for installing a frameless door on glass tile. Seems the majority thought is that it's not recommended. I'm inclined to think that if the anchors are thru a grout joint and not thru the tile itself would help relieve most of the stress. Or if there is a separate backing behind the anchors?
I'm installing this same tile, except it's their 'handmade' looking tile that has wavy edges. I have installed a lot of ceramic tile, but this glass is something else! I have a glass cutting blade on my wet saw, but I just can't stop breaking tiles. I'm damaging about 1 tile for every 3 successful cuts. The blade is making the tile light up red hot if I move through the cut too fast... And too fast is at a snail's pace. Do I need a $200 10" blade, or is that just how it is? I've tried it all... Scoring both sides, one continuous cut, plunge cutting on my large wet saw... Everything. If I see the light at the cut area when cutting, the tile is damaged... If not cracked, the spark sends cracks through the glass. I'm a patient person, but this is ridiculous... Something isn't right. Please help. Thank you in advance!
I had that same problem as well, with the arabesque tile had to change out 4 blades and three wet saws to get the right combination. Once I figured it out it cut easy. The solution was a smaller glass blade with a slower turning wet saw. The manufacturer recommended a smaller blade with a faster saw, that did not work. Of coarse if you only have one saw, you are in a bit of a bind. I have 5 saws that I can change out, however I usually always use the same one on every job.
Hey Sal, I have a tub surround install coming up. It was done in 3x12 glass tile previously with mastic and the backer board was 1/2" plywood with a thin coat of water proofing. There has been water infiltration over the years and mold has started to grow behind the tile. I will be tearing it out and plan on doing a schluter tub surround kit. Your recommendation was a high polymer thin set. Which goes against schluters recommend practice. Do you have any advice? Other suitable mortars? Maybe switch the substrate/waterproofing system?
So schluter says no modified mortar unless it is Allset, so allsett is an A118.15 mortar, but Schluter says it is not recommended for glass, What to do? I have on several occasions used Ardex X77 on kerdi board, Ardex will sub their warranty for Schluter's. You could also switch to Hydroban Board By Laticrete, which is a top rate Foam board, and they have no problem if you use a High polymer thinset.
I got nothing I needed from this. Needed to know how to cut glass tile for the outlets and switches, especially when the I needed to cut a U in a single tile. THAT would have been helpful.
Hey Sal, once again another amazing informative video. I followed everything to the T but the glass still ended up cracking by where the niche is. It was a glass tile that had to be notched. I was wondering since the glass tile had to be notched. Did I weaken it by cutting the tile due to the vibration of the wet tile saw? I couldn't find another way of notching the cut since its not a single straight cut and could not be done with only a glass cutter. Any suggestions?
When you have to notch a glass tile, never do a square cut, always leave a radius at the corner. So if you have a niche you have to have it so you have full tile on the top and bottom so you don't get the square cut.
Awesome video buddy!!!, you seem very knowledgeable. Any thoughts on installing decorative 3x12 colored tiles on the outside of a Hot tub where water continues to flow over into the main pool? I’m looking for an artistic and contemporary look as an addition to the all round infinity edge of the pool. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Sal DiBlasi is there a certain brand of snap scorer that you recommend using Also what size notch trowel ? Im installing the same type of glass tile but it’s 3x12
Robert Avery type 1 adhesive is an organic mastic that can interact with the backing of the tile and cause discoloration, it also does not have sufficient bond to hold the tile in place, just to name a couple of reasons, besides mastic is garbage in a bucket as far as I am concerned, very limited uses.
First it is glass, very fragile, second it is glass, you will see the clips, third it is glass never use clips with glass, fourth they are small tiles, they don't need clips. Should I go on?
No, very bad idea, the surface needs to be flat before you install the tile. Glass needs the Thinset possible bond coat to not have cracking in the future.
Hi Sal! I have a question, I went to someone house to give a estimate for installation of glass tile in their kitchen backsplash, so the owner didn’t wont a grout space at all, I told him I have to use least a 1/16 space and trying to explain him some thing about tile but he was not agree with me andI told him I can not do the job that way so, Can you install a glass tile with no grout space at all?
Minimum grout space is 1/16, so you made the right call. If he gets it done the way he wants, then has chipped and cracking tile later on, he will still blame the guy that installed it for not knowing better.
Hey Sal, fan of yours as we prepare to do a fireplace tile project in preparation for a gas insert (located in centerville) We plan to use glass tile as we are using a seas-glass theme...and after watching your video, we are concerned. You mentioned using a flexible caulk instead of grout along the borders....can you recommend a caulk? Starting to think we should look into hiring you :-).
