Ceramic tiles how to choose. How to choose high-quality and beautiful bathroom tiles for walls and floors. Choosing a tile by type
The history of the use of ceramic tiles as a finishing material goes back many centuries. According to archaeologists, such tiles were used in Mesopotamia as early as the third millennium BC. e. It later spread throughout the world.
The raw material for the production of tiles is clay. In addition, sand and other natural materials are used, which are added to improve performance characteristics products. There are several ways to produce tiles. Initially ceramic tiles were made by casting, that is, the clay mass was poured into special molds. Today, the most common production methods are pressing and extruding (pushing through a mold).
Externally, ceramic tiles are square or rectangular plates (common sizes are 15x15 cm, 20x20 cm, 20x30 cm, but there are others). The thickness of the tiles can vary from 8 to 20 mm.
Tiles can be either enameled (glazed) or without enamel coating. The top layer of glazed tiles can be glossy or matte. Enamel colors are very diverse. There is a tile with a decorative pattern, and one-color. Non-enamelled tiles have a uniform structure and usually do not have any pattern on the surface.
According to the method of heat treatment, tiles are divided into two broad categories: single and double firing.
In the first version, the glaze is applied to wet clay, after which the tile is placed in the oven. Thus, the glaze and the base are fired at the same time. During the firing process, these two components are tightly soldered to each other, and finished tile turns out to be very durable. For this reason, it is often laid on the floor.
In double firing, the base is placed in the kiln first. Only after that the glaze is applied. The tile is then fired again at a lower temperature. The result is a glossy, smooth glaze with rich, vibrant colors. Such tiles are less durable than single-fired tiles, so they are used mainly for wall and ceiling cladding.
The number of firings is indicated on the packaging using a conventional icon - a flame petal, next to which a number is drawn.
Depending on the method of molding and the number of firings, ceramic tiles are traditionally divided into several main types. Tiles of single and double firing are also often called Italian words monocottura and bicottura respectively. They are molded by pressing. Walls and floors are finished with such tiles.
Majolica- another type of double-fired glazed ceramic with a colored porous base, which is produced by pressing. Like monocottura and bicottura, majolica is mainly used for cladding. internal walls in residential premises.
Faience- double-fired pressed enamel tiles with a white porous base. Glaze can be painted in various colors. Faience is tiled on floors and walls inside the premises.
cotto- non-enamelled single-fired tiles with a porous base. It is made by extrusion. Usually has natural shades: brown, red, yellow. It is used for laying on the floor, because it has high strength and wear resistance.
Clinker also produced by forcing through a mold. This single fired tile can be either glazed or unglazed. Clinker is often used as floor covering.
Stands somewhat apart porcelain stoneware(ceramic granite). It is made from heavy clays using various mineral additives that give the material special hardness and strength. Porcelain stoneware has low moisture absorption and frost resistance. The scope of its application is very wide - from the floors in apartments and public buildings to the facades of houses.
Tiles are traditionally used for finishing bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. Some use this material in the hallway, living room and even in the bedroom. But many consider tile to be a cold material and for this reason they do not finish walls and floors in living rooms.
As for bathrooms and kitchens, in these rooms the tile fully shows its high performance. The bathroom and toilet are usually completely tiled. In the kitchen, tiles are sometimes laid out only in small spaces near the stove and sink.
You should choose a tile carefully, so that later you will not regret the wasted money. Naturally, appearance is important. A high-quality tile should have right angles and a flat, smooth or matte surface without cracks or other defects, and correspond to the dimensions indicated on the package. For enameled tiles, the glaze layer must be even, uniform and uniform in thickness over the entire surface of the tile.
Apart from appearance there are also objective parameters that determine the quality of the tile. One of the most important for the average consumer is the wear resistance class. There are five such classes in total. They are designated by the corresponding Roman numerals from I to V. This scale was proposed by the American research institute Porcelain Enamel Institute, which studies the properties of ceramic materials. For this reason, the abbreviation of this institution, PEI, is placed before the number.
