How to choose floor tiles: expert advice. How to choose high-quality and beautiful tiles for the bathroom walls and floors. Which tiles are best to choose for your apartment?

When renovating a bathroom, many people face the question: “How to choose tiles?. Choosing quality tiles is not easy.

It is necessary to combine two tasks:

• purchase beautifully colored tiles that will appeal to all family members;
• choose a tile that can be laid with minimal loss of quality and nerves.

Features of tiles

Choosing tiles by manufacturing method

There are three types of tiles according to the manufacturing method:

• cast - clay mass is poured into special molds;
• pressed – production under high pressure from a mixture of powdery structure with additives;

• tiles made by extrusion - pressing through a certain shape.

Selecting tile sizes

Before choosing a tile, you need to decide on the size of the tile that is suitable for.

1. Ceramic tile- These are rectangular or square plates.
2. The most common sizes in centimeters are as follows:

• 15x15;
• 20x20;
• 20x30.

1. The thickness of the tiles can range from 8 to 20 millimeters.

Tip: tiles big size(more than 25x40) the cladding can be completed much faster, although it will have to be cut, for this you need to purchase spare tiles.

What kind of tile coating

How to choose the right tile, what kind of coating there is ceramic tiles?

Ceramic tiles are:

• glazed (enameled);
• without enamel coating.

The top layer of enameled tiles comes in two types:

• glossy;
• matte.

The colors of glazed tiles are quite varied; they also come with decorative patterns or simply one color.

Methods of heat treatment of tiles

How to choose tiles for floors, walls and? What you need to know about heat treatment tiles?

There are two categories:

• single firing;
• double firing.

1. Single firing (monocoturra)– the glaze is applied to wet clay, then the tile is placed in the oven, as a result, the base and glaze are fired simultaneously. When firing occurs, these two components are very tightly soldered to each other and the tile turns out to be quite durable.

Advice: it is better to lay single-fired tiles on, as they are very durable and less likely to crack and split.

1. Double firing (bicoturra)– first the base is placed in the oven, after which the glaze is applied. The tiles are then re-fired at a lower temperature, resulting in a smooth and shiny glaze with bright, rich colors.

Advice: double-fired tiles are less durable and are best used for cladding ceilings and walls.

1. The number of firings is indicated on the packaging with a special conventional sign– a petal of flame with a number drawn next to it.

Type of tile

Buying tiles: how to choose a specific type for covering different surfaces bathroom?

Depending on the number of firings and the molding method, ceramic tiles are divided into the following types:

1. Majolica is a type of double-fired glazed ceramic tile with a porous colored base, produced by pressing. Majolica is used for wall cladding.

1. Faience is an enameled, double-fired pressed tile that has a porous white base. The glaze comes in a variety of colors. This type of tile can be used to cover both the walls and the floor of the bathroom.

1. Cotto is a non-enameled tile with a single-fired porous base, which is produced by extrusion. This type of tile is used for laying on the floor because it is highly wear-resistant and durable.

1. Clinker is a single fired tile, which can be either enameled or unglazed. Clinker is usually used for flooring.

1. - a special type of tile, which is made from heavy clay with the addition of various mineral additives, giving the tile special strength and hardness. Porcelain stoneware is used for laying on the floor in the bathroom, as it has low level moisture absorption.

Choosing tiles

How to choose the right tiles? What should you have with you?

So, let's go buy tiles - an ordinary ruler and square will help you choose the right one.

1. The edges of the tiles must be perpendicular. Usually in stores, samples of tiles are glued to a stand, where you can evaluate the overall future picture, but the geometric dimensions can only be assessed when you hold the samples in your own hands.

Tip: You need to look at a few tiles, but it’s best to look at the entire box, as there may be defective or cracked tiles in the package.

1. The correct choice of tiles is tiles of the same thickness. This is a guarantee that during installation the situation will be controlled only by the amount of glue, and not at random, while adapting to each tile.

1. There should be no curved tiles. This can be checked with the edge of another tile or with a ruler. Basically, this situation is visible to the naked eye, you just have to look at the box with packed tiles.
   On the edges of the tiles, the glaze should look uniform and uniform on all tiles, distributed equally along the edge. The repeatability of the glaze flowing onto the edges of the tile is important.

