rantontoo -- but if the tile had a solid backing, would the color of the thinset matter? That's what I am asking

Sandra, yes a special thinset should be used even if the backing is white. But that is not the real problem here. it is the glass tile itself. Unless it is a special low-iron glass, it will never come across as a true white once it is placed on the wall. I had this same exact problem and it was heartbreaking as it looked absolutely horrible. There a few threads from earlier years regarding this exact issue. I had no choice but to rip it out and while costly, I was happy I did so.

Aurora Tee - Thanks die your reply. this glass was never true white. It always had a light grey cast which is what I wanted. But it’s darker and a little bluer now that it’s up. It’s not different enough from my original expectation that I would rip it down. I just wanted to address the color of the thinset with the installer. If he was supposed to use white and used grey, that’s an issue. I will read the instructions that came with the tile again more closely to see if it said anywhere that white had to be used. This guy has been doing tile for many many years and came highly recommended. I hired him bc I am not the tile expert, he is. I’m curious what he will say.

The tile I had installed looked so blue/green and it bothered me so much. You sound more flexible than I was so that is good. Now once it is grouted, the final color may look different once again. Glass tile is indeed tricky. Good luck and post pictures of the final result.

you have a mesh and the tile is back painted white. don't you think if it was transparent you'd see the mesh?? hold up your glass sheet. can you see the mesh through the front of the glass? No? Can you see your hand through the glass? what about a gray piece of paper? can you see that? No? then a gray thinset won't matter.

the thinset isn't the issue, it's the glass itself. as stated above, white glass tile will always appear w/a bluish/green tint once installed. they do make a crystal clear glass, but it's much more expensive. Most of your white glass tiles are made with regular glass. same type of glass the shower doors are made from. ever wonder why you see green in that glass? it's the iron.

search, "white glass tile looks blue" up here in the search bar and you'll see all the complaints.

similar tile you have:

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/white-glass-tile-turned-baby-blue-help-needed-dsvw-vd~4226599[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/white-glass-tile-turned-baby-blue-help-needed-dsvw-vd~4226599)

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/we-installed-white-glass-subway-tile-in-our-kitchen-and-it-looks-blue-dsvw-vd~4247008[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/we-installed-white-glass-subway-tile-in-our-kitchen-and-it-looks-blue-dsvw-vd~4247008)

you could try using a warmer bulb in your under cabinet lighting to see if that yellows it a bit. Otherwise, you're stuck. but it doesn't look bad at all.

Aurora Tee - it is done. Grout is in. Pictures in second comment on this page. I didn’t want pure white. I wanted a grey hue. Just got a little more than I wanted.

***Beth H - thank you for answering my question! I needed a pro’s expertise on this issue. I’m glad the color variation is not because of what the installer used. And again, I knew there could be a color variation up front. The tile sheets I purchased looked much whiter than the sample I brought home from the tile store which was mounted. I didn’t want white. I knew it would look more gray. But that mounted sample didn’t appear bluish. That was the surprise. In any case, I’m fine with it. I went to the tile store many many times and my eye gravitated always to the glass. I purchased 24 square feet and the cost was $675 which included the installers discount. I thought that was inexpensive. Didn’t even know there was a pricier glass option out there. One more week and this kitchen renovation is done. Missing cabinet door and toe kicks go on. I’m so happy to have a new kitchen. A huge improvement from what I had, but I felt like I needed a college degree in this stuff to avoid the mistakes I made. Just don’t have time for that. I tell people the funny part is I learned so much for the next time - but there won’t be a next time lol. My next move is a downsize. When my kids are grown and out, I’ll move to a small condo with a view of the ocean and I’m doing nothing to it ;)

those white tile sheets will never show the blue/green tint because it's too small. once you get them on the wall in a large mass, for some reason the tint becomes really visible.

I like the color w/your countertop. it's nice to see a little color, even if it does appear bluish. try changing your light bulbs if you feel it bothers you and see if it helps at all. if you have the undercab lighting, I'd do a bulb in the 3200K range to warm it up.

