Flexible tiles: pros and cons

The choice of finishing materials for interior work is a responsible and difficult task. External exterior, features of masonry and some other related factors - all this must be taken into account when carrying out repairs.

Despite the richness of the market of finishing materials, flexible tiles are confidently holding the first positions.which is capable of imitating many unusual and beautiful coatings. Of particular interest is the tile, which perfectly imitates brickwork. It can be used to decorate any room.

Imitating brick with incredible precision, this material is equally appropriate for both exterior and interior decoration. Excellent aesthetics of the tile, its good performance properties and relative ease of installation make it demanded and popular. Repair with its use does not require special skills and knowledge - you can cope with it on your own. The tile fits seamlessly both on the flawless surface and on the joints.

The material is supplied in the form of tiles in standard sizes. Their small width and flat shape make the installation process simple and convenient. Exact imitation of a brick is possible due to a special composition, which also determines other characteristics of the tile. It is based on the addition of acrylic, sand and special pigments to the sand-polymer solution. This not only achieves a characteristic appearance, but also a good resistance of the material to mechanical damage.

The hallway is most often tiled with flexible brick-like tiles, but the kitchen and the balcony are strong competition for it. In addition, it is used to decorate fireplace portals, columnar ensembles, as well as other decorative interior designs.

The material is very fond of using to place accents of the point type. For example, it can be used to designate a door or window opening.

The tiles are available in various colors, so you can combine them at your discretion. In this way, interesting design solutions can be achieved.

Speaking about the benefits of flexible tiles, the following should be noted:

• the tile is resistant to external influences and is able to withstand mechanical stress;
• it is environmentally friendly and completely safe from the point of view of toxicity;
• the material is non-flammable, which gives a guarantee of safety in case of fire;
• the effect of steam does not have a damaging effect on the tile;
• its aesthetics and ability to imitate expensive or beautiful materials are highly valued;
• the external environment does not have a significant effect on the material, and even the sun's rays are not able to damage it over time;

• flexible tiles serve for a long time, eliminating the need for periodic renewal of repairs;
• temperature effects do not affect the material - in summer it is as strong and beautiful as in winter;
• it is easily and easily cut - anyone who loves to make repairs with their own hands can do this;
• since repair with such a tile does not require additional corner mounting elements, it turns out to be economical and inexpensive;
• laying the material is quite simple and does not require much time;
• Since flexible tiles are elastic by definition, they are well suited for all types of subfloors.

As for the cons, there are much fewer of them:

• the tile needs special care and attention, while it cannot be wiped with alkaline agents;
• for ultra-modern interiors, such a facing material may seem inappropriate - it should be laid where the style and furnishings of the room correspond to it;
• the material is very expensive due to the fault of some manufacturers, who can inflate prices;
• it is better to purchase the entire required volume of tiles entirely from one batch, since products can vary from batch to batch, and this cannot but affect the appearance of the material;
• the consumer can easily be misled by unscrupulous suppliers of goods with low quality, therefore, it is necessary to purchase certified products from large retailers.

As you can see, the advantages of flexible tiles significantly outweigh its disadvantages, so it is considered the most optimal and almost traditional choice for renovation work in the kitchen, in the hallway or on the balcony.

The market offers brick tiles with various markings. It can be purchased with RF, NF or WF marks. This or that marking indicates a specific size of the product. The dimensions of the tiles must be taken into account by first measuring the area of ​​the room and marking it. For example, you can buy Ecobrick 210x50 mm.

Since there are as many manufacturers of flexible tiles as there are color solutions, choosing a material for a brick will not be difficult even for an inexperienced consumer. The range of shades is so rich that the assortment is suitable for any room with its more or less expressive interior.

There are manufacturers who even offer the buyer to order a specific color and tone of the finishing material, which is immediately produced. However, there is a high probability that such a service will be more expensive than the ready-made version. In addition, the volume of the produced batch will be limited by the production capacity.

