Every day, in the design of premises, including bathrooms, more and more use new technologies. One of these innovative approaches to the design of the room is the use of tiles with a three-dimensional image. They are called tiles with the effect of 3D.With the help of these tiles, you can create a unique in its kind, stylish and unusually beautiful bathroom design. And the 3D effect will help to revive the picture you have chosen and find yourself in another world.
What's this?
3D tile is, first of all, one of the types of facing material, consisting of ordinary tiles, on which several layers of polycarbonate film and some image are applied. These layers create a three-dimensional image effect.
Tiles in 3D format can be wall, floor and even ceiling. On the ceiling, it can simulate a cloudy or clear sky;on the floor - invoices from nature, for example, grass with drops of dew, sand or reefs;and on the wall of the room can display a whole city, forest or field, spreading to the horizon, etc.
In addition, using 3D tiles - an ordinary bathroom can be designed as an underwater world with its diverse inhabitants. Such pictures on 3D-tiles are so bright and clear that the interior created with their help impresses with its realism and gives the most pleasant sensations.
Advantages of
Advantages of 3D tiles are many:
- They have the same positive properties as ceramic tiles, that is they are durable, resistant to moisture, fireproof and hygienic.
- And floor models, in addition, are very resistant to abrasion. They can withstand up to 200 kg of weight per 1 cm2.
- 3D-tiles are able to influence the visual-spatial perception indoors.
- The variety of design options with their help is so great that it will not be difficult to create your own exclusive and unusually beautiful design for your taste.
- They are durable. According to some manufacturers, 3D-tiles can last more than ten years.
- These products are hygienic: they do not form mold, and they do not contribute to the development of fungi and other microorganisms.
- 3D-tiles are quite resistant to various detergents, including aggressive ones.
- Completely hypoallergenic.
- Their surface is anti-slip.
Cons
- 3D tiles can only be laid on perfectly aligned surfaces. Due to unevenness and defects on the wall or on the floor, the visual effect of the volume may be lost or distorted.
- It can not be cut or stacked with a bend exceeding 2 degrees.
- The tiles can not be used for exterior finishing of the house, and the decoration of seasonal houses that are not heated in winter.
3D photo plate
As a matter of fact, 3D photo-plates are the same as 3D-tiles. The only difference between the first is that the photocell can be ordered by yourself. To do this, you need to take a photo with a very high resolution. The selected photo is applied to the tile at high temperature. As a result of the thermal effect, the paint gets gaseous and penetrates into the polymer coating and is fixed in the tile. After that, the product is covered with a layer of glaze.
How to produce?
Microlens technology is used in the production of 3D-tiles. The essence of this technology lies in the fact that on the surface of ordinary tiles are applied several special layers that are able to protect and create the effect of a dynamic pattern. First of all, a base layer of polycarbonate is applied. Then, the damping layer is applied, after which the surface is covered with a reflective film with an image. A super-transparent layer is applied over the figure, which carries out the function of the lenses. It is this layer that makes the drawing voluminous. For greater strength, the product is covered with a protective shockproof layer. This layer makes the product more durable and extends its service life.
Advice for choosing
- It is not recommended to take too colorful 3D-tiles for a small bathroom, as the abundance of bright spots and bright dynamic images can create the impression of a tight room.
- Also we advise you to be cautious about the selection of accessories, since any part can hide a little more space.
- For larger bathrooms, you can choose tiles in a wider color palette with a variety of shapes and more interior items.
- The main thing is not to forget about moderation and a sense of taste. It is important that all elements of the interior are in harmony with each other.
Laying technique
The process of facing the room with a 3D plate does not differ much from the facing process with standard ceramic tiles. You can lay the 3D-tile yourself, but it is possible and with the help of specialists.
For self-assembly of tiles you need:
- Provide a perfectly flat surface on the walls and floor. Make sure that the surface is completely dry and free from puffs.
- Prepare the cladding products.
- Prepare a mixture with which you will glue the tiles on the walls or floor. As a rule, silicone, cement or gypsum should be present in the mixture. The tiles can also be mounted with a double-sided adhesive tape. And for floors with a heating system, heat-resistant mixtures are used.
- If you are going to set the lights in the bathroom, carry out electrical work in advance.
- In this case, you will need to install guides to which you can then attach the tile. Guides should be cut from materials such as polycarbonate, plexiglas or PET.
- After installing the guides, you can start attaching 3D tiles. When laying the tiles should be left between them a small gap width of about 3-4 mm. This is necessary to ensure that the image does not "move out" because of the differences in the size of the tiles.
- If the backlight is not needed, 3D-tiles need to be fastened directly to the main surface. Do not forget to leave a gap. It will subsequently be filled with a sealant with a colorless silicone-based coating. Apply grout to the joints gently with a spatula, so as not to damage the tile coating.
- Remove the remains of the hermetic mixture with a damp cloth.
- When laying tiles with a three-dimensional image on the floor to create a perfectly flat surface, you can use a self-leveling mixture that is able to even out small differences in height.
Care
It's easy to care for 3D tiles. You can clean them with a damp sponge, and then wipe with a dry cloth. The only difficulty can be caused by the use of hard water. It can leave a tile on the tile. And to exclude this scurf, you need to add special water softeners when cleaning.
Remember that with tiles you need to handle very carefully, since its top layer can easily be damaged. Any scratch or chips can completely or partially distort the whole picture. In addition, as a result of deformation, the tile may lose its glossy appearance.
And yet, all 3D tile manufacturers claim that if used properly, these tiles can last more than 25 years, while retaining all their qualities.