Tiles today are actively used in both internal and external decoration of floors, walls. This material is characterized by a mass of positive performance characteristics. Therefore, tile is in demand today.
There are many varieties of this material. Plates differ in coloring, texture, shape. What technologies are used when laying tiles, as well as features of this type of decoration - all this will be discussed in detail below.
Material Features
Laying tiles on the floor and walls is carried out according to different technologies. This allows you to create an original design for any interior style. Tile is one of the most popular finishing materials. It is made by special technology. To create it, clay and sand are mixed. The composition also includes feldspar, other fillers.
When the dry mass is well mixed, the formation of plates. They are burned in an oven at high temperatures. This allows you to give the material high strength, durability and resistance to adverse influences. There are many techniques for making tiles. Depending on the production technology, a certain type of finishing material is obtained.
Tiles are used for wall and floor cladding, building facades, terraces, balconies, etc. The feature of this material is its strength. After heat treatment, it becomes stronger than stone. Plates are not subject to various adverse effects. They are not afraid of water, weather factors, chemicals. This makes the presented finish durable.
Laying tiles is a responsible task. If desired, the procedure can be done with your own hands. You need to choose the right material and mount it to the surface according to one of the possible systems. The tile is different in size and thickness. Various forms of plates are also produced. The production of this type of finish is regulated by GOST. European-made tiles are produced in accordance with the EN ISO standard. Depending on the operational characteristics specified in the production, the tile can be used in different finishes.
Varieties
The texture and shapes of tiles can be very different. Today, there are many options for such materials. They are distinguished by their appearance and mode of production.
One of the popular types of tiles is majolica. It is produced by strong compression of the mixture. The surface is also covered with various opaque glazes. The firing of such material is carried out in two stages. This allows you to increase the strength of the tile. It becomes unaffected by chemicals as well as exposure to water. Most often, this material is used for wall cladding.
Terrailla is also made by double firing. However, clay of expensive grades is used to produce this variety of materials. It is white. Due to this, drawings of any shades can be applied to the surface of the plates. Top decor is covered with glaze. It can be transparent or shiny. This type of decoration is suitable for a designer interior.
Unglazed cotto tiles have a porous structure. It is made from special raw materials that are mined in the Mediterranean or in the Atlantic Ocean. This is a very durable finishing material. Tiles of this type are used to finish the floor. The color of such tiles is elegant. There are no more analogues of this tile all over the world.
Tiling in the bathroom or in the kitchen is one of the best solutions. This material, even in conditions of temperature extremes, high humidity, will last for many years. Another popular variety is clinker tiles. It is made from natural clay, which is burned at very high temperatures. This is the most durable type of tile. It is used in places with high cross-country performance.
Plate shape
Today, there are many varieties of tile. They differ in color, shape. The most popular is square tile. However, a lot of rectangular trim elements are also produced. Other varieties are also gaining popularity.
The texture of the plates can be any. She can imitate different materials. Tile, which has a pattern in the form of natural wood, is popular today. It looks like parquet, so it has an elongated shape. This allows you to create the illusion of a wooden surface. In this case, the material, in contrast to the natural finish, will not be susceptible to decay and destruction in a humid environment. The texture can imitate genuine leather, stone, pebbles, even wallpaper.
Today, many world manufacturers produce ceramic tiles of non-standard shapes. It can be made in the form of a hexagon or octagon. This tile is gaining popularity today. It looks original and allows you to create a beautiful look. Such tiles may have different sizes. Sometimes it looks like a mosaic. From such plates, you can create inserts in the composition. Even a small fragment of non-standard-shaped plates, inserted into the usual finish, allows you to give the design a fresh, unusual look.
Some collections feature triangular, diamond-shaped plates. There are even round varieties of tiles. You can also create an original design from volumetric hourglass plates.
Laying tiles in the bathroom , in the kitchen can be made of tiles "boar". She is also very popular today. Small-format plates have a rectangular shape. They resemble brickwork. In the West, this type of plate is called the "metro."
There is also a curved tile. It is created to give the finish a 3D look.
Format
Sizes of tiles can be very different. It can be very shallow. This type of plate is called mosaic. There are also very large plates. Small mosaic tiles are superior in strength to smalt and glass finishes. It can be square or any other shape. Popular sizes are 25x25 and 50x50 mm. On sale is a mosaic of even smaller dimensions. It can have a size of only 10x10 mm. The round mosaic looks spectacular.
Sheets of fine porcelain stoneware can have a large format. Such plates can have a size of 1500x500, 1000x1000, 1500x3200 mm. They are used for wall decoration. The larger the tile, the more fragile it is. A thick medium-sized tile is used for the floor. Large tile slabs allow lining, for example, a kitchen apron with a single panel. She will not have stitches.
The size of the plates must be chosen correctly. The harmony of the whole interior depends on this. Also, the convenience of laying the material depends on the right choice of dimensions. The format of the plates that are used to finish the floor and walls is different.
Sizes of tiles can be small, medium and large. Finishing with side lengths up to 300 mm belongs to the shallow category. Finishing with side lengths up to 600 mm is considered average. Large tiles are larger than 600 mm. The format is a conditional concept. It changes in accordance with fashion design trends.
The thickness of the floor tiles is 8-20 mm, and wall - 7-9 mm. Its strength qualities depend on this. The larger the plates, the more difficult it is to stack them.
Tile selection features
Laying tiles on the floor and walls has a number of features. It is important to choose the right decoration format. So, for laying mosaics, manufacturers produce it on a special grid. However, the installation process will still require special skills.
