Glass Mosaic - Retrieving Beauty in Architecture

Glass Mosaic is the creation of images or abstract designs using small pieces of colored glasses. Mosaic is a technique in decorative art, with the growing technology; mosaic has become one of the elemental compositions of home designing ideas. Glass mosaic was an idea taken from Byzantine architecture. Glass mosaic tile was used in earlier times to make structures artistically astounding and commemorative of the historic evolutions of the Byzantine era.

Glass mosaic is widely visible among European architecture, especially structure notable for historic value and inspiration. Today glass mosaic tiles have become widely popular choices in interior designing for residential spaces and industrial structures. Glass mosaic tiles appear to be puzzles; they are made up of small glass pieces assembling a certain image, color set or an abstract design. Like house paints, glass mosaic tiles can be customized according to your personality by deciding on the color schemes and hue saturation. Every tile center offering glass mosaic have their own glass mosaic tool selector  that you can manipulate to get the splashing colors that will add life to your walls or flooring designs.

 Glass tiles are ideal for individual homes that settle for eccentricity and individuality. If you are a person who sees value in broken pieces and making something out of it, then glass mosaic tiles will definitely brighten up your mood and give you a breathe of eastern European air at home. Most glass mosaic where installed in churches or administrative building. Today, glass mosaic has become popular as modifying factor in celebrity homes and prominent figures.  With the wide delivery and manufacture of glass mosaic tiles by the tile industry, suburban homes have made them an integral part of their interior designing ideas.

Mosaic tiles are rigid but vulnerable to pressure, but the installation process can be a DIY for the homeowner. Apply the setting material on the surface of the floor or wall being covered, a square of the glass mosaic (either 4or 9 sheets in a block). Positioning the glass mosaic sheet follows the same protocol when applying ceramic tiles. Observing proper spacing is an also a key point during the installation. Pressing hard and tapping the mosaic sheet after putting it together with the rest makes the trick r gets the positioning done. When dried, use a damp towel to moisten the mounting paper and slowly peel of each, to reveal the glass mosaic. Follow the process by applying and spreading grout to fasten and seal the installation, let it dry. After that, the initial cleaning should be done with a wet sponge, smoothen the area and let it dry.

Tiles are easy and a perfect idea to display the artisanship of a homeowner. There are designs that are exclusively manufactured for your bathroom and kitchen floors and zones. The outdoor or indoor pool will be enlivened by a considerable supply of glass mosaic tiles to dress and gloss it the way you want to. Glass mosaic tiles are easy to maintain. Unlike other floor and wall tiles, glass mosaic tiles are impervious to heat and fire, they rarely are attached to odor or hold liquid. Simple cleaning and foot traffic proofing your glass mosaic tiles can do the maintenance. Keep them dirt free with regular mopping and sweeping.

For household that keeps domestic pets, or allows children to roam around freely, purchase and install skid free glass mosaic tiles, to minimize slipping and accidents due to slippery floor tiles. Heat is an important part of the maintenance process; glass mosaic tiles need heat to stay cool and non-slippery. Ordinary house cleaning agents will get the polishing done. Glass mosaic tiles are a little special and needs extra caring and nurturing to experience the same for a longer period.

Find the best Tile in Anaheim

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. It is a city with wonderful view and the fun of Disneyland. The city, considering its facilities and the safety that it provides is an ideal place for raising a family and settling down. This might be the reason why so many people are eager to move to Anaheim. If you are one of those people who want peaceful and prosperous life in Anaheim, the one thing that you need here is a nice home that would bring the perfection to the life that you wish to have in Anaheim.

If you are planning to have a house built in Anaheim or you already have one and want to make some changes to improve the interior of the house, you must give some thought to using tiles to do the job for you. Tiles can make a huge difference to the way your home looks and feels. If you pick good quality tiles with the right design and color, you can surprise everyone including yourself with the new decoration and personalized interiors. Tiles can express your individuality and set the mood right for the right kind of activities in the right rooms. To make sure this happens, good tiles manufacturing companies manufacture tiles meant to be used in specific rooms including the bath and the kitchen.

Now let us take a look at the availability of quality Tile in Anaheim. As I mentioned before, people from all over the States are interested to move to Anaheim and as a result the city has seen a huge increase in the population off late. This means a sea of opportunity for the business company and the tiles companies have made no delays to make their premium quality products available in the city.

