Tile countertops for the kitchen: features, types and their characteristics
There are many details in the interior of a modern kitchen, without which it is difficult to imagine a person's life. One of them is the countertop. Today it can be very diverse. Considering fashionable trends, you can dwell in detail on its design with tiles, having considered in detail the features, varieties and characteristics.
Peculiarities
The kitchen worktop, decorated with ceramic tiles, brings a special atmosphere to the kitchen interior. It is unusual, attracts everyone's attention and allows you to create a different mood in the design.
A similar piece of furniture is created by gluing tiles of different thicknesses and sizes to the work surface. Considering the huge assortment of tile products offered by brands for sale, it is very convenient. There is no need to spend the family budget, because you can update the table with a small financial investment.
This approach to renovation allows you to beat the design features of the kitchen area. In order to achieve a uniform tile design you can glue not only the countertop itself - you can also make a kitchen apron from it.
In addition, any protrusion or even a niche in the kitchen can become an excellent support for the tiles on the countertop.
Thus, you can beat the flaws in the layout, turning them into the advantages of the room.
Using various color schemes, tiles can be used to beat the degree of illumination of the kitchen, introducing warm or, conversely, cold tones into it, making the ceiling higher and the walls wider.
Moreover, namely by choosing the tone and temperature of the tiled cladding, the practicality of the countertop can be increased... At the same time, the material itself is distinguished by rather high quality and performance characteristics, it is durable. Therefore, you can use the kitchen table for a long time without fear of a chip or cut.
However, regardless of the type and size, the tiled countertop has one significant drawback - the cladding seams. This nuance is typical for any cladding and needs regular and proper care.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to make the cladding in one piece, as well as too thin wall tiles.
Not every type of material is suitable for cladding the horizontal surface of the kitchen table.
Considering the feasibility of a single tabletop for the entire set, it is worth noting: it is impractical, albeit beautiful... If the need arises, the headset cannot be moved or even removed without breaking it. And therefore stylists recommend proceeding from practical considerations, although they consider the facing of the corner tabletop to be quite relevant.
Tables with drawers can be tiled with identical tiles, giving the headset the look of an ensemble.
If the base of the headset is one and does not have different heights, the table top should be solid.
Material type
Today, there are a lot of different claddings that can be used as a tabletop coating. One of them is mosaic. In fact, these are small ceramics, which can be either piece or assembled into certain thematic compositions, glued onto a sticky base.
As for the choice of the desired option, the second type is notable for the absence of the need for tedious alignment of each seam of the pattern to be laid.
However, piece goods are quite worthy of attention, because they do not need to cover the entire area of the countertop. It can be used in complex styling options, if required by the specifics of the design. Besides, small elements can be used not only on the top, but also for the side edges of the tabletop.
If you approach the choice of the right option thoroughly and tastefully, the countertop can become a highlight of the kitchen interior.
The tiles can be conditionally classified into dies of smooth and embossed type. At the same time, both are taken for the interior of the kitchen. They try to decorate the tabletops with smooth tiles so that it is convenient to work on them.... Companions of such tiles are often analogs in identical colors, differing in a slight relief. This tile is used for kitchen aprons. Such a tiled ensemble looks very interesting, and especially when a drawing is laid out from a tile.
The game of texture is considered one of the trend trends in interior design today.
As for the type of material, porcelain stoneware should be used predominantly for the countertop. You can break it, except with a hammer, and even then you will have to try for a long time, but there is no such tool in the kitchen.
Which one is used where?
For the end, a shaped tile is used, which outwardly has an L-shape. With its help, the first row is simultaneously faced and the end is closed. The top tile can hang over the end plates, protruding 2–4 mm.
It is recommended to trim fragments of the countertop near the walls, refrigerator or in those places where non-solid dies will not be so noticeable.