1. Choosing the right tile – not cracked glaze. These are manifestations of violations of production technology, or incorrect transportation.

Advice: it is correct to transport tiles not on the base, but on the edge.

1. The coloring of ceramic tiles should be uniform. If you can see even small dots that are not filled with glaze on more than 3-4 tiles, you should refuse the purchase.
2. A coarse-grained, fuzzy pattern should also be cause for concern., which looks like old newspapers or printed on a printer. This means that the equipment is already old and good result Based on the size of the product, you should not expect it.
3. You need to familiarize yourself with the information about the tile parameters, which are indicated on the packaging with symbols.

Tip: if any of the pictures are shown twice, this means that this tile has improved characteristics for this indicator.

To sum up how to choose the right tiles for a bathroom, we can outline the following:

• the tiles should have low moisture absorption;
• glazed smooth tiles are good for walls;
• floor tiles should be non-slippery, best option– tiles with a matte surface.

“There are a lot of all kinds of floor tiles on sale, each seller praises his product. There are also very beautiful samples that fit perfectly into the interior. But I want the tiles to be not only beautiful, but also durable. How to choose floor tiles according to all the rules so that they last 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 tile elements with appropriate physical and mechanical characteristics, that is, sufficiently strong, wear-resistant, practical and durable. So how to choose tiles for the floor? We'll figure out.

How to choose the right floor tiles

As a rule, all 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 have no less impact on durability and practicality.

https://youtu.be/BHUjR1eK6Dk

Wear resistance

The wear resistance of glazed floor tiles is the ability of the top layer to withstand abrasive influences. 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)

Low impact ceramic floor tiles. You can move on the surface only in soft shoes or without shoes. Suitable for rarely used rooms - storage rooms, toilet rooms and so on. Maximum number rpm does not exceed 150.

Today we will talk about how to choose the right ceramic tiles for a bathroom or toilet. After studying this information, you can avoid making common mistakes that lead to unsightly results and a waste of time and money. We are talking about a bathroom with optimal price-quality ratio.

Quick navigation through the article

Collections

Arriving at any specialized store, you will see samples of bathroom tiles (collections) hanging on stands. A collection is a set of tiles that match in size, shape and color.

The standard collection consists of 5 elements:

• Light background,
• dark background,
• border (frieze),
• decor,
• floor tiles.

One collection of bathroom tiles can have several color options. In practice, in one room it will be enough to correctly combine one light and dark background, take one type of decor and floor tiles.

There are some collections that have good background tiles but terrible decors, or vice versa.

Most collections have same size backgrounds and decor. The border is the same length, but much less in height. Floor tiles have a square shape, with sides greater than the height of the main elements, but less than their length. Sometimes the length of the square is equal to the length of the main tile.

An important point: borders can only be cut to length, and decor cannot be cut at all. This is due to the fact that many decors have raised elements that may fall off when cutting. The second reason for this rule is the violation of the harmony of the pattern. Imagine what a cut-off embossed border with a pattern in the corner will look like, glued next to its trim through a 3 mm layer of grout. To make the corner beautiful, you need to join two identical tiles in it.

Manufacturers and prices

The very first thing you should pay attention to is the country of origin. Bathroom tiles can be made in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal or Russia. If you don't want to have problems with installation due to big differences size and shape of the tiles in the package, it is better to immediately abandon Russian tiles.

In some stores, the tiles on the stands are specially filed so that at first glance they appear smooth.

There are several manufacturers in each country. But you shouldn’t rely on the company name, since each of them has good and bad collections of bathroom tiles.

Good bath tiles now cost from 900 to 1,700 rubles per square meter. For this price you will get high-quality and beautiful tiles, but you won’t overpay for the brand. If you are doing repairs for a long time and for yourself, then you can buy more expensive options, but they are not worth it.

