What types of floor tiles are there? Sizes of ceramic tiles: floor tiles for floors, floor tiles and for walls, what are the standards

Publication date: 03/23/2015

And currently, floor tiles are the most popular modern facing material. It is characterized by such properties as high strength, visual appeal and long term operation.

The construction market offers a wide range of floor tiles, having different colors, decorated with various patterns and ornaments, various shapes, textures and sizes, allowing it to be used for decoration different interiors, various styles.

In this article we will look at what ceramic floor tiles are, their types and varieties depending on the raw materials used in production.

Ceramic floor finish

Clinker tiles

Ceramic tiles, or tiles as they are also called, are produced by pressing and subsequent firing of inorganic materials (clay) and mineral additives. Depending on the production method, there are:

• Extruded ceramic, which is obtained by pulling a clay mass through a molding hole of a given shape and then firing and cutting it;
• Pressed ceramic is produced by pressing clay and fillers in a special form-forming matrix and then firing it using the autoclave method;

Depending on the type of coating, there are:

• Glazed, with a glassy glossy surface. During the production process, it is covered with colored glass, which gives shine, the desired color or pattern. Thanks to this coating, the tiles acquire increased strength and moisture resistance;
• Unglazed ceramic with a uniform structure. For getting required color The necessary coloring pigments are added to the clay mass. This type does not have decorative patterns;

Return to contents

Types for floor finishing

Cork floor tiles

Clinker: it is made by single firing of selected raw materials using the extrusion method. It has a dense and fine-grained structure that does not have voids or cavities.

Due to this, it has high mechanical strength, is resistant to abrasion, impact various factors and temperature changes.

Characteristic for clinker tiles the following types surfaces:

• Unprocessed;
• Semi-shiny;
• Enameled;
• Structural;

Clinker is used for finishing interior and exterior floors, for example, in the kitchen, bathrooms, corridors or hall. It can be used for flooring in swimming pools or other sports grounds, trading floors and various industrial premises.

Porcelain tiles are made by pressing from a fired mixture of kaolin clay and sand with the addition of special dyes.

It has a high degree of wear resistance due to the content of quartz and granite in the clay. The following types of its surface are distinguished:

• Matte;
• Polished or semi-polished;
• Relief, imitating natural stone;
• Anti-slip, with a pattern applied in the form of notches;
• Smalted;

Porcelain stoneware is used for covering floors in rooms with difficult operating conditions, for example, shock loads, ultraviolet radiation, internal stress, exposure to alkalis and acids, temperature changes.

Cotto (Sotto) is a ceramic floor tile, selected clay is used for its production. It is produced by extrusion with single firing, without covering with enamel. Cotto has a porous structure, a color range from red-pink to yellow-brown, has different geometric shapes and different sizes.

It is characterized by low water resistance, high wear resistance, resistance to various factors and durability.

Its surface can be ground or polished, rough or hand-processed. It is mainly used for interior decoration floors

Metlakh tiles

In order to reduce the coefficient of water absorption and improve its aesthetic and hygienic properties, you can rub the floors with wax mastic or special means.

Metlakh ceramic finishing is an unglazed tile made by pressing and single firing of refractory clay. Like porcelain stoneware, it has high strength and wear resistance, and the design does not wear out, due to the fact that its entire body is painted over with paint.

Metlakh ceramic tiles have a variety of designs, allowing you to create various bright patterns and compositions on the floor, having various geometric shapes and patterns.

Its surface can be smooth or corrugated, and also have a depressed pattern. It is used for internal or external flooring in rooms with high traffic intensity.

It can also be used to cover the floor in the kitchen, hallway, bathroom or corridor. Found widespread use metlakh tiles in the design and decoration of theaters, restaurants, palaces, shopping pavilions and train stations, due to its special decor.

They also highlight soft materials tiles, such as those made from vinyl or PVC, are polymer tiles that are a semi-rigid material made from binder resins and fillers.

They are characterized by high strength, durability and beauty. Mainly used to cover the floors of residential and public premises.

Depending on the shape, rectangular and shaped polymer are distinguished. Depending on the texture of the front surface, there are relief and smooth.

