Preventing Glass Tile Failures

By: Joe Trusty - Pool Magazine

When discussing how to prevent failures in glass tile installations, we figured it best to consult with the pros. Known as a premier installer of artistic mosaic tile pool interiors, Danilo Bonazza has been the installer for many elite builders across the country.

Part of the Tributary Revelation group, a network of high-end builders and service providers; Bonazza is frequently called in to consult on some of the most intricate and elaborate tile settings. Having access to the same social media groups we do, frequently Bonazza sees his fair share of posts regarding failures in mosaic tile installations. Consequently, having an in-depth knowledge of what products and methods are being used, he is often afforded an expert’s insight as to why and how specific failures have occurred.

Being in an elite class of high-end installers, Bonazza is called to perform his mosaic art in a variety of settings. The pool, being his canvas of choice; Bonazza has been relying on traditional tried and true old world methods of tile setting. This, while still utilizing the most innovative and reliable products available on the market.

Bonazza insists that using the right products to perform mosaic tile installations in the pool is absolutely essential. That, along with using inferior or substandard materials, and applying non-standard installation protocols, is the reason for 90% of failures.

Partnering with The Tile Doctor, Curt Rapp, on many projects, Bonazza utilizes one of the most popular line of products they distribute, the Litokol brand, in the majority of his mosaic glass tile installations. We had a chance to chat with both of them recently, while Rapp was consulting with Bonazza on yet another inground pool project he was doing an installation on.

Rapp, who started Tile Doctor back in 2000, at first as an informational website that gradually morphed and conformed to his mantra of distributing best-in-class products in terms of health, wellness, and sustainability. “Litokol is exactly that,” said Rapp, “it’s not only high performance, but it’s incredibly environmentally friendly as well.”

Litokol, an epoxy-based grout system, is often the product of choice for many glass tile interior installations. The Tile Doctor is the exclusive U.S. Distributor for Litokol products. As far as The Tile Doctor is concerned, today the end-user in mind is often tradesmen and artisans alike that are looking for performance-based products which can help mitigate catastrophic failures and ensure successful applications.

“Litoelastic which is an epoxy bright white adhesive has amazing properties. non-sagging, easy to use, and mix. It’s not super tough on your hands and it bonds perfectly.” - Danilo Bonazza

Rapp had met builders who were doing glass tile projects and were eager to find better solutions. “A lot of them were involved in these education programs”, said Rapp, “they would lean in and say ‘well what do you have?’, generally they were involved with projects that had some problems and were interested in learning how to set glass tile without failures,” explained Rapp.

Bonazza, who first started researching pool tile installation products back in the ’90s, has spent his career field testing products. “It’s great having laboratory tests, but you also have to conduct research out in the field” said Bonazza, who often subjects different materials to submersion tests in various chemicals to test their adherence properties while conducting his field trials when trying any new product.

Subsequently, he had become extremely proficient at using Litokol products early in 2002 in the application of mosaic tile installations back in Italy. As an expert in his field, he says Litokol is essential to preventing glass tile failures.

Read the entire article...