There is a showroom at 1449 S. State College Blvd., which belongs to the Imperial tile and stone. This company provides some of the best quality Tile in Anaheim. If you visit this showroom, one thing that I can assure you of is that you are going to get confused while picking just one among the collection of the designs as the tiles here are dramatically artistic and would want to get all the designs. You can call them on any day except for Sundays on  714-284-1124 or fax them at 714-284-1153.

Top of The Line Tile lLs Angeles Stores

For those of you living in Los Angeles, you are used to the warm weather, beautiful women, and wide variety of things to do and buy. Fortunately, with a population of almost four million people, you can find anything you want in Los Angeles, including almost any type of tile you may need for your next home improvement.

Whether you are purchasing tile for the outside of your home for a sidewalk or for your roof, or if you are needing tile for your countertops and floors inside the home, finding the correct tile dealer and installer can be a difficult decision in Los Angeles. Since there are so many people, there are numerous places that you can purchase tiles and even more people willing to install them for you. Fortunately the type of tile you need will help you limit your choices.

If you are purchasing tile for your roof then you need to make sure that you get the correct tile for your climate.Since Los Angeles is generally a hot and dry climate, with almost no snow, then the types of tiles you should consider for your roof are: concrete, clay, and slate tiles. These can be purchased at almost any home hardware store, like Lowes. When you get to the store you can look at the different options and speak with a consultant to discuss your exact roofing needs. If you already know how much tile you will need and what kind you want, you can even order the tiles online if you are looking to save some money. Also, when you are ordering your tile, order enough so that there is plenty of leeway should some tiles break (and they will). With roof tiles, you should hire a professional to come install them because they are a lot more difficult to install than normal shingles. Also, keep in mind that tiles are a lot heavier than shingles as well, meaning that you need to make sure your house is able to support the additional weight.

For tiles in Los Angeles for the interior of your home, you have a wide variety to choose from depending on the type of project you are doing. There is ceramic tile, concrete tile, slate, clay, marble, granite, and so many more types of tile materials. Most of these can be used interchangeably for floor and countertops, and even if you are looking to put tile up on the wall for a mosaic or backdrop, almost all of these can be used. Most of these can be purchased in home hardware stores. They will often have samples that you can look at, feel, and get the prices for so that you have an accurate idea of how it will look and how much you will have to spend. Once you’ve decided on the type of tile you want, the color, and the texture, you can purchase it from the hardware store and have it installed, or you can install it yourself to save a few extra bucks. You should only install tile yourself if you have experience though.

When it comes to tiles shopping in Los Angeles there is a plethora of hardware stores and dealers to choose from. It can often be hard to find the right one seller, so you should do you research first and make sure that you are getting a good deal as well as purchasing from a reputable seller. Doing a bit of research can save you a lot of trouble in the future and you will be  pleased with the results when your tile is professionally installed.

Ceramic Tile Facts and Tips

A ceramic tile is a covering piece of embellishment made from furnace-fired clay slabs that ensure sturdiness and durability, Formerly used for pottery, it is now widely preferred for wrap almost anything from conductors to bowls. Today, they are among the most versatile, famous, and durable tiling material types. As the piece mainly contains domestic, earthen or industrial building materials, it is available at a reasonable price. This means that if you are looking for a cheap, durable piece with a horde of options, your search ends at this one. Another feature that attracts people is the durability that makes the pieces last for lifetime if they are installed properly. While looking for the material that you yet have to install, always consider three factors namely, size, shape, and finish. On the other hand, during the installation, you must focus on the grout color and pattern. Let us check out these different ceramic options so that you can select a perfect piece!

Size

If you want a square-shape ceramic tile, choose the one that measures 12"x 12", as they are the cheapest ones offering optimal features. As a thumb rule, the lesser is the size, the cheaper will be the ceramic piece. However, it is a fact that a cheaper piece will make you spend higher installation costs, as that will logically require more cuts and pieces. Although no difference exists among the pieces of one foot and four inches when it is required for a small mudroom; but in case of yards, this difference shows up. Now do you know why buildings have tiles of one foot?

Finish

In this category, consider smooth and shiny surface. The piece with glossy sheen will possess smooth, but strong surfaces that eradicate stains and discard water. On the other hand, the unglazed piece does not bear that attractive surface. However, it is as durable as the glazed piece, but people choose it just because of the preference. For example, a person preferring a traditional or rustic look will go for the unglazed ceramic piece, while those looking for a Tuscan style kitchen or stylish scene, the glazed ones suit the most.