The coating on the back side of glass tiles will scratch. If your using a wet saw with a fixed table, place a piece of cardboard under the glass tile to prevent that scratching.
Hi Sal, I had full remodel (down to the studs) on both of my bathrooms due to leaks and lead. I had my contractor install glass tile (6x12, 8mm) on both shower and shower/bathtub walls. I’m hoping they use some type of waterproof sealant before installing the tiles but I know they did not use the polyethylene membrane on the walls. Once they were done with the bathrooms and I moved back into my house, at random places and times, tiles started to crack on both showers. They’ve come to replace the cracked ones but new ones including a couple of already replaced keep happening. The contractor claims they never had this issue before and gave me the solution to retile both bathrooms again but using porcelain tiles. He’s asking me to pay for half of the cost. I think it is absurd since after watching your video, I see they did not install it correctly. Any input, suggestions, facts to to mention to them about installation and tile so they can see they did not install the tiles correctly? Thank you!
Glass tiles move much more than ceramic or porcelain, a lot more. So it is imperative that sufficient movement joints be placed where they are needed. That will usually be at changes of plain and where the tile meets a dissimilar material. It is also important the the substrate be prepared correctly, the substrate must be flat so that the thinnest bond coat of mortar possible can be used, a thick bond coat will lead to cracking. The correct type of mortar must also be used, this will usually be either an ANSI A118.15 white thinset mortar or a mortar that is specifically designed for glass tile. I would check the corners of your bathroom, was silicone used, or were the corners filled with grout? Was the correct mortar used? Did the use an excessive amount of mortar under the tile? Where the tiles butted together, or was the correct grout size used? Was the the stud spacing of the walls correct? Hope this helps.
Hi Sal! Thank you for so much valuable info! I bought glass subway tile for our bath surround thinking we would hire a pro but money is tight so I gotta learn fast. Currently have backer board that I'm going to tape and mud then paint 2x with the red stuff. Saw on another video that you can just add thinset to the back of the tile (not bother with trowling on the backer board) and just stick the tile directly to the backer board. Bad idea? I live in RI, do you know of anyone who could teach me the basics?
For glass that is a very bad idea. You need to have a flat surface and an even mortar bed with as thin a bond coat as possible while still achieving as close to 100% coverage as you can get. Doing it that way will make all those things very difficult.
What process or products would you recommend to remove hardened excess grout off of the glass tile? I waited 24 hours to clean off as I was directed but now it's really hard.
That comment about glass cracking for no reason is absolutely true. We just installed glass tile mosaic with 1 inch squares, and it's already cracking, despite using the high polymer and leaving room to expand and whatnot. Nobody mentioned this to us at any point when we were shopping for it. I honestly can't believe glass tile is even a thing. Had I had any idea I never would have used it.
Yet another video full of exactly what I needed to know, thanks again for the education. I'm a carpenter turned tile layer thanks to the videos you make.
My first "Sal" video. Your experience shines through. I removed a hideous 3-inch wide, hunter green accent strip of individual diamond shaped 1.5 inch tiles...about 11 linear feet, shoulder high, in our master bath walk-in shower...leaving the 4 x 4 white tiles in place. Tough to get out without damaging adjacent tile and the wall behind the tile. No tile-guy I talked to wanted to tackle it. About to replace with glass and marble mosaic tiles. REALLY appreciate the tip on sealing marble BEFORE grouting...I was planning to do it after, not knowing any better, and also the tip on how the paper backing on glass tiles chips. Both really great tips for my little project.
Thanks, glad it helped
the most surprising thing in this lesson is that glass tiles expand and contract at a greater rate than do ceramic tiles.
Since glass is far less forgiving, the main message to take heed from is, as you've already stated, to read the instructions accompanying the tile, and follow them to a "t". it could mean the difference between the manufacturer paying for any subsequent replacement of defective tiles, and re-doing the entire installation at one's own expense
Hey Sal, as usual you’re a straight flying eagle. Just to confirm what you’re conveying. Very hard to inform someone who is in charge and has his customer base. I was part of a backsplash install where mastic was used. I wasn’t on the wall so to speak but was making cuts. Returned the next day to do the grouting and there were two tile cracked around the outlets. There was a slight wave and the tile just suctioned til it cracked. From my experience (15 years on and off with tiles). Everything you said is spot on. Leave expansion, caulk or silicone ends and surrounds, and when a wet saw won’t do it I score and snap, tape it then cut or polish what I can after a cut. I’ll have email you the results of this back splash I’ll be installing this week. Once again Sal you are a great instructor!
