GLASS TILE VS. PORCELAIN TILE - THE PROS AND CONS

As you consider remodeling or constructing something new, tiles can be a beautiful way to add vibrancy and character to your interior or outdoor design. With so many options available, it&#;s essential that you take into account both the quality and cost prior to making your choice. To help with this decision-making process, here are reviews of two popular tile types - glass and porcelain - so that you can make an educated selection for your project needs.

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GLASS TILES

Are you looking for an easy and cost-effective way to spruce up your home? Glass tile may be the perfect choice for you. Whether it&#;s used in a pool, spa, bathroom, kitchen, or outdoor patio, glass tile is a popular material amongst homeowners looking to create a unique design.

Not only is glass tile incredibly durable and 100% recyclable, but it can also be made from recycled glass. When installed correctly, glass pool tile is the most durable pool finish available. This means you can feel good about creating the home of your dreams!

Aesthetically, it&#;s a stunning addition to any home that&#;s sure to elevate its look and get everyone talking! Its reflective properties make glass tile ideal for areas where natural light abounds, like sunrooms and foyers. In pools, the glass tiles reflect light off the water, creating shimmery effects that will transform any backyard into a luxurious oasis.

Glass mosaic tile offers an endless range of colors, patterns, and textures that will bring life to any room. With glass tile, you can create mosaics, stripes, or even abstract patterns for a truly customized design. No matter where you install it, you&#;re sure to create a beautiful look.

When it comes to durability, glass pool tiles are the most resilient option available. They are resistant to fading, staining, bacteria buildup&#;and they even stand up to chemical cleaners! And unlike other materials like concrete or plaster that require regular upkeep and maintenance, with glass tile all you need is an occasional scrubbing to keep your home and outdoor space looking its best. Plus, glass tiles won't fade or chip over time. You'll never have to worry about costly repairs or replacement costs with glass tile.

All of that said, there are a few things to consider when thinking of using glass tile for your next project. For one, if installing on a grand scale such as in a pool or spa, it&#;s important to hire a qualified installer that has experience working with glass tile as it does require special attention. Improper installation can lead to failure and your beautiful tile project can turn into a messy situation. So, it&#;s important to be prepared for the additional costs of labor.

Speaking of costs, glass tile does tend to be more costly than other materials. However, the recent rise in use of glass tile in homes has helped to drive the costs down. While some brands and styles still tend to be more of an investment, you&#;re sure to find many glass options to match your style and not break the bank!

Check out one of our top-selling glass tile collections, the Nature Series by Vidrepur!

PORCELAIN TILE

Porcelain tiles are a great choice for any interior or exterior improvement project. Their dense clay makeup makes them incredibly durable and resistant to stains, scratches, fire damage, heavy impacts &#; the list goes on! Not only that, but with an abundance of colors, sizes, and designs available you can add as much personality to your home as desired without compromising its long-lasting quality. And when it comes time for cleaning? That's easy - just use mild detergent and water!

Porcelain pool tile is the go-to choice for easy installation, making it a popular option among both professional contractors and DIYers alike. Even if mistakes occur during setup, correcting them typically doesn't take much effort - leaving you ready to enjoy your sparkling new swimming experience in no time!

6&#;x6&#; porcelain tiles have traditionally been used as pool waterline tiles for many years. This time-tested installation not only offers an additional pleasing design element to your pool, but it serves the practical purpose of helping to keep your waterline from staining and collecting muck.

Porcelain tile can be used anywhere in your home, inside and out, to help create an interesting and unique look. There are many sizes, shapes, and colors available. It&#;s important to note that while there are many style options available, porcelain tile is mainly painted on its surface and will provide an opaque, traditional look compared to glass tile. There are more modern choices such as patterned porcelain tile, but generally, porcelain tile will bring a classic, traditional feel to the space.

It&#;s also good to mention that not all porcelain tile is guaranteed to be the most affordable option. Like glass tile, there are many brands and styles, and some premium porcelain tile can run even more than its glass counterparts. Though it&#;s easier to install than glass, it&#;s still highly recommended to hire a professional to complete the project and labor costs are something to remember when planning out your project.

Glass and porcelain tiles are two great options for your home no matter where you want to install them. They each provide different looks that can add beauty to any room. While they both have drawbacks to consider, the pros outweigh the cons for either type of tile. When it comes down to making a decision, it&#;s important to choose what&#;s best for your individual needs. Our team can help you find the perfect tile for your home. Contact us today!

One of the most popular and practical shower solutions, both ceramic and glass tile offers a lasting, water-resistant surface for your shower from the ground up. However, choosing the right shower tile for your project is one of the most important decisions you'll make when designing or remodeling a bathroom.

To help make the decision process a little easier, we've put together the pros and cons of both materials, as well as some shower tile design inspiration from some of our favorite projects!

Remodeling your entire bathroom? Start here with our complete guide to bathroom tile.

Can't choose between the two? You can always pair the two materials as they did in the bathroom below!

Tile Shown: 3x12 in Pheasant and Sparrow Matte with 3x12 in Halite on the floor // Design + Image: Chase Daniel

Let's Start With Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a classic choice for shower tile design. Whether you're covering a floor, a shower wall, or even a tub surround, our Recycled Clay Tile offers a timeless look that will make your shower the center of attention.

