Russian-made clinker tiles: selection rules

For many years, the building materials market has been pleasing consumers with the opportunity to purchase clinker tiles. This product is in special demand among the population, not only because of its attractive appearance, but also because of its excellent properties.

Despite the fact that Russian-made clinker tiles began to compete with the goods of foreign firms not so long ago, many domestic buyers have already managed to figure out and understand for themselves all the rules for choosing a useful product.

Clinker tiles are a type of lining material that is obtained by firing clay at a temperature of at least 1100C. Various oxides and other components are added to the mixture. By its structure, clinker tiles resemble stone.

Facing with such thermal panels from Russian manufacturers has a number of advantages:

• Nice appearance. Perfectly even geometric proportions imitate brick. The cladding looks neat, ennobles any surface;
• Saving heat... A special method of laying according to the "thorn-groove" technology contributes to the creation of a special microclimate in the cladding, due to which up to 50% of the heat is retained in the room decorated with this product;
• Environmental friendliness... Natural raw materials from which the tiles are made are non-toxic, absolutely safe for humans and the environment. Insulation and thermal base of panels (expanded polystyrene and polyurethane foam) do not harm. Moreover, they cannot be affected by fungus and mold;
• Frost resistance... A useful feature of the coating is achieved due to its low moisture absorption. Serious temperature changes do not affect the clinker tiles in any way: they do not lose their characteristics and meet all European standards and requirements;
• Color stability... Provided by the presence of natural ingredients in the product;
• Fast and easy installation. Before laying clinker tiles, no preliminary work is required regarding the preparation of the surface, which must be beautifully decorated. There is no need to putty and level anything. The only time-consuming and time-consuming process is grouting;

• Sustainability to the effects of alkali and acids;
• Two in one - cladding and insulation. When laying such a tile, additional insulation of the facades is not required. Clinker panels will not only decorate the facade, but also insulate the facing building;
• Affordable price... Tiles of Russian brands cost much less than imported counterparts, while the quality of the domestic product is no worse. This factor is important, given the ability to pay of the majority of the population.

Also, the advantages of clinker products include the fact that they are able to withstand heavy loads. It is a very reliable material, which is 5-6 times stronger than concrete in terms of strength. The product is monolithic, ideal for laying on the porch and other surfaces with high traffic, has no weak points, and therefore has such a high strength. No damage to this construction product is terrible... Cracks will not appear on it, even after many years of service, and there certainly cannot be cavities.

However, clinker also has certain disadvantages. Although the cost of a domestic product is much lower than a foreign one, such tiles still cost more than usual.But if you take into account all its advantages, it is better to overpay a little and get a product that will serve its owners for many years, and will not lose either its original appearance or properties provided by the manufacturer.

Trends in modern construction and renovation work indicate that clinker tiles are quite a popular and popular finishing material. It is not at all surprising that the largest factories built on the territory of the Russian Federation began to open workshops for the production of this beautiful and reliable product:

• LSR Group. For the production of clinker bricks, it uses imported equipment and high-quality raw materials of local origin. The result is a superior product at an attractive price that is lower than imported panels. LSR Group strives not only to produce high-quality goods, but also not to yield to foreign companies in a variety of colors and decor, as well as in the choice of additional elements.

• LLC "Kerolight". Technological processes within the walls of the plant include not only the manufacture of ordinary ceramic tiles, but also the creation of clinker tiles.
• Ecolinker. The Russian company specializes in ceramic products and offers not only outdoor clinker tiles, but also bricks, paving clinkers, stair treads and other construction products.

Despite the fact that the beginning of the production of clinker tiles was laid in Holland, this product is now being created in many other European countries. Russia is no exception. According to many experts and ordinary people, the domestic product is a worthy competitor to the imported one.

You need to start choosing panels by defining a color palette. On this basis, professionals conditionally divide clinker into the following groups:

1. Brick color;
2. Beige;
3. Yellow;
4. Dark.

The second step in the selection is to determine the texture of the slabs. The options in this case are much smaller compared to the color scheme. As a rule, clinker tiles are produced:

• smooth and overflow;
• with sprinkling and embossed;
• hand molded.

The price of tiles with a complex texture will be higher than that of other models. The purchase of lining material, or rather the choice of texture, largely depends on the financial well-being of the buyer, and not on his preferences. It is worth remembering: the more embossed the top layer of the product, the higher its cost.

There is one more important characteristic of the tile texture, which is quite deceiving. Intricate reliefs at a great distance are quite difficult to see, but in a room where the lighting is constantly changing, the surface of such a product will begin to "play" with different colors, surprising everyone present.

The complex surface of the tiles used as flooring material is ideal from a safety point of view, since people do not slip when walking on it. This is especially important for rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, kitchens).

It is worth paying attention to the grout, which acts as a connecting link between the cladding and the surface on which it is laid. The cladding and decoration plates should be in harmony in color, but at the same time contrast with each other.

You will learn about the features of installing clinker tiles on facades from the following video.