Shape

Bluntly stating, a variety of shapes adorn the ceramic pieces in the market today. Therefore, it will not be wrong to conclude that you can expect a ceramic piece of any shape right from square to a leaf. Are you thinking for a specific shape such as that of a flower? Well, even this is possible, but you need to check out with the provider so that you get what you want.  

Pattern

This is important to consider during the installation. Just think of any pattern and the contractor will certainly do it for you. Ranging from one-tile to borders and from chain to basket weave patterns, dozens of them are available. However, you must know that the price and installation time are directly proportional to the complexity of the pattern. For instance, choosing just one fixed pattern, one size, and one color finishes the process of installation quickly. However, the time and price increase when you begin including different patterns or a complex pattern, shapes, and sizes. Fitting all of them is time consuming, thereby, increasing the installation charge.

Grout Color

If you are not aware of this option or are tired deciding about it, the contractor is the best person to consult. Do not pick showy grout color, as the focus of attraction will be the ceramic piece instead of the grout. Therefore, select such a grout color that will never outdo the charming ceramic pieces.

Glass Mosaic Shopping Tips

Admired on church or chapel windows, glass mosaics are also ideal accents inside or outside the home. Whether you choose stained glass or plain or colored glass tiles, there are many designs and color combinations to choose from in making any part of the room or the house more attractive with glass mosaics. If it is your first time to buy glass tiles to decorate your home, you might be surprised to know that 25 to 30 percent of yearly customers have no knowledge on which type or kind of glass tile to buy for their home, and for their intended purposes. Before you go out into any home depot, you will need to have a basic understanding of what the different kinds of tiles are, and which are recommended for your needs. In the case of glass tiles, there are also varied kinds that can be used on doors, windows, walls, and in making glass mosaics.

When you visit the store, you will notice that there are huge sections of the area or warehouse where the different kinds of tiles are displayed. Different kinds and colors of glass tiles are attached on vignette boards on walls, to show customers and potential buyers how each variation will look like when used alone or when combined with other shades of glass tiles. In installing glass mosaics in your home on the floor or on the walls, there are two basic methods in applying the tiles on the surface. The first method is the direct method, where the pieces of material, in this case glass tiles, are directly installed and grouted top side up on a base or substrate. The second is the indirect method, involves the process of temporarily arranging the pieces of glass tiles top side down on to a removable base. After accomplishing the arrangement or patterns, to reveal the final form of the glass mosaics, the glass tiles will be cast in its form and the temporary base will be removed. This method is highly recommended if you prefer a smooth and even surface.

The traditional tile tesserae which are glass tiles are Vitreous glass, gold and silver leafed, and Smalti. Vitreous glass is also known as Venetian glass is non-porous, can withstand frost, and is also stain resistant. This type of glass is perfect for making glass mosaics on floors because cleaning can be done easily. The most common sizes used for glass mosaics are 1 cm and 2 cm squares. The gold and silver leafed glass tiles are usually sold in 2 cm sizes. This type of tiles are made by sandwiching between a clear or colored top layer and a colored or transparent base the gold, silver, and copper or gold alloy leaf. You can also choose to buy flat or rippled surfaces, depending on your preference. The Smalti is another type of glass being used for glass mosaics, which are irregularly shaped rectangles of opaque colored glass. This type of tiles is usually three-fourths of an inch in size, have very reflective properties, and are rippled in texture.

Once you have chosen the kind and color of tiles for your glass mosaics, you should also have with you the other tools that are necessary in making your own work of art. Tile nippers and glass cutters are very useful in giving the exact shape that you want for your glass mosaics, and these tools are very durable and reliable when stored properly. Glass nippers and hammers are also essential tools in applying and removing tiles and grout. Using the proper adhesive for your glass mosaics is also important because the adhesive is responsible in holding the pieces of your work together.

Glass Mosaics Tiles: Adding Class and Vibrancy to your Home

When renovating or building a home, anyone would like to make it look great, of course.  With the wide variety of materials available in the market today, you can do almost anything when it comes to designing and beautifying your home.  One way to make your house bright and classy is the use of tiles.  Most people are used to installing tiles only in areas that usually get wet like the kitchen and the bathroom. However, with the growing range of tile colors and designs nowadays, it can also be used to enhance the beauty of your walls, floors, or to simply serve as a decorative aspect within your home.

One such type of tile that is making its way into the hearts of home designers is the glass mosaics tiles.  Glass tiles have become more preferable compared to porcelain and ceramic tiles because they do not chip off easily.  Ceramic tiles are more prone to breakage even when they are already installed.  Once ceramic tiles chip off, the inner white part is exposed so you lose color and smoothness on your tile wall.  Glass mosaics on the other hand are more durable.  Their backs have a mesh net to it to prevent it from breaking apart.  Glass tiles barely chip off and if ever they do, you would still be able to retain the color of the tile because its color is painted or stained at the back side of the tile, not at the top.