I just share what little I know, in the hopes it will help someone learn without having to find out the hard way. Thanks
If the glass tile chips, is there a drill attachment or grinder attachment to help clean it up roughly? Considering the ends' imperfections will be concealed by siliconed anyway. In my case, I don't need a total "edge polish" just a clean up
Hey Sal! Another question about glass tile if you dont mind:)
If the glass tile chips, is there a drill attachment or grinder attachment to help clean it up roughly? Considering the ends' imperfections will be concealed by silicone anyway. In my case, I don't need a total "edge polish" like you showed with the different grit papers, just a grinding wheel or something to clean up the edges enough. What do you think?
If you just need to clean the edge a bit, diamond hand pads will work. amzn.to/3TcRY8P
@@SalDiBlasi, thanks for the reply! do you think these hand pads would have an issue removing about 1/16 of material?
Won't be fast but it will work, start with the coarser pad, finish with the fine.
You can tap all you want brother. Thank you ! I love my trade and so do you. Cheers!
😊👍
Using 1/8' wedi board over the existing drywall instead of an expensive tear-out. Very nice.
Have a glass tile backsplash to install. Thank you so much for all the information. You are definitely very knowledgeable. I do appreciate you sharing with us. “FLIP”.
Great video! So informative. If you educate people-installers and customers-the overall satisfaction level goes way up. I believe it! Thanks Sal! Another great video. I always learn so much!
Thanks, exactly, if more people are informed, the hacks will have to learn to do it properly.
It’s great seeing someone so knowledgeable. My only tip on backsplashs is I usually use Shulter expansion track against the counter top and back splash. Work very well and no need to calk ever. Usually set with silicone.
Very helpful even in July of 2024. Thank you! ❤
Glad it was helpful!
@@SalDiBlasi Indeed and hands down, you are the best tiling guru on RUclips.
Good info about the glass coating, when grouting. Thanks 👍
Well Splain sal worst thing is when a costumer gets a different results than what they had in mind because it wasn't install correctly glass it's one of them if you don't follow instructions or don't in know what you are doing you be answering questions lather get educated thanks for the info sal you're the best
I think this should be a "must watch" video for a DIY! Your information is so critical to know and it sure doesn't say nearly any of this on directions. Great to know about the possibility of not using mastic on the bathroom wall.
Always something to learn.
This video is super helpful. First house here and DIYing on the same situation lay out and all. Thanks for saving me stress 1000%
Glad it helped!
Going to have to do some research before picking the right glass tile.
Thanks for the tips, I'm gonna have to sand my wall to get it flat as it is textured.
Good luck!
@@SalDiBlasi I think I'm gonna go with a backboard instead. Thinset and screws to create a better backing. Sanding would mean too much dust yuck.
I put a niche in my shower and I have tile sheets. I need to come up with something to put in for the edges of my niche. I used to do tile back in the mastic days, early mid 90s. I'm just a home diyer now. First time working with glass.
Hey sal DiBlasi I am fan of you I like all your videos I'm a biginner tile installer
Learn the right way, get a TCNA handbook, attend as much training as you can.
Thank you very much for your advice I will get it
Awesome video, can you tell me once again what you installed over the drywall because the wall was uneven? You said that this item was 1/8" thick.
You know what you are talking about! Thank you for this video. I have clients thinking about Glass. I am sharing this video with them! I try to tell folks to double think glass tile over porcelain as we do not have many installers like you around my stomping grounds. ;0)
I subscribed!
@@ShellSellars-Smith Thanks, I try to steer people away, and when they hear what a problem glass can be, they will sometimes listen.
So basically avoid glass tile.lol .. You seem really knowledgeable. Can you recommend a high end classy looking shower tray?
Hey Sal, what wet saw blade would you recommend for glass tile?
Following. I was just wondering the same thing!!!
I bought one from one of the big box stores that had good reviews and it still chipped the glass tiles slightly so why not ask an expert?
Sal, I'm following for the same question on which saw blade for glass.
@@SovereignRules we know that much, we're asking Sal,
Diablo makes a diamond blade. Can’t go wrong. I use nothing but diablo
Great content. I am using ARDEX 77 for glass tile in pool and the bags instructions say not for glass tile. I am using this because my pool building friend uses it.. Just concerned since I am installing glass art as well.