Surface

As a rule, the floor tiles in the bathtub are matte, and the wall tiles are glossy. The glossy finish looks brighter and richer, and is easier to clean. But if you cover the floor with a glossy material, it will be slippery and over time the paint layer will wear off and bald spots will appear.

The most practical texture of mosaic tiles is when its parts are located unevenly, but at a slight inclination relative to neighboring elements and have a slightly different shade. Outwardly, it looks like pixels.

It solves 3 main problems:

• Light drops from detergents;
• Dark drops from dirty water;
• Drops of toothpaste.

At the same time, the dirt on it is invisible, it is easy to wash, and all this does not detract from the beauty of the coating. But if the size of the squares is too large, corner elements and plumbing fixtures will adhere unattractively to such a relief surface.

Dimensions

As for the choice optimal size the more it will be facing tiles for the bathroom, the better, but this should be within reasonable limits. Imagine what 90 cm tiles would look like for a small bathroom 160 cm wide. Besides, you won’t be able to do it correctly hidden hatch due to the fact that it must be installed under a full tile, this huge thing will need to be attached to it somehow and open it up.

Optimal sizes for most bathrooms:

• 60*20,
• 50*20,
• 50*25,
• 60*30,
• 45*20.

Large-format seamless porcelain tiles for the bathroom and seamless tiles are not suitable for several reasons. Firstly, it is very large in size for most bathrooms. Secondly, it cannot be attached to hidden hatches.

Why you shouldn't use curbs

Ceramic borders are now almost never used for installation.

They were originally used to get rid of narrow undercuts due to a fixed ceiling height. But now you can install a suspended or suspended ceiling with any offset from the main one, and this problem will disappear by itself.

Borders were also often used to separate light and dark backgrounds. But after furnishing the room, this belt turns out to be torn, and the beautiful effect is lost.

In addition, it is very difficult to correctly determine the height of installation of a relief border on the wall, so that it does not overlap the places where hanging plumbing fits, does not visually draw attention to itself and does not create a narrow trim above the bathtub.

Selecting the color

Let's start with the fact that the floor should always be dark in color. It will be practical and durable.

Light tiles in the bathroom will always be dirty, and since they are matte, dirt will eat into them over time. If, against a dark background, dirt will not be so noticeable, and it can serve you for more than ten years, then you will want to replace light tiles after 1-2 years.

Choice of grout color

The grout for the tile is matched to the tone of the lightest elements, or a little lighter.

Can you imagine what will happen to light grout in six months? It will turn black. Of course, if you use two-component epoxy grout for 2,700 rubles per 2 kg and buy a detergent for it for 800 rubles, then it will remain white, but it’s not worth it.

But you can’t use dark grout either, because the eyes will ripple from the excessive contrast of each element.

Layout

The most beautiful bathrooms are obtained if they are painted with horizontal rings, the integrity of which will only be disturbed by the doorway.

Best option:

• Dark floor;
• The dark outline at the bottom is 0.5-1 rows higher than the bathtub;
• A light background in the center with correctly placed decors;
• Dark stroke on top, 1 row high.

In a toilet, the height of the bottom row is usually combined with the flush button on the installation, that is, the border was somewhere in the middle between them. If you are afraid that this area will be too dark, it can be diluted with light rows.

• Firstly, on the dark outline below there will be almost no traces of drops visible.
• Secondly, it will harmonize with dark floor tiles.
• Third, dark color the floor will be reflected in white glossy ceiling, and the outline on top will only emphasize it, and it will automatically fit into your design.

Often, bathroom tiles after installation do not look the same as you saw them in the store. This is due to the different color temperatures of lighting and its quality in the store and at your place. It is better to abandon low-power halogen spotlights and use one powerful light source.

To position the decor correctly, inside the central light stripe, step back one row at the top and bottom, and then replace all whole tiles with decor. In this case, the wall with the doorway does not need to be decorated in any way, the maximum is to place background tiles in it instead of decoration according to the described scheme.

In small baths, do not join external corners tiles by sawing them at 45 degrees. Perhaps such a connection will look more beautiful, but it will be traumatic. In such places, it is better to make corners using a plastic layout.