Another great characteristic of glass mosaics tiles are its impenetrability. This means that most factors that damage tiles would not affect glass tiles.  Ceramic and porcelain tiles have pores.  So when it gets wet, water is able to seep into the tile, making it less durable.  This is also the reason why molds and mildew are able to grown on ceramic and porcelain tiles.  Glass tiles, however, do not have pores so it would be more difficult for water to seep into it.  Water that splashes onto it would just as easily slide off.

When taking our baths or washing the dishes, we use soaps and detergents.  Little did we know that these products have a certain element that can, in fact, damage the tiles.  In the same way as how water seeps into porcelain or ceramic tiles, this is also the way washing products enter.  Most soaps and detergents contain chemicals that tiles are not really fond of.  The damage may not be noticeable at once, but after prolonged use, tiles may start to be weaker than the time they were installed.  Glass tiles, because of its lack of pores, can withstand such chemicals.  This is the reason why more and more home makers are falling in love with this type of tiles.

Aside from these benefits, glass mosaics are more attractive and appealing.  You can also create mosaics with other types of tiles but glass mosaics are much more recommended if you really want to add color and vibrancy to your home.  The reason behind this is that glass tiles reflect light more than ceramic tiles do.  The result is a brighter room with sparkles on your wall making the room more appealing.  Even just a little hint of glass on one side of the bathroom wall would already add to the appeal to the whole room.  Glass mosaics consist of colors and designs that are more vibrant than what ceramic and porcelain tiles can offer.  They could be used on almost any part of your house, whether it is for the purpose of protecting a certain area from water or to create a decorative piece of art on your wall, floor, or even your ceiling.

Become Versatile with Cement Tile

Cement tiles are used in a wide variety of construction projects but most commonly used as roofing tiles and as tiles for floors. These tiles are cost effective, durable, and can come in a wide variety of colors, making them highly desirable for consumers. These tiles are made by hand using a mold to shape the cement, and color pigments to change the cement from its traditional grey to whatever color is desired. Unlike other types of tiles they are not put into a kiln for firing or covered with any type of glaze. These cement tiles are treated just like ordinary cement and there is only air and water used.

If you are using concrete tile on your roofing then you can choose between several different colors ranging from the traditional grey to a reddish color, and several in between. You can also choose between several different textures and pick lightweight tiles or standard weight tiles. When it comes to roofing tile many experts advise to steer clear of the lightweight tiles because it is much weaker and if you need to get on your roof for maintenance or other purposes then you are more likely to break the tile. Also these lightweight tiles break from hair and heavy snow as well so it is inadvisable to have them in harsher climates.

These tiles are excellent for roofs because they are fireproof, bug resistant, rust proof, and extremely durable. Concrete roof tiles are marketed at being a fifty year roof, but most people state that they last about 30-40 years because of the underlying materials used on the roof. Since these types of roofs are susceptible to moisture the underlying batten system and flashing is incredibly important and plays a vital role in how long the roof will last.

Cement tile is also utilized in many flooring and other home projects such as tile mosaics on the walls and around bathtubs. Once again these materials are fairly inexpensive and extremely durable compared to other materials but it is inadvisable to install these tiles yourselves. Unfortunately they are rather difficult to install. If you are doing a large project such as a floor or countertop then best hire an installer to save you time and frustration because if you lack experience in installing these then you may end up making a huge mistake and costing yourself a significant amount of money. The reason why they are more difficult is because they are laid out and spaced with butt joints instead of spacers. This makes the gap between tiles visible and it will need to be filed with grout. Also, each tile should be thoroughly soaked with water and laid out to stand about ten minutes before it is set in the floor, this prevents tiles from absorbing moisture when it is being set.

When it comes to remodeling your home it is common sense to go for the most affordable and reliable product that suits your design needs. Cement tiles can be colored and shaped with molds to fit any size. They are perfect in mosaics, flooring, countertops, and even for roofs and many other places around the home. Since they are so durable these tiles are highly sought after, unfortunately they are rather difficult to install. Hiring a professional to install your cement tiles is a necessity and will save you plenty of headaches due to the fact that cement tiles require additional care and steps as opposed to other types of tiles. If you are looking for a beautiful, durable, and long lasting material to use for your next home improvement project then consider cement tiles!