You can use it for glass Second line www.ardexamericas.com/product/ardex-x-77/
Really appreciate your time in making and sharing these videos. Putting a thin layer of wedi board on wall is a great tip!
What about in a shower using strips of glass mosaic... Do I need to caulk the corners instead of grout?
I HATE GLASS TILE thanks for the tips for the bane of my work!
How about L-shaped cuts of glass tile for around cabinet corners, best methods to do these cuts?
Wet saw with glass blade
0:10 Could you tap on the tile a few more times, please, just to really drive the point home?
“Tap”. “Tap”. “Tap tap”. “Tap”.
No I think that was just enough.
I noticed that too! Middle finger as well...I can’t help but have a bit of a Jungian analysis on that action and behavior 🧐🥸😉
@@terabyte6166 As in Carl Jung? Well, well, well, it looks like we’ve stumbled upon a deep thinker here. A deep thinker who also likes tiling. I like the cut of you jib, Sir.
What size grout joints should I use?
Very helpful how-to videos. Thank you. Do you caulk the glass tile backsplash corners first before you grout the tile? You mentioned the cracking potential in the corners with glass tile and not to grout. Do you recommend caulking first in the corners before grouting if time is not a constraint?
Adding the board on top of “wavey” drywall is such a Great tip. Wish I would have caught that before doing my kitchen blacksplash...... but since I’m a DIYer and it’s my house I’m good with it. However, the “wavey” drywall and durrock ended up and is causing us a lot of problems in the bathrooms too. Of course we didn’t realize it until the tile was going up. We hired a contractor for tile work in our previous house and they did not do as good as job as we expected, so this time we did it ourselves. If I could have hired Sal I definitely would have. I don’t think you travel out of state, do you?
Prep is key to any tile installation, as is planning and layout.
QUESTION...I accidentally used some Mapei Type 1 adhesive for a few rows of glass tile (3"x3") for a backsplash. Do I need to start over or should I live with it and wait it out for any issues down the road? Thanks!
A lot of useable information. Thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful!
Hello Sal I have a quick question if it's not too much trouble. I'm installing 2×6 glass subway tile with mesh backer onto new drywall. Manufacturer recommends white bonding mortar. The wall is 8'×10' and is not a shower wall. My question is do I have to waterproof my drywall and if so what should I use. Thanks Sal
No waterproof needed in a dry area unless specified by the glass manufacturer.
@@SalDiBlasi Thanks!
Very informative, We had a mosaic backsplash installed that has a combo of tiles including glass. The idea was good but something went wrong with the execution,. After setting and grouting, the mesh backing can be seen through the edges of many of the glass tiles. Could you provide some insight please? Thank you so much, Sal!
What did you use to adhere the Wedi Board to the drywall?
We've had a glass tile back splash for years, never had an issue and it was put up on an old plaster wall.
Sal, your videos are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have tought me so much!!
Hey Sal, not sure if this was asked. I'm installing LFT (porcelain 12"x24") on a permabase substrate - with a glass mosaic stripe in the middle (the 1" wide glass strips on the 12"x12" mesh - some are 2" long, some are over 3" long) - (shower and non-shower wall). Aware I need to use a 1/2" trowel for the porcelain tile - but hearing that I don't want that much mortar behind the glass, how would you do it? float the line? also I'm using 'Prolite premium large format white tile mortar 118.15T' (think I'm gonna go back and look for 118.15TE). If the requirement is to float (and let dry before installing the glass mosaic) under the glass, can I use this same mortar to float?
What happens if you use mastic with glass tile like for a backslash
It will fail in time in most cases.
any tips on cutting glass tile around outlets? Thanks enjoy your videos
Always leave corners with a radius.
@@SalDiBlasi i submerged the tiles in water and cut with a 3/8 bit underwater and then met the corner with a wetsaw, will this be enough of a radius? Again i cannot thank you enough
Before watching this video, I bought the same exact gray tiles you're showing to do above my shower surround. I haven't started the install yet and now I'm concerned that I might've made a bad choice, after watching this. The walls are very flat, so I'm not too concerned about that. I'm using score and snap to cut, as all the cuts will be straight, except I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to cut around the shower arm without using a wet saw. I'm using Schluter Schiene profile at the top and sides. Important lessons learned from this video: knock down trowel ridges, use as little thinset as possible while still getting 100% coverage, and make sure to leave expansion gap in corners. Thanks for another helpful video.
