Anyone have an idea?

What color is the painted backing ? Are the glass slabs tempered ?

It's white Roberto. I have a test sample outside my garage in my EXTERIOR LAB.... lol

Waiting to see what the changes of temperature and rain do to it. I'm worried the paint will break down. Builder is so excited about using it. Asked me for some ideas....

Weird things happen in an exterior lab , John...... lol

Ideas are -- 3 step process with GR white -- or -- translucent silicone -- . We are definitely going on a route which is not in the books .

Can you just get white glass from someplace like Bendheim? If you are doing white I don't see any reason to back paint it--since it's not a specific custom color.

http://www.bendheimarchitectural.com/catalog-detail.cfm/Bendheim/Color-Coated-Brilliant-White/glass_id/135

It's quite common in Europe --- maybe search UK sites.

What type of paint John? Is it an opacicoat (spandrel type) paint?

I know right. Might be why my Ardex rep never called me back last week.

Not sure the specific paint type right now. I just have a sample of glass sitting outside.

Personally I would get a white laminated glass.

I would like to know what you find out. I am interested in doing this as my tub/shower surround.

OK - Suntoadmom. I'll report back. I went yesterday to see what the builder was up too and he has finally got the tub installed and the framer has backed framed it. I have still not heard back from my Ardex Rep and the glass sample since day one has been outside in my yard. The sample looks good so far and is holding up well to the heat the rain and the temperature swings.

Just hung up with my Ardex rep and got once again some killer info. Don (Ardex Rep) told me that there are a few ways of preparing the glass and to find out how it's done. Then he referred me to a local company that actually prepares the glass - paints it and then re fires it for durability. I need to now call this company and learn more info.

The company he recommended was

Interstyle Ceramic & Glass Tile Store

3625 Brighton Ave, Burnaby, BC

(604) 421-7229

Just make sure that you are being quoted tempered glass. Anything else would be a huge safety hazard. The biggest issue with doing this is that the framing behind the wall usually isn't FLAT enough to accept the glass. Glass won't flex. The entire installation rests on the shoulders of the lowest paid member of the crew. Make sure he gets enough of an incentive to care.

Sophie the framing is two layers of plywood. The builder does not want me to prep it with any waterproofing material what so ever. The framing and plywood is flawless and not done by the grunt on the crew but by the builders lead framer.

Looks solid. I would like to see a membrane myself but the tub is not my gig - I'm just doing the barrier free shower and the ACO linear drain.

NO waterproofing??? And a plywood substrate? And you really want to move forward with this, with your name owning the issues??

I'm building the shower. The shower drain and waterproofing the walls. I am not installing the glass for the tub - that is the builders gig. The glass guy wants plywood. Not my BAD if this does not work out.

When the glass guy comes back later to install the glass for the shower bench - there will be waterproofing down there

OK Sophie - I called the builder back(yesterday at day's end) to ask if I could please waterproof at least a little tiny bit of the tub deck. Just enough so I can band to it later when I do the shower bench. He said fine.

I'm thinking with the banding in I can then at least ensure that the entire bench is waterproof and if the glass guys seal their product to the flap we should be good to go.