In addition to the color scheme and size, flexible tiles are presented in varieties that have different thicknesses, costs and external texture. It is not easy to choose from such a variety, but it is definitely worth trying.

After the decision was made to purchase flexible tiles for cladding and no other, before buying, it is worth deciding once again on a number of parameters:

• the material should have such an appearance that would be harmoniously combined with the interior of the room in which it is supposed to make a partial or complete renovation. The style and general concept of the room should not run counter to the brick-like tiles, which can both ruin it and complement it, depending on the thoughtfulness of the overall "picture" of the room or balcony;
• the color of the tiles should not be fully determined by personal preferences - you also need to evaluate the overall range of the interior, since the abundance of colors can become a fly in the ointment that will ruin everything;
• if the consumer wants the repair to become long-term, and the used facing material has served for a long time, you need to pay attention to the proper quality of the purchased product. It is unacceptable to make a purchase of dubious tiles that will lose their color in summer ultraviolet radiation or crumble at negative temperatures;
• cost can be decisive for many consumers - in this case, you need to focus on the "golden ratio" - the optimal balance of quality and price;
• pay attention to the composition of the product, too, will never be superfluous. If flexible tiles are to be used in a residential interior, its safety, the absence of toxic, harmful to human health impurities and additives in the composition is extremely important.

After the choice is made, you can proceed directly to the decoration. But before you start renovating, you need to familiarize yourself with the options for using flexible tiles.

When planning a renovation, you need to decide on the purposes for which the tile is used.

Most often, it is used for revealing walls in unusual and original rooms. Complex structures, which can be curvilinear and difficult to access, get off a little less often. These are various decorative elements such as fireplaces, arches, stair steps, etc.

If we bear in mind the high resistance of the material to moisture, it becomes clear why many use it in bathrooms and other rooms where suspended water vapor does not make it possible to use another finish, for example, wallpaper.

Furniture fronts are a rare but interesting base for decoration. As a rule, these are kitchen sets, which turn out to be quite extravagant and unusual. Such headsets easily fit into a stylish interior and bring a special chic to it.

Installation of flexible tiles is a fairly simple process, subject to almost anyone. It does not require the use of special or expensive tools.

Be sure to pay attention to the choice of a suitable glue. It should be designed specifically for this material. The glue can be sold either in the form of a ready-made mixture or in the form of a dry powder, which must be diluted with the amount of water specified in the instructions.

Laying steps:

• the wall must be prepared by leveling and thoroughly cleaning. The leveling mortar is used for abrupt transitions. After applying it, the wall must be primed. At the same time, the primer should contain antiseptics - in this case, the base will adhere better to the tile, and the glue will manifest itself in full force;
• the quality of adhesion will be much worse if the temperature in the room is below +5 degrees Celsius - you should take care of maintaining the temperature above this value;
• the wall needs to be marked under the tiles;

• the adhesive solution is applied to the wall in an even layer, while it should not be too thick - a thickness of no more than 2 mm is recommended. Apply glue with an ordinary spatula, and distribute it over the base with a notched;
• the tiles are laid on the base in rows. In order for the drawing to turn out to be interesting, the 1st row must be started with a whole tile, and the 2nd - with its half. This sequence must be followed in the future. Scissors are quite suitable for cutting tiles, since it is elastic and lends itself well to them. It is necessary to ensure that the seams have the same thickness everywhere;
• the advantage of flexible tiles is that no grout is used to finish the joints - you just need to distribute the remaining glue with a brush.

The process of installing flexible tiles is not difficult and everyone can do it. Without extra costs for expensive tools, hiring specialists and additional repair materials, using flexible tiles, you can achieve a beautiful and interesting result. Moreover, it has mostly positive reviews. You just need to carefully consider the choice of material and instructions for its installation. If these simple conditions are met, the result of the finishing will delight for a long time.

See below for a master class on laying flexible tiles.