Porcelain appeared on the building materials market not so long ago, but immediately became popular due to its excellent properties and high performance. Laying porcelain stoneware is not the most difficult procedure, it is available for independent execution, but it requires a serious approach and care.
Types of Porcelain Tile
When choosing it is necessary to consider where it will be used, in what conditions it will be operated. There are several of its most popular types:
- glazed;
- matte;
- polished;
- technical.
Porcelain stoneware is a very strong material, suitable for laying in any room, however, glazed and polished should not be used where intense loads are expected. These coatings can be erased from prolonged exposure to them, their color will become faded.
Adhesive and tool selection
Porcelain tile is low porosity and has a very low moisture absorption coefficient. It is because of these properties that its styling has several features that must be taken into account. It does not fit on ordinary cement mortar. For installation, special adhesives based on a cement-sand mixture with the addition of polymers are used. They increase adhesion and give the adhesive good elasticity. Mix the adhesive mixture with water exactly according to the manufacturer's instructions, while remembering that the mixture is added to the water, and not vice versa.
In addition to glue, you will need to stock up with the tool necessary in the process:
- drill;
- nozzle for mixing the solution;
- mallet;
- notched trowel;
- level;
- tile cutter or "grinder";
- rubber scraper;
- plastic crosses.
Surface preparation
Any kind of porcelain tile is very demanding on the base where it will be laid. It should be smooth, without cracks, scratches, protrusions. It is very important that the surface is hard.
This is especially true if porcelain tiles are laid on a wooden base. In this case, the lags should be strong and exposed strictly horizontally, the draft floor is tightly fixed to them. It can be poured with a self-leveling mixture or evened with thick plywood sheets.
No matter what material is used for the base, it is coated with a primer in two layers. This will remove dust from the surface and increase the adhesion of the adhesive.
DIY porcelain stoneware
After all the preparatory work has been carried out, all the necessary materials and tools have been purchased, you can begin to work. If the tile is laid in a direct way or in a checkerboard pattern, work starts from the corner of the room, laying the first row along the wall. If an ornament of several colors is laid out, or a complex type of styling is used, then proceed to it from the middle of the room. It is advisable to draw a plan directly on the floor, according to which the tile will be laid out, and sign the name of the flowers. Otherwise, in the process, you can make a mistake and not immediately notice it.
The process of laying granite on the floor is not very complicated, the main thing here is not to rush and follow the sequence:
- The glue is applied to the base with a spatula on an area equal to two or three tiles. Since porcelain stoneware is a heavy material, glue cannot be applied with a too thick layer, since the tile simply sags into the solution under its own weight. A small amount of glue should also be applied to the tile. This is necessary so that subsequently voids do not form under it. The glue is leveled with a spatula, and then grooves are held with its toothed side at an angle of up to 60 degrees to the base.
- The tile is pressed tightly until excess glue appears from under it. This is an indicator that the solution is evenly distributed and there are no voids left under it. The excess is immediately removed with a rubber spatula, otherwise the solution will then harden, and it will be very difficult to do this.
- By evenly tapping the ends of the tile with a mallet, it is leveled, leaving a few millimeters on the seam, where plastic crosses are inserted at full depth. This will prevent the seams from corroding until the solution solidifies. If the design involves seamless styling, no crosses will be needed, and the tile is firmly pressed against each other. After several tiles have been laid, their horizontal level is necessarily checked by the level in different directions.
- After laying the entire surface, wait 24 to 48 hours. This time is necessary for the mortar to fully harden, and only then can we start grouting the joints. This is done with a rubber spatula in the direction transverse to the seam. Excesses are removed with a damp sponge. The color of the grout is selected depending on the design. It can be in the color of the tile, and, conversely, contrast with it.
Porcelain flooring will be ready for use in 6-7 days, then you can connect the system "warm floor".