Depending on the type of raw materials, they are divided into polyvinyl chloride, rubber, phenolic and coumaron or coumaron-polyvinyl chloride.

Return to contents

Types of polymer materials

Porcelain tiles

Polyvinyl chloride is a tile that is made from amorphous polyvinyl chloride, talc or wood flour, plasticizers and fillers.

In its structure, it can be single-layer or multi-layer, with a smooth or embossed surface. It is used for covering floors in both residential and non-residential premises.

It does not have very high strength compared to other types and has poor resistance to fat and oils. Based on its wear resistance, water resistance and thermal insulation, it can be used for tiling floors in the bathroom, on a balcony or loggia, in the kitchen, if not exposed to aggressive external factors.

Phenolite is made by hot pressing phenolite, which consists of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer and a hardener; various fillers are added, for example, wood flour or kaolin.

To obtain phenolite tiles of various colors, coloring pigments are used. Due to the fact that this tile has high strength and heat resistance, it is used in rooms with an active chemical environment, for example in production workshops or laboratories.

Due to its high waterproofness and frost resistance, it can be used to cover floors in wet rooms and outdoors.

Vinyl tile is one of the most common types of soft tile. Currently, the use of vinyl tiles is replacing ceramic tiles. Floor laid out PVC tiles, is a multi-layer polymer-based tile covering.

Vinyl is a structure consisting of the following layers:

• The coating is polyurethane, which is treated with ultraviolet light. It is necessary to protect against various types mechanical damage, abrasion and exposure to sunlight;
• Transparent PVC layer;
• A printed layer with a pattern applied to it. The drawing is applied using the heliogravure method or screen printing, providing high quality, uniformity and clarity of the pattern;
• The main layer consisting of natural stone and plasticizer;
• Base and stabilizing bottom layer;

By appearance vinyl covering reminds wooden floors, cork is similar to leather, sea pebbles, sand or others. Modern 3D technology is used to apply decor; it allows the imitation of natural materials to be reproduced with the highest quality and clarity.

Clinker tiles d bynthmtht

The main advantages of vinyl cork over ceramic are as follows:

• Resistant to falling heavy objects, it does not break or crack;
• It is lighter and thinner in weight;
• The installation process is greatly simplified due to its flexibility and plasticity;
• When laid, a monolithic surface is formed that does not require grouting;
• The clicking sound of heels when walking is not heard throughout the room;
• Safety during operation, as it does not slip;

Currently, a new and promising floor covering has appeared on the market for cladding materials - cork floor tiles. The bark of the cork oak tree is used to make it.

Floor cork has an elastic cellular structure, due to which the coatings have good elasticity, are warm and environmentally friendly. Its surface can be of the following types:

• Decorative cork;
• Lacquered decorative plug;
• Vinyl transparencies, applied to a decorative cork;
• A layer of decorative veneer made from valuable wood with a transparent coating;
• Unvarnished natural cork that needs to be covered polyurethane varnish only after installation;

The cork has a thickness of three to eight millimeters. Tiles are produced in the following sizes: rectangular 450 by 150, 600 by 300 mm and others, square 300 by 300, 450 by 450 mm and others.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that it is fixed with special glue or self-adhesive film, due to which the pace of installation is accelerated.

Cork coatings have the following advantages:

• High heat and sound insulation properties;
• Water resistance, not subject to burning, rotting;
• It is not damaged by microorganisms, beetles, rodents, they do not eat it;

Cork tiles also have disadvantages:

• Expensive, on average one square meter costs about seven hundred rubles;
• Mechanical damage from heavy furniture remains;
• Abrasion of the protective layer of cork in areas with heavy traffic, for example in corridors or in the kitchen;

Every year the list of finishing materials increases, and making a choice becomes more and more difficult. Due to the modernization of production, floor tiles are experiencing their rebirth and are a powerful competitor to other types of floor coverings.

Most people first buy tiles, and then think about how to place them on the floor so as not to spoil the appearance. That’s why situations happen when, with a toilet 1 meter wide, they try to fit 2 40 cm tiles and end up with a 10 cm cut at the edges, or even worse - leave 20 cm on one side. Although it was possible to put 2 rows of tiles in the same place 50 cm or 3 rows of 33 cm and get rid of undercuts. Once I came across a design project where there were 33x85 cm tiles on the floor. It is unclear where the designer got this size of floor tiles, because it does not exist in nature.

