How to choose porcelain tiles

Porcelain stoneware is a finishing material for the floor and walls, which appeared relatively recently. The country's ancestor of ceramic granite is Italy. And that is why it is precisely the Italian that are still the best trademarks of porcelain tiles. The coefficient of water absorption is distinguished from ordinary ceramic tiles, which is not more than 0.5%, as well as the appearance close to natural stone.

Advantages of porcelain tiles

In the manufacture of ceramic granite, selected natural material is used - clay, quartz, field spar. It is also painted only by natural natural oxides. In general, the process of manufacturing porcelain tile is comparable to the stages of the formation of natural stone. But only the formation of porcelain tile occurs much faster and is controlled. The material is exposed to high pressure and temperature, which give it all its wonderful properties.

Porcelain tile is serious competition for the natural stone. Its technical characteristics are at a much higher level, and outwardly it looks natural, but at the same time much more attractive than that of natural stones. Unlike ceramic tiles, the pattern of porcelain tile has no clear lines, it creates the impression of a random, chosen patterned pattern. But, when compared with a natural stone, then the differences between each tile from each other in porcelain tiles are not so pronounced. Another main advantage over the natural stone is the complete absence of the radiation background.

The most important technical quality of porcelain tile, which makes it the main competitor of ceramic tiles is a high density and the absence of a micropor. Ceramic tiles and natural stones have a large amount of pores that increase their water absorption coefficient, reduce resistance to frost and mechanical wear. Porcelain stoneware in these characteristics has the best indicators, which makes it indispensable finishing material in public places.

Types of porcelain

The main indicators of porcelain tile by which it is classified, in addition to purely technical indicators - the color of the drawing and the characteristic of the surface. The following types are distinguished by the figure:

• Salt pepper-such porcelain tile the price has the most liberal, since it is the simplest. It is characterized by a homogeneous color with small interspersed of black and light colors, which are located on the tile evenly.

• Monocolor - a product of the same color. In the manufacture, it is painted with pigments with salt of cobalt, chromium, zirconium and other metals.

• The coloring of natural stone is complex patterns that repeat the natural color of natural stones.

• Textile - no less complex patterns that repeat the color of various natural materials - skin, wood and so on. Demonstrates such an unusual porcelain tile photo below.

• Porcelain tiles with additional inclusions - in production, add smalt, natural marble or shell in small quantities to porcelain tiles.

On surface characteristics, the following types are distinguished:

1. Matte - material that is not subjected to processing. Visually, the lack of shine is observed, but such material has high hardness and low moisture absorption rates, which makes it suitable for use in the most severe conditions.
2. Polished - a mirror gloss of the material is visually observed. It has an aesthetic and attractive appearance, but is not suitable for operation in harsh conditions. In the process of polishing, the structure of a micropor changes, which makes porcelain tile sensitive to moisture and mechanical influences.
3. Grinded - visually has the same mirror shine as polished material, but at the same time even more demanding on operating conditions. When processing, coarser abrasive materials are used.
4. Satinated or slaughtered - a mirror shine is visually observed. The appearance is as attractive as the two previous varieties, but at the same time is not demanding on operating conditions. In the process of manufacturing, a layer of mineral salts is applied to the tile, and then it is burned. This gives the material shine, but does not violate the structure of pores.
5. Relief - material with an imperfect surface that has bumps and imitating chips of natural stone.
6. Glazed - material with a coating of special glaze. This technology has significantly expanded the design capabilities of ceramic granite. With the help of glaze, they give him any colors and textures. The disadvantage - the coating tends to wash, and therefore glazed porcelain tile is not suitable for public use.

These characteristics determine the aesthetic qualities of porcelain stoneware, as for important technical characteristics, this refers to abrasion, which is also called the wear resistance of the material. According to this indicator, porcelain border is divided into 5 classes:

1. PEI I and II - optimal material for rooms in which they move barefoot or in shoes with a soft sole, that is, a bath, toilet, bedroom.
2. PEI III - rooms that do not have a direct exit on the street, visited relatively rarely.
3. PEI IV - public use rooms with intensive movement.
4. PEI V - any intensity of movement and operating conditions.

Among the listed groups, the optimal choice for an ordinary living room is the third group, since this material has the best surface characteristics, the level of strength and porosity. In addition to this division, each tile class, regardless of the type of its surface and color, has a lot of indicators and characteristics that should be taken into account when choosing. But the basis is still this classification, from which it should be started initially.

How to choose porcelain tiles

To determine the optimal material, they are repelled from the first and most important factor - the nature of the room for which it is intended. The loads that are to withstand the material, as well as the type of surface are evaluated. For example, putting on the floor a very smooth coating is wrong and even dangerous, this is explained by the following reasons:

1. When getting wet, the floors become excessively slippery and the likelihood of domestic injuries increases.
2. With constant exposure to pollution, the material quickly loses its qualities. In summer, the dust and small stone particles contribute to this, in winter various sprinkles from ice from the street.
3. On polished material, any scratches are clearly visible, the appearance of which cannot be avoided on the floor.
4. Over time, from constant contact and friction, porcelain tiles will lose brilliance and gloss.

