Floor tiles for bathroom - choice from experts

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Floor tiles in the bathroom
  • Types of floor tiles
  • Key features and requirements
  • Quality standards
  • We read the symbol on the packaging
  • Choose the color and design
  • Leaders for the production of tiles
  • Fashion trends
  • Prices
  • Laying

Floor tiles in the modern world of advanced technologies occupy a special place. Not everyone can afford to buy floor tiles from exclusive manufacturers. But this defect is easily compensated by the presence on the market of inexpensive collections of Russian manufacturers. Any style of the bathroom with the help of floor tiles will be transformed, add originality. And excellent quality will only please and will not cause unnecessary trouble. All cherished dreams can be realized in the color palette, and in the drawing or mosaic. Even the geometric figures on the bathroom floor will emphasize the uniqueness of the interior.

English style tiling

Ceramic tiles are a strong enough and waterproof way of finishing walls and floors, and is characterized by hygiene and is an environmentally friendly product. The market for building materials provides a large selection of tiles for the floor, so every buyer will be able to purchase ceramic tiles, relying entirely on their own taste.

Types of floor tiles

Floor tiles for bathrooms have become so popular that each building store provides a wide variety. But, nevertheless, four main types can be distinguished:

  • Clinker is the most durable type of tile because it is produced using the extrusion method. This tile is characterized by a smooth and even surface, but the color scheme is provided only in natural shades. The clinker can be covered with glaze.
  • Cotto is also a fairly strong material, the main feature of which is porosity. If for a floor of a bathroom to get this kind of a tile it should be necessarily covered with special hydrophobic substances. This prevents the appearance of stains on the coating from water ingress.
  • The monocotture is a tile that is covered with glaze and has passed one firing. The main properties are high wear resistance and low water absorption. It can be safely used for the bathroom.
  • Porcelain tiles is very popular. This is the most reliable floor covering, so it is used not only for bathrooms, but also lining the bottom of the pools. After all, it has a high resistance to changes in temperature regimes and does not absorb water.
Clinker tile for bathroom
Tile cotto in the design of the bathroom floor
Monocotature in the design of the floor
Flooring in the bathroom of porcelain tiles in assortment

If among the above types of tiles choose the most suitable for the bathroom, then in the first place will be porcelain stoneware and clinker .Although often used and monocoature, thanks to its decorative design.

Key features and requirements

The floor covering in the bathroom must have special properties in order to have a long service life.

The floor tiles are subject to certain requirements:

  • Resistance of the floor covering to water absorption. This condition is basic, as in the bathroom the water often falls on the floor. To prevent water absorption, ceramics tile passes a special firing technology. In this way, the tile becomes microporous, so water does not get inside.
  • Resistance to the use of chemicals. Various household chemicals are used for cleaning the bathroom, especially for floors. And there is also a high possibility of hygiene products entering the floor.
  • Resistance to sudden changes in temperature and high humidity in the room.
  • High slip resistance. The floor covering must be non-slip. On the packaging, after the letter R, a number is always indicated. If the number is more than 9, then this type of floor tile is perfect for use in the bathroom. Experts advise to stop their choice on matte tiles, because its surface will be a little rough.
  • Resistance to the action of abrasive materials.
  • Good resistance to bending.
  • Smooth surface of the back side of the ceramic tile. Sometimes there is a floor tile, which has a small hollow in the middle. This tile will not last long, as there will be a void in which glue does not fall. In this emptiness, moisture will accumulate over time, which will affect the adhesion of the glue to the tile.
  • Good quality of the front side of the tile. Ceramic tiles should be smooth. If you felt a roughness on the glossy surface, this means that the tiles were manufactured using obsolete technologies. Take care not to have bubbles on the enamel. The color of the tile should be uniform. If you see even small inaccuracies in the color shade, then this tile has a poor quality, it is not worth buying.
  • The bathroom floor tiles should be characterized by the stable color of the so that the coating does not wash out or burn out as a result.

To determine how strong the tile is to chemicals, it is sufficient to read the labeling of the material on the package. The letters AA represent the most stable tile, then goes A and B for the middle, C and D for the lowest tolerance of chemicals.

Rough terracotta tiles in bathroom
Back of floor tiles
Ceramic tiles with a pattern

Quality standards

The classification of floor tiles is diverse based on several criteria. If you understand it well, then you can easily choose the right option with the appropriate parameters for the bathroom.

