Anything CAN be done. Doesn't mean it SHOULD be. :-)

I have a feeling unless you're extremely careful and take months to finish that bathroom, you're probably going to get some thinset in the joints, and it's going to be a PITA to keep all the joints completely clean.

pharaoh--what "brand" are the tiles? Would you mind telling me roughly how much they run cost-wise? We're in the beginning stages of bathroom planning (need to reno 3!), and I've been thinking about glass for the tub walls. Would love to use the same tile we used for our kitchen backsplash (Artistic Tile Opera Glass) but I don't think our budget will allow that!

catmom,
I havent bought these tiles yet but i have some samples from build direct.com
They run around $8 per sq ft. Tomorrow I am going to a local warehouse of another company that sells them for about $5 per sq ft (3" x 6"). will see what the quality is like. Email me if you want to hear about my experience.
The absolute clear (starphire) glass tiles are very hard to find. most seem to have a green tint that i dont like at all.

Pharaoh-- Looking at the tiles in the picture, it looks like the edges are slightly canted, which means you start out with joinst wider than 1/16". Now, I don't know for sure if that's so-- pics can sometimes be deceiving. In addition, they might be accurate enough where they don't HAVE to be opened up at all. Let me put it this way-- if the joints, once installed, are more than 1/16", use sanded grout.

Pharaoh, I am amazed that you could find something so gorgeous for so little. The cheapest I have come across glass tiles in my area is $25 sq ft and that's not even the great looking ones that could run up to $90 a sq ft.

You might have to start selling to some of us, lol

Mari

Mari,
I should :) I dont understand why glass tile is so expensive considering the low cost of glass. I guess as competition increased, the price will go down.

i saw some incredible deals on basic glass tile (not iridescent or fancy) today at a tile warehouse in los angeles.

My custom made glass tiles have arrived!! I got 4" x 12" ones made and imported. They are crystal clear (starphire) glass.

So I am going to experiment with the no or hairline grout. Will report my findings. Grout simply kills the sparkly nature of glass tile and makes it look flat :(

I have heard the argument that glass expands and hence the grout line, but then the grout will keep the glass from expanding as well. I am confused at to WHY is grout needed? is it structural, thermal, or is it just easier for the tile installer?

There's a whole plethora of reasons, most of which have to do with elimintating voids. Especially in a shower, the very last thing you want are voids where all kinds of junk could get started. It also takes all those modules of glass you're putting all over your wall, and turns it into a solid one piece wall covering. That's just the start. But those are the main reasons.

Bad as the grout may look, I have a feeling soap scum, mineral deposits and mildew will look worse.

As I said in my original post, these tiles will not be used in the shower. They are going in the rest of the bathroom, hopefully, there will not be any water falling on the tiles :)

Will keep everyone posted with my findings and experiments...

I am in the same situation, I am using glass tile on my kitchen backsplash and I really didn't want to grout it. I was thinking of using clear caulk instead. Has anyone had any experience using this procedure?

Denise, no offense meant, but no one with any sense who knows what they're doing. I can't begin to tell you what a nightmare that would be, caulking with clear silicone, and then having to completely clean the excess silicone off the clear glass. Or even if the glass ISN'T clear (just that with clear glass it would show up even worse). That's one pandora's box you don't want to open.

I've been wondering about something on these clear glass tiles-- do the pics represent an actual install, or are they just spread out on a white cloth to be photographed? Wouldn't the thinset below show through, and every little air bubble [etc] be completely visible?

The grout may be the least of the issues in reproducing this look...

I dont know if the photos are of an actual install.

I received my custom made glass tiles a couple of weeks ago. They are coated (white) on the back so nothing shows through. The glass is absolutely clear (starphire), no green tint in it.

I am going to make some sample boards to see how the grout will look (maybe a very narrow grout line).

Bill is squirming at this thread :)

pharaoh,

Where did you end up getting your tiles from and for how much? The original tiles you posted I have been looking at from Build Direct..love the price, but not really needing that many. Would also love to know how you ended up grouting your tile. I hope you reply and show pictures!

Dana

do the pics represent an actual install, or are they just spread out on a white cloth to be photographed? Wouldn't the thinset below show through, and every little air bubble [etc] be completely visible?

usually with crystal clear glass tile like this, the backs of the tiles are painted. However, you still need to make sure the backs are completely coated with thinset to make sure there are no bubbles or trowel marks as you alluded to.

