Installation Tips for Glass Tile and Stone Tile

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Installation Tips ... Success with glass tile and stone tile involves practical as well as aesthetic matters. Whether your project is small or large, whether you design it or hire a professional, and whether you install it yourself or rely on a tile setter, you should be aware of certain facts before starting a project.

1) Making Selection .... Selecting the right glass mosaic tile or stone mosaic tile for your job requires asking yourself the following questions:

Once you have narrowed your choices, buy a few samples. When you are selecting tiles from a catalog (or a website) and cannot feel the texture or experience the color and quality of the glaze, ask for samples before committing yourself. Live with them for a few days. Look at them next to other surfaces and materials they will share the space with. Be sure to switch on the lights in the room the tile will inhabit because the tile color will look different in your home than it did under the showroom lights.

If you are working with an architect or interior designer, he or she will specify exactly which pieces are needed. For a complex job, the designer may even take elevation drawings to the tile retailer and have them reviewed by store personnel before the order is finalized.

If you are doing the installation yourself, bring exact measurements and a detailed drawing or a set of blueprints to the showroom, so that a salesperson can help you specify the order. If you are using a professional to install your design, let him or her handle the order to avoid any finger-pointing midjob should a shortage of glass tiles or missing trim pieces occur, resulting in a delay.

Most professionals advise that you buy 5-10% more tile than you actually need to cover breakage and cuts during installation, and to replace the occasional tile broken at a later date. If the design is complex, laid on the diagonal, or will involve an unusual amount of cutting, order even more.

If the mosaic tile is a common design, it is likely to be warehoused by us, and delivery should take approximately 7-15 days. Custom orders and imported tile may take up to 8-12 weeks or more, to arrive.

The field tile cost is the result of multiplying the cost per square foot by the number of square feet needed (including extra coverage). and by adding the cost of trim pieces. The cost of installation is additional. Get at least 3 estimates and be sure that prices are based on the same methods of installation and materials. Labor costs will vary depending upon the area in which you live, and the complexity of the project, which in turn affects the time required.

Typically, large flat area will cost less per square foot than smaller jobs that entail a lot of detail and trim work. The more cuts required to fit tile around corners and into odd-shaped places, the higher the labor costs. For instance, diagonal patterns need more cutting and costs more than a straight square. Furthermore, many installers charge more for handmade glass tile, as its irregularities make it more time consuming to lay.

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Installation Tips for Glass Tile and Stone Tile