Tiles with an I factor are designed for areas with light traffic, such as a bathroom or bedroom, where people walk barefoot or in soft slippers. Class II is suitable for the living room. There, the load is slightly higher than in the bathroom, but also relatively small. The third class is recommended for use in areas with medium intensity loads, such as kitchens and hallways.
Tiles of the fourth class can be laid where the load is high enough, and there are also temperature differences - in a common corridor for several apartments, on a stairwell or on a balcony. Tiles of the last, fifth, wear resistance class are used in rooms where there are a lot of people. It is used in large shopping centers, railway stations, airports.
Another parameter of tile quality is surface hardness. It is determined according to the ten-level Mohs scale, named after the German mineralogist who developed it. It allows you to determine the hardness of materials. The higher this number, the higher the level of hardness. For ceramic tiles, this indicator should be at least 5.
Another important parameter that you should pay attention to is the resistance of the tile to chemicals. Letters are used to represent it. Letters AA indicates maximum stability. Such a tile does not change its appearance upon contact with an aggressive environment.
Tiles with the letter A are less stable. Her appearance changes slightly. Next in descending order of quality are B (medium changes), C (partial loss of original appearance) and D (complete loss of original appearance). Tiles bearing the letter D on the package have minimal resistance and should not be placed in places with a high likelihood of aggressive environmental influences.
Usually this information about the parameters of the tile is contained on the packaging in the form of symbols. For example, a foot pattern on a black background informs the consumer that this ceramic tile is intended for laying on the floor. If the background around the foot is shaded, then this floor tiles has increased wear resistance. A hand is painted on a box of wall tiles. The snowflake on the package means frost resistance.
If any pattern is shown twice, this means that the tile has improved characteristics for this indicator. You can see how these and other symbols look in the figure.
An important role in choosing a tile is played by the place where it will be attached. Floor tiles should be much more durable than tiles used to decorate walls or ceilings. In this regard, when buying, you must carefully study the packaging, since it contains important information about the proper operation of the tile.
You should also consider in which room the tile will be used. If the tile will lie on the floor in the hallway, where people walk in street shoes, it should be more durable and wear-resistant than the tile intended for wall cladding in the bathroom.
For a bathroom where it is always humid, it is better to choose tiles with reduced moisture absorption. Therefore, smooth glazed tiles are well suited for walls. Floor tiles in the bathroom should not be slippery. It is better to lay a tile with a matte surface there. This will help prevent falls and injury.
In the kitchen, you need tiles that are resistant to chemicals, otherwise stains can appear on them. Especially if the tile is laid near the sink or stove, where there is a high probability of frequent contact with detergents. Also, tiles for the kitchen must be resistant to mechanical damage.
Before buying, you need to calculate the amount of tiles that you need to purchase. Knowing the surface area of \u200b\u200bthe floor or wall intended for cladding, as well as the dimensions of the tile, it is quite simple to make such calculations. However, it should be noted that you need to buy a tile with a small margin, since the length and width of the surface do not always exactly match the dimensions of the tile, it will have to be cut and some part will inevitably go to waste.
The price of a tile depends on many factors, most of which were listed above: production technology, tile dimensions, wear resistance class, hardness, resistance to chemicals, manufacturer. In the price range from 400 to 2000 rubles per square meter you can find high quality products for every taste.
Tiles are rightfully popular. High-quality tile has high strength, hardness and resistance to high temperatures. It is a beautiful, natural and durable material that does not accumulate static electricity and does not emit harmful substances. Properly laid tiles will last for many years, pleasing the eyes of the owners and guests of the house.
To date, manufacturers offer a wide selection of ceramic tiles of the most different colors and shades. When choosing ceramic tiles, you should proceed from what it will be intended for. There are several classes of tiles, depending on the premises for which it is intended.
Criteria for choosing ceramic tiles
When choosing ceramic tiles, you should pay attention to the indicator of its wear resistance. In fact, this is the main criterion when choosing a tile. It is the indicator of wear resistance that determines whether this tile is suitable for this room or not. Experts distinguish five classes of tile wear resistance: PEI I, PEI II, PEI III, PEI IV, PEI V.