However, the corrugated surface for the floor is also not the best option, as it creates obstacles to movement and is poorly lend itself to the removal of spots from it. The best option for premises with an average level of visit is glazed porcelain tiles with voluminous patterns or matte coating.

For corridors and hallways, the movement in which takes place in street shoes, class IV and V tiles are suitable, which has a high indicator of resistance to washing. Porcelain stoneware for the floor of the bathroom must be selected taking into account the fact that in this room it will constantly contact with various chemicals. Shampoos, gels, creams, products for washing and cleaning are left on the coating spots, which sometimes turn out to be difficult to remove. Therefore, the tile in these rooms should have a structure with a small amount of pores, resistance to acids and bases. Public premises with a high indicator of visits require laying expensive material of the IV and V class, with a high indicator of resistance to mechanical influences and low temperatures.

Having decided on the necessary technical characteristics, the color and sizes of the presented porcelain boundary line are evaluated by the next step. Colors and textures are selected based on their own preferences and characteristics of the room. Designers recommend to buy porcelain stoneware for strict furniture of official style in plain colors of cold tones, and for upholstered and cozy home furniture, opt for warm colors and textures.

The sizes of porcelain tiles are standard and represented in different versions. Basically on the market there is a tile with a width of 20 to 60 cm square in shape. There are more or less products, but they are rarely used as a basis, more often they act as additional elements that focus on the entire composition and create a decorative effect. The size of the tile, like its color, is chosen based on the features of the room. Large tiles are not suitable for small rooms, since it will visually make the space even smaller. The optimal size for small rooms does not exceed 30x30 cm. There are no restrictions on choice in the rooms of a large area.

When choosing a size and buying tiles, it is also important to focus on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room. It is necessary to calculate the overall quadrature of the room, and then divide it into the proposed quadrature of one tile. Thus, the necessary piece amount of material is accurately calculated. Another plus of this method is the ability to change the solution and change the estimated size of one tile in a larger or lower side. The fact is that porcelain tile is quite difficult, because it is better to select it so that there are few cut parts. Smaller tiles will also help to avoid cutting, which will beautifully fit into the composition and facilitate the process of laying tiles.

Buying porcelain tiles, practical tips

When all technical indicators, configuration and color are selected, the next step is to go to the store. At this stage, it is important to know how to choose a really high -quality and good product, without overpaying extra money. Some practical advice on how professionals make the choice of material the choice of material will help.

• First of all, it is necessary to determine the category of goods - this tile or porcelain tile. External differences lie in the side cut, porcelain tiles have no differences between the pattern on the surface and on the cut. The usual tile is painted only on top, and therefore it has a different color on the cut.
• A simple means of determining the quality of the goods is to conduct a felt -tip pen with alcohol content or an ordinary marker on a polished surface. If in a few minutes the trace is easily erased, then this is a high quality product, if not, then low.

• Some experts advise to wet the tile and trace whether it will absorb moisture. However, this method is applicable only to ceramic tiles, since porcelain tiles do not absorb moisture at all. It is still worth testing the goods in this way to once again make sure that the proposed products are actually a porcelain tile.
• During the purchase, ask the seller about the weight of 1 m2 tiles. The optimal ratio of weight to tiles is 8-8.5 cm thick-18.5-19 kg. All relationships are indicated in the catalog, which is always available for sellers. If after the question of such a catalog was not proposed for familiarization, then it is worth doubting the quality of the goods offered and leave the store. Since the wrong ratio indicates violations of the technological process in the manufacture of porcelain tiles.

• The density and quality of porcelain tile is checked from its reverse side. It has small square depressions that should not be too deep. Their optimal depth is 1.5-2 cm. If this indicator is higher, then this product should also not be bought.
• Be sure to stand on each product the name of the company, and not just the country of the manufacturer. The proven brands that produce high -quality goods will not hide their name.
• The price of porcelain tile is mainly from its color and thickness. The most affordable price is ceramics from the group “Salt and Pepper”, as mentioned above. Therefore, you do not need to be afraid to buy such products, considering it not of high quality. Here the whole thing is only in the complexity of the technological process that gives the tile certain decorative characteristics.

Manufacturers of porcelain tiles

The market for decoration offers many trading grades of porcelain tile. Among them, there are not very famous names that offer quality goods, but there are those who have already managed to get a high rating according to consumer reviews. Among them, such names are distinguished:

• Fiorano, country manufacturer China.
• Estima, country manufacturer Russia.
• KERAMA MARAZZI, country manufacturer Italy.
• Sal sapiente, country manufacturer China.
• Grsaaro, country manufacturer Russia.
• Shakhty tile, country manufacturer Russia.
• Ural granite, country manufacturer Russia.
• Imola cramica, country manufacturer Italy.
• Floor Gres Ctramiche, country manufacturer Italy.
• Grasaro, country manufacturer Russia.

Each of these manufacturers offers different costs for its products, but in terms of price and quality ratio, they are one of the best brands. Italian production porcelain tiles are considered the highest quality, since it is this country that is the progenitor of this material. But Chinese and Russian production does not lag behind the Italian quality.