Vitrium Glass Tiles Installation How-To

To insure A successful installation and proper adhesion, Vitrium Corporation has compiled the following installation and setting material iNSTRUCTIONS. Vitrium Corporation will not provide any guarantee implied or written for any product not installed in accordance with this information. 

Important: Due to the handmade nature of Vitrium glass tiles, variations in the shape, color, shade and tone should be expected. Please inspect each box prior to installation to verify lot consistency to assure acceptable shade variations.

Vitrium glass tiles can be installed on interior or exterior wall surfaces in wet or dry locations. Vitrium glass tiles cannot be installed over flexible surfaces.  They are not recommended for floor applications and should not be exposed to extremely high abrasion, thermal shock or extremely heavy impact.

Although Vitrium glass tiles are designed to withstand a variety of potential hazards, it is important to handle the tiles with care prior to setting to avoid surface scratches or scraping the back of the tile with tools or on substrate. Do not use the following substrates: Single float mortar bed walls without a cured scratch coat, wood products (i.e., plywood, MDF, pressboard and composites) and chicken wire/metal lathe less than 2.5 lbs per sq yard.

Glass tiles differ from ceramic tile products so extra caution is recommended. Installing glass tiles properly is the key to its installation. In all circumstances install only over well cured, stable substrates. Correct installation and the use of proper materials is essential to avoid stress on the glass.

Proper installation requires that the substrate be dried and cured and the walls be properly rendered. Most concrete cures in approximately 28 days, depending on atmospheric conditions and mix design.

Be sure to follow the recommended cure times as indicated by the Tile Council of America handbook for tile installation.

All materials should be used in accordance with manufacturers’ directions.

For interior dry applications use:

1. LATICRETE® 254 Platinum Multipurpose Thin Set Mortar or
2. LATICRETE 333 Super Flexible Additive mixed with LATICRETE 317 Floor N’ Wall Thin Set Mortar  
3. Mapei Granirapid Ker 129 or Ker 130 dry set mortar mixed with Ker 318 liquid flexible latex additive
4. Tec Full Set Plus Premium thin set mortar with XtraFlex mortar additive
5. Bostik Findley Hydroment ReFlex Ultra Premium  Latex-Modified Thin-Set Mortar OR Tile-Mate Thin Set WITH 447 Flex-A-Lastic Admixture

Vitrium Corporation recommends for dry installations the use of a latex modified thin-set or a 100% solids epoxy mortar and epoxy grout system. DO NOT dilute admixtures with water. An acrylic add mix (such as Acryl 60) must be used in place of water. All Vitrium tiles require 100% back coverage to prevent water from obtaining access to the tile back and to prevent the corrosive effects of cement out-gassing.  When using Vitrium River Ice clear glass tiles, back butter each piece and press the glass into the tile setting material, which will fill the texture and dry without trapping air. Cure a minimum of 48 hours prior to cleaning and grouting. All grout must be sealed to ensure complete protection to the tiles.

For all exterior applications, wet areas, or  
    submerged applications use: 

1. LATICRETE LATAPOXY® 300 Epoxy Adhesive
   with Laticrete epoxy grout system
   

Our epoxy coated tiles must be set/bonded with a 100% solids epoxy mortar and epoxy grout system.

Proper installation of Vitrium tiles requires that the pool substrates be dried and cured and the walls be properly rendered. Standard practice dictates that concrete should be cured in approximately 28 days, depending on atmospheric conditions and mix design.  However, another month or two may need to elapse for standard-mix concrete to fully dry.

All Vitrium tiles require 100% back coverage to prevent water from obtaining access to the tile back and to prevent the corrosive effects of cement out-gassing.  

Using a notched trowel, trowel on an even 1/8” coating on the tile back. Then trowel the area to be installed with the same mixture then affix the tiles with sufficient pressure to ensure full adhesion. 

