Tiles on the floor in the bathroom: what to choose?

Floor tiles for the bathroom - a great option to cover. This is a very beautiful and durable material, convenient to use. But before going to the hardware store you need to know some of the features of these products.

Tile - the best floor and wall covering for the bathroom. According to its design possibilities, this material bypasses all alternatives. A variety of shapes and colors allows you to create a unique bathroom design. Not for nothing, ceramic cladding products are recognized as the best decorative elements and have been very popular for decades. Floor tile for the bathroom has many advantages: durability, fire resistance, unpretentious care, practicality, environmental safety, compliance with sanitary standards.

Finishing the bathroom is an important part of the renovation. There is definitely where to turn. Nowadays you can find tile, plumbing and bathroom furniture of all colors, shapes and sizes. The bathroom should fit into the design of the apartment or house, so the choice of interior parts for the bathroom is a very difficult task. The appearance of the floor tiles for the bathroom is extremely important.

The floor covering for a shower should not only be beautiful and harmonious with respect to the entire interior, but also durable, moisture-proof and non-slip. All these properties depend on the material from which the tile is made, on its quality, technology of manufacturing and processing, and on the presence or absence of additional coating.

There are different types of floor tiles that vary on material, manufacturing techniques and practical properties:

• Clinker tiles - made from clinker by extrusion (the components are mixed at high pressure), which makes the tile very durable. Appearance: small in size rectangular tiles imitating brickwork. Products are made in natural shades of brick. The clinker coating is smooth and even to the touch; the tile can be either ordinary (classical) or glazed (shiny).
• Tile Cotto is similar to the clinker variety, but it has a more porous material structure than clinker. It is not glazed and therefore has a matte and rough surface. For the use of Cotto in bathrooms, the product is covered with a water repellent to protect it from moisture and stains.

• Porcelain tile it is sufficiently resistant to moisture and temperature extremes, because of which it has a long service life and is a very durable coating. Minus tiles of porcelain - a poor range of colors.
• Monocottura tile - glazed tiles made using single tile firing technology. Due to its high wear resistance, this type of tile is durable.It also does not absorb water, so is ideal for use in the bathroom. The construction market has a very wide assortment of the monocolour color palette. It can be of various colors and shades with a variety of patterns or patterns.

It is important to note that The strongest, durable, wear-and moisture-proof are considered to be coatings of clinker and kermogranita. At the same time, clinker is cheaper, and kermogranite is better in practical properties. However, due to the scarce choice of shades (only natural colors are included in the spectrum of shades), a coating of kermogranite or clinker is preferred by Monocottura. It has a rich palette of colors and decorative elements in the form of various patterns, designs or embossments. Popular as vinyl tiles, and PVC products.

In the modern building materials market there is a wide choice of floor tiles with glue of all sizes and shapes.

Experienced craftsmen recommend choosing a tile size based on the size of the room and financial possibilities. Basically choose a size of at least 10 cm. The smaller the area of ​​the room and the budget, the smaller the parameters necessary to take the tile. Small size does not mean poor quality.. On the contrary, it is more convenient to work with small-sized tiles, less surplus remains, it is possible to lay out any pattern.

Forms can be the most diverse - it all depends on the designer's imagination. There are classic-shaped tiles (square), polygonal, triangular, rectangular, rounded, mosaic. Mosaic often comes with a ready-made pattern, but you can purchase individual colors and create an original pattern yourself.

The most convenient option would be a classic square tile of small size. To put such a tile, you do not need to have great skills, and even a beginner can do it. In addition, there will be fewer scraps from a small tile, since it is much easier to calculate the right amount than when choosing a larger tile.

Nowadays, there is a huge assortment of various options for style, color, size, shape and texture. However, the selection of the floor covering affects many nuances. For example, tiles on the floor must be combined with wall tiles and sanitary ware.

To tile the walls and the floor in harmony with each other, both tiles can be chosen from one collection. Manufacturers in advance include a combination of shades, textures and patterns.

An interesting design move will be a combination of matte and glossy tiles. It is better to place a matte tile in zones where water gets most often. A glossy - in places remote from frequent use.

For lovers of minimalism a great solution would be to choose the same color for the flooring and walls. And it is possible to dilute the monotony with various bright interior items, for example, towels on the walls and a rug on the floor. Today, quite often used flooring under the tree, under the pebbles, with ornaments, marine themes and 3D design.

For the bathroom, the most practical choice of tile colors is the choice of light colors. Especially well suited pastel shades. The optimality of this option is the convenience of cleaning the tile: on a light tile, dust, white stains from detergents and dried water will be invisible.

In the catalogs you can often find black or dark colors of ceramic tiles. Of course, it looks stylish and expensive, but the dark glossy tile will be very impractical, because it will be visible absolutely all stains, dust, and even minor scratches and chips. To maintain a neat form of such coverage will be very difficult and expensive.

Also pay attention to grout. During operation, the light grout becomes dirty and dark, so the choice of a neutral shade is the best solution.

When choosing a tile is very important manufacturer, because the quality depends on the life of the flooring. Best known companies include:

• Peronda - a company from Spain, producing environmentally friendly and safe ceramics. In the production process, the company does not use harmful impurities.

• Kalebodur - Turkish company producing various types of high-quality ceramics, which in the process of long-term operation does not change its shade.This is achieved through the use of technology using metal oxides.