Tiles of class PEI I are recommended to be laid in areas where traffic is minimal. Soft shoes are often used in such rooms. Best of all, such ceramic tiles are suitable for laying in the bedroom or bathroom.
Ceramic tiles of class PEI II are most often laid in houses or cottages. That is, in rooms where there is little movement. Mostly such tiles can be laid out on floors in residential areas, such as bedrooms or bathrooms.
For areas with medium traffic, PEI III class tiles are used. Such premises include small offices, city apartments. It is not recommended to lay such ceramic tiles in high traffic areas such as lobbies and staircases in residential buildings.
For laying in places with high traffic intensity, tiles of the PEI IV class are used. It is she who is chosen for facing the floors of hotels, restaurants, shops and offices, salons. It is perfect for laying on balconies and terraces.
Tiles of class PEI V are suitable for laying in almost any area, with different traffic intensity. Such tiles can be used for laying in subway stations, supermarkets, on sidewalks and in parks.
bathroom tiles
Choosing ceramic tiles for the bathroom, you should be guided not only by how it fits into the interior. Attention must also be paid to specifications such a tile. Since the bathroom will be dominated by high humidity most of the time, you should choose a tile that is designed specifically for laying in rooms with high humidity. It is also necessary to pay attention to the moisture-repellent properties of the tile. You should not choose a tile that is characterized by a high level of moisture absorption, as this may lead to the fact that after a while it will have to be replaced. Ceramic tiles for the bathroom must be resistant to temperature extremes. For the bathroom, it is better to choose tiles with a special coating that will prevent the formation of fungus.
Experts recommend giving preference to tiles with high chemical characteristics. That is, those that will not be exposed to various acidic substances that are often part of detergents. Most often, ceramic tiles of PEI I and PEI II classes are used for bathrooms.
Kitchen tiles
When choosing tiles for the kitchen, you should first of all take into account the fact that this is a room with a rather high traffic intensity. That is why it is best to use PEI III class ceramic tiles for finishing the kitchen. For wall cladding, however, you can choose ceramic tiles with a lower level of wear resistance, since in fact such tiles will not be subject to any mechanical stress.
Since the kitchen often needs wet cleaning, it is recommended to give preference to ceramic tiles that are easy to clean and are not affected by various acid-based detergents.
floor tiles
Floor tiles, wherever they are placed, are subject to frequent mechanical stress. That is why experts recommend laying such ceramic tiles on the floor, which is characterized by a high level of wear resistance.
For flooring in a residential building, tiles of PEI III and PEI IV classes are quite suitable. Such ceramic tiles can be laid out on the floor in the corridor, living room and any other room where many people often gather.
When choosing a tile for the floor, you need to pay attention to its quality characteristics. Preference should be given to such ceramic tiles, which will be resistant to various pollutants. It is also better to choose a tile that is easy to wet clean and does not require additional care.
When choosing a floor tile, attention should be paid not only to its characteristics, but also to the color and texture. For areas with high traffic volume, it is better to give preference to darker and grainy versions of ceramic tiles, as they will be less visible dirt. On plain light-colored surfaces of tiles, dirt will be more noticeable, therefore it is better to lay such tiles in those rooms that are less prone to pollution. Scratches will be very noticeable on ceramic tiles with a shiny surface, therefore it is not recommended to lay them in rooms where the floor is subject to high mechanical stress.
For every person who decided (or was forced) to start repairs in an apartment, there comes a moment when you need to answer the question - “How choose ceramic tiles?“In this case, the following questions often have to be addressed:
Bathroom tiles :
What is needed bathroom tiles?
Where to buy tiles For bathroom?
What is needed small bathroom tiles?
Honest bathroom tile price?
Which ceramic tile to choose bathroom? Retrieved or not?
Which bathroom tile seam?
Floor tiles :
How to choose ceramic floor tiles?
