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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Kitchen Back-splash - Glass tiles FALLING OFF

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We recently had glass tile installed for our back-splash in our condo

kitchen (4 x 16 glass tiles), using standard thin set from Home Depot for glass. About a week later, several tiles started falling off. The thin set remained on the dry wall, not on the tiles. The installer really took his time matching/leveling the wall before hand. He installed them 1/32 space.
We are trying to figure out if this is an installation problem or a thin set problem and should we expect them all to fall in the near future? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Comments (3)

User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Multiple issues. Spot set is the completely wrong methodology. Backbuttering to a minimum of 85% coverage is required, as well as troweling the wall. No blobs, leaving voids. It also likely skinned over because of too much time and wasn’t fresh enough to offer a bond. “HD thinset” doesn’t say much about brand and proper adhesive qualities.

Plus there is no grout to lock the installation together, as is required. A total $500 craigslist hack job. And he doesn’t have the skills to do it right in the first place. Move on and hire an actual Pro. The way the tile is coming off, you might even be able to salvage it. But, the rest of the demo is only going to add to the eventual real world costs for doing a backsplash with a Pro.

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer
Diana Sulea thanked User
Diana Sulea
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for your feedback. Attached is photo of the thinset. We were trying to decide between Clear/diamond grout or similar grout color to the glass tile, hence the delay in the grout install. Should we try to take all tiles off. Or about how long should we wait to see if anymore fall off? Thank you again Sophie.
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I didn't price it out. I knew I wanted tempered glass backsplash. To give you an idea I have 175 linear inches of backsplash and total cost installed was approximately a bit under 600.00 (my contractor knew him) . My walls are not perfectly flat and had bits of old drywall damage from removal of old backsplash square beige tiles with flowers in baskets. I didn't save any ;) The installer was experienced with commercial and resiadential installs so I trusted him. He made some snap cuts on site similar to the score and snap of porcelain tiles. The outlet holes were cut out in his shop. He didn't template ; he wrote down measurements. The thickness is approx less than a quarter of an inch. The glass was back painted white in his shop. The edges are sealed with silicone. The seam that I requested for the stove piece is very tiny with minimal silicone. He initially offered to fabricate one long glass piece. after our discussion about issues that he has seen or repaired, I decided to make that one section for the stove . replacing one section is easier than the entire long single piece. hth
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cat_ky
5 years ago
Here is a link to google, how that backsplash should have been installed. There are some u tube videos too. I watched one video, where they used grout, between the countertop and the backsplash, and grout should not be used there. Caulking shud be done between backsplash and countertop. My backsplash is also caulked in all the corners, rather than grouted. Once you watch these videos and read these articles, you will see that your thinset was put on improperly, and thats why your tiles are falling off. Please read carefully. https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=uI4VW7HdLszKjwTtrqSoAw&q=how+to+install+glass+subway+tile+backsplash&oq=How+to+install+glass+subway+tile+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0l3j0i22i30k1l3.3755.12143.0.14244.41.29.3.9.9.0.173.3348.9j20.29.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.41.3556...0i131k1j33i22i29i30k1.0.70wb9L5GlO8

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