In this article I will list standard sizes floor tiles to make it easier for you to design projects.

Because of technological features production, actual size may differ by 3-7 mm from indicated. That is, a 30x30 floor tile can actually have a size of 29.7x29.7 cm or 30.3x30.3 cm. It’s not worth calculating everything down to the millimeter before purchasing. Even in the same package, the sizes can be different, and this is especially common.

Floor tiles can be divided into 2 categories - regular ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles. In essence, these are the same thing, but porcelain stoneware is stronger due to a different production technology: it is pressed under high pressure and fired at high temperatures.

Porcelain stoneware can withstand heavy loads, so it is used more often than tiles for flooring. But in small rooms with low load (toilet, bathroom) you can also lay regular tiles.

Quick navigation through the article

Floor tile sizes

Floor tiles usually have square shape. The side of this square is greater than the height of the main wall tile from the collection, but less than its length. Sometimes the diagonal of the square is equal to the length of the main tile.

The most popular floor sizes ceramic tiles:

• 10x10 cm
• 10x20 cm
• 15x15 cm
• 20x20 cm
• 30x30 cm

Porcelain tile sizes

Porcelain tiles are produced in large quantities formats. The most popular sizes: 30x30, 33x33, 45x45, 50x50 and 60x60 cm. Rectangular tiles are usually cut from a large square one, so 50x50 cm makes 25x50 or 12.5x50 cm, and 33x33 cm - 16.5x33 and 16.5x16.5 cm. Using waterjet cutting you can even get a mosaic of porcelain stoneware.

Common sizes of porcelain tiles:

• 16.5x16.5
• 20x20
• 25x50
• 25x150
• 30x30
• 30x60
• 30x120
• 32x32
• 33.3x33.3
• 40x40
• 40x60
• 41x41
• 42x42
• 45x45
• 45x90
• 50x50
• 50x100
• 60x60
• 60x120
• 75x75
• 75x150
• 100x100
• 120x120
• 150x150
• 150x300

Video about the sizes of porcelain tiles:

Wood effect tiles

So that wood-effect tiles imitate as much as possible floorboard, parquet or laminate, it must be produced in a long, elongated format. Such dimensions make it fragile, so the main part of wood-look tiles is porcelain stoneware.

Thin and long porcelain tiles are expensive to manufacture, so at first almost all factories produced wood-effect tiles in standard square formats: 30x30, 45x45, 50x50 cm. Later they began to produce thin, but short, relative to natural boards, porcelain tiles, which look more like parquet.

Its main dimensions:

• 15x45
• 12x60
• 15x60
• 19x60
• 20x60
• 14x66
• 15x66

But in Lately Many thin types have appeared that are almost indistinguishable from floor boards in texture and size:

• 11x45
• 13x80
• 20x80
• 11x90
• 15x90
• 22.5x90
• 16x99
• 25x100
• 14x120
• 19x120
• 25x150

You can expect even longer formats to appear soon.

Thickness

Why you should not lay tiles on a thick layer of adhesive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXP61OQDRU

Correct layout of tiles of any size

And now I will tell you how you can lay out the tiles on the floor as if they were made specifically for the size of the room.

Let's say we have a bathroom 180x130 cm and floor tiles 30x30 cm.

But if we start laying from the center, aligning the center of the tile with the center line of the room in width, then along the edges we will get 2 beautiful identical cuttings of 20 cm each. In any case, they will have a width of more than half the tile (regardless of the tile format and the thickness of the joints).

1. Divide the length of the wall by the length of 1 tile. Subtract 1 and round down.

   (130 / 30) - 1 = 3.3 = 3 whole tiles.

2. We multiply the resulting number by the length of the tile. We get the length of the cladding without trimming.

   3 * 30 = 90 cm without trimming.

3. Subtract the length of the cladding without trimming from the length of the wall and divide by 2.

   (130 - 90) / 2 = 20 cm each trim.