Small tiles will look appropriate in a room with a small area. If the room is spacious, it is better to combine small plates with large elements of decoration. Small plates can be laid on the surface with slight irregularities. This is their advantage. Large trim elements require a perfectly flat surface.
For almost any room, medium-sized tiles are suitable. This is a universal format. This is easy to use material. With such a facing, relatively few seams are obtained. It is recommended to choose this tile format if the master does not yet have much experience in the installation of cladding.
Laying large tiles will be a good option for a spacious room. In this case, a minimum of seams is formed. This allows you to purchase less grout. Suture processing does not require much time. The surface looks more solid. Its waterproofing qualities will be on top. For the floor, choose a larger tile than for wall decoration.
Traditional and diagonal styling
There are different options for laying tiles. This allows you to create an original design. One of the most common is the traditional way of laying plates. They are located in parallel. The rows are closely adjacent to each other. The pattern looks even. Usually, square or rectangular tiles are used for this type of decoration. The masonry, which is created from plates of different colors or textures, will look original.
The traditional installation method is the easiest and fastest to install. When laying, the master does not require high professional skills. Finishing is fashionable to do it yourself. However, you should maintain even lines of the joints of the plates. If there is at least a slight factory defect on the tile, it will be striking. This cladding looks monotonous. This finish method works well with seamless styling.
Tile laying in the kitchen, in the bathroom can be done according to the diagonal technology. This is a beautiful but complicated installation method. In this case, it is important to correctly mark the diagonal axes. It will require cutting plates. This way of laying will hide the imperfections of the surface, the curvature of the floor. This type of installation is suitable for small rooms.
Diagonal styling at an angle of 45ΒΊ. Applied square tile. Even a plain tile will look interesting. With this installation method, a lot of waste remains. The space of the room is visually expanded.
Laying with offset and herringbone
There are original, unusual technologies for laying tile. The installation of tiles with an offset looks interesting. It visually resembles brickwork. In this case, a rectangular monophonic tile looks best. Square varieties can also be used. The method also allows you to hide minor defects.
This type of laying is ideal for finishing the kitchen, the corridor. The rows are arranged horizontally. Each subsequent row is shifted by half the tiles. This masonry can be done diagonally. It looks original, allowing you to hide the unevenness of the floor.
Tile laying can have a herringbone pattern. Plates resemble a parquet board. Applied rectangular tile. There are two options for laying such a floor. The first looks like a classic parquet (simple "herringbone"). The second method includes an additional element, therefore it is called a "Christmas tree" with an attachment. Small square plates are used for this.
A feature of this pattern is the presence of special requirements for the tile pattern. Slabs imitating natural stone are not suitable for this type of finish. Plain varieties or elongated rectangular stripes with wood-like colors are best suited for this finish.
Modular and offset laying
Do-it-yourself tile laying can be done according to the modular type technique. This picture looks especially original. He is able to decorate any floor. At the same time, even a master can mount it without much experience in finishing work. You only need to first design the desired pattern.
For this picture, tiles of different sizes are used. It is necessary to clearly design the pattern before the tile is mounted on the surface. He is selected individually. Ready-made cards for laying material are on sale. They come with a set of tiles in different formats. The pattern is heterogeneous, but it is repeated many times.
Laying with a shift involves the use of plates of large and small sizes. A tile with a large format is shifted by 5-6 cm. A small tile is installed in the resulting space. Such laying of tiles allows you to create a beautiful pattern that also harmoniously complements the interior.
Preparation for installation
Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools. When the choice of drawing is made, measurements are taken of the room. The required number of plates is calculated. For diagonal laying methods, you need to make a large supply of materials (about 20-25%).
You will need to purchase crosses to create uniform seams between the tiles, a notched and a small rubber spatula, as well as a building level for laying tiles. During installation, you will need a mallet, tile cutter. Also, an adhesive mixture for tiles, a mixer (or a nozzle for a perforator), as well as grout for joints, are purchased.
As an adhesive composition, a ready-made mixture in buckets or a dry composition in bags is suitable. It is not recommended to use a cement-sand mixture for installation. Finished compositions include special additives to give the mass plasticity and strength. In this case, applying the composition, aligning the position of the tile will be much easier. To save money, it is recommended to purchase special dry formulations. They are bred in the right proportion with water.
You also need to purchase a grout. She is chosen based on the color of the tile itself. Moisture-resistant formulations are recommended. They can be contrasting, highlighting the color of the tile, or identical to the shade of the tile. The second option will allow you to create a monolithic-looking surface. The amount of fugue is selected according to the type of installation, tile size, seam width .
Tile installation
There is a simple tile laying instruction. First you need to level the floor if it is uneven. In some cases, it is sufficient to patch the solution with small defects in the base. If there are significant differences, you will need to fill in a layer of self-leveling screed.
The surface before installing the tile must be thoroughly washed. Primer may be used. Next, you need to determine the point from which the tile will be laid. It can be in the center of the room or in the middle of one of the walls. You can start laying from the corner if the opposite side is completely covered by furniture.
Next, you need to prepare the glue mixture. It is applied to the surface of the floor. The layer should be thicker the heavier and more massive the tile. Level the solution with a notched trowel.
After that, the tile is laid on the solution. Her hands are crushed. With a mallet (with a rubber tip) you need to tap on the corners. So the solution is evenly distributed under the tile. Next, the horizontal level of the tile surface is checked by the building level. If necessary, at the highest corner you need to tap a little mallet.
After laying the second tile using the same technology, a plastic cross is inserted between them. If the solution gets on the surface of the tile, immediately wipe it off with a damp cloth. After the surface dries, grout the joints.
Having considered how to lay the tiles, you can independently mount the floor covering.