Glass is a very finicky tile to install
Do you have to use special thin set for natural stone or marble? We have difficult time to lay marble tiles in our bathroom.Thanks
ruclips.net/video/S80GVg4Y4MU/видео.html
What size(type) trowel should I use for glass tile backsplash size 4x12 inch? Thanks for all the info in the previous videos, made my kitchen floor perfect.
Glass tile is best set with the thinnest bond coat that will give full coverage. So try a 1/4x1/4/14, if that does not work move up one size. You need to have as close to 100% as possible, but at the same time you don't want a thick bond coat that can lead to cracking. Glass is a very difficult animal to satisfy.
Nice work! Great tips and details in the video too.
Glad you liked it!
We would like to put up this tile on our kitchen and then put steel shelves up what do you suggest for the right tools to make sure the glass isn't break while we're putting the shelves on
Glass does not like stress, it will crack very easily.
Hey Sal. I've searched your posts and cannot find anything about mounting glass shower doors to glass tile. Any suggestions?
That is really tricky, glass will crack for no reason at all, let alone when you try to drill through it. Can it be done? Sure. Will you crack some tiles and have to replace them? Probably. Go Slow, keep the bit cool, and use the best possible bit you can, preferably a diamond bit.
@@SalDiBlasi thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I'm sure I will be hitting you up in the future! Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Thanks for another great video. I hate to find out I was doing something wrong after install! Your tips help so much. Could u do a video on finishing edges, like where to end when cabinets don't go to counter edge and the wall runs out to a dining area? And types of edging to use?
I will put it on my list
Can we use tile sealers for glass tiles?
Check with the tile manufacturer.
One of the most important things to remember when installing glass that you did not mention, is, installer must put a primer like Ardex P4 on the back of glass tiles, if something happens to the job and the glass tiles do not adhere, and x77 was used alone with no primer that is not sufficient enough it has to be the P4 primer then x77 obviously the next day after the primer dries or when it's dry, Plus back buttering every single tile the day of after P4 is dry and of course keying in the substrate and directional troweling.
Most glass tiles come with directions, they usually will give a list of thinsets that are suitable for installing the glass. I have never seen instructions that say to prime every glass tile separately. An ANSI A118.15 adhesive designed for glass tile is usually all that is required.
@@SalDiBlasi yes I understand most people I've talked to have never heard of it either but when push comes to shove and Ardex representative in my area just told us that if you're doing an 8x13 glass with a white back it must be P4 on the back then x77 flashing the backs and everything else. There was an 8 inch of dust on the P4 bottle. Lol. So x77 alone even though most supply stores will tell you is fine for glass, we just found out otherwise. So P4 must be used, if we're speaking about Ardex every company has their own I'm sure.
... also this glass came from a mom and pop and it was from China and it was very expensive and it had no directions. So at that rate it's up to the representative at your supply house and then their representative
He is right about scratching the tile. It will scratch!
Always learning from you Sal and always amazed by your work. I am installing Sicis 15mm x 15mm 4mm thick transparent glass mosaic on Wedi board on shower walls. I was planning to use Laticrete latapoxy 300 adhesive with a 3/16" v notch trowel and knock down the ridges to get 100% coverage with no ghosting behind the tiles. Am I better off skim coating the wedi board first with Laticrete super white glass tile adhesive to get homogeneous white color, let it dry then apply the glass mosaic with the epoxy adhesive or just use the epoxy adhesive without skim coating? I tend to overthink these things. Appreciate your help.
Actually not a bad idea to skim coat, I have done that in the past, especially in the corners where you can get dark spots if you miss a small spot.
I am planning on doing my back shower wall in glass tile and the two side walls in ceramic. On the back wall it will have 1’ wide ceramic then a marble pencil then it will be the glass. 9’ high and 5’ wide. The glass is going down to the shower pan also. Should we leave a gap where it meets the pan and the marble pencil and fill with caulk rather than grout? Thank you. Do you have a one time donation option for PayPal or patroeon rather than a subscription?
Glass moves a lot more than tile, so you need to be sure to leave room for movement all around the perimeter of the glass tile, do not use caulk, use 100% silicone. And if you like here is a link www.paypal.com/donate/?token=VFWk9dCBK0u5t43EPEayGXwNTt5d9dBn9542DYUgPO-pUZM_ly3Ge40J6rHWgFVKX1-EdcpwWQlc3MCp&locale.x=US
Sal DiBlasi Thank you so much for the information. I am having a tile guy do the job. But i want to make sure it is done correctly. Love all the videos.
