Glass tiles come in many show stopping varieties and colors. "There's nothing prettier," says Dave Gobis, executive director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. "But glass is a very picky product — it's extremely particular in how it's installed. It is not a do-it-yourself project."

Be prepared to pay top dollar for someone with expertise to install your purchase. "Glass installation is a specialty," Dave says. Beware of general contractors who claim they can do the job.

Some glass is suitable for residential floor traffic; make sure yours is rated for that use before you have it installed. The main obstacle to a glass floor — or any installation other than as an accent piece — is the price.

Install Yourself? No
Best Use: Decorative accent, backsplashes
Pros: Beauty, variety
Cons: Expense, difficulty of installation
Price Range: $7–$30 and up per square foot