Consultants and Expert Witnesses

Glass Tile and the Ongoing Quest to Solve Translucent Issues in Pools

Glass tile has long been a favored choice for pools and water features due to its stunning beauty and versatility. Its popularity, however, comes with a significant challenge: the issue of discoloration under transparent and translucent glass tiles. This problem has plagued the pool industry for decades, turning what could be a perfectly crafted and installed pool into an aesthetic failure. Discoloration under translucent glass is typically irreversible, making it a critical issue for both installers and manufacturers to address.

The Root of the Problem

The assumption is that the glass tile itself is manufactured to withstand chemically treated water indefinitely. Therefore, the discoloration is often attributed to issues with the thinset used during installation, voids in the thinset, microbial growth under the tile, or a combination of these factors. While the responsibility for these issues often falls on the installer, manufacturers are also invested in finding solutions. After all, if end users encounter persistent problems with glass tiles, they might turn to alternative materials, which would be detrimental to the market for glass tiles.

Progress and Persistent Problems

Over the years, significant strides have been made to address these issues. Developments in color-consistent thinsets, better troweling techniques, and the importance of balanced water chemistry have all contributed to reducing the incidence of discoloration. Despite these advances, transparent and translucent glass tiles remain problematic. Even for a seasoned installer who's familiar with the intricacies of properly installing glass tile, translucent glass can offer challenges far beyond opaque glass, which essentially hides what goes on behind the tile. The industry's response has been multifaceted, including the production of "fused back" or "back coated" glass tiles.

Fused Back Glass: A Solution with Its Own Challenges

Fused back glass tiles are designed to create the illusion of transparency and depth while blocking out potential discoloration from thinset, voids, or microbial growth. When properly manufactured and fused, these tiles can effectively hide any issues occurring beneath the surface. However, this approach introduces a new set of challenges:

• Coating Discrepancies: The coating is applied to clear glass, meaning any inconsistencies or gaps in the coating are magnified and visible through the tile surface.
• Material Visibility: Once the back coating is applied, the tile is clear on five sides. Any material such as thinset or grout that comes up through the joints is magnified and can be seen through the surface. Also, the use of mesh mounted mosaic tiles should be avoided, as mesh will show through the edges of the tile as will thinset as it squishes up through the mesh.
• Color Contrast: White thinset, which manufacturers typically recommend for use with glass tile, can present a harsh contrast to darker back coatings, making the installation visually unappealing.

Moving Forward

The pool and tile industries continue to seek solutions to these persistent issues. While fused back glass tiles represent a significant advancement in helping installers achieve better results when working with translucent glass, the quest for a perfect solution is ongoing. Education for installers on best practices, advances in materials technology, and a deeper understanding of the interaction between glass tiles and pool environments are all crucial for progress.

In the end, the goal is to maintain the stunning visual appeal of glass tiles without compromising their integrity and longevity. This balance is essential to ensure that glass tiles remain a popular choice for pools and water features, offering both beauty and durability. As technology and techniques continue to evolve, the hope is that these challenges will be fully overcome, allowing glass tiles to shine without the shadow of discoloration.