If you decide to transform the interior of an apartment, loggia or balcony, then you can use gypsum brick tiles. The material is based on natural sedimentary components that are used for stucco molding, cladding, mixtures for repair and construction, as well as gypsum panels for decoration. You can combine these canvases with different styles in the interior. Gypsum brick tiles are so popular for the reason that it has excellent thermal insulation qualities, is environmentally friendly, characterized by fire resistance, and also maintains optimal humidity and temperature in the room.
Installation work can be carried out even by a person who does not have experience. You can purchase finishing material at an affordable cost, which varies from 500 to 700 rubles per square meter.
Styling options
Gypsum brick tiles can be laid in one of the many options for decorating surfaces. Partial or full wall cladding is the most popular choice. You can combine the material with decorative plaster, tile or wallpaper. Some designers advise using the described paintings for decorating arches and doorways. They are excellent as a replacement for platbands and wooden slopes. The interior will look attractive, where niches and mirrors are framed with tiles. If the house has corners that constantly get dirty, then they can be laid plaster finish, which will protect against pollution and decorate the surface. The most relevant is the decoration of brick fireplaces.
Styling methods
The gypsum brick tile can be laid according to one of two existing technologies, the first method involves the use of bolts and battens and is called dry, the second method involves fixing the elements to glue and is called wet.
Preparatory work
If you will use gypsum tiles under a brick for interior decoration, then initially you need to carry out preparatory work. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to a certain sequence. At the first stage, the base is freed from large irregularities, during which putty should be used. The surface is cleaned of dust and dirt by the wet method, after which the wall is left to dry completely. Tiles must be sorted by removing defective products that are irregular in shape. Do not use cloths with chips and cracks.
Additional elements must be cut to size to completely cover the surface of the walls. To do this, use a hacksaw for metal. The master in the process of drilling holes for communications, using a drill. If you decide to choose a wet method of laying tiles, then the back side of the products must be treated with fine-grained emery paper, this will guarantee high adhesion.
Secrets of surface preparation
Gypsum tiles for brick can be laid on different bases, namely: metal, brick, concrete, wood and many others. The main requirement is that the wall does not have large irregularities and does not undergo shrinkage, as well as deformation. If you have to work with a concrete base, it is important to pay attention to its porosity. When the norm for absorbency is exceeded, the surface is treated with a primer. If there is a wall that was recently laid out of brick, it is not required to process it additionally. For fixing gypsum products, it will be necessary to use an adhesive solution designed for laying tile. If we are talking about old masonry, then it must be cleaned from efflorescence by applying a primer to its surface. After the wall is plastered.
Quite often, the walls are made of plywood and drywall, before starting work with such materials, you need to check their reliability, as well as the level of humidity. All elements must be firmly fixed, and the base must be completely dry. A primer is applied to plywood and drywall. Before laying gypsum tiles under a brick on wooden walls, you need to check if they are deformed, and also do not have high humidity. Wooden bases are treated with a primer, on the surface of which fiberglass is glued. After the surface is plastered. If your home has old plastered or concrete walls, then their preparation will consist in applying a primer.
Dry tile laying
Brick decorative gypsum tiles can be laid using dry technology, for this you need to prepare products that have special protrusions and grooves on the sides. From one of the corners it is necessary to set aside a distance that is equal to the width of the tile. Vertically in this place the wooden lath is strengthened . Tiles are installed in the formed opening, and it is necessary to advance from top to bottom. Fixing is done over the protrusions using screws or bolts. The same distance is measured from the first rail, and then the following are installed. All tiles are laid according to a similar pattern.
Wet tile installation
Laying gypsum tiles under a brick using wet technology involves marking the rows in the first stage. Products are laid out in the right order, which is especially true if you plan to use color as well as relief modules. Only by such technology can a specific pattern be laid out. The solution must be prepared in the amount that can be developed in a short time. On the back of the product, apply a glutinous solution with a layer of 2 millimeters or less. In this case, it is necessary to start laying from the bottom row.
All elements are stacked in a horizontal direction, it is necessary to start from the bottom corner. Between adjacent tiles, a certain gap must be ensured if joint stitching is used. You can apply the method, which involves laying the material end-to-end, while the seams will not be visible.
For reference
When gypsum tiles are laid under a brick, the photo of which you can consider in the article, it is important to ensure the evenness of the rows, fixators or special crosses should be installed between the individual tiles. As the products are laid, the horizontalness of the lines should be checked using the building level and plumb line.
Some nuances
As soon as the laying of all the elements is completed, on 1/2 area it is necessary to process the joints with a grout of a suitable color. Before operation, it is necessary to leave the wall until the glue completely hardens. If decorative interior items are supposed to be strengthened to the surface, then you need to wait about a week.
Recommendations of specialists in the work
If gypsum tiles are laid under a brick in the kitchen, then the width of the seams can be equal to the limit of 8 to 10 millimeters. If you are not afraid of cost overruns, the products can be stacked end-to-end, and you will need to purchase finishes in an amount of 15% more compared to the technology that involves the formation of seams. It should be remembered that gypsum, although hard, is considered a very fragile material. When working with it, care must be taken to prevent bumps and scratches.
What to look for during installation
A pencil and a ruler will allow you to mark the level of the wall. The distance between the horizontal lines should be 10-15 centimeters. If you want to use trim trim, it is recommended to lay them in the lower, less noticeable part of the wall. Prepare a comb or spatula, using one of these tools it will be convenient to apply glue to the back of the tile. An adhesive composition is also applied to the surface to be coated, while the spatula should be held at an angle of 60 degrees. At the next stage, the tile must be pressed into the surface by rotational movements, from which the adhesive solution will be squeezed out. The resulting surplus is recommended for further repair of joints. It is important to remember that the set-up composition sets in 30 minutes. During this time, it is necessary to manage to smooth the seams using a wooden narrow spatula. It is necessary to get rid of excess solution with a wet foam sponge. For the final processing of the seams, it is necessary to use foam rubber or a brush, they are pre-moistened in water.
Conclusion
When mounting is done on cement mortar, the wall is pre-wetted with water. If you are interested in the question of how to paint gypsum tiles under a brick, then after work you can apply colorless varnish to its surface. This will preserve the color and extend the life of the finish. As practice shows, walls that were finished with gypsum tiles and varnished are easier to clean.
For gluing tiles, you can use PVA glue or mastic, the last of which allows you to adjust the location of the finish. But experts advise using ordinary glue, which provides high adhesion of materials. Do not start work if the room temperature is below the mark of +10 degrees. For cutting products, you can use an angle grinder with metal disks. To fill the seams, it is recommended to use gypsum glue.
Smoothing down the joints must be carried out 20 minutes after gluing the tiles, when the solution acquires the consistency of plasticine. As soon as the composition begins to gain hardness, the excess mixture must be removed, otherwise it will be very difficult to do it afterwards. If you do not want the finish to move away from the surface after some time, the latter must be removed before starting work on peeling elements like old paint or wallpaper. It is important to eliminate the presence of greasy stains on the walls. To do this, the surface can be degreased by washing well and drying after the process. If the humidity of the wall is increased, then the solution, saturated with water, will not normally seize.