Now a few notes:

• If the bathroom has a shower stall, the tiles are evenly distributed between the two walls.
• If there is a bathroom in the room, then you need to distribute the tiles along the segment from the wall to the bathroom screen. It doesn’t matter to you what the cutting width is under the bathroom - no one will see it there.
• If the bathroom has complex shape, always give priority to the most visible areas. That is, you can start laying whole tiles from the threshold, and make trims of any size at the opposite wall under the furniture.
• Select the dimensions of the plasterboard box to match the dimensions of the tiles to avoid unnecessary trimming. If you can make the box 5 cm wider and lay all the tiles without cutting, do not spare them.
• If the box results in L-shaped narrow cuts of tiles around it, slightly shift the layout relative to the center. No one will notice if you opposite walls the tiles will differ by 2-3 cm, but around the box it will be clearly visible.

Conclusion

The size of the tile is not the main thing; first of all, you should like it. Therefore, it is better to first choose the collection you like, and then choose optimal size. Some collections have several floor tile options.

There is an incredible range of flooring products available in the finishing market. This category has a number of specific characteristics.

Material differences

If you compare floor tiles with regular tiles, it is worth noting that their thickness is somewhat greater. The advantages are the characteristics of wear resistance and strength.

Since most often you need to choose floor tiles for the hallway and kitchen, it is worth considering one more criterion. We are talking about dimensions. In addition to greater thickness, it is necessary to take into account the width and length of the elements. Mainly when standard kitchen use medium sized squares. But for narrow corridor this option will not work. In other words, take into account the area available for finishing and choose the optimal ratio of cladding sizes.

Porcelain tiles - durable coating

Main selection criteria

To choose the right floor tiles for your kitchen or hallway, consider the basic criteria and then make a decision. These include visual and technical performance characteristics. If everything is more or less clear with the first, the second needs to be analyzed.

One of the most important indicators is the strength of the material. For example, in the kitchen you dropped cutlery. A low-quality coating may not withstand impact - it will remain cracked and chipped. Find out the wear resistance class. The coating must resist abrasion, fine mechanical damage, fading and other negative factors.

There are 5 wear resistance classes:

1. Vulnerable category, suitable for rare use and walking without shoes;
2. Applicable in non-residential premises private houses;
3. Suitable for frequently used rooms;
4. This is a category of tiles for public areas;
5. Abrasion-resistant, used in production.

Correspondence of wear resistance class to the type of premises

In addition, when purchasing floor coverings, pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Moisture resistance . For rooms such as the bathroom, kitchen and hallway, be sure to select a material that does not allow water to pass through and does not collapse under the influence of changes in humidity.
• Frost resistance . Relevant in private homes. Floors can freeze, so it is better to choose a product with a higher frost resistance category.
• Porosity . Prefer dense tiles.
• Hardness . Affects tactile sensations, noise absorption and reduces the risk of breaking dishes when dropped.
• Thickness . When installing the covering, part of the height is hidden. Take this into account when deriving the threshold level.
• Additional features . For example, installing heated floors. Not all coatings allow this.

Materials

When deciding which tile to choose for the floor in the kitchen or hallway, consider everything possible coatings, as well as their distinctive characteristics. The following categories are distinguished:

• Ceramics. Suitable for the kitchen, but for rooms with more intense traffic it is better to find a different coating. Made from clay raw materials. Based on strength, it is divided into classes. The thinner and more porous, the lower its performance qualities.
• Porcelain tiles. This is one of the most durable facing materials. It is distinguished by hardness and density. Porosity is reduced to zero, so it is waterproof, frost-resistant and fireproof. The secret of its origin lies in the addition granite chips to ceramic charge and baking technology. The design is distinguished by its realism and the ability to imitate natural materials with precision.
• Stone. Granite and marble are used here due to their durability and decorative properties. But the cost of covering with real stone is high, so this material remains the privilege of wealthy people. Instead, choose an artificial porcelain tile coating of similar texture.
• Concrete. The mixture is based on cement and sand. Used to create street paths and platforms. The quality of the product depends on the specific composition of the mass and the manufacturing method: casting or pressing.
• PVC. This tile is used to cover the floor of the corridor. It is distinguished by its thinness and softness. Laying requires careful leveling of the surface. Flexible coating resists impact and abrasion.
• Cork. Non-standard floor covering option. This natural material, although today its artificial substitutes are also sold. Muffles sounds and retains heat. During intensive use, the coating may become deformed. Not suitable for rooms with high humidity.

