A very common question when selecting glass for a kitchen backsplash is whether it needs to be mesh backing or paper faced? This can be an easy answer or it can be a complex answer. There are two different types of glass tile that will get either one or the other.

The first type of tile is a translucent glass. A translucent glass is a type of tile that you could actually hold up and see right thru it. The most common types of glass that is translucent is a recycled glass or an oval, penny round or brick type of tile. Majority of translucent glass tiles are paper faced. The reason that most of these are paper faced is because the mesh backing can be seen through the glass tile.

When installing this type of glass tile, you want to use a small notch trowel when spreading your mastic on the installation surface. After spreading the mastic, you will want to flatten down or knock down the trowel marks. The reason for doing this is when installing the glass tiles, you do not want to see the trowel marks through the glass tiles.

Another key to think about when installing the translucent tile is to make sure the surface behind the tile is white. If you have a painted kitchen and the walls are currently a dark or strong color, that color could appear thru the glass tile. If installing the translucent tile make sure the surface is painted white first and make sure the use of white thin set as well.

The second type of glass is where the glass itself is a crystal type glass with the color backed on the back. Most 4mm or 8mm crystal type glass is clear and then the color of the tile is applied on the back of the tile giving it the color. There normally is not a concern with seeing the mesh backing thru this tile. The same precautions still need to be taken into consideration for installation as well.

The last thing to take into consideration is the grout. To play it safe the best grout to use is either an un sanded grout or specialty grout. The reason you will wand an un sanded grout is there is no sand particles in the unsanded grout. Sand particles found in sanded grout can possibly scratch the surface of the glass. The specialty grouts do not have any sand particles in them including the epoxy grout and urethane grouts.
Always check with the supplier if there are any questions pertaining to the choice of tile for the project at hand.

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