The tile package always contains information on frost resistance. AI or BI means that the tile can be used outdoors. Marking AIII or BIII is only possible for laying tiles in the room.

Flooring with ceramic tiles

Based on the criterion of durability or abrasion, there is a certain marking of the tile:

  • group PEI I - it is less resistant to erasure, therefore it is recommended to use it for the bathroom, because there people do not walk in shoes that are used for street;
  • group PEI IІ - is also unstable, therefore it is used in rooms where the permeability is small. Its application is impossible for the kitchen and the corridor;
  • group PEI IІІ - designed for kitchen floor, corridor or glazed balcony, because it has average values;
  • group PEI IV - involves the use in shopping halls or offices where people walk in street shoes;
  • group PEI V - is designed for territories with a huge number of people and outdoors. The tile of this group has no restrictions, so it is the best option for the floor in the bathroom.
Floor ceramic tile options

When buying ceramic tiles, it is worth considering its grade. Tiles of the first grade allow defects of the lot up to 5%;the second group - up to 25%;the last group - more than 25%.Knowing about the possible defects of each marking, you can easily calculate how much more you need to buy the tile on the floor.

Stylized floor tiles in the interior

We read conditional signs on the

package. Before buying ceramic tiles for any room, you need to carefully study the packaging, because there is a lot of useful information that will tell you about the tile, of course, if you know the conventional signs.

Symbols on the packaging of ceramic tiles

And so, we will describe some of them:

  • hand drawing - the tile is used only for walls;
  • drawing feet on a black background - tiles are acceptable for laying on the floor;
  • snowflake - the tile is frost-resistant, it is possible to use outdoors;
  • drawing of feet on strokes - high level of wear resistance;
  • figure near the fire pattern - how many times the tile was susceptible to firing;
  • drawing of the bulb - is not afraid of chemical influences;
  • shoe on the inclined line - coefficient of friction on the wet surface;
  • crystal image - hardness of ceramic tiles.

Also on the packaging you can find information about the thickness of the tile, how strong it is in bending, the number of pieces in the package and the area where you can use, what resistance to abrasion.

The choice of colors and design

The most practical option for flooring is tile in light colors. When the droplets of water get dry, they will not be practically noticeable. Such a floor does not require thorough frequent washing of the floor. It will be enough just to wipe the floor after taking a shower or bath, and cleaning using chemicals can be done once a week.

Light tile for the bathroom floor

A tile of dark colors requires special care, since it is very visible traces, splashes and even droplets of water. Although the dark flooring looks very original and luxurious, but if you do not have time for careful care, it is better not to buy it.

Some connoisseurs of fine use glossy black floor tiles for the bathroom. But you should be prepared that every spray will leave a divorce on the tile. Therefore, after taking a bath or shower, you should definitely wash the floor.

Although it is possible to slightly correct the above-mentioned tones and combine different shades into a single whole. For example, put dark tiles where the least possible is water ingress. Light tiles should be placed near the bath, washbasin and shower. This combination will help to get an original floor covering, and it will not be necessary to constantly wash the floor.

Mosaic floor in the design of the bathroom
Black floor tiles
Dark tiles on the bathroom floor

The best option for flooring in the bathroom is using a mosaic. It optically enlarges the bathroom space and also masks all the unevenness of the floor. Mosaic will decorate the room in any design.

Glass mosaic for bathrooms has become very popular, because it is characterized by a high degree of resistance to chemical influences, is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature conditions and is water resistant.

Glass mosaic for the bathroom floor

Leaders in the production of tiles

Ceramic tiles are made by many companies from different countries:

  • tiled Italian tile has long been a good reputation, because it is characterized by excellent quality and luxurious design. Many companies are engaged in the production of tiles with white and red clay;
  • ceramic tiles of Spanish-made are also quite in demand in the building materials market. Compared with Italian tiles, it is cheaper, but in quality is not inferior. The tile is characterized by a special design, as bright colors are mainly used, as well as a game of contrasting patterns;
  • Turkish tile is also quite well-known among middle-income buyers, because it costs much cheaper than tiles from Italy or Spain. Kalebodur - a brand of Turkish tiles, which has excellent quality;
  • ceramic tiles of Russian production have good quality characteristics, since almost all production facilities use only Italian equipment. The price policy will pleasantly surprise consumers;
  • tiles from Ukraine has a good combination of price and quality. Ukrainian clay is popular not only at home, but is also in demand in Italian and Turkish production of tile.

