What Is glass tile? - Infotile

By Peter Halliday
Glass has been described as one of the hottest materials used in architecture
over the last decade. Often associated with clean, minimalist design, the
visual depth and fl uid appearance of glass adds interest to almost every
application. The three, strong design elements in interior architecture today
are colour, format and texture. Glass tiles incorporate them all. Together
with stone and metal, glass has replaced some of the traditional ceramic
tile decorated borders as the decorative element in many homes and
apartments. Many believe this trend will continue into the next decade.
What is glass tile?
When asked about glass tiles, most people think of small, square, meshmounted
glass mosaics. The recent resurgence of interest in glass mosaic
has found the material widely used in both domestic and commercial
installations. The displays at Cersaie by Bisazza, Trend, Opio, Sicis, Megaron
and others were both hard to miss or forget. Due to its small size, glass
mosaic is an obvious product to use on tightly curved surfaces. Traditional
mosaic tiles are sintered glass. This means the raw materials are ground
to powder form, mixed with binders and pressed. The pieces are then fi red
at a temperature high enough to melt the particles together. The fi nal
appearance can sometimes be milky or solid, without the depth or transparency
we often associate with other glass products.
Glass tile includes a much wider variety of products other than traditional
glass mosaic. The clear glass tiles with colour applied to the back has
attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Available is sizes from 25 x 25
mm up to 200x300 mm and larger, the tiles from different manufacturers
range from 4 to 8 mm thick. The appearance of a wall fi nished in this type
of glass tile is translucent with a visual depth not found in ceramics. This
is due to the depth of the transparent glass layer through which the colour
and texture, applied to the rear of the tile, is viewed.
Glassmakers generally categorise glass tiles into two types, hot glass and
warm glass. The categories describe the temperature ranges at which the
glass tiles are formed. Hot glass tiles are produced by grinding raw materials
(which can be other recycled glass products) into powder form, melting
the powder in a furnace at over 1000 degrees, and then pouring the molten
glass into a press or mould. Higher relief and more complex shapes are
possible by this method. Hot glass tiles combine the translucent colours of
the glass and the optical effects of refracted light together with high
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relief texture. The process is more expensive than warm glass so the products
produced are usually borders and feature tiles, where the detail and high
relief is valued most.
Phillip Naughton, who along with Chris Simpson co-founded Infusion,
manufactures glass tiles using the warm glass method. He uses sheets of
6 or 8 mm thick fl oat glass which are cut up into different sized products.
In their North Melbourne factory, the cut pieces are fi red to over 800 degrees
to create the textured rear surface. The sharp edges are also fi re polished
or rounded off during the fi rst fi ring. When the tiles cool, designs can be
screen printed onto the rear surface, or the back can be covered with a single
colour of glass enamel. The tile is then fi red for a second time at a lower
temperature. Most of the clear glass tile products, manufactured in Australia,
are made by the warm glass process.
BAT Trims have been importing Interstyle glass tile products from Canada
for the last eight years. Interstyle began manufacturing glass tiles in 1983.
Their “Glassstyle Series” is created by fusing coloured ceramic glazes onto
selected quality, clear glass. The colour becomes an integral part of the
glass and is not damaged by exposure to virtually any environment. This
glass-glaze combination makes the product suitable for interior and exterior
applications, even in high humidity areas and swimming pools.
Gerhard Flechsig from BAT Trims and John Pyke from Regeneration, both
stress the importance of the fi red glaze or glass enamel to colour their glass
products. Some cheaper glass tiles use two-pack paint on the rear of the
glass to provide the colour. This reduces the manufacturing cost as there
is one less fi ring, but the risk of failure from colour pulling away from
the glass or reacting with the adhesive is greatly increased, especially with
metallic colours. The painted colour is also less resistant to U.V light and
humidity.
What’s new and selling?
John and Jenny Pyke fi rst introduced glass tiles to Australia about 10 years
ago. Jenny had been working with glass as a creative art medium for 20
years prior but after seeing moulded glass borders at a trade show in USA,
they quickly started producing their own after unsuccessfully trying to import
the American products. Regeneration has recently introduced the three new
designer colours of Aubergine, Ironbark and Choc Spice into their range.
They are fashion colours which compliment many of today’s porcelain tiles
Image courtesy B.A.T. Trims Image courtesy Bisazza Verve Cafe & Bar, ACT