Conclusion

Do not buy remnants of collections that have ceased to be produced. They may be sold at a deep discount, but, as a rule, the collection will be missing some elements. If you don't have enough 1-2 tiles, you won't be able to buy more later.

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Many people choose ceramic tiles as a floor finishing material, despite the abundance of other floor coverings on the construction market. Tile has a lot of advantages compared to other coatings. Let's look at how to choose floor tiles For different types premises.

Features and advantages of the material

If you start comparing floor tiles with regular tiles, you will immediately notice that the former is thicker. The finish also has increased wear resistance characteristics. Because of these properties, tiles are usually installed in the kitchen and hallway.

Among other advantages and features, we can highlight high hygiene. Compared to any other floor coverings, tiles are considered the best material for floors in rooms where there is an increased level of pollution.

The material has extraordinary strength. The main thing is to know how to choose floor tiles so as not to regret the purchase. If professionally installed, tiles can withstand significant loads from impacts, as well as other mechanical damage. Not only is the finish durable, but it also doesn't lose its color over time.

Ceramics are very durable. Unlike other coatings, floor tiles can last without loss or decline. technical characteristics up to 50 years. The tiles are not afraid of moisture and serious flooding - that is why tiles are chosen for finishing bathrooms. Any other material in the bathroom will quickly become damp and become unusable.

If the flooring is damaged, you can repair just the damaged area without having to replace the entire floor. And finally, ceramics will never cause harm to human health. This is the most environmentally friendly option among all existing floor coverings (except wood, of course). Available in stores and construction hypermarkets huge selection ceramics for the floor of any colors, patterns, sizes and textures.

This allows you to create not only a durable, but also an attractive coating.

Flaws

If you lay tiles in violation of the technology, this will lead to the formation of cracks. To obtain a high-quality result, it is not enough to choose high-quality tiles. It is necessary to first thoroughly prepare the subfloor. It should be smooth and dry.

For all its advantages, tiles have bad properties sound absorption. But this disadvantage can be easily eliminated using soundproofing layers. The latter are laid when pouring the screed.

Ceramic tiles are very cold, but have high thermal conductivity. The cold problem can be solved by installing heated floors. Finally, the tiles are very slippery. For bathrooms, options with a rough surface are more preferable.

Criterias of choice

How to choose floor tiles? First of all, the choice depends on the type of room where it will be installed. So, it could be a bathroom, kitchen, living room, hallway. The finishing characteristics depend on the type of room. There are certain criteria for choosing floor tiles.

Structure

The construction market offers materials with a glossy, matte or embossed surface. It should be taken into account that tiles are very slippery, so you should not opt ​​for glossy products, even if they look very impressive. Glossy floors become hazardous if exposed to water. If you really like the shine, then it is better to use it where the humidity is lower.

Dimensions

How the room and interior will be visually perceived depends on the geometric characteristics. If you place large ceramics in a small room, it will visually shrink and it will be cramped. But a small mosaic will visually expand the space.

Large tiles are relevant in rooms whose area is more than seven square meters. For bathrooms and toilets, it is better to use smaller options.

Color spectrum

Floors, like walls, occupy a fairly large area. This means that the coating can significantly influence the process of shaping the interior of the room. Professional designers advise which floor tiles to choose to get a harmonious interior:

• Floors should be in harmony with other finishes, or contrast with them. White tiles on the floor in the corridor will allow you to dark room lighter and visually expand it. Color saturation depends on the brightness of the light.
• IN classic interiors tiles from natural stone. But the imitation will also look quite impressive.

Materials

It is believed that ceramics are an exceptionally cold floor. Therefore, it is not used for bedrooms and children's rooms. And this is true for stone and ceramic materials. But you can find special warm tiles on sale. This new product was developed in Japan. The structure of such a product contains a mass of air bubbles, which act as a barrier against cold without reducing the strength characteristics. Therefore, for those who do not know which floor tiles to choose, warm products are perfect option. The floor will be easy to use and will not give off cold.

Let us note one nuance. Among ordinary tiles, there are also warmer and cooler options. Thus, the stone is much cooler than ordinary ceramics. It is better to choose granite and porcelain tiles for corridors.

