Porcelain tiles for the bathroom.Decorating the bathroom with granite

Every year the artificial decoration materials have become increasingly popular.The fact is that natural products are much more expensive than synthetic.Moreover, the second embodiment in terms of little practical use in the construction process.Positive aspects in this product is actually a lot, and they are gradually becoming more important.

If we talk about the process of finishing the bathroom, there is no large-scale selection of the materials with which it would be possible to transform the space.In most cases, ceramic, which has long proved itself with the best hand.

Now people want something original and interesting in its own way.In some cases, there is no need for radical changes, just enough to slightly change the perception of space.

In this article we will talk about granite - an artificial finishing material, which is considered one of the most interesting solutions in recent years.Despite its name, the material still looks more like a classical pottery, but its characteristics and properties attracted far more attention than usual material for finishing bathroom.

also consider the basic material of the script associated with the process of finishing baths and subtleties that often occur during the event.

Features and properties of porcelain

Porcelain became widespread recently.However, after the material has gone on sale in DIY stores, it was used almost everywhere.This is a truly universal finishing material, which is used as an external finish of the building, and to decorate the walls inside the house.Such widespread use of the material is dictated by its properties.

Porcelain is produced by dry pressing by molding powder at high pressure and high temperature (up to 1300 degrees Celsius).Press itself can be obtained from powder slurry.

Despite this, the sale can be found more than a dozen kinds of tiles, each of which can be used in certain conditions.Among the main types of tiles are the following:

• Brushed granite.This material is an unpolished surface with tiles.Accordingly, this material is best used for exterior decoration of the building.These products are resistant to precipitation and many other external influences.
• polished granite.Most often, such a material has a substantially smooth surface.Therefore, it can be used as trim surfaces indoors.However, it should be borne in mind that the polished granite - it is not cheap, but after a while will become a mirror layer mat.
• satin granite.This material is a decorative finishing resources.This granite has a wax base which does not slip, but differs brilliance.Unfortunately, this kind of material does not tolerate heavy loads, so it is best to make porcelain satin laying solely on the internal wall surface.
• Technical granite.Outwardly, this material is almost identical to natural granite, but its properties are slightly different.Technical called for the reason that it is not subjected to further treatments.However, this does not prevent the use of this material as an element of decorating suburban area or even the foundation of the home.The cost of such products is relatively low.
• Structured ceramic granite.This product has the original relief, which can successfully simulate the surface of wood.Of course, you can easily create an entire image and composition, but it is necessary to have special equipment.If there is a need for such a material, it is possible to apply to a particular manufacturer (fortunately, today there are many) and ordered its original decision.And relief on such a surface may resemble the fabric, and even natural leather.Everything is limited only by the price issue, and such a pleasure not cheap.
• Glazed porcelain tiles.As the name implies, this material has a sufficiently attractive surface, wherein shine.This is true, but after a while the smoothness of the granite begins to rapidly lose.But at the same time the strength of the product are much higher than the same tile.Thus, it is an excellent choice for those who most appreciate this product reliability and durability.

Dimensions granite

Porcelain can be found in almost every hardware store, so you need to keep in mind that this material has a fixed size.Most commercially available product has the following dimensions:. 30x30 cm, 45x45 cm and 60x60 cm

If we talk about the thickness of the granite, then little or no importance, it does not matter.The strength of the large and small production is approximately the same.Therefore, for the walls can be safely used in material thickness of 3 mm.To fit the floor slabs with a thickness of 8 mm.When it comes to businesses, there must be used products with increased thickness, as there is a risk of cracks when the surface will drop a heavy object.Again, for decoration, you can use the most fragile product options, and proper stowage material would not be damaged.

advantages of granite over other surfacing materials

If we talk about the interior wall houses, the granite is used not so often.The exception is the bathroom, because that is where high humidity is valid.Accordingly, with this nuisance porcelain handles very easily.But this is not the only advantage of the material in comparison with many other finishing options.It is worth noting some of the most important advantages that classic granite:

