Granite tiles: the pros and cons

Granite tiles are often used for beautiful, reliable and durable interior and exterior design. The material is ideal for creating spectacular landscape design, decorating a room, or decorating a playground or an outdoor terrace.

Granite is famous for its high strength and wear resistance. It is included in the list of the hardest natural materials. From a stone make a beautiful tile for facing of walls, a ceiling, a floor, and also the calculation of paths. In addition, the stone boasts excellent frost resistance and low water absorption. These and other features will be discussed in more detail later in the article.

Designers appreciated granite tiles due to the special color and stylish appearance. Now natural material is the personification of excellent taste, luxury and presentable. Granite is often used as an accent in decor.Original compositions combining materials of different colors will decorate the room or the local area.

The special characteristics of natural raw materials make it ideal for lining rooms inside and outside. Granite has such positive characteristics:

• Aesthetics. As mentioned earlier, the finishing material has a special charm and appeal.
• Versatility. Granite does not go out of fashion and always remains relevant. Having spent for finishing once, you will notice that your house will look stylish and presentable every season.
• Strength. The stone easily transfers daily and intensive loadings. This indicator is especially important for floor tiles. Granite is almost twice as powerful as marble.

• Life time. The durability of this material is amazing. Quality material serves several centuries. With proper treatment, the first signs of aging of a natural stone appear after about 400-500 years.
• Protection. Granite tiles are used to protect the building from negative external factors, such as temperature drops, mechanical stress, vagaries of bad weather, chemical aggression and so on.
• Water resistant. Due to this characteristic, there is no need for surface treatment with a special water-repellent compound. It saves not only money, but also time spent on work. The stone is perfect for laying in areas with high moisture, for example, in the area of ​​embankments.

• Naturalness. Granite is a completely environmentally friendly material due to its natural origin. The material does not emit microelements hazardous to health and the environment.
• Color. Granite can have various color scale. Buyers have the opportunity to choose any tone they like, from white to dark and rich. The most common and popular options: green, brown, burgundy, gray. Large selection of colors allows you to choose the best for a particular style.
• Multi-pattern. This indicator is achieved during the production of tiles. Masters use modern technology for high-quality processing of natural material.
• Care. The tile from natural granite is unpretentious in leaving. Special equipment or additional funds you will not need.To return the tile attractive appearance, it is enough to carry out wet cleaning. For shine, you can polish the surface.
• Price in the segment of natural materials. The cost of granite is much more profitable when compared with other natural materials that are actively used in the field of design and decoration.
• Appearanceimpression Despite the rigidity and density, the material creates a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. It works not only indoors, but also with external decoration.

Despite the huge number of advantages, granite has its drawbacks. They must be read:

• Temperature. Granite is a cold material. Floor tiles for interior decoration is better to use with floor heating system. In the frosty season without additional heating to touch the tile will be unpleasant.
• Piling. Carry out the process of finishing can only be highly skilled master. The work of professionals - the key to excellent results. If you do the installation yourself, you will not be able to achieve the desired aesthetic effect.

• Weight. Granite is a very heavy material.To deliver it to the right place you need to order transport. Due to this characteristic, the laying is done by at least two professionals.
• The grounds. It is possible to mount a tile only on the strong and firm basis. If this structure is not strong enough, it can collapse under the weight of the material.
• Binding materials. In the process of laying tile workers use special consumables. For installation of granite of this substance it is necessary many times more in comparison with similar production.

Experts from the field of decoration note that all of the above disadvantages are insufficient compared with the advantages of the material. The term of operation, wear resistance and appearance of a natural stone completely compensate them.

On sale there are many options for facing tiles made of granite. Each type has its own individual characteristics. Experts identify 5 main varieties:

• Thermoprocessed tiles. Material of this type is processed in a special way. Under the influence of high temperatures, the stone is additionally affected by gas jets. As a result, tile acquires texture.The surface becomes rough. This material is ideal for finishing the premises outside or laying stylish and reliable tracks. Due to the relief structure of the tile will not slip even during rain or snowfall.

• Polished. The polished tile draws attention with a clear and expressive natural pattern. Such material is often used for wall decoration. This is a matte tile (no gloss on the surface).

• Sawn. In the process of making such a tile, the craftsmen decorate it with special defects: irregularities, potholes, hollows and so on. Such elements imitate natural damage. The material is great for wall decoration, as well as the area around the fireplace.

• Polished. This tile will especially appeal to connoisseurs of glossy, shiny surfaces. A polished and perfectly smooth finishing material is the best choice for a stylish, refined and sophisticated pattern. The play of light on the mirror surface gives the decor notes of expressiveness.

• Buchardirovanny material. Textured tile having a roughness. The special texture is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the material. The color of the product can be varied.

Granite tiles, used for interior decoration, are placed in the bathroom, hallway, kitchen. Due to the individual characteristics and advantages discussed above, this type of finish is great for decorating these locations. In certain cases, the material is used for decorating bedrooms and hotels.

The tile from a granite crumb will become not only effective registration, and also a reliable support under legs in a bathroom or in kitchen. It is in these rooms that the finish is exposed to moisture and high temperatures. Spots and small particles of debris remain on the surface of the tile, making the material easy to clean from stubborn dirt.

The flooring material is thicker and larger than the tile used for wall finishing. Optimum parameters: thickness - 40 mm; dimensions - 600x300x20 mm. Larger dimensions are needed for easy installation.

Natural granite tiles are one of the most common materials for cladding facades of residential buildings and other buildings.This option is much more attractive, expressive, safer and more practical than concrete or brick finish.

Due to the unique characteristics of the tile on the facade of the building will delight with beauty and originality for many decades.

The texture and color of the plates can be varied. It can be a glossy, smooth surface or a matte material with artificial defects. Make the final choice, taking into account the overall color palette, exterior style, personal preferences.

The process of making the base is an important component of the repair. In this case, special attention is paid to the practicality and durability of the material. The main task of the finishing material is to protect the foundation of the building from the negative destructive action of the environment. Quality tiles will protect the house for many decades.

The most common color options are shades of gray, dark red and black. The last two options are more expensive due to the fact that the gray tile has a lower indicator of strength.

The best tile is top grade material. The product must comply with GOST standards and high international standards. You can find out information about the product from sales assistants or from the manufacturer.

Both domestic and foreign products are on the market. In particular demand tile from China. Chinese brands offer a huge variety of colors and textures at a bargain price. Luxurious and refined tiles can be purchased from official representatives of European companies.

How to lay a granite tile, see the next video.