• Impronta - a manufacturer from Italy, demanded in the ceramics market for almost 20 years. Their products are hygroscopic, which is obtained with special treatment. Products have positive reviews among consumers.

Modern stores have a huge range of different floor tiles. It is necessary to choose not only beautiful, but also high-quality coating that will last more than one year.

In order for the floor tile to be in good condition for a long time, when choosing, special attention should be paid to the following properties:

• Low hygroscopicity. In the bathroom, it is impossible to prevent water from entering the floor, in addition, here the flooring is exposed to contact with water every day. Tile structure should be finely porous, a similar structure is acquired during firing. Glazing the surface will also help ensure low hygroscopicity. The coefficient of hygroscopicity should not be more than 4.5%.

• High slip resistance reduces the risk of injury. It is important that the floor is not slippery, especially when it gets wet. The brighter the tile, the less slippery it will be if it gets into the water. Also, gliding is influenced by additional coatings. The friction index should be as high as possible, the minimum value - 0.75.

• Resistance to concentrated household chemicals. The bathroom floor is kept clean with aggressive chemicals. Good products must, without the appearance of damage and defects, transfer any contact with household chemicals. On the package there is a special designation indicating how resistant the tile is to chemicals, for example, the symbol AA means high resistance.

• High mechanical stability. High-quality ceramic tiles must be thick and durable, since heavy objects are often hit against it. So that after such strikes she remains safe and sound, her choice should pay special attention to the thickness of the product. It is best to choose a tile thickness of 9 - 12 mm. On the packaging there is a special symbol showing the thickness.

• High resistance to temperature extremes. During the use of the bathroom there is always a factor in the sharp temperature drop. The flooring must withstand any stress associated with a change in temperature, without forming cracks and splits.

There are also the following designations on the tile packs, which contain all the necessary information:

• Two arrows on a black background, aimed at the line - the thickness of the tile.
• Three arrows (one on top of the line, two on the bottom), directed to the line on a red background, indicate the flexural strength.
• White imprint of the sole on a black background - the tile is designed for the floor.
• The image of the boot on a diagonal line on a black background shows the coefficient of friction on a wet surface (slip).

• The disc with grooves on a black background, below the letter "PEI" shows the coefficient of resistance to abrasion.
• A beaker on a black background means the tile is resistant to chemicals.
• Black imprint of the sole on a white background in a cage - this coating has a high wear resistance.
• A white palm print on a black background means that this tile is designed to cover the walls.
• White snowflake on a black background means frost resistance.
• The image of the cube on a white background with digital symbols indicates the area of ​​the tiles in one box.
• A red factory emblem on a white background indicates that the tile is intended for installation in industrial premises.

• The red emblem of the shop on a white background shows that the tile is intended for laying in open spaces.
• Red drawing of a coffee mug on a white background indicates that this cover can be used in a cafe.
• The black outline of the fire with the number 1 inside denotes single firing.
• The black outline of the fire with the number 2 inside indicates double firing.
• A red cross on a white background indicates that the tile is intended for laying in hospitals and hospitals.
• The outlines of children rolling on a swing in red on a white background mean that the tile is designed for laying in kindergartens.

When choosing a floor covering, you need to consider how easy it is to care for it.Each material will behave differently when interacting with household chemicals, so some types of raw materials will have to be especially careful.

It is worth taking care to prevent the occurrence of dirt immediately after tile laying. Now in the store of household chemicals you can buy a special solution designed for a specific type of material. It will protect the surface from minor scratches, limescale, the formation and propagation of mold and fungi.

The easiest way to take care of a ceramic floor is wet cleaning. However, it may happen that a lime scale or mold appears on the tile. In this situation, the most important thing is to choose the right detergents for the type of tile and the type of pollution.

To prevent the occurrence of damage, ceramagranite should be rubbed with means specially designed for this, including wax. After that it is necessary to polish the surface. To do this, you can use a rotary machine.With the aid of water repellents, it is possible to protect the porcelain stoneware surface from dirt and stains.

It is very delicate to work with this type of tile, as from any mechanical or chemical effects over time the surface of the tile becomes covered with cracks. To gently clean the glazed tile, a brush with soft bristles or a soft foam sponge is best suited. It is also necessary to abandon the use of soap, since it can leave a fatty film on the surface of the tile, leading to the formation of mold.

When cleaning unglazed tiles, you can use weakly concentrated detergents, which contain acids and alkalis. To remove dust, it is best to use a vacuum cleaner. A synthetic brush or foam sponge is suitable for cleaning from dirt.

To make it easier to take care of the grout between tiles during operation, you should choose a tile of a neutral shade. In order to avoid contamination of the interfacial joints, it is necessary to periodically apply a special protective solution that can be purchased at household chemicals stores.

If the grout is white, it can be cleaned with a homemade grout. For its preparation it is necessary to mix the usual baking soda with bleach, you should get a pasty mass. Then you should gently wipe the dirt from the seam. To do this, you can use a foam sponge or a soft brush.

A tile does not always have to be a strict square shape. You can choose a small tile that creates an original design.

You can make floor and wall covering from one tile collection. In this case, the furniture should be a bright accent in the room.

The combination of brown floor and beige walls will be very noble. Such a bathroom looks just gorgeous.

In the next video you will find a master class on laying tiles in the bathroom with your own hands.