Where buy floor tiles
Is it possible to put underfloor heating under tiles?
Tiles on wooden floor- Can you put it in?
Tiles for the kitchen:
Tiles for the kitchen on the apron– which one to choose?
Tiles for the kitchen on the floor- what are the requirements?
Tile kitchen apron- What are the benefits?
Tile boar on the apron- is it worth it?
Which ceramic to choose kitchen tiles?
A bit of the history of ceramic tile production
Tile 15x15 in the Soviet bathroom
If you look back a little, then many will remember the Soviet bathrooms, lined with white tiles 15x15 somewhere up to the middle of the wall. And then went Oil paint up to the ceiling. Anyone who saw this horror will never forget!
However, this dull monotony is explained very simply. The technologies that existed in the USSR did not allow the production quality tiles even in this format. Attempting to produce ceramic tiles in larger sizes resulted in an increase in the rejection rate up to 90%. So everyone used either 15x15 tiles, or wild boar 7x15.
The same situation was in the West, but ceramic tile production technologies began to develop rapidly in Italy in the late 60s and early 70s. It was then that the Italian ceramic industry was founded. Many now famous Italian families entered the ceramic business during that period.
As the technologies for the production of ceramic tiles improve, each manufacturer strives to produce tiles of an ever larger format, and today the maximum format that is mass-produced is 160x320 centimeters.
So, let's deal with bathroom tiles
What is needed bathroom tiles?
Where to buy tiles For bathroom?
Of course, all online stores keep prices on average 15% lower than in their own retail store. However, if you decide to purchase tiles in a “clean” online store without a showroom, then you should take care of what you will do if, God forbid, one or two tiles break, or the calculations turn out to be incorrect. In most cases, online stores do not deal with such orders or claims. They simply do not have the ability to solve such problems. Therefore, the optimal solution is to lower the price in a retail store by demonstrating low prices on the Internet.
For floor tiles:
Supreme Flaviker
Floor tiles have already crossed the boundaries of floor use, and are increasingly being used for both flooring and wall cladding. And thin ceramic granite is already used for countertops, and for doors, and for facing partitions and facades.
What should be floor tiles?
Floor tiles should be primarily functional. If you plan to put it at the entrance, then it should be non-slippery and wear-resistant. Ceramic granite with a natural surface or lapped is quite suitable for a home. The surface of such a tile, upon closer examination, consists of polished dots interspersed with matte recesses.
Porcelain stoneware is best suited for interiors, and the stronger the shine of the tile, the more expensive it is, since the cost of high-quality polishing is very high. Remember that for lapped ceramic granite the main enemies are: stilettos, wheels on chairs, sand on shoes. If you do not roll around the room on a wheelchair, pushing off the floor with stilettos without first removing the sand from the floor - then this floor will last you a long time, most likely more than one decade.
Recently, the formats 80x80, 90x90 and 120x120 for laying on the floor have become more and more popular. The effect created by such a tile is strikingly different from the "standard" 60x60 tile.
Is it possible to put underfloor heating under tiles?
La Fabbrica Astra
It is possible and necessary. In Italy, for example, heating radiators are practically not used, and all heating comes from underfloor heating, which of course is much more pleasant. For ceramic granite, fired at 1200 - 1300 degrees, heating from a warm floor is completely painless. There is simply no difference between electric underfloor heating and water for tiles.
Tiles on wooden floor- Can you put it in?
Of course you can! The only thing to do is to avoid deflection of the wooden floor. If the floor is bent, then the tile will fall off over time. Therefore, the wooden floor is strengthened, waterproofed, covered with either GVL sheets, or light screed and glue ceramic tiles. The ideal solution would be to choose tiles from ABK group (ABK, ARENA). Their new technology Wall&Porcellan allows you to produce tiles with a very serious elasticity. This will compensate for the vibrations of the wooden base.
Tiles for the kitchen:
Tiles for the kitchen on the apron– which one to choose?