Donation sent thanks again.
thanks for the tips
No problem!
What are those blue things sticking up between the tiles? Not worth mentioning?
amzn.to/3FEp4pz
Mr sal... question.... i am doing a 2x6 glass tile with the aame backing as you're using in this video...i have great nice straight and smooth walls but they have been painted.... what do you suggest for prepping the wall and what material should be used? The paint is clean... was never exposed to kitchen elements.... i have thought about scuffing the walls and using redgaurd water proofing just for that extra moisture barrier.... love your videos... ive done 3 projects already from your videos... but this one stumped me a little due to the price we are paying for the tile... also... if i use a scoring tool to cut the tile... is there a specific blade or just use a fresh replacement on my scoring tool?? Tha ks again.... chip from alabama....
if you use mastic tile glue will the tiles just fall off ?
Mastic is the worst possible choice for glass tile, let alone anything else.
Hello Sal. We are considering installing 1" glass hex mosaic tiles on our shower floor. Daltile has a no slip coating on them so slipping is not an issue. My question is whether 1" mosaic on a shower floor will be subject to even more movement than on a kitchen wall because of hot to cold water exposure? The tile is rated for a shower floor, but is this feasible for a non professional to install and limit potential cracking on a 24 sf shower floor?
Glass is always a risky install.
As always you the man Sal! excellent work...💪🏼
Did you wet shim the 1/8 inch wedi board? how out of wack were the walls? i always seem to have wacked out walls in showers but i use durock so it becomes a nightmare trying to keep things flat and plumb
nvm you kind of answered my question later in the video lol amazing work as always!!
Great, try some foam board, you will never look back. 😊
Great tips.
How you cut it around outlets is my question
Would you consider using Allset?
No, not recommended for glass
Do you think glass tile is ok on motor home? 1x3 mosaic sheets.
If I had my way all glass tile would go in the dump.
@@SalDiBlasi lol...but we love it so!...;-)
Use a modified polymer thinset and unsanded grout, and a special blade for glass
I just put new drywall up in my kitchen and would like to add glass mosaic backsplash. What would you recommend and do I have to seal the drywall?
Hey Pisano, excellent video. Was curious to know if glass tile can be set over cultured marble? I'd planned to do a decorative edging or trim to highlight my master bedroom, Thanks,
Also on the mastic stuff
Thank you
Thank you for so much
No problem
Just a heads up. I recently installed a glass tile that had a white epoxy paint on the back. There is no thinset that will adhere to this. I used Sika Flex. Worked awesome.
Not an approved method, I can think of several issues that can lead to failure with your solution.
Hi Sal, just to explain further - we tried a high polymer thinset as per the mfg. spec. It had no adhesion whatsoever. The sika flex adhered beautifully, and our thinking was that the sika remains flexible, so should work fine with the glass. This is a new tile they are selling, had not encountered anything like this before. I would be very interested in your opinion as to what may go wrong with this application. It's been about 3 months since install - so far so good. John.
Is your tile still holding up?
Thank you for the very useful info, but audio is hard to understand at times.
The perils of recording on a jobsite.
You said a porcelain blade can chip when using the wet saw, do you recommend a specific blade for glass? Also what issue do you have with mastic?
Use a blade specifically made for cutting glass tile. amzn.to/3jiORIZ
Great video as always! Question: You mentioned sealing the tile which made me think of a shower I just saw. Looks like marble tile with a border 2/3 up. The border tile was thinner than the marble and the installer didn't flush them up. What a mess... To my real question though. There was remnants of grout and haze after grouting it looks like. You have always said to seal marble before grouting, so what if they didn't? What happens if they didn't seal first? Long question I know! Thank you for your help.
The problem with not sealing a porous tile like marble is that it can be stained by the grout, have a haze like you say that can not be removed, if the dies in the grout streek, it will leave a permanent color streak in the stone, and a bunch of other problems that can happen to an unprotected stone. Be it polished or honed. A polished stone must still be protected. ruclips.net/video/RaTJlhugePs/видео.html
Hey Sal. Any advice for installing a frameless door on glass tile. Seems the majority thought is that it's not recommended. I'm inclined to think that if the anchors are thru a grout joint and not thru the tile itself would help relieve most of the stress. Or if there is a separate backing behind the anchors?
Glass is really tricky, very likely that the tile will crack, even if you drill in a grout line. I steer people away from glass when I can.