Yes, white thinset is standard for glass tile (and of course, use of adhesives rated for glass tile are required). This is also specified by AKDO: "White thinset/epoxy is recommended for all glass products. Ensure all grout joints are completely cleaned out prior to grouting". However, the most important impactor to color change after install is that it is now grouted. When you fill the joints you change the color of the glass (you are no longer getting the light through those joints). This is why it is important to view grouted samples for true color prior to selection.

Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works - I did see a grouted sample (with white)and brought it home to look at in my house. I read through the specific instructions AKDO sent with me actual tile. No mention of white thin set. I wish it said it somewhere, but it doesn’t. If you see Beth H’s first comment above, she doesn’t feel like the grey thin set made the difference since the glass isn’t translucent. She feels it’s seeing one small section of grouted glass vs an entire wall and the inherent blue / green tint of glass which I wasn’t aware of. I can live with it, just wish I anticipated it. I haven’t picked a paint color yet. Somehow I’ll find a way to pull it together. Getting some design help.

Beth is correct about the fact that the tiles are all back painted but as you will note, they back paint it white. Why do you think that is? Depending on the glass tile, and they do vary, there still can be some light filtered through (prior to install) albeit reduced greatly by the back painting. White thin set is standard for glass tile and this is something that professionals with many years of glass tile installation experience understand. I'm sure you will enjoy the backsplash after you land on the other decisions as paint and lighting do make a difference. Just sharing some technical advice for other's benefit. Good luck with the rest of your project. Here's the link to AKDO installation instructions recommending white thinset: https://d7rh5s3nxmpy4.cloudfront.net/CMP1285/files/AKDO_Glass_Non-Metallic_Installation_Care_Maintenance_Guidelines.pdf

Sandra,

I actually think it looks great. Please advise the name and brand of the counters.

Thanks,
Kathy

Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works - yes I see it’s listed on their website, but there was printed instructions in each box of tile. I just read through them again. No mention of white thin set which is upsetting. My tile guy should have known to do this, came highly recommended and he’s been doing this for years. It’s his job to know what color thin set to use, not me. That’s why I hired him. I did talk with him about making sure the right adhesive was used since the tile store mentioned it. It’s up and grouted so not much I can do about it - BUT if the directions that came in the box said white thin set maybe I would have some recourse with him. He’s coming tomorrow and I will talk to him about it. Maybe I can at least get some money off. I haven’t paid yet.

Kath - thank you! The counters are LG Viatera and the color is Soprano. There are bits of beige and light grey.

The backsplash was supposed to pull out the light grey - but it turned out a little greyer and bluer than I hoped.

I second Dragonfly. If you have any left over you can try holding it up and placing something behind it. I think your colors you selected look really nice together.

Live with it for a couple of days - then see what you think. I like it.

I would never use anything other than white with glass. That's basic glass installation knowledge. Not to mention the manufacturers instructions.

Shower door glass is tempered. Glass mosaics will be either cast, fused or low temp.

Some questionable comments on this thread..

Always check with the manufacturer for the facts before collecting on line opinions.

I think it looks great. Don’t stress. Enjoy your new kitchen!

Distinction tile - I do have some left over. I did just try holding it up and putting something behind it. The tiles alternate frosted and clear. You can see a slight shadow and my hand behind the clear ones — so the white thin set would have probably helped. Don’t think it would have solved the problem completely, but definitely a factor. I will mention to installer tomorrow. I am hoping to not pay the full price. He was recommended and he wasn’t cheap. He should have known better.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I don’t think it looks terrible. I would never rip it out. But it ended up a little more grey / blue and the grey thinset was probably partially to blame. I shouldn’t have to pay full price for the install bc of that. Will discuss it with the installer tomorrow.

T.F.W thank you for your comment. Can you advise what explains the reason so many people who purchase white glass tiles have an issue with them looking bluish or greenish when installed? When you search this issue many people here on Houzz have had the same issue. Even if they used white thin set and white grout. There has to be something to do with the glass itself.