• strength and no cracks.Porcelain is very difficult to damage, and this is true for the bathroom.If we are talking about an ordinary ceramic, this material is more fragile than porcelain.In the bathroom it is easy enough to damage the decoration material, and it must always be borne in mind.Moreover, granite withstands high surface pressure.
• Low moisture absorption.Again, the bathroom is very important that the finishing material does not absorb moisture, since the surface will gradually deteriorate.In turn, the granite has a very low coefficient of moisture absorption.This suggests that the effect of the moisture has no meaning for him.We should not think that in these conditions the moisture poses no threat.We must remember that between the tiles of granite can present a small gap into which water can penetrate and thus destroying the finish from the "inside."
• attractive surface appearance.Unlike many other finishing materials, which gradually lose their initial luster and appeal, granite (often) many years looks the same as the day of purchase.The fact is that the surface of the material to successfully counteract most of the influences which adversely affect not only the characteristics of the material, but also on its exterior.At the same time to make caring for the material still it makes sense.In this way we will be able to enjoy even longer the novelty surface.
• Easy installation.This advantage is likely to appeal to those who do not have much experience in conducting the process of lining the walls.Here we need only to be careful and responsible, and any errors will be corrected in the process.Despite this, the complexity of the work may change somewhat depending on the place where it all happens.Thus, pre-should receive instruction from professionals.

process of laying porcelain

Preparations

First of all you need to know that the process is carried out in granite paving precise temperature within.Accordingly, we can not allow the temperature dropped below 10 degrees Celsius.Moreover, too high a temperature can also bring a lot of problems, so if more than 40 degrees to carry out the repair process is not necessary.If these activities are carried out on the street (exterior decoration), you should pay special attention to air temperature.Most often, such work is carried out in the summer.

also can not avoid high humidity.With this question within the bathroom no problems should not be, however, over the next few days actively bathroom is better not to use it.Especially do not put sharp humidity drops, as the entire repair process can be due to this fall.Throughout the repair is best to seal the doors and windows in order to stabilize the situation, even if the window is rapidly changing weather.

Also, at this stage we need to think about the arrangement of the material on the surface.You can use a marker or pencil to make a layout of the walls and floor.Thus it is necessary to consider not only the size of the material itself, but also the gaps that are present between the tiles.

Materials and resources needed to repair

Most often, the list of required materials (except granite) the following:

• grout;
• silicone sealant;
• primer;
• crosses;
• adhesive for finishing materials;
• water.

also in the process, we need the capacity for the adhesive solution, drill to stir the mixture, Bulgarian, building level, as well as the most common device for measuring geometric dimensions (line, roulette, etc.).

Most of the work

1. process of laying granite begins with the application of the solution on the surface of the wall.It should be borne in mind that it is advisable to create a thin layer of the mixture to quickly grasp.
2. solution Application takes place with the help of the rake trowel, and here it is necessary to start from the height of the teeth and tile sizes to laying process was the most simple.
3. As for the solution, it must be a normal cement, however, need to ensure that the surface created by the finishing, there were no gaps and voids, otherwise all of this finish can be affected.
4. Laying tiles starts from the bottom up.Accordingly, the process is carried out in rows, with no need to hurry, as the tile has to be located on the same level.In order to control this process, it is necessary to use builder's level.Furthermore, the same should be checked by horizontal arrangement of tiles.
5. If there is a need to create a gap between the tiles, it is necessary to use special daggers that during installation are located around the perimeter.Accordingly, we receive a fixed distance, and after the tic process can be easily removed.Each new series of tiles stacked only after setting the previous one.
6. In the latest turn carried tile cutting.This procedure is carried out in places where the standard size tiles simply does not fit.In this case, the help or the most common Bulgarian or Tile.If granite is too thick, the latter tool is unlikely to be helpful.
7. last stage - is the use of fugue to fill the space between the tiles.This procedure is carried out only after the cement pour.First you need to remove all the crosses placed between the tiles, and carry out grouting.The best thing in this process is to use a rubber spatula.Immediately after these works need to clean the surface as the grout is guaranteed gets on the tiles.