Hi Nola -

I assume you're asking about Sumi-e glass tile, correct? When I talked to the tile vendor and tile maker (Walker Zanger and Lunada Bay, respectively), they were pretty adamant on installing the glass tile on cement board. The Lunada Bay guy said that the tiles may or MAY NOT fall off, and if you've gone a year without anything coming off, you're probably fine.

THAT BEING SAID, I just googled and saw this guide that says you can install glass tile on drywall if it's an area that doesn't get a lot of moisture.

Has your contractor installed glass tile before? Glass can be persnickety to install and there are special considerations like using a latex-modified thinset (preferably white). I know that the sumi-e tile you want to use is not inexpensive, so you want to make sure your contractor has a lot of experience with glass tile installation.

Hopefully Bill V. will see this post and confirm that drywall is okay.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glass Tile Installation

thanks, it was a very helpful link. i feel better about the sheetrock, since i'm expecting only occasional moisture in 95% of the areas where the tile will be...except by the sink, of course(!!). i'm hoping a tile pro will see this post and suggest something to do in this area, not involving replacing the sheetrock. but it was good to learn about the grout sealer in the link, which will be another layer of security. i'm wondering still if wall mastic is an acceptable/better adhesive for the glass tiles, as opposed to the latex thinset. any pros out there? i am so tired and feel so overwhelmed...

If you're worried about the drywall sucking the moisture out of the thinset before it really has a chance to bond, what you can do is prior to installation, flat trowel some thinset onto the drywall, and let it set overnight. That'll stop that problem.

bill,
i can't remember now what the original post warned specifically about. it had triggered concerns about tiling over drywall behind the kitchen sink, which the contractor is intending to do. funny because he went to town with cement board in the bathroom. all the walls in the bathroom are tiled with 3/4 x 3/4" glass tiles. i think he sort of forgot about the sink area in the kitchen being a place of high mositure. when i asked him about it he said that he would prime the sheetrock twice there and it should be fine. OY!

any chance you live in, or will be moving to, new orleans? :)

Nolamaom/Bill,
I do believe that was the concern. If you read the instructions that come with the tile, it specifically says to tile over cement board, and it also has some other choices listed, but drywall isn't one of them. I am also about to install the Sumi-e tile, and currently have drywall up where the backsplash is going. I guess I'm confused...are you both saying that you can tile over the drywall as long as you prime it first??
d.

The sink is not what's considered a wet area (one that has constant direct contact with water), and therefore doesn't require cement board.

As for Nola, I came to town one time, and after driving 16 hours from Charleston, S. C., heard on the radio that due to a state police strike, Mardi Gras was, for the first time ever, cancelled! (1979)

I DID come down to Lake Charles about 11 years ago do work on Prien Lake Mall. :-)

Although it was real tempting, seeing all the guys fishing under the bridges on I-10, I think I'll stay up here in the cold country! Worst we have to deal with is ICE! :-)

interesting that the sink area is not considered a "wet area." but i will take your word for it and be glad that it is so!

darn, bill, i hope you will manage to come pay us another visit--give us another chance. last mardi gras was the best i've ever spent since i was a kid! and the weather's just gaaawjus this time o' year. :D