vermontpressbureau.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

9 Best Grout For Glass Subway Tile In 2024

Bob Vila
  Mar 28, 2024 1:06 PM

We independently study, test, and review 9 Best Grout For Glass Subway Tile products before making recommendations. We’re testing the CUSTOM, Jennifer's Mosaics, The Floor Guys, AQUA-X, Red Devil, Rainbow Chalk Markers Ltd, The Tile Doctor  for a for a future update to this guide.


Overview

Aesthetics is defined as "pleasing in appearance" by Merriam Webster's Dictionary. We can't imagine our existence without aesthetics. The way things appear to us is something we notice everywhere we go, whether consciously or unconsciously. Whether we're aware of it or not, the way something seems can have a significant impact on our emotions, health, and perspective on the world. Aesthetics have a big role in the locations where we live, work, and visit. There are a variety of techniques to make these sites more appealing, and each has its own merits.

The use of tile and mosaics can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a house, office, or other public space. One of the best methods to add elegance to a home or office is to use glass tiles. Glass tile can elevate a home's aesthetic appeal and possibly increase its resale value for homeowners. Businesses that interact with the public can benefit from the beauty and warmth of glass tiles, which can be used to entice new consumers. In a work environment, glass tiles may be great for generating a more productive work atmosphere. Employees who are more pleasing to look at have been demonstrated to be more productive.


Compare Products

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

What is Glass Tile?

For many years, glass has been an integral element of our civilization, appearing in countless buildings all over the world. Glass tiles and mosaics have played a significant role in the design of some of the world's most well-known structures. In terms of design, tiling for walls is one of the most common uses of glass. Your construction and remodeling projects can benefit the environment if you use glass tiles created from recycled glass. The visual value of glass tiles and mosaics cannot be disputed, regardless of whether they are used in a living room, bathroom, office, or restaurant. There are a wide range of design possibilities when using translucent or colorful glass tiles, or a combination of the two.

Grout is a must when working with glass, and even a seemingly simple product like grout can be used to not only compliment but enhance the beauty of glass tiles and mosaics.

What Is Subway Tile?

Flat tiles (generally 3 by 6 inches) arranged horizontally with an offset of 50% are known as "subway tiles." Known for its long-lasting qualities and classic appeal, subway tile is made of ceramic.

Grout Color Should Contrast Not Match

Despite my repeated advise to use contrasting grout colors, some newbies persist in going the opposite direction and trying to match their grout color to their tile color. In the future, these are the ones that email me in a state of total terror. They often describe the grouting damage to their mosaic as "totally wrecked," and based on the photographs they send, I have to concur with them. To save these mosaics, use a grout removal tool or an improvised remedy such as acrylic paint or some other ad hoc treatment to remove the grout.

A Medium Gray Grout

As long as grout color contrasts with tile color, the question becomes which grout color best contrasts the mosaic's various shades of color? The best contrast is usually produced by a medium to dark gray, with the darker being the better guess if in question, for the majority of tile color combinations. As a general rule, keep in mind that the color of the grout will lighten slightly after curing.

A Notable Exception: Lighter Blues

In other cases, gray grout isn't always the greatest option. Of course, utilizing gray tile is an exception. However, most people are surprised to learn that lighter blue tiles can also be utilized as an exception. This is a big exception, as they are only the colors of blue that are commonly used for water and sky features. To contrast the blue tile, you may use warm light brown or sand colored grout, but what if there are other light brown tiles in the mosaic? Are there any grout colors that would work well in this situation? Is there a quick fix? No, but there is.

Some “Advanced” Tips

I can say with some confidence, based on the numerous emails and photos I've received over the past 12-plus years, that beginners often regret their choice of grout colors in an attempt to add more color to the mosaic. Even more disastrous is trying to match the color of the grout to the tile.

Your primary goal while grouting should be to preserve the visual beauty that was previously in place, especially if you are a rookie mosaic artist.

Of course, even a novice can build an abstract experiment on a scrap piece of plywood with a novel grout color using a few pieces of each color tile.

As with back and white, the monochromatic character of medium gray grout creates an inherent contrast between colors. The hues of all three are harmonious. In the case of figurative mosaic artwork, it is important to stick to the "keep it simple" and "less is more" concepts when grouting the medium to dark gray grout.

But on the other hand, there are so many earthy shades to choose from...

Don't forget to test out your new technique on an unimportant piece of scrap before attempting it on a mosaic where 90% of the work has already been done.


Faqs

What is the standard subway tile size? What are the dimensions of subway tile? 

The most common size of subway tile is 3 by 6 inches, which has been the standard for decades. There are several different subway tile sizes, including 2x4, 4x8, and 6x12. Alternatively, any rectangular tile with 1-to-2 measurements can be used as subway tile.

What material is subway tile? Is subway tile porcelain or ceramic? 

Ceramic tile was used in the original subway tile design.. Subway tiles are now available in ceramic, porcelain, and glass, all of which are popular for the same reasons ceramic tiles first became popular: low upkeep and excellent aesthetics.

Are subway tiles expensive? 

Traditional white subway tiles can be surprisingly cheap.

Is Subway Tile Still Popular?

It wasn't long before subway tile was used in other transportation hubs across the globe. Because of its hygienic appearance and positive health effects, it quickly became popular in places like kitchens and bathrooms, where maintaining good hygiene was a top priority.

In the modern era, subway tile is gaining in favor.

"Is subway tile a trend?" is frequently asked of us. This tile design's enormous popularity may lead you to believe it's a passing fad, but the fact that it has remained so popular for so long proves otherwise. Over a century after its invention, subway tile is still a popular choice for both homeowners and business owners.

Why is subway tile so popular?

We can only attribute this to the ageless quality of the subway tile style. Subway tile has managed to produce a design that is both striking and straightforward to implement by using white rectangle tiles and a simple tile configuration.


Conclusion

Now you know why everyone loves subway tile, how it's lasted for more than a century, and why it's not going anywhere anytime soon. If you haven't already fallen in love with a particular subway tile pattern, you have all the tools and know-how you need to create your own.

However, the creative process need not end here: To see even more inspiring examples of subway tile designs, take a look at our Design Gallery or our Pinterest board.


5
4 ratings