For those who don’t know which floor tiles are best to choose to keep it warm, stores can offer special vinyl trim. It is much warmer than regular tiles. But this is not classical ceramics. This is something like ordinary linoleum, but with a different composition and installation technology. The material can be easily adjusted to fit rooms of any size, elastic and warm. But it is not very durable. The service life is no more than 10 years.

There are also quartz vinyl tiles. It is harder than PVC materials, since it contains 80 percent quartz sand.

Marking

Any package containing tiles has special markings. They will help and advise you on how to choose floor tiles. Manufacturers have encrypted the entire necessary information. If a palm is drawn, then this is wall tile. If the foot, then, accordingly, for the floor. Snowflake means that the material is intended for use as an exterior finish.

Decorative characteristics

Often the tiles are decorated with various decorative elements. These can be inserts, patterns, relief stripes. It all looks very elegant, but only if it matches the area of ​​the room and the interior design.

For small rooms, you should not get carried away with a large number of such patterns. This noticeably hides the free space.

Manufacturers

Many people are sure that choosing the right floor tiles can only be done by foreign manufacturers. In fact, the stores offer many high-quality domestic products that have the same characteristics as imported ones. But its price is much lower.

If you make a choice without specific experience, it is best to trust trusted manufacturers:

• Almera Ceramics.
• "Cersanite".
• "Novabell"

Variety

For those who don’t know how to choose floor tiles, markings come to the rescue again. It must indicate the variety. The higher it is, the lower the quality. Low quality tiles may have dimensional errors. Various defects, deviations in thickness, unevenness in painting, chips.

Each variety has its own marking. The first is red, the second is blue, and the third is green. Regardless of which floor tiles you choose for the bathroom or any other premises, it is better to purchase tiles from the same batch. Why is that? Identical products from different batches may differ significantly in color, shades and even sizes.

Features of choice

Let's look at which floor tiles to choose for the bathroom. Ceramics for the bathroom must meet certain requirements. This is correct geometric shapes and strict compliance with sizes. The material must be intact without defects, the surface of the tile must be resistant to abrasion. Also important characteristic- resistance to temperature changes and moisture. In addition, bathroom tiles must withstand chemical cleaning agents and have an anti-slip effect.

For those who do not have the proper experience and do not know which floor tiles to choose for the bathroom by color, it is best to purchase a set of floor and wall tiles. The collections of modern manufacturers include various models. You just need to take into account the main design rules - it’s good to choose light colors for small rooms.

Kitchen

How to choose floor tiles for the kitchen? There are two options. These are porcelain tiles or traditional ceramics. You should not be afraid of porcelain stoneware - there have been no special substances in its composition for a long time.

Among the advantages of such tiles, it is worth noting a long service life and the ability to maintain excellent appearance for 15 years. The material is also highly durable, which is very important in the kitchen. Tiles are not easy to scratch. Doesn't stay on the surface greasy stains. This is also a big plus. Among the disadvantages is that porcelain tiles are cold and very slippery when exposed to moisture.

Ceramics have the same advantages and the same disadvantages as porcelain stoneware. But its price is noticeably lower. There are two types of ceramics - glazed and regular. The first models are distinguished by a more glossy surface, as well as increased hardness. This a good choice for kitchen. Here's how to choose floor tiles for your kitchen. When it comes to color and design, the existing kitchen interior needs to be taken into account.

How to choose the right color

The flooring, or rather its color, plays into the interior important role. It is not enough to simply choose high-quality ceramics or tiles - you need them to complement the existing interior. For different rooms Color requirements are different.

Experts will share tips on how to choose the color of floor tiles. White bathroom tiles are a classic that some people consider too boring. But white is the best for visual expansion space. Blue or green shades will create a cool and fresh atmosphere. More natural shades (beige, coffee) will bring a calming effect.

Turquoise, gold and red are used to accentuate certain points. Colors that are too bright will cause overexertion. Black color will narrow the space and have a depressing effect on the psyche. But if the room has good lighting, then a dark color can be effectively used in combination with white or coffee.

