How to choose a ceramic tile for the bathroom?
One of the oldest materials used indecoration of premises, - ceramic tiles. Which one to choose, so that it not only fit into the design of the premises, but also meet the operational requirements?
Multiple Selection Rules
Ceramic tiles - beautiful and modernmaterial that fully meets the requirements of environmental norms and standards. It remains resistant to any external influences - does not burn out, does not emit toxins, does not conduct current, does not get wet. This is achieved by roasting under the influence of high temperatures, due to which the tile has a glassy structure. Due to this, it remains resistant to deformations and bends. For all the simplicity of the material, it is important to know at least a little about how to choose a ceramic tile. Do this right, and the first rule is attention to the packaging - it gives you the opportunity to learn about the material is enough information, for example:
- For floor or walls. The floor tile is marked with a picture of the foot on a black background, the wall tile is painted with a brush.
- Wear resistance. It is marked with I to V digits on the PEI scale, but this parameter is important mainly for floor tiles.
- Water absorption. This factor is directly related to the porosity of the material. The lower the water absorption, the more resistant to external influences such as temperature changes, frost, there will be a tile.
- Resistance to chemical attack. It is labeled with letters A through D. AA sign says that when exposed to aggressive substances on the surface there will be no visible effects. The D icon indicates that when these same factors occur, a complete loss of the primary surface may occur.
If the packaging is marked AIII or BIII, then the finishing material can only be used for interior work.
What is the choice of ceramic tiles?
Classification of types of tiles is conducted in accordance with several parameters:
- Type of clay mixture. The material can be based on different types of clay- Red, white. The composition depends on what will be the technical features of the final product in the form of porosity, consistency of geometric dimensions, color rendition of dyes.
- Molding. Tiles are created by either pressing or extruding. The first is issued with the marking B, the second - A.
- Presence of glaze. The material can be glazed and unglazed.
- The form. Modern tiles are available in square, rectangular, complex shapes, so it is often very, very difficult to decide how to choose ceramic tiles.
- Appointment. Tiles can be used for finishing floors, walls, borders, facades, swimming pools, and can be universal and suitable for all surfaces.
Given these factors, you can choose the finishing material for the specific parameters of the room.
Production technologies
How to choose the right ceramic tile? In this issue, a variety of factors play a role, but we decided to talk separately about the main technologies by which this material is produced. They also affect the performance of the final product:
- Double Burning. It involves the pressing of a clay mixture,which is fired and processed by glaze, then fired again. As a consequence, the surface is porous, but with low strength. Matt and glossy surfaces are suitable for wall finishing. This technology produces such types of tiles as majolica and cotto.
- Unicorn. This technology produces tiles with an enamel surface by pressing. Both base and enamel are simultaneously exposed to firing.
- Clinker. This type of tile is created with additives in the formcoloring oxides and annealed clay. The material is obtained with a dense structure, resistant to moisture, easy to maintain. The production is extruded, so it is possible to create tiles of complex geometric shapes.
- Cotto. This tile is not enamelled, so the porous structure can be both traditional and non-standard. Surfaces are resistant to external influences.
- Ceramic granite. This type of tile involves pressing the mixtureunder high pressure, its drying and roasting under high temperature. The result is a vitrified monolith with a non-porous structure and a full-depth pattern.
Apparently, there are many varieties of material. How to choose a ceramic tile so that it meets all the requirements? We offer several rules for selecting the finishing material for the design of the kitchen and bathroom.
We select options for the kitchen
Ceramic tiles are most often used forfinishing facilities such as kitchen and bathroom. And an important parameter of choice is not so much aesthetics as the resistance of the coating to external influences. Before choosing a ceramic tile, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the main points that should be paid attention:
- kitchen - a premise with a high level of humidity, therefore the surface should be resistant to changes in temperature and high humidity, splashes of fat and aggressive chemicals;
- preservation of heat - ceramic tiles poorly retain heat, so you need to think over the system of the warm floor;
- degree of slipperiness - the tiles have a smooth surface, so walking around it is safer in your home shoes.
Given these parameters, you can choose a cover that will transform the kitchen space, create an interesting interior in it and prevent possible negative consequences of the exploitation of the material.
Floor tiles in the kitchen: how to choose?
Before choosing a floor ceramictile, you need to determine its size. Even with the same color and surface design, the material can be produced in different sizes. Of course, large tiles look presentable and stylish, but not always kitchens have optimal parameters for their styling. For a small space, it is advisable to choose a finishing material having a small size: 20 × 20 cm, 25 × 25 cm, 10 × 10 cm. When selecting, several important recommendations should be considered:
- Under a small floor area, it is better to choose small-format ceramics, otherwise a material trimming will be required when laying, which will lead to a large amount of waste.
- Small tiles are easy to fit into the kitchen space of a small area.
- Large-sized ceramics visually increase the space of the kitchen.
How to choose a ceramic floor tile ifdo you want non-standard solutions? Pay attention to the ceramics of a rectangular shape - it looks impressive due to imitation of brickwork or wooden parquet. Such materials are ideal for modeling space and giving narrow or long kitchens proportionality. To make the premises original, you can choose a tile of unusual shape - multifaceted, rounded, undulating, diamond-shaped.
