Shower Cracked Glass Tiles Case Study

Glass and dramatic changes in temperatures are a bad mix. Glass needs lots of room to move, or else it will crack. This installation failure may have been caused by the absence of expansion joints, or underlayment issues. Expansion Joints are required in most installations to accommodate movement.

• Glass can expand up to 300% more than ceramic tile, especially large format glass (3”x3” or larger)
• Steam from hot water makes glass expand, then the cool air after the shower makes the glass contract.  If there are not enough properly places soft joints, the glass will have no space to move and will crack.
• Anti-fracture membranes and correct thinsets are crucial – always check with tile manufacturer before specifying glass tile in a bathroom – especially in a shower or steam bath!

To learn more about read our Tile Expansion Joints Blog.