Types of tiles depending on the material of manufacture

Design

For the kitchen, a light floor would be a reasonable solution. Blurred textures and ripples are popular. On such a surface, dirt and splashes of water are less noticeable. Or choose a shade to match the set, apron, or countertop.

Ceramic tiles are a fairly popular material and, most importantly, time-tested. Diversity color ranges and textures in specialized stores are pleasantly pleasing to the eye and at the same time make it very difficult to choose. This article will help you understand not only external signs tiles, but also with the main parameters and characteristics.

Definition of the concept

Tile is most often understood as finishing material of a certain, mostly small size. This immediately implies an important advantage of tiles - convenience in finishing surfaces of non-standard formats. These can be “tricky” corners, rounded walls, columns and other types of original construction solutions. How smaller size products, the easier it is to complete a complex transition. Mosaic tiles, for example, may be more time-consuming, but they allow you to finish the most complex figured surfaces without losing out on decorativeness.

Variety of species

The most common tile we have is ceramic. What is thermally treated clay? And since clay varies in composition, and firing processes are regulated within wide limits, ceramic tiles have a wide variety. Types of ceramic tiles can be classified. It is worth considering that tile is one of the materials where, along with physical and chemical characteristics and parameters, there are external decorative features. It often happens that when purchasing, it is the latter that have a decisive influence on the choice. Therefore, the classification will first be based on external indicators. So, the types of tiles are as follows:

• glazed;
• with a non-uniform surface (rustic);
• porous;
• without processing.

The difference is heat treatment defines the following two options. Double-fired tiles are produced by sequential firing of the ceramic base first, and then together with the applied glaze. This one is more old way allows you to obtain a porous structure. The new kind- single fired ceramic tiles. To ensure high quality material, clay mixture dried and pressed in a special way. This is followed by glazing processes and only then, in one go, is the tile fired.

Dimensions

What sizes are there? It is known that for wall options There are their own lines of shapes and sizes, and for floor ones there are others. For example, if for a floor such dimensions as 30x30, 45x45 cm are natural, then for wall slabs the size range can start from 5x5 and 10x10 cm. In this case, standard types of ceramic tiles will be 15x20, 20x20 and 20x25 cm. The larger the size of the material, the a larger surface area can be covered in the same time. Among the disadvantages, it is worth considering the increased requirements for the area where the tiles are applied, and for especially large sizes (60x120 cm) - special tools.

Important parameters

In order to make the choice of tiles for wall cladding or flooring more informed, you need to know as many facts as possible about the material. What parameters should be taken into account when selecting? Let's consider sequentially the most important characteristics:

Strength. It sounds trivial, but the higher the strength, the longer the selected material will last.

Wear resistance. The tile can be very durable, but if it quickly loses its decorative effect, you will still want to change it. This is especially true for floor or sidewalk coverings.

Elasticity. Important parameter concerning floor surfaces. More elastic tiles are able to recover from deforming effects. Rigid, on the contrary, does not bend at all and can withstand significant loads.

Porosity. Should be taken into account when designing swimming pools, bathrooms and showers. Porous ceramic tiles are less slippery as they absorb some of the moisture.

Thermal conductivity. Ceramic material Conducts heat quite well. The tile heats up quickly, however, it cools down just as quickly. Therefore, it is successfully used in conjunction with warm floors.

Variety of ceramic tiles

Tiles made from ceramics have all the qualities necessary for finishing coatings. Ceramic tiles, characteristics, types and any other information about which are now publicly available, are the most popular. To begin with, depending on the application, floor and wall tiles are distinguished. IN separate group it is worth including ceramics for bathrooms where there is high humidity. Such tiles must have increased resistance to moisture and steam and withstand temperature fluctuations. For material coated with decorative glaze, wear resistance is also important.

For flooring, the most important parameters are strength, flexibility, wear resistance and non-slip properties. When cleaning floors, aggressive agents are often used. chemical compositions. Therefore, ceramic tiles must have maximum resistance to them. experiences less stress, decorativeness and quality of coating are more important here. Wall tiles It should also be easy to wash and retain its original appearance.