In addition to the above producers of ceramic tiles, it is still necessary to add the Belarusian tile, from Lithuania and Slovakia.

Polish tiles are very popular due to the optimal price / quality ratio.

Italian tiles
Turkish floor tiles
Polish floor tiles in the bathroom

Currently, many buyers choose a tile for flooring of Italian or Spanish manufacturers. In each store you can see a large number of posters and advertising booklets with foreign names for companies producing floor tiles. All these countries are leaders in sales of elite finishing materials. Also, China is not lagging behind in producing an excellent product.

Domestic ceramic plants also produce high-quality goods. Manufacturing takes place on Italian equipment using proven western technologies. The price of Russian producers is significantly different, and the quality is in no way inferior to foreign factories. When buying tiles, you should pay attention to its standardization in accordance with GOST.

Fashion trends

Popular is tile, which simulates different textures of any materials, for example, wood, leather, plastic and others. Many buyers choose a tile that looks like metal plates that are attached to the floor using nails.

To create harmony in the bathroom, one should use wall and floor tiles from one collection.

To date, very fashionable is a large format tile, for example, 30x60 cm or 60x60 cm. It has many advantages. First, laying a square tile does not take much time and effort. Secondly, such a tile does not create appreciable joints, the surface looks solid. Thirdly, it is easy to wash.

Different manufacturers offer many ceramic tile collections to create a special bathroom design. Designers began to move away from calm color shades, bright, contrasting and aggressive colors became fashionable. For example, collections of Italian production use a combination of red and black, red and blue or red and green.

Square floor tiles
Tile for metal
White-red-black bathroom

Price

High quality floor tiles are quite expensive. But do not save on it, because repairs are done every 10 or 15 years. If you buy a cheap tile for the bathroom, then the service life will not be long and in three years you will have to again buy ceramic tiles for the floor.

Models of floor tiles that are inexpensive, easily break from shocks. In addition, they do not tolerate temperature differentials that often occur in the bathroom, the surface easily deteriorates from rapid abrasion.

Although the appearance of such a tile does not seem to differ from an expensive one, be careful.

Mosaic plus tiles on the floor in the bathroom
Floor tiles
Cracked tiles

To determine the quality of the tiles on the eye, you should check its smoothness, smoothness, the absence of cracks or spills, the color of the reverse side should be uniform and remind the natural color of the clay.

Laying

Specialists know that there are many ways of laying floor tiles, but only two main types are allocated:

  • Direct method or it is also called "seam in the seam". Each row of tiles is placed exactly above the previous tile. Thus, using a ceramic tile of different color scales, you can create color strips, or place the tiles in staggered order.
  • The method of "descent" .For him, the next row of tiles is displaced compared to the row that has already been laid on the floor.
Laying the tile joint in the butt
Laying the tiles in a run

The process of laying ceramic tiles on the floor in the bathroom must be done in the following order:

  • To successfully lay the floor tiles, you must first make a floor marking, this will help you to know the exact location of each tile. First, the center of the bathroom is measured and a vertical and horizontal line is drawn through it.
  • Starting from the lines drawn, it is necessary to draw the placement of each solid tile, as well as the one to be cut. Tiles with cut edges are best placed in hidden places.
  • Then you can move to the immediate installation of tiles on the floor. First glue is applied to a small square of the floor with a spatula with denticles. And then, you should immediately make a tile laying. When the square is completed, the action is repeated in the same way on a new small section of the floor.
  • When the tile falls on the adhesive, it should be firmly pressed to the floor. Also when laying floor tiles, do not forget to stick to the marking lines. Do the stacking gradually row in a row.
Tile laying - the second stage

Watch the next video about laying ceramic tiles on the floor.

Installation Tips:

  • Sometimes you need to use additional spacers for the tiles to form even seams.
  • First you need to do the tiling in one half of the bathroom, then you can move to the other half.
  • When the whole tile is all laid, you can go to the cut pieces to fill all the gaps near the walls.
Gaps between the walls when laying tiles

The buyer is often interested in the question of how many tiles will last. If you choose the right type of tile, which depends on the room where it will lie down, and also make the installation according to the instructions, then the ceramic tile will serve for a very long time.

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