The classic solution for an apron in the kitchen - 10x10 tiles, is gradually going out of fashion. Actually it's not very practical solution, since the fat settles on the tile very abundantly, and it is not an easy task to clean the seams between the tiles. Of course, modern steam tools help a lot, which soften the layer of fat with a jet of hot steam, but it is easier to have a flat apron surface with a minimum number of seams and low surface roughness.
Tile kitchen apron- What are the benefits?
Given the amount of fat that is released when cooking in the kitchen, it is very important to carefully select the material for the apron. The use of natural marble in the kitchen is certainly beautiful at the beginning of operation, but natural stone absorbs fats at an amazing rate. And now, instead of a beautiful and expensive countertop made of natural marble and an apron to match, from the same marble, you have some kind of spotted stone that can never be washed off.
The ideal solution for a kitchen backsplash is a large format ceramic tile. Buying lapped ceramic granite with a marble pattern in 80x240 or 120x240 format solves all problems with porosity natural stone and with seams in small tiles. Just one 120x240 tile cut in half covers the entire backsplash in 75% of kitchens.
You can design in modern style– for example using a pure solid color tile from laminam in 5 mm thickness, or using marble tile pattern Aestetica from the factory in 6 mm thickness. Of course, you can choose different tiles on kitchen apron, but we must always keep these problems in mind. Common Mistake when choosing a tile for an apron - buying a mosaic for an apron. Whatever this mosaic is, numerous seams between the elements of the mosaic will cause many problems for the owner.
Choosing ceramic tiles for the kitchen floor is not difficult if you have already chosen tiles for the backsplash. However, if the apron is made of a different material, then you should choose carefully to avoid common mistakes when choosing a tile.
All of the above problems with an apron are also true for floor tiles. Large-format rectified tiles with a lappated surface are the optimal solution for the floor in the kitchen. The polished surface of ceramic granite from reputable manufacturers will be easily cleaned of adhering dirt, which is inevitable in the kitchen. A small joint (1.5 mm) between rectified tiles will stain less than a standard joint (3-5 mm) for non-rectified tiles. But of course, if the above problems do not concern you, and specially trained people are engaged in cleaning, then this article is not for you.
Tile boar on the apron- is it worth it?
The term "boar" itself, which came to us in Soviet times, awakens memories of 30 years ago. Today, this type of design is called "loft" and is at the height of fashion. All the arguments "for" and "against" have been stated above. It is not possible to design a loft-style kitchen without using tiles imitating bricks, unless you decide to overlay everything with special bricks, which in the end cost twice as much as tiles. For example, the collection is designed for brick-like wall cladding. However, if style issues are not decisive, then perhaps you should refrain from such a choice in favor of more modern design solutions.
“There are a lot of all kinds of floor tiles on sale, each seller praises his product. There are also very beautiful samples, ideally suited to the interior. But I want the tile to be not only beautiful, but also durable. How to choose a tile on the floor according to all the rules so that it lasts long years? Our expert shares his experience.
Floor tiles are subjected to enormous loads every day, including mechanical, impact and abrasion.
Therefore, it is very important to choose tiled elements with appropriate physical and mechanical characteristics, that is, sufficiently strong, wear-resistant, practical and durable. So how do you choose floor tiles? We'll figure out.
How to choose the right floor tiles
As a rule, all the main technical characteristics are indicated on the packaging. As already mentioned, the most interesting criteria are wear resistance and strength.
At the same time, there are other parameters that no less affect the durability and practicality.
https://youtu.be/BHUjR1eK6Dk
wear resistance
The wear resistance of a glazed floor tile is the ability of the top layer to withstand abrasion. Experiments are carried out using an abrasive composition, water and a device resembling millstones.
Depending on the number of rotations (turns) that the surface can withstand, all floor tiles are classified into five wear resistance classes:
PEI I (Cl. 1)
Ceramic floor tiles with low load impacts. You can move on the surface only in soft shoes or without shoes. Suitable for rarely used rooms - pantries, toilet rooms, etc. The maximum number of revolutions does not exceed 150.