I'm installing this same tile, except it's their 'handmade' looking tile that has wavy edges. I have installed a lot of ceramic tile, but this glass is something else! I have a glass cutting blade on my wet saw, but I just can't stop breaking tiles. I'm damaging about 1 tile for every 3 successful cuts. The blade is making the tile light up red hot if I move through the cut too fast... And too fast is at a snail's pace. Do I need a $200 10" blade, or is that just how it is? I've tried it all... Scoring both sides, one continuous cut, plunge cutting on my large wet saw... Everything. If I see the light at the cut area when cutting, the tile is damaged... If not cracked, the spark sends cracks through the glass. I'm a patient person, but this is ridiculous... Something isn't right. Please help. Thank you in advance!
I had that same problem as well, with the arabesque tile had to change out 4 blades and three wet saws to get the right combination. Once I figured it out it cut easy. The solution was a smaller glass blade with a slower turning wet saw. The manufacturer recommended a smaller blade with a faster saw, that did not work. Of coarse if you only have one saw, you are in a bit of a bind. I have 5 saws that I can change out, however I usually always use the same one on every job.
@@SalDiBlasi Thanks for your reply, I thought about buying a 7 inch cheap saw to see if that helps
@@SalDiBlasi isn't there less chance of breaking glass tile when cutting, by taping your cut line first? That's what I do...;-)
Thank you! Very useful information to know.
Awesome as usual! Priceless information! ☺️
👍 thanks
Hey Sal,
I have a tub surround install coming up. It was done in 3x12 glass tile previously with mastic and the backer board was 1/2" plywood with a thin coat of water proofing. There has been water infiltration over the years and mold has started to grow behind the tile.
I will be tearing it out and plan on doing a schluter tub surround kit. Your recommendation was a high polymer thin set. Which goes against schluters recommend practice. Do you have any advice? Other suitable mortars? Maybe switch the substrate/waterproofing system?
So schluter says no modified mortar unless it is Allset, so allsett is an A118.15 mortar, but Schluter says it is not recommended for glass, What to do? I have on several occasions used Ardex X77 on kerdi board, Ardex will sub their warranty for Schluter's. You could also switch to Hydroban Board By Laticrete, which is a top rate Foam board, and they have no problem if you use a High polymer thinset.
Good job Sal!👍🏻
Thanks Dani
I got nothing I needed from this. Needed to know how to cut glass tile for the outlets and switches, especially when the I needed to cut a U in a single tile. THAT would have been helpful.
Anybody have any info about installing 1" glass tile on a 12" square with a backing that sticks to the tile not wall?
Hey Sal, once again another amazing informative video. I followed everything to the T but the glass still ended up cracking by where the niche is. It was a glass tile that had to be notched. I was wondering since the glass tile had to be notched. Did I weaken it by cutting the tile due to the vibration of the wet tile saw? I couldn't find another way of notching the cut since its not a single straight cut and could not be done with only a glass cutter. Any suggestions?
When you have to notch a glass tile, never do a square cut, always leave a radius at the corner. So if you have a niche you have to have it so you have full tile on the top and bottom so you don't get the square cut.
@@SalDiBlasi thank you for the informative response! Your the man Sal!
@@SalDiBlasi But how is a radius cut accomplished? Do you have a video on that ?
Awesome video buddy!!!, you seem very knowledgeable. Any thoughts on installing decorative 3x12 colored tiles on the outside of a Hot tub where water continues to flow over into the main pool? I’m looking for an artistic and contemporary look as an addition to the all round infinity edge of the pool. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
I really don't do pool work, best to contact the manufacturer of the tile you want to use to see if it suitable and how to install it.
@@SalDiBlasi thank you
that video was really helpful
Glad it helped
Sal DiBlasi is there a certain brand of snap scorer that you recommend using Also what size notch trowel ? Im installing the same type of glass tile but it’s 3x12
Sal ... why not use type 1 adhesive instead of thin set. The flexibility of the type 1 would allow for movement ?
Robert Avery type 1 adhesive is an organic mastic that can interact with the backing of the tile and cause discoloration, it also does not have sufficient bond to hold the tile in place, just to name a couple of reasons, besides mastic is garbage in a bucket as far as I am concerned, very limited uses.
A high content Polymer modified thinset usually an Ansi 118.5 which is an "Improved Latex Portland Cement Mortar"
Beautiful work
Why you don't recommend using mastik to install glass tile?
Te escribo desde España.
No entiendo nada de lo que dice, pero si que veo que es un gran profesional y realiza unos acabados perfectos.