Differences in production are the key to diversity

Based on production methods, the following types of tiles can be distinguished:

• Porcelain granite is the most durable tile of all the others in the family. This material is even stronger than granite. Thanks to the complex technological process produced has properties such as frost resistance, low water absorption, and a large margin of abrasion resistance;
• Bicottura, as the name suggests, is double fired, making it quite porous. Suitable for covering dry surfaces. Thanks to the coating, both glossy and matte, it has a beautiful appearance;
• pressed, or extruded, is obtained by shaping it from powder under pressure. It is possible to produce all shapes and sizes;
• clinker has high density, although the composition is quite heterogeneous and includes various types of clay and additives;
• faience is a material formed by double firing of dense, most often white clay and covered with a layer of glaze.

These types of tiles, photos of which are in the text, are the most popular.

Advantages of ceramic tiles

If you still have doubts about whether to use ceramics for cladding, consider some of the positive aspects of the material:

1. A combination of a huge variety of colors, textures and shapes with a large margin of strength and density. The production of ceramic tiles allows us to obtain a high-quality material that is even stronger than granite. And the ability to mix different varieties clays and the use of a variety of glazes give an incredible number of types.

2. Inert qualities of the material to chemicals, which allows you to wash the tiles using any means.

3. Eco-friendly composition. Ceramics itself is completely natural material. Therefore, tiles made from it do not harm the environment and human health.

4. Fire safety. Despite the high thermal conductivity of the material, the tiles, when heated, do not burn or even smolder.

5. Electricity insulator. Ceramic tiles do not conduct electricity.

Paving slabs and their features

To cover street surfaces, so-called paving slabs are used. If fine decorative ceramics were sufficient for facing rooms, then open spaces dictate completely different conditions. First of all, it is thickness. That is why the name “paving stones” came from the word “timber”. In fact, these are small bricks that can withstand heavy loads. After all, even a truck can easily drive on the sidewalks.

The large number of types of paving stones is due to the variety of shapes and sizes and production methods. What types paving slabs can you highlight? Available in sizes:

1. Rectangular, which, in turn, is divided:

• to large-size, for example 300x300, 400x400 or even 500x500 mm;
• small-sized with dimensions less than 250x250 mm.

2. Indefinite shape.

The second option is especially popular for designing pedestrian paths in the park, as well as on personal plots. Thanks to the special shape, any design solution can be implemented.

According to the production method, the types and sizes of which are varied, it can be obtained by vibration casting or vibration pressing. The first method allows you to obtain more diverse shapes, but is less durable. Vibropressing, on the contrary, produces very high-quality and durable paving stones.

Types of facing tiles

By facing tiles we mean a variety of materials made in certain geometric dimensions and intended for covering surfaces. Moreover, the use of tiles is not limited to indoors; they are widely used outdoors. Building facades, various fences, architectural monuments - in principle, there are no restrictions for cladding.

Types of facing tiles are very diverse. And the most common and popular option would be the ceramics discussed above. For facades, it is, first of all, the most durable and non-porous, and of any size. You can tile it with both small mosaic tiles and large squares with dimensions of 500x500 mm.

Other tile options

Ceramic tiles, being the most popular, sometimes give way leadership positions other materials. This applies to some types of plastic, rubber, cork, glass and even natural stone. Let's take a closer look at what types of tiles there are besides ceramic:

Quartz-vinyl. It is a material consisting of more than half quartz, and the rest is vinyl. Plasticizing additives, stabilizers and coloring agents are also present. Such tiles have a whole set of advantages: they do not conduct electricity and heat, are easy to clean by any means and are quite plastic with good strength.

Plastic. This includes tiles made of polyvinyl chloride and expanded polystyrene. The main advantage of the material is that it is lightweight, flexible and easy to clean.

Rubber. It is mainly used for covering floors in residential and office premises. Has good friction resistance, soft and comfortable to walk on.

Cork. Not the most common, but it is the most heat and sound insulating.

Glass. The properties are close to quartz and ceramic - just as durable and waterproof. It is made from waste glass and is quite economical.