Beth H. - thank you again for your explanation and I am sorry you are getting criticized for trying to help. I do understand that the white thin set would have helped but would not have completely eliminated the problem. The tile installation wasn't cheap so I will mention it to him tomorrow when he comes, along with some other issues with the install. For example, there was a small bow in one part of the wall. The owner came to look ahead of time to look at how bad it was and to see if it needed to be fixed before day of tile install. He said it did not. The installer knew about it yesterday morning. I just noticed 2 tiles are sticking out from the wall and one quite a bit..clearly they didn't correct the wall as they should have. Will anyone notice it? Probably not bc it will be behind my toaster but will one of those tiles get loose and fall off some day bc it's really not fully grouted? Maybe. If I am paying top dollar I expect top quality work. Not sure if any of these issues can be fixed without ripping out and starting over which I do not want to do..but I would expect a reduction in my cost. I am also at the end of my renovation and running out of patience. Tired of babysitting all these contractors, especially the ones that came highly recommended and weren't cheap.

Sandra, as long as the tile is adhered w/thinset, it won't pop off. walls are never straight/flush/plumb, so if it was that bad, then yes it should have been fixed prior to tiling. you're right. if paying good money, then absolutely you should have a level/flat tile layout. It prob will only be noticeable to you, but if it does concern you, point it out to your tile setter and see what he says.

Aurora Tee - I'm sorry you feel you were being criticized. I really do appreciate your help and I knew exactly what you meant when you commented. I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post. Thank you!

Thanks for the update Beth H.

TFW - here's a recap. My GC didn't have a tile installer. He normally does tile himself which I was not comfortable with. I've always been told to have the correct subs for each phase of the project. He has subs for everything except tile. Since I selected glass which can be tricky, the tile supplier recommended an installer. Even my GC admitted glass tile is tricky. For those who live in NJ, I worked with Wayne Tile. One of the best tile stores/suppliers around. They recommended the installer. They are pretty selective with who they recommend so I doubt he's a novice. I am curious to see what he says tomorrow about the thin set color (and the other issues).

This renovation has taught me no matter what you pay, you still have to be a babysitter. Some subs really inherently care about doing their best work..but many want to get it done and move on to the next job and hope you won't notice. Happy to be almost done. I won't miss this. As I have said before , my new kitchen is 1000 times better than what I had before but the aggravation, while you are living through it, is maddening. Hoping to forget it all soon. Need to check out of Houzz for a while when it's finally complete. But I do appreciate each and every one of you that have replied to my posts. It's been a HUGE help!

Update - tile installer came today. He said they did use white thin set. I know I saw them smear something gray allover my walls. Maybe it looked grey when it was wet? Or maybe they put something on the walls to smooth them first? I have no idea. I do have a Schuleter and he showed me from the side angle you can see white. So I guess it’s just the tile. Big bummer. The tile samples I saw mounted and brought home did look a little darker. A little grayish which is what I wanted. Not sure how or why they ended up different. I am getting used to it. Working with a interior designer to pick paint colors and accessories to tie it all together. Thanks again everyone!

One more update - Forgot to mention yesterday, I also showed the owner the spot where the tile was sticking out. There was a slight bow in the wall at one spot. I just wanted to point it out as ask if there would be any risk of it coming loose down the line. He told me it wouldn’t and I moved on. It must have been bothering him. He called me today. Said he felt badly last night about it and his guys usually do better than that. If I wanted to fix it he would send someone back. I decided against it. It’s behind my toaster. No one will see it. And fixing it is complicated. They would have to cut out a part of the Sheetrock and the glass tiles are in strips of 3’s. I worry about the surrounding ones cracking. Decided to leave it alone. He said if I change my mind to call him. Thought it was nice of him to follow up again. I’ve learned during this kitchen renovation sometimes trying to fix the little imperfections only opens up a can of worms and can make it worse.

Enjoy your kitchen Sandra, it's beautiful :)