Ceramic tiles are known for their unique qualities. It has high strength, durability, is not susceptible to the influence of moisture, mold, chemicals and dirt. Tiles can be used almost everywhere, for laying the floor, for wall decoration and even for exterior decoration. The upper layer of the tile is practically not erased, and any dirt can be washed off with water or detergent. The material acquires all these qualities during production and does not require additional care. Also, we all know that laying tiles is quick and easy. But at that time, only one thing was unclear, why the tiles had not yet supplanted other finishing materials. It is in these moments that we will understand in this article.
Nuances of styling
First you need to understand some nuances. All sources state that tiles are a universal finishing material. At the same time, it is often forgotten that ceramic tiles have four main production technologies. The surface of the tiles can be divided into: glazed, polished, semi-polished and matte. According to the production method, the tile is single-fired and double-fired. At the same time, the technology of single firing has subtypes in which different compositions, methods of forming the workpiece, time and temperature of processing are used. This makes it possible to obtain a large number of ceramic tiles that have a wide range of properties.
For example, porcelain stoneware is not inferior to natural stone in its strength and frost resistance and can be used for exterior decoration. In terms of resistance to chemicals, the greatest protection is provided by the “AA” series, which is completely impervious to bases or alkalis. It is recommended to be used in chemical laboratories, in addition to this group there are five more groups of chemical activity. Or more real-life examples, when glossy tiles perfectly resist pollution on the walls of the kitchen, but it is not recommended to put them on the floor. The fact is that the tile will turn into a real skating rink at the slightest moisture. Therefore, it is better to use tiles with a matte surface for floor covering. It looks worse and is more demanding to assemble, but it is much safer.
Now it is clear why it is incorrect to call tiles a universal finishing material. It would be more correct to say that the selection of ceramics is so large that you can choose a product to fulfill any task. But even this is not enough, often the correctly selected tile does not give the desired result due to poor laying. Therefore, before getting acquainted with the construction process, you need to remember several basic rules for successful laying:
- No need to save on tiles. High-quality tiles are of the first grade. Laying tiles of the second and third grade will bring more problems than savings. All varieties, except for the first one, are in short supply. They may have differences in thickness, shape and color. It is almost impossible to make a high-quality picture from such a tile.
- Pay attention not only to the pattern and appearance, but also to the thickness, production technology and brand of tile. Wall tiles look more beautiful and cost less, because they have less strength due to a thinner base. This is necessary to reduce the load on the load-bearing wall. If you lay the floor with such a tile, it will simply crack, as it is not designed for such loads. Only special frost-resistant tiles or ceramic granite can be used for external finishing works. Other brands are not designed for such difficult operating conditions.
- No need to save on glue, primer and surface preparation. Poor-quality glue or an improperly prepared surface will nullify all your efforts. When choosing these materials, it is advisable to strictly follow the manufacturers’ recommendations.
- Don’t take on a job you don’t know how to do. Before laying out a wall or covering the floor, practice on a small area of the surface that will be hidden by the furniture.
- Buy materials with a reserve. Approximately 10-20% more tiles than the construction area are required. You will need a spare for training, trimming and then, you need a small balance for small repairs.
Laying the wall
Installation of tiles on the wall is performed before the floor is laid. Any finishing works are characterized by a simple sequence of works – from top to bottom. For example, why paint the floor, if you have to paint the ceiling and floor later, in the end it will be necessary to repaint it again. This also applies to tiles.
If you lay the floor first, you will have to wait at least a day for it to dry. Then, when working on the ceiling and walls, it’s easy to drop a heavy tool and break a few tiles. In the best case, it will be possible to eliminate the damage by spot repair, provided that spare materials are available. Opponents of this method insist that a support beam will have to be used, and this will complicate the work. In fact, there is nothing complicated here, just use a long flat board. It is installed at the bottom of the wall and will become a guide and support for the first row of tiles. After gluing, it will be removed, and the free space will be hidden by floor tiles and plinth.
We begin work on surface preparation. It should be as even as possible (read on the package what unevenness is allowed for your tile). Then you can proceed to the marking, for this you need to take into account corners and other irregularities, for example, a window or a shaft with pipes. Study all irregularities and prepare tiles of the required size in advance. For trimming, use a special tile cutter or use a regular glass cutter. It is necessary to spend several times on the outside, then turn the tile over and hit a soft protrusion, for example, the corner of the table. With proper skill, the fracture cuts will be perfectly even. It is also necessary to take into account the outlets and pipes.
Now you need to prime the wall well and after it dries, you can start gluing. During this time, you need to properly prepare the glue. It is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of the manufacturer. Everyone determines the amount of diluted glue independently, based on personal experience. Therefore, it is best to start with places that will be closed by furniture or plumbing. This way you will know how much you can glue the tiles until the glue starts to thicken.
Do not chase quantity, work for quality. It is better to prepare several times more glue than to live with a crooked bathroom or kitchen. As already mentioned, we install a support bar at the bottom. We lay out the first row along it. We apply glue with a special spatula, a thin layer on the wall and on the tile itself, then press it for a while. We keep a level at hand to check the quality of laying. We use pieces of tile in corners and difficult places. If the tile has a pattern and just to be safe, you need to keep the work diagram at hand so as not to confuse the order. Periodically check the scheme until the tile is dry, it can be easily replaced. Cut small pieces in advance, before preparing a new batch of glue. To keep the tiles from moving relative to each other, use special crosses. They must be removed within an hour of their installation. That is, the crossbars should be removed during the work process, and not after its complete completion. For this task, use a regular awl.
You can save on tiles and not put them on the place of installation of decorative elements. Such an element in the bathroom can be a large mirror. This method of saving has two big disadvantages. First, the number of tiles for trimming increases. Second, if the mirror breaks or you simply decide to overpower it, you will be left with a bare hole in the wall. It will have to be covered with other furniture or covered with tiles, which will still catch the eye. The last touch is rubbing the seams. For walls, you can not use sealants and a properly selected grouting mixture will be enough. The grout can be applied with a small rubber spatula. Immediately remove the excess mixture with a regular cloth.
Tips
There is often a problem with finding the grout mixture of the required color. In fact, the small selection of colors is explained by the fact that such a mixture is perfectly painted after use.
Joints are grouted with a rubber spatula or special grout. It is necessary to rub the amount of the mixture directly into the seam, the task is not easy, because a large part of the material remains on the tile itself. The process can be simplified with the help of a used can of sealant from an air gun. To do this, prepare the grout and place it in a plastic bag, and the bag inside the gun. Make a small cut on the bag and squeeze the grout directly into the seam, then seal with a putty knife.
For a beginner, the most difficult thing will be the processing of an internal or external corner. To cope with this task, special corners will help – keep. They are made of special plastic and look practically no different from tiles.
The checkerboard method promises great savings. But it should not be used without the necessary skills. The secret of such laying is in the correct trimming and use of the resulting trim. Sacramento Home Addition Contractor will make a beautiful checkerboard pattern and will leave virtually no tile waste. But for a beginner, the result can be quite the opposite, and the material will be wasted.