Conclusion

As it turns out, modern facing materials have a wide variety of species. Having determined a specific location for yourself, it is quite easy to select the optimal types of tiles with the necessary parameters. Difficulty can arise only in external data, because no one has canceled the existence of a difference in tastes. So have fun choosing!

Floor tiles compare favorably with roll materials. Firstly, it allows you to create on the floor various options laying, secondly, damaged areas of the floor can be easily replaced and, thirdly, during the installation process there is practically no waste material left. In addition, tiles can easily be used to cover a raised floor that hides communications. Unlike rolled materials, this will not make access to inspection hatches difficult.

Features of tile covering

All tile materials classified according to several criteria:

1. By type of raw material. Floor manufacturers make tiles from the following types of raw materials:
   • phenolite and polyvinyl chloride;
   • rubber and synthetic;
   • polymer cement and colloxylin;
   • coumaron and polymer concrete.
2. By structure. There are models with one or several layers that come either with a base (fabric, rubber) or without it;
3. For aesthetic reasons. Tiles can have not only rectangular and square, but also shaped shapes. They also vary in color, size and texture. Floor modern tiles may have a glossy or rough surface, be made with embossing or pronounced relief.

You can learn more about the differences and classifications of tile coverings from the video.

Characteristics of tile coatings

All types of floor tiles must have certain physical and mechanical properties that would ensure wear resistance of the coating during operation. Today, the basic requirements for ceramic products are determined by GOST 6787-2001. In accordance with the main provisions of this document, special attention when choosing a model should be paid not only to the aesthetic, but also to the technical side of the issue.

What properties should a high-quality coating have?

• Wear resistance. Tiles made from any type of raw material have a certain wear resistance class, the choice of which is largely determined by the intensity of use of the floor. The greater the traffic in the room, the higher the coating class should be;
• Frost resistance. A mandatory criterion that should be taken into account when it is necessary to lay floors in rooms with low temperatures. It shows the critical temperature at which the material will begin to crack;
• Hypoallergenic. Some types of raw materials contain volatile chemicals that may be harmful to health. They cannot be used in residential premises, but due to their good technical performance, they are used in manufacturing enterprises;
• Fire resistance. In rooms with a high risk of fire, it is necessary to take into account the temperature and time of exposure to fire at which the floor can catch fire;
• Moisture resistance. This indicator is taken into account when laying floors in rooms with a special microclimate. The raw materials should not only be waterproof, it is desirable that they contain components that would prevent the development of microbes and mold;
• Resistance to mechanical and chemical influences. This point is especially important when using tiles in enterprises where the floor is exposed to chemically active substances, as well as intense mechanical influence;
• Friction coefficient. Some types of materials have a fairly smooth and slippery surface. The degree of sliding is determined by 4 main categories, which indicate the level of safety of moving on the surface.

Main types of tile coverings

As already mentioned, floor tiles can be represented not only by ceramic models. Today there are many types of natural and synthetic materials, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, the main types of coatings include:

• Carpet and cork;
• Metal and quartz vinyl;
• Ceramic and stone;
• Rubber and polyvinyl chloride.

Some of the types of flooring listed are used exclusively for commercial purposes, while others can be used in residential areas. To understand the advantages and disadvantages of each model, we will consider the features of all materials.

Traditionally used for finishing surfaces in “damp” rooms. facing tiles for ceramic floors. This is due to the good physical and mechanical properties of the material, as well as its aesthetic appeal. Based on the manufacturing method, there are two main types of ceramic products:

• Extrusion. Produced from clay raw materials by pressing the liquid mass through an extrusion head;
• Pressed. The tiles are made from a mixture that is molded using a press under very high pressure.

Depending on the method of processing the semi-finished material, the floor covering can be glossy or rough, with or without an enameled layer. The advantages of ceramic flooring include:

• Low level of water absorption;
• Chemical resistance;
• High level of wear resistance;
• Resistance to high temperatures;
• Long service period (at least 20 years).

If it is necessary to lay coatings at production plants, preference is given to models with a very dense base and low porosity. They have best performance wear resistance, however, they are more expensive. Among ordinary consumers, Gres floor tiles are in greatest demand.