Here's how to choose ceramic floor tiles by color and shade. This is an important characteristic that should be taken into account when creating interiors for various rooms.

Grout colors

Grout also plays an important role in the design of a tile floor. She will complement color scheme floor. In the case of multi-colored ceramics, choose the darkest and most light color. Then everything is decided by size. If the tile is plain, then the shade is chosen according to functional purpose premises. To accentuate the furniture, choose grout to match the tiles. When using mosaics, take a shade that would contrast with the main tone. But you can also choose a neutral color.

Conclusion

So, we found out how to choose the grout color for floor tiles. Using these simple tips and recommendations, you can get beautiful and practical room. A glossy surface will look better than a matte one. But it is worth remembering that if water gets in, such tiles become very dangerous. It is better to use it only for walls.

I decided to write an article to help you with the question of how to choose floor tiles so as not to get screwed. There are a lot of articles on the Internet in which it is impossible to understand something, I tried it myself and it didn’t work. I don’t want to burden you with different terms, but I’ll tell you in a simple way.

Tiles on the floor are practical and beautiful. Moreover, I put practicality first for a reason. Never sacrifice practicality for beauty, but the opposite is possible.

Believe me, no matter how beautiful the tile is, over time the eye will become blurred and you will no longer notice its beauty. But if stains, scratches or other imperfections are clearly visible on the surface, this is infuriating and becomes more and more infuriating every day.

• do not take the cheapest tile - you will regret it later;
• do not buy tiles from a collection that is being taken out of production (from leftovers) - if you spoil a couple of tiles during installation or delivery, there will be no place to buy more;
• It is better to give preference to dark tones;
• I do not recommend using relief tiles or tiles with high porosity for the kitchen - they get very dirty and absorb dirt;
• don't take it to the bathroom glossy tiles- she's slippery. In general, there are a lot of problems with glossy. Scratches are visible on it, the gloss wears off over time, and bald spots appear;
• large tiles are only suitable for large premises. At the same time, you should not use too small one either, because... there will be a lot of seams;
• a flashy pattern on the tiles looks bad, the floor should not ripple;
• you need to be careful with the drawing, sometimes there are shoals that cannot be identified by eye (mismatch, incorrect geometry);
• use decors only on open areas, otherwise all efforts are down the drain.

Types of floor tiles

Conventionally, floor tiles can be divided into two camps:

• ceramic;
• stone.

What are seamless tiles?

Both camps have seamless tiles. Its ends are made in such a way that it forms a monolithic surface. When installing, the tiles are laid end-to-end, without gaps (seams).

The choice of material is a purely personal matter. For my kitchen and bathroom, I would take porcelain tiles - the best value for money. I would put clinker in the corridor. But at the same time, I would dream of marble or granite seamless tiles - but this is not just expensive, but very expensive.

Ceramic

Somehow it is customary to call only the most ceramic cheap tiles. And porcelain stoneware is like a different category of floor tiles. But based on the material used for production, then ceramic tiles are all that we see on store shelves “for people.” Therefore, I classify all tiles that are made from minerals as ceramic.

It is so diverse that if you tell everything, you will get a whole catalog - we don’t need that now. The shape can be square, rectangular (and the aspect ratio also varies greatly), irregular shape, rounded, designer (here, in general, you won’t find anything).

Among the most common ones I can highlight:

Porcelain tiles

It is made by pressing and single firing. The difference from simple, cheap ceramic tiles is that the firing temperature is higher, which means the tiles are stronger. Also, color is added to the powder from which the tiles are pressed. The cut shows that the main color seems to penetrate deep into the structure. Thanks to this, chips on the front surface are not so noticeable.

Porcelain tiles can be unglazed (polished, semi-polished, unpolished) and glazed. Polishing adds shine and makes the surface smoother. Glazing allows you to create a variety of patterns on the surface and makes it more resistant to abrasion.

Clinker

It is made by one of two methods: pressing or extrusion. Has a compacted base. It burns once, but at very high temperature. Covered with glaze, although optional. Very high degree of wear resistance.