Un saludo.
There are closed captions , maybe that will help you.
Can I use leveling wedges on glass subway tile?
no
@@SalDiBlasi what’s the reason?
First it is glass, very fragile, second it is glass, you will see the clips, third it is glass never use clips with glass, fourth they are small tiles, they don't need clips. Should I go on?
@@SalDiBlasi Ok thanks ill skip the levels and vary the thinset to make it level. Thanks!
No, very bad idea, the surface needs to be flat before you install the tile. Glass needs the Thinset possible bond coat to not have cracking in the future.
Hi Sal! I have a question, I went to someone house to give a estimate for installation of glass tile in their kitchen backsplash, so the owner didn’t wont a grout space at all, I told him I have to use least a 1/16 space and trying to explain him some thing about tile but he was not agree with me andI told him I can not do the job that way so,
Can you install a glass tile with no grout space at all?
Minimum grout space is 1/16, so you made the right call. If he gets it done the way he wants, then has chipped and cracking tile later on, he will still blame the guy that installed it for not knowing better.
Thank you master
Hey Sal, fan of yours as we prepare to do a fireplace tile project in preparation for a gas insert (located in centerville) We plan to use glass tile as we are using a seas-glass theme...and after watching your video, we are concerned. You mentioned using a flexible caulk instead of grout along the borders....can you recommend a caulk? Starting to think we should look into hiring you :-).
The grout manufacturer will always have a color matching silicone caulk.
The coating on the back side of glass tiles will scratch. If your using a wet saw with a fixed table, place a piece of cardboard under the glass tile to prevent that scratching.
Or use a diamond blade made to cut glass.
Hey Sal how are you ? Fine I hope ! Can you tell me what you charge per square foot to install 3x4 glass tile in a shower ?
Price per square foot is a thing of the past, and Glass tile is a very expensive product to install.
Hi Sal, I had full remodel (down to the studs) on both of my bathrooms due to leaks and lead. I had my contractor install glass tile (6x12, 8mm) on both shower and shower/bathtub walls. I’m hoping they use some type of waterproof sealant before installing the tiles but I know they did not use the polyethylene membrane on the walls. Once they were done with the bathrooms and I moved back into my house, at random places and times, tiles started to crack on both showers. They’ve come to replace the cracked ones but new ones including a couple of already replaced keep happening. The contractor claims they never had this issue before and gave me the solution to retile both bathrooms again but using porcelain tiles. He’s asking me to pay for half of the cost. I think it is absurd since after watching your video, I see they did not install it correctly. Any input, suggestions, facts to to mention to them about installation and tile so they can see they did not install the tiles correctly? Thank you!
Glass tiles move much more than ceramic or porcelain, a lot more. So it is imperative that sufficient movement joints be placed where they are needed. That will usually be at changes of plain and where the tile meets a dissimilar material. It is also important the the substrate be prepared correctly, the substrate must be flat so that the thinnest bond coat of mortar possible can be used, a thick bond coat will lead to cracking. The correct type of mortar must also be used, this will usually be either an ANSI A118.15 white thinset mortar or a mortar that is specifically designed for glass tile. I would check the corners of your bathroom, was silicone used, or were the corners filled with grout? Was the correct mortar used? Did the use an excessive amount of mortar under the tile? Where the tiles butted together, or was the correct grout size used? Was the the stud spacing of the walls correct? Hope this helps.
Sal DiBlasi Would it be possible for me to send you photos of the bathrooms to give you a better idea? Thanks for your response!
Hi Sal! Thank you for so much valuable info! I bought glass subway tile for our bath surround thinking we would hire a pro but money is tight so I gotta learn fast. Currently have backer board that I'm going to tape and mud then paint 2x with the red stuff. Saw on another video that you can just add thinset to the back of the tile (not bother with trowling on the backer board) and just stick the tile directly to the backer board. Bad idea? I live in RI, do you know of anyone who could teach me the basics?
For glass that is a very bad idea. You need to have a flat surface and an even mortar bed with as thin a bond coat as possible while still achieving as close to 100% coverage as you can get. Doing it that way will make all those things very difficult.
What process or products would you recommend to remove hardened excess grout off of the glass tile? I waited 24 hours to clean off as I was directed but now it's really hard.
Probably missunderstood the directions, you are not the first. Sorry I have no advice that will give an adequate resolution to that.
Good video sal watching
"Sal tv" every Saturday is my ritual. Lol
Glad to here it, thanks for watching.👍