TIle Shown: 3x9 in Salton Sea with 2" Hexagons in Flagstone // Design + Image: The Fresh Exchange

Although ceramic tile is considered a classic shower tile choice, your tile design style doesn't necessarily need to be traditional. Subway tile is always a great choice, but if you're looking for a more contemporary or modern look, mix things up a little and try a bold splash of color, or an interesting specialty shape.

No matter what style you choose, ceramic tile offers your shower space a surface material that will last a lifetime in both durability and style.

Tile Shown: 3x3 and 3x6 Tiles in Tusk // Design + Image: Claire Thomas

Pros of Using Ceramic Tile in the Shower

Timelessness

Ceramic tile is classic and timeless, making it a sustainable design choice.

Tile Shown: 2x8 in Hunter Green // Design: Clara Jung // Image: Emily Gilbert

Price

Price is one of the biggest pros when it comes to ceramic tile. Ceramic tile comes in a variety of price ranges, offering something for every budget. This also makes it a great choice for larger surface areas such as the floor, ceiling, and walls.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Glass Pool Tile Prices.

Tile Shown: 2x6 in White Wash, 2x2 Mosaic tiles in French Linen // Design: Becki Owens

Durability

Ceramic tile is one of the most durable materials you can choose for your shower. It will stand the test of time against daily wear and tear, and with the right grout and regular care, ceramic tile will be fairly low maintenance.

Tile Shown: 2x8 and 4x4 Bora Bora // Design: Antonio Matres Studio // Image: Lisa Richov

Choice

There are hundreds of tile colors to choose from, each one offering unique texture, finish, and color variation. Ceramic tile is also available in our largest selection of shapes and sizes, offering more options for customization.

Tile Shown: Ogee Drops in Naples Blue with 3x6 in White Wash // Design + Image: Bright Bazaar

Trim Finishes

Ceramic tile has a variety of trim and architectural moldings to choose from, allowing you to add the perfect finishing touch to your tile design.

Bullnose pieces create the perfect clean edge to a shower surround and quarter rounds help finish edge details on the wainscot wall:

Tile Shown: 3x6 in Seedling // Design: Interior Blooms Design Co. // Image: Emily Kennedy Photography

Cons of Using Ceramic Tile in the Shower

Perfectly Imperfect

Ceramic tile is handmade which means slight irregularities and variation in size and color should be expected. We love this about our tile as it adds character and an artisanal feel but if you want a more consistent feel, Glass will be for you!

Tile Shown: 3x3 and 3x6 Tiles in Tusk // Design + Image: Claire Thomas

Staining Potential if Sealed Incorrectly

If certain ceramic tile glazes are exposed to water for extended periods of time, there is a potential for light staining if the tile is not sealed correctly or regularly. Please ask your rep or Design Consultant if you have any questions!

Tile Shown: 3x6 White Wash, Small Diamonds in White Wash, 2" Hexagons in Basalt // Design: High Street Homes // Image: Dan Swindel

Now Let's Talk About Glass

Glass tile showers offer a modern look that is refreshing and sleek. Our palette of glass colors creates an opportunity to design an eye-catching statement with your shower.

Pros of Using Glass Tile in the Shower

Modern Appeal

Glass tile is beautiful and offers your bathroom modern visual appeal, and with a curated selection of colors available in both matte and gloss finishes, your design options are limitless.

Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Heron Matte// Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl

Easy to Clean

Glass tile is relatively low maintenance, all you need to keep it clean is window cleaner and a cloth, making it an ideal choice for the shower where you will experience soap build-up that needs to be cleaned regularly.

Glass Tile Shown: 3x12 in Barn Swallow Matte and Gloss // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl

Waterproof

Glass tile is impervious to water, and will not stain.

Deep and Dazzling

Glass reflects light, making your shower appear larger. It's also translucent, therefore, unlike any other surface material, that beautiful color you picked out will show all the way through the tile, providing an additional sense of depth and dimension.

Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Falcon Matte // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl

Cons of Using Glass Tile in the Shower

Requires a Skilled Installer

Glass tile in the shower requires more care during installation, especially if you have architectural details in your shower that require special cuts. This is why we always recommend a professional tile installer.

Glass Tile Shown: 4x4 tiles in Warbler Matte// Design + Image: Victoria Ninette Interiors

Cost

Glass tile can be higher in price than some of our ceramic tile options. If Glass is over your budget, you may want to consider using glass as an accent, rather than covering large surface areas.

Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Dove Glass // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl

Upkeep

Although glass is easy to clean, its reflective surface highlights imperfections. This means it will require regular maintenance to keep it looking its best.

Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Jay Matte // Design: Ginny Macdonald // Image: Jessica Bordner

Not Recommended for Bathroom Floors

While Glass Tile is fine for a shower pan floor, it should not be used underfoot for the rest of your bathroom.

Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Jay Matte with 1x1 Glass Mosaics on the shower pan floor // Design: Ginny Macdonald // Image: Jessica Bordner

What About Both?

We'll say it again! If you cannot decide between the two materials for your shower, you don't have to! Glass and tile do make a dynamic duo--with the colors easily complimenting each other.

Tile Shown: 3x12 in Pheasant with 3x12 in Halite on the floor // Design + Image: Chase Daniel

Need help figuring out which Fireclay Tile product is best for your shower? Simply call, chat, or fill out our Design Assistance Form and one of our talented Design Consultants will get back to you shortly.

Are you interested in learning more about Blue Glass Pool Tiles? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!