Image courtesy B.A.T. Trims Image courtesy Bisazza Image courtesy Bisazza
Image courtesy B.A.T. Trims
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Tel: 02 9832 8600
Email: b_hudson@tig.com.au
and stone. Like other local manufacturers, Regeneration is not a mass
market manufacturer, but can produce the necessary volumes required for
larger commercial projects. They augment their general range of glass
borders and wall tiles with interesting artistic commissions and custom
made glass products.
BAT Trims report that glass is still growing in popularity but the styles and
colours are continually changing. The best selling products in projects are
still white or alabaster 100 x 100 mm tiles. In domestic applications the
smaller sized mosaic sheets featuring blends of mixed colours has proved
very popular. Gerhard has recently received samples of the new glass fl oor
borders also being developed by Interstyle. As the manufacturing technology
improves, the range of interesting products keeps increasing. This has
prompted Gerhard to extend their current warehouse space to carry the
increased number of stock lines held by BAT Trims, who are the largest
stockists of Interstyle products in the world.
Glass products continue to sell well for Gasparre Holdings although Cosimo
Gasparre says the market is changing rapidly. Glass plays a signifi cant part
in their product range with over 300 glass products designed in Australia
but manufactured abroad. They have recently introduced new designs featuring
combinations of glass with metal in more muted tones. Cosimo believes
glass has a strong future, provided his company can meet the market’s
constant demand for new designs, colours and technology.
Infusion has developed a white glass tile in response to architectural requests.
The clear tile with white backing does not have the slight green tinge
normally associated with using fl oat glass as the raw material. Chris Simpson
says the low-iron glass is more expensive but gives a much whiter result.
Infusion glass tiles have recently been used as a feature wall in the new
Federation Square project in Melbourne.
Artistic Stone will launch a second range of glass tiles in early June. Called
the Maniscalco Glass Collection, it includes 32 colours of 15 x 15 mm,
bevelled-edge, full colour glass mosaic at very affordable prices, according
to Managing Director, Peter Maniscalco. Mixed colour sheets will be offered
together with borders and centre motifs for swimming pools. The entire
range will be suitable for walls and fl oors, both indoors and outdoors.
Everstone has launched a brilliant range of clear glass tiles with colour
backing, manufactured in China. The range is available in 40 colours in a
variety of sizes ranging from small mosaic size up to 100 x 100 with long
strips. The modular sizes include oblong shapes that can be combined in
many interesting patterns.
The Spanish decorative tile manufacturer Tres Estilos, introduced a new
range of rectifi ed, decorated, tempered glass borders at Cersaie in 2002.
The “Fusing Collection” featured again on their display at Cevisama. The
range of glass listelli was offered as a modern alternative to the products
normally associated with Spanish tile decorators.
How is glass used?
Robyn Westall from Academy Tiles says interest in glass is huge at the
moment. Academy Tiles use a lot of Bisazza glass mosaic for swimming
pools and residential interiors. Though sometimes used on its own, glass
is usually combined with glazed ceramic tiles, porcelain or stone to create
added interest through the use of mixed materials. There is also some
economic advantage in reducing the number of walls, fully tiled in an
expensive glass mosaic. “Designers are looking for wow factor in tiling
installations and the Bisazza glass mosaic range certainly gives plenty of
that. The virtually zero moisture absorption of glass makes it ideal for
swimming pools”, says Robyn.
John Pyke describes glass as “strikingly neutral”. A popular look is Regeneration’s
thick glass border strips combined with large format, rectifi ed wall tiles. The
glass border protruding beyond the fl at tiled surface creates an interesting
look. When lit from overhead, the light dances inside the glass border, bringing
the product to life in ways unseen in conventional ceramic borders.

A lot of glass tile is used for kitchen splash-backs. 100x100 mm is the
most common size but larger formats are also being introduced. John
Pyke recommends using toughened glass for sizes larger than 100x100
mm where the glass tile is close to a heat-source such as a wok burner.
Gerhard Flechsig carried out extensive tests on two ranges from Interstyle,
after their Glasstyle and Glasstains products were specifi ed in an apartment
conversion in Melbourne. A fl ame, measuring 384 degrees Celcius, was
directed 40 mm from the surface of a wall of Glasstains and Glasstyle
100x100 mm tiles. The temperature readings to the front, rear and sides
of the tile surface confi rmed that the two Interstyle products were suitable
for use in a kitchen environment where gas cook tops were installed close
to the glass tile wall. No cracks or detrimental effects were found as a result
of the tests.
Installation
Manufacturers’ directions must be carefully followed as the backing colour
on clear glass products is translucent. Unsuspecting tilers have used notched
trowels and not properly bedded the material, resulting in notch marks
being seen from the front. This may not be apparent until the adhesive
has dried.
Regeneration reports that some tilers are understandably nervous about
cutting large format glass tiles that cost over $50.00 each. Many trade
schools are not training installers about glass and large formats according
to John Pyke. Regeneration has worked with a number of tilers who they
can now recommend for glass installation. As an interesting alternative,
Regeneration will work with a designer to manufacture each tile to size
to eliminate all cutting on the job. They will even incorporate the power
point holes at the time of manufacturing.
Glass can be cut with a tile cutter, glass cutter or wet diamond saw equipped with
a continuous rim blade. Holes should be drilled from the back with a watercooled
diamond drill bit, but fi nished off from the front to prevent chipping.
Metallic backed glass should be fi xed with a non-solvent adhesive. Other colour
backed glass tiles should be installed with a fl exible, waterproof, non-staining,
white adhesive. Bat Trims also recommend the following tip. When grouting the
tile, ensure that the grout is left below the fi re rounded edge of the glass tile
to allow extra light refraction within the tile.
Future directions
As local suppliers weigh-up the likely future direction of the market, the increasing
amount of well-priced, good quality glass coming from China and elsewhere
will make it more diffi cult for local manufacturers to compete on volume product
lines. By maintaining high quality standards and specialised boutique manufacturing
capabilities, local manufacturers will continue to adapt and develop creative
solutions such as making matching glass wash bowls to compliment the glass
tiles or borders they sell. Offering different sizes, custom made products and
colours, will ensure the ongoing success of this creative segment of the tile
industry.
The advent of glass as a decorative material is not new. When glass tile is
combined with other materials, the result is both interesting and can be economical.
Even adding a glass strip or small section of glass tile, will give a project that
extra touch of class, or rather, touch of glass.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
HEAD OFFICE
PO Box 4108
DANDENONG SOUTH VIC 3164
+61 3 9792 3638
Fax: +61 3 9794 9114
E-mail: sales@battrims.com