What are the benefits of recycled glass tiles?

When I decided to remodel my kitchen, recycled glass tile was one of the materials I considered using. While I ultimately chose another material, recycled glass tile has become popular with architects and homeowners who are drawn to its unique aesthetic.

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It&#;s difficult to say exactly how environmentally sensitive recycled glass tile is when you consider that the only environmental benefit is that it uses recycled materials. The glass must be melted to be used, a process that expends tremendous amounts of energy. And while it&#;s good to keep consumer waste out of landfills, glass can be recycled into many different things, not just tiles.

It is also difficult to get consistent color with recycled glass. For this reason, many manufacturers combine the types of glass they use. Some colors of glass tile may contain less than 25 percent of post consumer glass. That&#;s not to say that these tiles aren&#;t better environmentally than other options, just keep in mind that the actual environmental benefit may be quite small.

Glass Tile is Fragile

While glass tile manufacturers will often emphasize the ability of glass to resist stains and chemical damage, they are not as forthcoming with their product&#;s tendency to scratch and even shatter . For this reason, glass tile is probably best regulated to a backsplash or as a decorative accent to another material. If you are determined to use it on a more high traffic area, such as a foyer or even a kitchen countertop, choose a rough, cloudy variety to hide the inevitable scratches.

Glass Tile Installation: My Pro Tips

Installing glass tile is particularly difficult job when compared with other tiles. When you install ceramic tile, for example, you begin by applying the adhesive with a notched trowel, then pressing the tile onto the wall. With translucent glass tile the process is much more complex, as the individual lines of adhesive can be seen through the glass if care is not taken.

I have found the easiest way to avoid this is to smooth the adhesive with a metal trowel after applying it to the wall. The key is to make sure that the layers are even, and you must also know how much thin set is required to keep the tile in place. In general, I&#;ve found a 1/16" layer works well.

What I&#;ve found works even better is calling a professional to lay the tile, especially if you are using a mosaic variety. Mosaics up the complexity of installation, as well as the cost when compared to other glass tile varieties. Simply put, don&#;t attempt to install this tile until you&#;ve completed a few jobs using ceramic tile.

Disregard this advice and you may get lucky, and you may also ruin tile that can easily cost $30 per square foot.

Glass Tile: Green Building Material&#;or not?

With no particular green credentials, questionable durability and a high price point you may be inclined to believe that only the foolish are buying glass tile. However, recycled glass tile, no matter what its drawbacks, is an incredibly beautiful material. The right tile can elevate the entire appearance of the room, reflecting light where most tiles simply absorb it. Combined with other materials, even a small amount can give the whole room a greater appeal.

Related:

AboutGlassTile has a fantastic DIY How-To Tutorial on everything you need to know to cut, drill into, and install glass tile. And that&#;s not all&#;learn how to lay mosaic glass tile sheets!

Beautiful glass tile photo galleries of installed glass tile in bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, in and around pools, and flooring.

See how the 4 main types of glass tiles are made:

How are the 2 prominent glass tile surface treatments made? 

Glass Tile: A Sustainable Building Material

Oceanside GlassTile, a leader in handcrafted glass tile, reuses more than 2 million pounds of recycled glass collected curbside (cullet) and turns it into some of the world&#;s finest handcrafted glass tiles. Learn more about Oceanside GlassTile if you&#;re into it.

Image courtesy: David Ritter

I have a lot of hands-on experience in the home construction industry, with a good deal of experience in sustainable building. I&#;m mostly interested in home restoration and home renovations.

Around the world, people have realized the importance of protecting our natural resources and as a result, eco-conscious consumerism is on the rise.  Chances are, you yourself have taken steps to ensure you leave a smaller eco-footprint or have at least pondered on how you can do your part. Well, we&#;re happy to tell you about one simple way to make a difference: using mosaic tile made of recycled glass. 

While the recycled glass industry is still in its infancy, it is expected to become a billion dollar market in the next few decades. As environmental awareness and concern grows, homeowners are searching for creative ways to help reduce their carbon footprint. The use of recycled glass is becoming a popular eco-friendly alternative.

When properly installed, glass mosaic tile is known to be one of the most durable, long-lasting materials on earth. In fact, it is estimated that glass can take up to 1 million years to decompose!

Want more information on Recycled Glass Mosaics? Feel free to contact us.

Benefits of using recycled glass tile

There are many benefits to choosing recycled glass tile for your pool or home. Some of which include:

• Leaving a smaller eco-footprint
• Reducing landfill waste
• Guaranteed safe and sturdy material
• Can be recycled again if you decide to upgrade
• Peace of mind / no buyers remorse 

How does glass use effect the environment?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States produced 12.3 million tons of glass in alone! This number is expected to rise year over year. Of that 12.3 million tons of glass, only 3.1 million tons were recycled.

This means that 9.2 million tons of glass ended up in our landfills as waste. All this additional waste is leading to unprecedented climate change and air pollution. This can and has led to the destruction of our wildlife and natural resources around the world. 

Furthermore, mismanagement of waste is a huge public health concern. Diseases such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and other bacterial infections are spread to us via the emissions generated to break down all our waste, wreaking havoc on our communities. (Earthday.org, )

Make a difference, choose eco-friendly tile

But can one person using recycled glass tile really make a difference? The answer is YES! The stigma that surrounds the use of recycled glass is unfounded. So long as the materials are produced following TCNA (Tile Council of North America) guidelines, the material is just as safe, durable, and beautiful as non-recycled glass.

One person choosing to go with recycled glass mosaics will set the standard for high-quality, stunning pool tile in their neighborhood. 

Speaking of stunning pool tile, there is a misconception surrounding recycled glass tile that it won&#;t be as beautiful, or that somehow, it retains the style from its previous use, therefore creating a hodgepodge of colors etc. This just isn&#;t the case.

For instance, all the eye-catching, premium glass tile from the brand Vidrepur, is made from recycled glass. They offer everything from smooth solid colors to extraordinary iridescent finishes, and even anti-slip options. There truly is something for everyone. 

Designing Pool and Interior with Recycled Glass Tile

Maybe you want to source all your materials from here in the United States. Well, good news. All the artisan glass mosaic tiles produced by American Glass Mosaics are made right here in the US using recycled glass. Their breathtaking collections of glass mosaic tiles are hand-crafted to perfection. You truly end up with a one-of-a-kind glass tile. 

Perhaps you&#;re looking for something different. Something that truly stands out and astounds onlookers. Look no further than the Vanguard series by Aquatica. This collection features a multitude of varying colors and sizes, all displayed in gorgeous patterns across the face of the tiles. 

What our customers are saying about our recycled glass tile products

"I could not be happier with AquaBlu Mosaics. From my initial purchase, through the end of the project, Aqua Blu made sure to keep in contact and make sure I was satisfied. The glass tile looks amazing in our pool. I highly recommend this company and this product for any future pool remodel."

 

In short, recycled glass mosaic tiles are just as vibrant and alluring as non-recycled tiles. So long as the manufacturer follows TCNA guidelines (like those featured on AquaBluMosaics.com) to produce these materials, durability is not an issue. Between lessening the amount of glass waste that ends up in our landfills, to alleviating some of the environmental effects this waste has on our communities, going with recycled glass tile is one simple way to do your part.

So don&#;t delay, shop all our recycled glass tiles today and create your paradise with ease of mind because you&#;re not only creating a beautiful oasis, but also helping to care for the environment. 

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