The tiles from this manufacturer are created using a special technology in which kaolinite is added to the clay mass. Thanks to this, the coating is very durable and has its own technical parameters it is not inferior even to granite. A distinctive feature of the material is its high frost resistance and moisture resistance.

Polyvinyl chloride tiles

Floor tiles made from PVC materials are one of the most budget options floor. In fact, this is ordinary linoleum, which is made in the form of slabs. They can come with or without adhesive. The coating consists of several layers, which provides it with a fairly high level of wear resistance.

Material can be laid not only on concrete screed, but also on plywood or old linoleum. The advantages of PVC plates include:

• Possibility of installation on any type of base;
• high moisture resistance;
• no shrinkage during operation.

However, synthetic flooring also has several noticeable disadvantages compared to ceramics:

• short service period (no more than 10-12 years);
• “fear” of high temperatures;
• instability to some types of chemicals (acetone).

Depending on the conditions of use, there are several classes of PVC tile coating:

• 21-23. Used in residential premises with low traffic;
• 31-33. Can be used not only in residential premises, but also in public buildings;
• 41-43. Suitable for warehouse and production facilities with high level cross-country ability.

Vinyl and quartz vinyl tiles

Vinyl tile is a multi-layer synthetic material, which has good aesthetic characteristics, as well as wear resistance and moisture resistance. As the name already suggests, the material contains vinyl, which provides the floor with good specifications.

As a variety, quartz vinyl coating is also distinguished. It costs slightly less than vinyl flooring, which is due to the addition of an inexpensive filler - sand - to the coating composition. The tile consists of several layers, the main of which include:

• Protective – represented by a wear-resistant polyurethane film;
• The main one is made of vinyl;
• Decorative – contains a drawing;
• The lower one can be made of polymer or fabric.

Basic quartz vinyl coating:

• moisture resistance;
• good shock absorption;
• neutrality to the effects of chemical reagents;
• anti-slip properties;

In addition, vinyl floor tiles are simply ideal for heated floors, due to the good heat transfer of the material.

Metal tiles

Modern technologies have made it possible to produce floor coverings not only from traditional types raw materials, but even from metal. Thanks to a special polymer film, the floor does not oxidize upon contact with water. Due to this, the technical characteristics of the tiles are significantly improved.

Of course, metal models are most often used in manufacturing plants, due to intense loads on the coating. Concrete surface, reinforced with such tiles, becomes practically “unkillable”. In addition, it has increased heat resistance, unlike synthetic raw materials.

To the main advantages metal products include:

• wear resistance;
• fire safety;
• impact resistance;
• durability.

In private homes metal coatings are extremely rare, since the metal surface is quite cold. That is why it is most often installed in a heated floor system.

Stone tiles

For the manufacture of tile coverings, artificial or real granite or marble is used. Both types of material have high wear resistance and at the same time have excellent decorative qualities. The photo shows floors made of clinker tiles.

The advantages of gender include:

• long service period (at least 25 years);
• frost resistance;
• aesthetics;
• fire safety.

Whatever type of tile covering you choose, you must first consider technical qualities models. For example, hygroscopic materials should never be used in damp rooms, while others are afraid of frost or are subject to large linear expansion due to temperature changes.

The convenient “format” of the tile covering allows it to be used in any type of room, as evidenced by reviews from ordinary consumers:

• I didn’t want to put regular tiles in the bathroom, and imagine my surprise when I saw vinyl tiles. Firstly, it costs less than the traditional one, and secondly, it is easier to install. I've been using it for two years now and don't have any complaints. Of course, in some places it has faded a little, but, in principle, the floor looks nice;
• A year ago I laid cork tiles in the dining room. It turned out very well, in my opinion. If some of the squares lag behind or become damaged, replacing them is generally not difficult;
• It had been necessary to change the floor in the kitchen for a long time, but there was not enough money for tiles. Then my wife and I decided to install PVC boards at our own risk. Pah-pah, but for three years now nothing has come unstuck anywhere.

Overview of tile manufacturers

When choosing tiles for floors, it is very important to pay attention to the manufacturer. It is not always possible to determine the quality of a material by appearance, but good reputation manufacturer - this is already at least 60% success.

Return