The tiles will form a tight bond to the wall and not be subjected to the problems associated with inadequate coverage. Cure a minimum of 48 hours prior to cleaning and grouting. All grout must be sealed with an epoxy grout system to ensure complete protection to the tiles.

Cure entire installation 21 days minimum after grouting and prior to submersion in pool or underwater environments.

Vitrium glass tiles can be used in heated areas such as steam rooms, showers, saunas or hot pools. The proper installation of Vitrium glass tiles is critical to avoid stress on the glass. Please follow the Wet location installation directions for these types of installations.

The easiest, fastest and best way to cut our glass tiles is with a simple glass-scoring tool and a straight edge. IMPORTANT! All cut edges on Vitrium glass tiles need to be embedded completely with the setting material. To cut, score the glass lightly on the front or unpainted side of the tile along the desired cut line and snap along the line. To snap the tile, place the tip of a tapered hardwood dowel, similar to the size of a pencil, directly under the edge of the scored line and place even pressure on both sides. Carbide wheel glass-scoring tools are available at nearly all hardware stores. A very useful and important tool for all glass tile installations is a pair of GLASS RUN PLIERS. Using glass run pliers allows the installer to easily cut and trim Vitrium glass tiles. Cuts as thin as 3/8” or smaller are possible.

Once the tile surface is scored, the score line is aligned with a white stripe on the top of the pliers jaw. Slight pressure applied to the pliers will snap the glass.   When score cutting, be sure to use the Glass Run Pliers to affect the initial cutting of the glass. Then, while holding the tile face up, separate the tile with a downward motion allowing the cut edge to sever the tile membrane.

Vitrium glass tiles can also be cut with a wet saw. If using a wet saw, be sure to use a glass compatible diamond blade in good condition. A blade for cutting glass has smaller diamonds than a tile blade and has a continuous rim.  Most blades designed for ceramic tiles are coarse and will chip the glass. It is very important when cutting glass with a wet saw to have adequate water flow and to cut slowly. It is best to practice making a few cuts with regular 1/4” window glass before proceeding to cut the tile. A lapidary blade will also make a very clean cut on glass.

When cutting glass tile on a wet saw, it is required to cut the tile face down. This will prevent chipping of the colored areas of the tile. A piece of electrical tape, masking tape or
duct tape laid along the line of the cut on the tile face will greatly reduce chipping along the edge. A light piece of cardboard or building paper on the saw bed will protect the surface of the glass from scratches.

All edges must be sealed with an epoxy grout system to ensure complete protection to the tiles.

Edges of the cut tile can be chamfered with a diamond hand pad.  Hand pads and related glass tile cutting tools are available through 3M Corporation as well as a variety of other glass tool distributors found on the Internet.  Silicon carbide sanding belts may be used if the belt is dressed with a light coat of silicone spray.

1. Score the glass on the face surface
2. Align the mark on the Glass run pliers with
   the score line and apply slight pressure
3. Separate the cut tile with a downward
   motion allowing the cut edge to sever the tile membrane
   
   

Vitrium glass tiles can be routinely cleaned with any non-abrasive cleaning compound or formula that is recommended for both glass and tile. Follow rinsing instructions carefully. DO NOT USE acids to clean Vitrium glass tiles.

Limited Warranty: Vitrium Corporation is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of workmanship not in accordance with these installation instructions. Vitrium Corporation’s sole liability, if any, is limited only to replacement of original product that has been proven defective. Purchaser will be required to provide proof of proper materials, use and installation.

For more information call 1-877-vitrium.

Useful Links

Laticrete (www.laticrete.com)
Bostik (www.bostik.com)
Mapei (www.mapei.com)
TEC (www.tecspecialty.com)
Tile Council of North America (www.tileusa.com)

Downloadable Installation Guide for Offline Reference:

The Vitrium Tiles Installation Guide is available in 2 file formats; Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF. You can download the Adobe Acrobat Reader free from Adobe.com.

(Windows users right click the link and select "Save File As...")
	Microsoft Word - 58kb
	Adobe Acrobat - 66kb