Various types of ceramic tiles have long and confidently established themselves as a finishing material with good decorative characteristics. It is distinguished by high strength, reliability and ease of maintenance. The scope of ceramic tiles - from walls and floors indoors to the exterior of the building. Glazed ceramic wall tiles are on the market. Let's find out what this building material is.
The main differences from unglazed tiles in the glaze on the surface. This allows you to increase the technical and decorative characteristics of this finishing material.
Features
Ceramic tile manufacturing technology affects qualities such as durability and strength. To improve the material and its capabilities, the technology of applying glaze to ceramic tiles is applied.
Glazed ceramic wall tiles differ in appearance. So, the surface of the tile will be glossy. The transparent layer on the surface is nothing more than glaze. This layer prevents the penetration of moisture, thereby protecting the ceramic material. Due to the glaze, the structural scheme becomes more dense. This is a big plus for such a product.
Production technology
Glaze is a variety of ingredients that include various additives as well as dyes.
Apply this layer in two ways - dry or wet. The first technology involves the application of special powders or granular formulations. In the case of wet, a water-dust composition is applied.
A technology is used in industry in which ceramic tiles are dipped in glaze. The method of local application is also used. So it becomes possible to get a multi-colored decorative pattern on the surface of the tile. Next, the tile is baked in ovens at a temperature of 2000 degrees. The glaze melts and becomes transparent.
Main advantages and disadvantages
Glazed ceramic tiles for walls, like any other material, has certain disadvantages and advantages.
The latter include ceramic surfaces resistant to various kinds of wear. Glaze protects the coating from moisture. Also, the surface withstands the influence of aggressive chemicals. This finishing material is highly environmentally friendly and odorless. Therefore, for the internal wall cladding, glazed ceramic tiles are used quite often. The material is light in weight and its cutting process does not take much time. The range of products is simply huge. In stores, you can choose a tile for every taste and budget.
With a lot of advantages, disadvantages can be distinguished. So, the glaze does not withstand mechanical influences. Even with double firing, the pores have a large volume. Frictional effect is small, thermal stability is also low. Gloss of glazed ceramic wall tiles glistens in any light.
Specifications
Manufacturers in the manufacture of these materials are guided by two standards:
- GOST 6141-91, which describes directly glazed tiles for interior use.
- GOST 6787-2001. This is a ceramic tile for flooring. These standards accurately describe all the features of these finishing materials.
So, glazed ceramic tiles for wall cladding GOST 6141-91 has the following technical characteristics. Thickness can be from 5 to 8 mm. Geometrically, the product can be either rectangular or square. The sizes are different (from 75x100 mm to 150x200 mm). But modern manufacturers produce tiles of other dimensions.
The plane can be smooth or embossed. The color scheme according to GOST is monotonous or multicolor. When reacting with chemical reagents, ceramics must withstand the impact and not lose their characteristics.
Kinds
Glazed ceramic wall tiles differ in the number of layers. So, there is a single and double layer material.
In the production process of the first type of tile, glaze is applied to ceramics in one layer. The tile takes on a bright color. This ceramic is called "monocottura." The peculiarity is that such a tile has high strength, but low porosity. The firing process also changes color characteristics.
In the manufacture of two-layer tiles, one and then a second layer is applied first. Such a product has the best strength indicators. This is bicotura. This type has better quality characteristics of colors and shades, since firing is performed not so long and for a short time.
You can also highlight another type of tile - embossed. The characteristics of ceramic glazed tiles for walls are higher. The product is durable, as in the process of firing and applying glaze, the material turns into a single product without air cushions inside. Also, the relief tile has a longer service life - the top coating reliably protects the material. There are a variety of models and a large assortment. A minus is considered certain problems in the cutting process. So, a tile contains a pattern that can be difficult to combine.
Color schemes
Modern manufacturers produce models of different colors. Among the most popular ones are milk, white, color translucent, color opaque, beige, and also matte.
Application
Glazed ceramic tile is used smoothly for wall and floor cladding. Embossed is used to solve the same problems. Since the glaze reliably protects the material from moisture, this tile has proven itself in bathrooms and bathrooms. This tile is also used in kitchens - it is covered with walls and countertops. The material showed itself well as a floor covering. She is able to withstand severe loads. But, this option has a drawback - the surface is slippery.
Features of choice
Today in construction stores a large selection of ceramics is offered. Buyers can not immediately decide and make the right decision. For this, there are galleries on the stands where you can take a look at all the available design options.
If you need to choose the right color scheme for a specific interior, you should pay attention to some nuances. So, the wrong choice of colors can affect the mental state. Black and red tones should be excluded. In a small apartment, lighter shades are better - white, light green, green, beige. In the bathroom, blue or turquoise tiles will look great. But black ceramics may be suitable for the toilet.
Tiles can change lighting. So, if yellow light from the lamp hits the surface of the tile, and the tile itself is blue, the surface will appear green. It is worth paying attention to the reflecting coefficient. If you need to get rid of glare, you should purchase more matte models.
Do not forget about various pollution. They are difficult to notice if the ceramic has a granular tone. But on such a glazed tile, scratches and other damages are especially noticeable (especially if it is dark).
Actual colors may differ from what is declared by the manufacturer. Dimensions may also vary. Therefore, before buying it is worth checking very carefully not only the packaging, but also the goods in it.
Conclusion
So, we found out what glazed ceramic tiles are for facing, in what areas it is used and what are its main features. This is a universal solution that can be used for a variety of jobs. Due to its high technical characteristics, glazed ceramic tiles for walls will be an excellent choice as a finishing material. The installation of these materials is no different from the installation of ordinary tiles and ceramics - any home master can handle this work.