Bill is squirming at this thread :)

Bet on it. :-)

Dana,

I had my tiles made and shipped by BuilderElements. I highly recommend this company. Extremely professional and flexible. They made me a custom tile in the color, thickness and dimensions I wanted. I have searched for a year for these tiles but came up short but builderelements saved the day by making the tile of my dreams :)

The tiles came in a few weeks ago and I am blown away by the quality. They even made custom shipping boxes from styrofoam that kept each tile properly padded so that not even one of the 600 broke!!
The dimensions are 4"x 12" x 10mm. Low iron (starphire) glass. Coated white on the back.

The major cost comes from shipping but I saved some because i picked it up myself in Los angeles. Otherwise the cost of the tile is very good compared to what i have seen in stores. You would expect a custom glass tile to cost 2-3 times as much but it turned out to be very affordable, not to mention unique.

Email me if you need any more details.

PS: The tiles will cover the bathroom walls, the floor is going to be Sivec White marble (similar to thassos).

Here is a link that might be useful: Custom Glass tiles

pharaoh-- Once you get a sample of the sivec, could you post a pic of it?

Bill,
For the past 5 years I have been planning on a thassos bathroom and as I watched the price has slowly crept up. Premium select thassos is very expensive. No gray, no inclusions, just pure white. I was not prepared to pay $20 or more per sq ft for that.
Plus, I am not fond of the minute crystal structure you can see when it reflects light. It looks like it is made of salt or sugar :)

So i kept shopping until I came across sivec. It is a white marble from macedonia. Not as bright white as thassos but very pretty. Mine does have some gray, yellow veins but they are very light. It also has some gorgeous silver and gold veins that you can only see in person when the light shines on it just right.
The price was excellent! So I bought almost double of what I need. I plan to use all the good pieces and craigslist the rest.

The tile is 18x18x1/2

Now I am glad I got sivec because if the tile is too perfect, it might end up looking like porcelain or ceramic and you know that will be a shame :)

Plus, I am not fond of the minute crystal structure you can see when it reflects light. It looks like it is made of salt or sugar

I am. To me, it looks like the exact opposite of absolute black- same crystal structure, and everything, even though AB is considered a granite, and Thassos a marble.

Not as bright white as thassos but very pretty. Mine does have some gray, yellow veins but they are very light.

I'm sure it's different, but from the pictures, it almost looks like standard thassos (as opposed to clear)!! Either way, it's definitely a beautiful stone! :-)

Here's a suggestion. It's VERY labor intensive, but I think it might give you the look you want and create the greater structural integrity and better sanitization that the grout provides. Why not "grout" with a clear two part epoxy similar to what is used in joining solid surface countertops? You could cut individual tile covers from shelf liner to temporarily glue to the surface to avoid scratching and very carefully squeeze the epoxy into the minute grout lines and then very carefully sand off the excess.

Like I said, a lot of work for the look. But, I'd rather do that (Actually, I'd rather use non sanded grout in white myself) than deal with the, um, staining that is going to manage to work it's way between the tiles. Unless you always sit to pee that is. ;~) Bathroom walls are subject to a lot of elimination oops at my house. There are those times that you can't quite make the destination when the tummy is whoopsie and a bit projectile. I'd MUCH rather deal with the itty bitty grout lines not letting that whoopsie down inside the installation than trying to dental floss it out!

45.00 a foot labor only, no warranty. :-)

I’m hoping by now someone has come up with a good solution to the problem of grouting the glass tiles. My installer had to order a beautiful grout to march the tiles but it looks terrible. Then they tried white and gray also. The problem seems to be a reflection from the slight bevel on the tiles. I would love to hear any solution for this. Please let me know. The tile will be in the bathroom behind the sink, but not in the shower.

I have some pictures. None look great…🥲

I hope to hear from someone soon! Thank you!

Rita you revived a twenty year old post, you should have started a new post. Your photos look like what grout looks like on glass tile. What were you expecting? What did the sample you selected in the store look like?

It looks like white.

It’s the llower one.

I bought it at Lowe’s

The joints look slightly narrower than what you have but looks like a warmer white/ maybe Snow White instead of bright white

Thank you. I will have the installer try a softer white.

That's why you need to get your last choices and actually make a sample board. Do not grout until your sure of your selection.