Laura's DIY Guest Bathroom

[yadax3]

Hi,

Now that we've finished our bathroom demo I realize the area where a 36" grab bar will hang (vertically) above the outer edge of the tub will be tiled with 3 x 6 glass and I'm starting to worry it will cause the glass to crack or something.

Has anyone here hung a grab bar on glass tile? If so, please share your experience. Should I purchase a less weighty (i.e. aluminum) grab bar rather than a brass one? I'd really prefer the brass.

Also, if you have any expertise drilling glass tile your advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you for any insights you can offer,

Laura

[ceramictec]

did you put in wood blocking behind the wall where you are planning to attach this grab bar ?

Should I purchase a less weighty (i.e. aluminum) grab bar rather than a brass one?

what would this accomplish ? the shear strength of both installed on a wall are minimal.

[gueuzeman]

I recall in some instructions that came with some glass I used a few years ago, they were saying to install a gasket behind the plate to lessen the pressure on the glass. They did not specify what to use. Perhaps a leftover piece of panliner or a bead of silicone, I can't remember.

drilling them is another thing. Try your standard hardware store glass bits, shaped like an arrowhead. inexpensive and widely available. Try on a test piece first. If that isn't working, try the Raimondi porcelain pro bit , they're good.

gueuze

[gueuzeman]

Drilling advice- go slow, don't press hard. Let the bit do the work, and use3 a sprray bottle of water (windex punp/trigger type) to keep the bit lubed and cool.

gueuze

[yadax3]

Yes, there's a 2x4 where we want to install the bar. We've installed grab bars on porcelain tile before but never on glass.

Thanks for your advice.

[jadnashua]

Would something like closed cell, double-stick foam tape behind the flange of the bar be any help? You can't use them when you have blocking (which is good and cheap), but the safety bar anchors by www.wingits.com are really slick and work great for those situations where you need to install a bar and there's no blocking.

[yadax3]

In preparing to install glass subways, my better half recalls hearing/reading you shouldn't use sanded grout with glass tile because it scratches the tile. He said he may have heard it from me but I sure don't remember saying it. Anyway, is this true? I'm assuming it isn't because sanded or epoxy grout is recommended by the tile retailer/manufacturer http://flooring.builddirect.com/Glas..._10053486.aspx

Then again, they also recommend a minimum 1/16" grout line but you're not supposed to use sanded grout in anything under 1/8" so what kind of advice is that?

My last question is about Spectralock as I've been reading conflicting reports. On one hand I understand it's easier to clean but more difficult to use/apply and on the other hand I read a post herein touting its ease of use. If it's anything like caulking - sticky or gooey - I'm out. I hate that stuff and only use it when I have no other reasonable choice.

Thanks for any feedback you can offer,

[scuttlebuttrp]

The 1/16" info is listed in the top "General instruction" section.
The Helio specific section doesn't say that. It says to use sanded grout and their specs trump pretty much everyone here.

If you hate caulk, you'll probably hate epoxy grout. You could try TEC's XT grout. It's sanded grout but with some kind of sealer in it. Good stuff.

[yadax3]

Hey, I just noticed my thread from a couple of weeks ago has been merged with the thread I started today. Is someone trying to tell me to keep all of my questions together on a single thread?

[yadax3]

To install our glass subways, I asked DH to stop by the tile store to buy high-quality latex-modified thin set per the manufacturer's instructions. (I even gave him a written list) He came home with Superior Glass Block Mortar claiming the guy at the tile store said it's made for setting glass tile. Is it? Should we use this stuff?

[ddmoit]

Hi Laura,

I'm not familiar with that particular product, but it sounds like it is mortar to be used between glass blocks. If that's the case, it is definitely not the right product for setting glass tiles.

[cx]

Originally Posted by Laura

Hey, I just noticed my thread from a couple of weeks ago has been merged with the thread I started today. Is someone trying to tell me to keep all of my questions together on a single thread?

Yes, Laura, that's precisely what we'd like you to do.

[yadax3]

Okay. Thanks, CX. I guess there isn't some way to change the main title to something more generic, right?

Can someone give me the name of a specific thin set (preferably available at Home Depot) that we should get for setting glass subways? I'd hate to get the wrong stuff again.

Thanks to you all for your help!

[ddmoit]

Laura,

Who is the manufacturer of your glass tile? They should have some recommendations. Let us know if they don't; we'll see what we can do then.

[cx]

You need only post a requested title and we'll make it so, Laura. Or PM it to any moderator.