Color scheme for the kitchen
Choose a ceramic tile for the kitchen quitesimply, because modern manufacturers offer a huge variety of color and textural solutions. As for the selection of colors, you need to consider the gamut in which the whole interior is designed:
- under the prevailing white color of the room is suitable tiles of any color;
- on the background of a green interior, the tile of yellow, light brown, coffee color looks beautiful;
- under the blue color, select white ceramics with blue inserts, monophonic in any shades of blue or sand.
Quite often the interior of the kitchen is kept ina popular eco-style with an emphasis on wooden elements. In this case, when selecting tiles, you need to take into account the texture and color of the wood itself. But under the wooden furniture it is not necessary to choose a tile with imitation of a tree, since wood motifs will contradict each other.
Bathroom tile: about the nuances of choice
Such premises as a bathroom and a bathroom, -the most problematic in terms of design. Places in them a little, so you have to go to different tricks to make the compact space convenient and rational. And the choice of finishing materials is an important stage, since they should visually improve the perception of this room. How to choose a ceramic tile for a bathroom? The main selection rules are:
- View - wall or floor. The first type is used mainly for interior decoration, the second is important as a functional detail.
- Type of surface - Modern tiles are glossy or matt,smooth or embossed surface. When choosing, one should take into account that it is easier to slip on a smooth surface, and relief ones are not always comfortable for the feet. In any case, the floor tiles in the bathroom must be protected from slipping.
Before choosing a ceramic tile forbathroom, you need to take into account the size of the room, its stylistic design, the features of the sanitary equipment in it and the availability of additional accessories.
About forms and colors
As we have already said, in order to create a harmoniousIt is important to consider the size of the ceramic tiles. It must match the shape and dimensions of the room. In addition to traditional square and rectangular variations, mosaics and tiles are popular, helping to create complex decorative compositions and patterns on the floor.
To choose a ceramic tile for a bath,You need to decide on the desired color effect. The limited space leads to the fact that you have to pay attention to light colors - sand, beige, pastel. As a rule, they are in harmony with plumbing and furniture, which is often light in the bathroom. But you can always introduce novelty into the design of this room:
- bright colors of exotic fruits fill the room with unusual colors;
- support the nautical theme can be using tiles for turquoise and azure:
- To convey the atmosphere of calm will help the shades of blue and lilac flowers.
If the bathroom is large, you can make it luxurious and decorate in rich dark colors. For example, a black tile with a gold frame looks bright and spectacular.
Top brands: what to choose for a bathroom?
How to choose an outdoor ceramic tilethis room was harmonious and stylish? For the right choice, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the products of the most popular brands on the market, about which the greatest number of reviews. Our mini-review will include three popular brands:
- Kerama Marazzi. This manufacturer from Russia offers whole12 collections of tiles in a variety of styles, with each collection - a reference to a specific country with its cultural characteristics and traditions. This is the only company in Russia that produces ceramic granite with an exact imitation of natural material. It is the products of this brand that scored the largest number of reviews. They note the advantages of tiles, such as the richness of the assortment, strength and beautiful appearance of the coating, the ability to find material even in a small city. Of the shortcomings, buyers note not the most successful harmony of floor and wall tiles, that is, with the selection of material for both the floor and the wall in one collection, problems may arise.
- Fap Ceramiche. Pottery of this brand is chosen by those who can affordto allow products of elite class. When discussing which ceramic tile to choose for a bathroom, reviews often mention this particular brand. Its advantages are in the perfect imitation of natural natural materials (natural marble or precious wood), magnificent design solutions and unchanged quality. There are some disadvantages, but most buyers note the high cost of products. In some reviews, information is found that tiles do not always match each other in size.
- "Keramin". Belarusian brand offers up to 80 collectionstiles in a variety of price categories and color solutions. According to reviews, in the assortment it is easy to choose the finishing material not only for the bathroom, but also for the corridor or kitchen. Among the advantages are a wide range and variety of colors, universal solutions, an adequate price. But, like in many other brands, the geometry of the tile does not always fit.
These are only the most popular brands, whose products are quite numerous. What will you choose? It's up to you!
Hallway solutions
Tiles are most often used in finishing the kitchen andbathroom, but recently there has been a trend towards finishing pottery and hallways or corridors. These rooms are business cards of an apartment or a country house, which is expressed in the selection of materials. What kind of ceramic tiles to choose in the hallway? The selection criteria for this room are somewhat different, which is related to the intensity of the load on the floor:
- Wear resistance. Mud, water draining from the umbrella, melting on shoessnow, heavy bag, put on the floor - all this harms the floor covering. Therefore, for finishing the hallway requires a tile, the class of wear resistance of which is from III and above.
- Resistance to chemical attack. For washing floors we use a variety of"chemistry", containing, among other things, caustic substances. They can damage the coating from the tiles, so for corridors and halls choose a tile resistant A and AA.
- Resistance to moisture. For the hallway is suitable tile, which has a low porosity and, accordingly, a low level of water absorption.
We described various types of bathroom tilesroom, kitchen and hallway, brought the most popular selection criteria, so that you do not have problems with finding the answer to the question, what kind of tile is suitable for a particular room.