Need help with tile to replace glass 1x1s

[kelleyinperdido]

Our pool has these brown glass 1x1s and they have been a problem popping off. I’ve had a tile pro re-do them years ago and they still pop off. I want to replace them with something else - no more 1x1s or small glass tiles for me. I’ve had too much e t trouble with them. Here are some pool
Pics. Do you have any suggestions. I don’t mind my waterline tiles and am fine keeping them, but if I have to get new ones for it to look right I can do that. I’m trying to keep the neutral colors going. I may have enough of the waterline tile to use where the brown 1x1s are. Would it look ok if I turned them on the diagonal in the spillway just to create a different look if not using a different tile? I have been looking for a granite remnant to put at the top of the spillway. I would have liked to use the shell stone coping, but it is natural and porous. I’m not sure if I could get a tile guy to fill it and seal it to use it there or not. Suggestions appreciated!!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I would just do the same waterline tile straight across your spillover.

Putting them on a diagonal is a personal choice. It is your pool. It is not what I would do. If you want to think about it, put some tape on the back of tiles, tape them up to the area in a diagonal pattern, and see how they look to you.

Get one or two pieces of stone for the top of the spillway, even if you need to have one or two grouted joints to span the area.

@kimkats always has great design ideas.

 

[kelleyinperdido]

@ajw22 Thank you for your suggestion. I will tape some tile up and see what that looks like. I was concerned the tile migth not fit just right across the spillway and look funny of they had to cut a 6x6 short if they were just staying straight. I will try it both ways and see. As for stone, what kind of stone do you recommend to be on the spillover area? I have tile there now, but the renovation guy recommended stone. He thought about using our extra coping, but it is a porous stone and I don't know if I can have it filled and sealed good enough to suffice. Granite? Travertine? I appreciate your suggestions more than you know!

 

[ajw22]

I would visit local stone dealers and fabricators. Bring along pictures of the spillover and the dimensions. You need a relatively small piece that can be a leftover from a countertop project. Don't expect the renovation guy to do the shopping for you.

 

[kelleyinperdido]

Oh I know, I have started the process of going to the remnant yards. I'm looking at Granite remnants. Believe it or not, that spillway is 6' long. Can you think of any other stone other than granite that would work well laid in that spillover?

 

[ajw22]

Oh I know, I have started the process of going to the remnant yards. I'm looking at Granite remnants. Believe it or not, that spillway is 6' long. Can you think of any other stone other than granite that would work well laid in that spillover?

The stone sellers should know their product the best.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and nice pool you have there! Too bad those small tiles will not stay on as they are eye catching. Oh well lets see what we can do to make it pretty and stay in place!

So my worry is WHY are the tiles not staying on. When the second guy put the new tiles on how did he "fix" the surface where the tiles attach? Did they grind off all of the grout and mortar? Did they reseal the surface to make it water proof?

Once we talk that part through we can work on the pretty part!

 

[kelleyinperdido]

@kimkats I wish I could answer your question as to how the tile pro re-did them. Obviously, not completely correctly or they would not have continued to pop off. I never want small glass tiles again, regardless. I will be happy to see them go. In fact, I am not sure I want glass tile of any kind.
The tiles are being replaced after the one layer of plaster in the pool is removed and the pool is being re-plastered. My husband has handled most of this, but we have had some cracking and some other issues that made us decide to just go ahead and remove the current plaster, fix some structural issues, like remove a step in the spa that has been a weak spot, and re-plaster the pool. It was not that much more expensive to do this that way. We will be sure the tile where these 1x1 glass tiles are is put up correctly. The pool renovation pro knows this has ben an eyesore and a pain that we are very much looking forward to getting gone. Thank you!