Cotto

Made from red clay using the extrusion method. It is not enameled and often not covered with glaze. The color is close to the color of natural clay - shades of yellow, red and brown. After installation, it must be coated with moisture-repellent compounds. This could be wax mastic or some kind of hydrophobic agent.

Stone

Stone tiles are much more expensive than ceramic tiles, thicker (up to 3 cm) and more reliable. Not everyone can afford this. This flooring clearly indicates the high status of the home owner. The tiles look very cool, serve excellently, and there are no problems at all in operation. There are four types in total (see photo below).

Marble

Granite

Sandstone

From slate

Manufacturers and collections

Which manufacturer should you choose?

I’ll tell you this: “Don’t bother with any specific company - just decide on the country of origin.”
In Russia they don’t know how to make tiles, so I don’t recommend Russian tiles.

I give preference to the following producing countries:

• Spain;
• Italy;
• Germany;
• Portugal.

The price of good tiles will be 25-50 dollars/sq.m. For this money you will get quality, beautiful tiles with the correct geometry, but you don’t yet start overpaying for brands and show-offs.

Each manufacturing country has brands that produce their own collections, where tiles are combined in shape, size and color. When you see a stand with tiles in a store, this is a collection presented on one canvas.

The collection consists of five main elements:

• light backgrounds;
• dark backgrounds;
• decors;
• curbs;
• floor tiles.

At the same time, floor tiles are usually matte, and wall tiles are glossy. For one room, one light and dark background in combination with one type of decor is more than enough. I practically don’t use borders - they are inappropriate in small bathrooms, and large ones (for real) are rare.

Important Specifications

• intensity of operation;
• temperature and humidity operating conditions;
• presence/absence of exposure to chemicals.

Based on these requirements, choose tiles. Of all the parameters, I only pay attention to:

• porosity;
• wear resistance;
• hardness – not lower than seven points on the ten-point Mohs scale;
• slip resistance.

Porosity is one of the main indicators, because it affects other characteristics as well. Porosity refers to the amount of water the tile can absorb. Expressed as a percentage indicating the increase in weight of the tile after being immersed in water for two hours.

Porosity depends on the firing temperature. The higher the temperature, the lower the porosity and the smaller tiles absorbs moisture. As porosity decreases, frost resistance and bending strength increase. And unglazed tiles have increased resistance to wear and stains.

Wear resistance is assessed on a five-point scale:

• 1-2 degrees – for walls;
• 3rd degree – for floors with low traffic;
• 4-5 for any premises.

Slip resistance is measured by the coefficient of friction, the higher it is, the better. To increase the coefficient of friction, corundum coating is applied to tiles for dry rooms. For wet rooms, tiles with a ribbed structure are used.

Labeling on packaging

It is very important that the production date on the boxes of tiles matches. This will ensure that all tiles are from the same batch. In different batches, the tiles differ in size (2-3 mm), thickness (fractions of a millimeter, but still) and shade. Also on the box icons indicate all Technical information(see photo below).

How to choose grout

• for floor tiles, select grout “to match the color”, plus/minus a couple of tones;
• for wall tiles - “in color” or lighter.

If several tones are used for one surface, then the grout should be selected to match the lightest one.

Layout schemes for floor tiles

You need to try to ensure that the seams on the floor and wall do not match. Therefore, do not ask the master to combine the seams of the floor and wall tiles. You need to choose tiles based on basic principles its distribution by gender. Below I have described the basic layout of floor tiles.

Basic

The layout of the tiles must be done so that there are no chips in the corners. Here I distinguish three types.

Poor

The master starts from the corner, laying a whole tile there. Then he continues laying whole tiles, and cuts the last one (in the opposite corner) to size. This scheme is acceptable if the length of the cut is more than half of the whole tile. But practice has shown that it is better not to use it at all.

Village

The master counts the number of whole tiles in a row, and divides the cooled space into two trims, which he inserts in both corners. Allowed when you need to beat beautifully inspection hatch on the wall, not suitable for the floor.

Classical

The wizard calculates how many whole tiles will fit in one row. Then he crushes one tile and places everything that remains in the middle (so that the same distance remains to the corners). The result is two cuts at the corners, the width of which is more than half of the whole tile.