The ends give the worktop a finished look and enhance the aesthetic appeal. You can refine the table top in different ways. For example, on a horizontal surface, the strip can be laid out in such a way that the edge of the fragment to be glued overhangs the thickness of the porcelain stoneware. Then the remaining dies are cut into strips and glued from the end edge.
As for laying at an angle of 45 degrees, then professionals can do it. The disadvantage of this design of the countertop is a large amount of trimming, and this increases the number of glued fragments... In addition, a professional master will cope with this work. Therefore, this design may require the cost of a tiler's work.
For the countertop itself, large elements can be used, which will simplify maintenance, and also speed up the cladding process, reducing the number of joints. but if the kitchen is small, then it is preferable to use small tiles... This eliminates the likelihood of introducing an imbalance, which can visually reduce the already insufficient square meters of the room.
Dies with an edge of 15 cm will be optimal for a small kitchen.
If possible, the dimensions can be increased. By the way, the size can determine the thickness of the dies used, which should not be forgotten before buying a durable and high-quality material.
As for the use of mosaic countertops, professional tilers can choose them. With all the desire, working with it requires accuracy and experience, and a beginner will not be able to make all joints perfectly identical.
What's better?
When choosing one or another material for cladding a kitchen countertop, it is worth noting several factors.
- The decorative layer must be even and smooth. The porous texture is accessible to dirt, just like the mirror one. Such tiles will have to be cleaned more often than others, and this often becomes a problem, since dirt quickly eats into a porous base.
- You need to buy dies of the optimal size, reducing the number of cuts. Ideally, it is preferable to cut only the end tile.
- It is better not to save on material and buy porcelain stoneware. It is resistant to abrasion, moisture, does not change properties when the temperature changes and does not lend itself to mechanical damage.
- Don't neglect buying a curb.Such tiles significantly save time for the entire cladding, including the time for fitting and trimming the edge strips.
Characteristics and types of countertops
Conventionally, tabletop models are divided into linear and angular. In addition, products can combine, for example, two tables with drawers and doors. The very base on which the tiles can be glued can be made of wood or chipboard. As for the material of manufacture, the surface can be ceramic or porcelain stoneware.
According to the type of texture, it can be matte, polished, satin, lappated and glazed. In any line, you can find a highly decorative option for a designer kitchen interior decoration. For the base of the countertop, it is worth buying a moisture-resistant chipboard.
If you are planning to veneer an old countertop, it may well serve as a countertop underlay. In addition, moisture-resistant plywood should be used for the base.
A well-tiled kitchen tile countertop is strong and durable. Such a coating lasts for a long time: its service life is calculated in years. At the same time, in compliance with all the rules of laying, the tiles can hold out on the countertop for more than 15 years. The material is resistant to water, it is easy to clean and can withstand washing with various household chemicals.
Thanks to the protective coating, the tiles are resistant to abrasion. It does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and for most of its service life it looks fresh, as if it had just been glued. In addition, the material used for facing the countertop is frost-resistant and has a different coefficient of friction.
Tile is a heat-resistant material, which is also important for the kitchen table.
Color solutions
The interior of a modern kitchen is directly subordinate to the concept of the chosen style. For example, if it is a classic, light colors and monotony are welcome. At the same time, you can decorate a simple design with elements with gilding and monograms.
When the boho direction is chosen as the basis, it is important to use variegated colors here.
It can be a patchwork tile. Moreover, it can only partially decorate the countertop, leaving the role of the basis for the kitchen apron.
When choosing the color of the tiles for the countertop, they take into account the shade of the existing furniture, the tone of the headset, or they are guided by a minor interior accessory. For example, it can be the tone of the lamp finish, small print elements of curtains, or even the shade of a flower pot.
Considering the fact that the kitchen countertop can set the basic mood of the entire interior composition, its colors should not be too dark or, on the contrary, too bright. This deprives the interior of its high status, as well as the feeling of home comfort.
For expert advice on tile installation on countertops, see the video below.
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