IMPORTANT!!! Floor tiles are distributed according to classic scheme on the visible part of the floor.

Diagonal

The diagonal can be not only 45 degrees, but also any other angle.

Chess

Use two colors in a basic or diagonal layout.

Scatter or bricks

It looks better if you use not a square one, but rectangular tiles. Laying according to a basic or diagonal pattern with a seam offset - the offset does not have to be half the size of the tile. I do not recommend using two colors, because... visually the floor will appear uneven (optical illusion).

Parquet

Suitable for clinker tiles similar to parquet. Looks beautiful if two colors are used.

Christmas tree

Double herringbone

Checkered

Carpet

Focusing on some part of the floor. That is, in addition to the background tiles, tiles of a different color, size, or laid differently are used. It looks like a carpet on the floor.

From multi-format tiles

When a square of one tile is replaced by a set of tiles of a different size. The alternation of solid and stacked squares looks best in a basic or diagonal layout.

Modular

From different tiles assembled module - square certain size. Then the entire floor is laid out from such modules. Imagine that one huge tile (module) consists of many smaller tiles, and the layout is carried out according to the basic layout. The main condition is that the sizes of the tiles used in the module are multiples. You also need to use a contrasting grout, because... if you use matching grout, the modules will be “lost.”

Combining tiles with other floor coverings

A threshold must be installed at the interface between tiles and other material. Where there are no curved lines, I use regular joining profiles. They are convenient because you can connect floors of different levels and the difference will look neat. But most often the connection line is curved, and in these places I recommend using a flexible metal joining profile.

The principle of arranging shades of floor and wall tiles

A successful arrangement of elements has already been invented. All that remains is to choose the colors. Therefore, there is no need to invent a bicycle, but simply follow the existing rules. Then everything will definitely turn out beautifully and harmoniously.

Preference for horizontal coloring

For example, a dark floor and the top of a wall, and a light train in the middle. As a rule, vertical lines look beautiful only in a project. When we fill a room with furniture and appliances, the integrity of the verticals is violated, and this beautiful effect is no longer there. Therefore, it is better to give preference to horizontal lines.

The floor should always be dark

A light-colored floor quickly gets dirty and even the smallest stains or chips are visible on it. During use, dirt is rubbed into the tiles. Because of this, light tiles lose their appearance in the first few years, while dark tiles remain vigorous for 10-15 years. In addition, for light-colored tiles you need to select a light-colored grout, which remains so for a very short time.

The bottom of the wall should be dark

Dark floor tiles should be adjacent to dark wall tiles. It looks beautiful and harmonious, because... they are from the same collection and are designed to “work” in tandem. Splash stains, which will undoubtedly appear when washing the floors, will be less visible on the wall. Plot dark wall above the bath should be at least 7 cm.

In the toilet, the dark row should be combined with the light one between the toilet and the water flush button built into the wall. In rare cases, it is permissible to raise a section of dark tile above the level of the drain button.

The row of tiles under the ceiling should be dark

It is laid out from the same tiles as the bottom row adjacent to the floor. In this case, the width of the top row should be 1-1.5 tiles, but not less. Maximum 2 rows - if the ceilings are high. This dark edging will be beautifully reflected in the white glossy stretch ceiling, complementing the reflection of the dark floor.

Best suited for bathrooms stretch ceiling white with a glossy effect. The ceiling should be as glossy as the wall tiles.

The central part of the wall is filled with light (not white) tiles

IN open places With uncut tiles, you can insert decor - but only with restraint, without fanaticism. In some collections, the decors are not particularly beautiful, but there is a way out - to use backgrounds instead of decors.

If you use decor, then the wall with doorway not decorated. If background tiles are used as decoration, then it is quite acceptable to use them on the wall with a doorway.

These techniques can be combined.

We'll probably end here. I briefly told you the basics so that you have an understanding of the types of tiles, their characteristics, installation methods and can correctly arrange shades in the interior of the bathroom. I repeat: “Don’t chase cheapness - it doesn’t bode well.”

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