Terracotta tiles: pros and cons

Terracotta tiles have many advantages - they are beautiful, reliable, and have a long service life. Terracotta tiles are made from environmentally friendly materials that do not harm humans at all.

Terracotta tiles are made from pure white kaolin clay, which is fired in an oven at a very high temperature. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, sun, frost, wind and rain, the product does not change its shape and appearance, it is advisable to use it for finishing a stone wall, chimneys, fireplaces, floor design, it can also be used for a sauna, bathroom, kitchen, toilet.

The material contains only natural ingredients. During production, you can get a product of different colors - from light brown, red-brown to fiery or even black. Thanks to this, a semblance of a natural material is achieved. Products are obtained with different surfaces: smooth, coarse-grained or polished.

Usually terracotta tiles are used to decorate stoves, they are also used in saunas. This material is lightweight, comfortable and practical. They are often faced with fireplaces, stoves or barbecue because of its increased heat resistance. Imitating stone, brick, wood, you can make the design of the room much more interesting. They also use it with insufficiently successful finishing. After laying with terracotta tiles, the flaws of an inexperienced master become completely invisible.

When heated, this material does not emit odors, does not evaporate, which is very important, especially if it is used for saunas and steam rooms. Often the material is used for flooring, it has high durability, does not lose its appearance with constant interaction with shoes.

The material is made in two ways: by hand molding and industrially. With manual stamping, the finished product may not have quite the correct shape, different colors due to the fact that different types of clay are mixed here. A handmade product is valued much higher, since all the irregularities and roughness that occur during this process add sophistication and sophistication to the product.

In industrial production, the tiles are even, with a smooth surface, the color is almost always uniform. Glazing is often used in industrial production, so the material is more decorative and more similar to hand-made products. Glazed tiles become more resistant to moisture and dirt.

Due to the fact that the material can be used to give the interior originality, comfort, it can be used in different versions. To create an unusual design, you can use terracotta tiles of different sizes, qualities, textures:

• for flooring, a square shape is usually used;
• when facing walls, fences, floors, tiles are used that are in the shape of bricks, that is, rectangular;
• to create original ideas in the design of the room, a product of a chaotic shape is used;
• Variable tiles are used to imitate marble colors.

Terracotta of different colors and textures are used to create a unique interior. You can imitate old brickwork, create the texture of rough chipped stones, one-color or multi-colored stone, small placer.

If you are purchasing material for yourself and its volume is not very large, make sure that you choose a product from the same batch. So you get the material of the same tone and texture.

When choosing a tile, keep in mind that there are three types of tiles:

• tiles that are almost perfect, with no difference in size, shade, without irregularities at the edges;
• the second type includes material with rare defects;
• it is better not to acquire the third type, since this is a low-quality material, a marriage.

When choosing, do not forget to make sure that the back side of it is grooved, this will provide the best grip.

Such material certainly has great advantages:

• the tile has great strength, durable;
• has high heat resistance. If you tiled stoves and fireplaces with terracotta tiles, you can increase the thermal effect several times;
• high frost resistance;
• high resistance to ultraviolet rays, sunlight;

• made from environmentally friendly materials;
• does not have a smell, hazardous ingredients in the composition;
• the material does not require special care;
• has a low weight. Thanks to this, it can be used on large surfaces without the need for special glue or additional reinforcement.

Of the minuses, one can only name the fact that the tile is quite fragile, so try to protect it from impacts, besides, it is exposed to mechanical stress.

At the initial stage, you should prepare the surface - remove stains, dirt, wash off the dirt. The adhesion of materials depends on how clean the surface is. When lining saunas or baths, make sure that the surface is completely dry, without fungus. To remove mold, use a special primer, it will prevent its further appearance.

Terracotta tiles are installed in the same way as ceramic tiles. The surface is immediately leveled, then the laying process takes place. If the tile is industrial, then it has smooth edges, therefore, glue is applied only to the base. If the tile is handcrafted, it is best to apply it to the back of the tile as well.

Lay the tiles on the surface, taking into account the pattern, so you will avoid errors and discrepancies. Lay the tiles starting in the center of the room. Make sure that it is laid out evenly, if necessary, tighten the elements that protrude. If there is a need to cut the tiles, you can use a grinder and a special diamond disc.

After carrying out all the laying work, it is necessary to wait a certain time and start grouting. You can use a grouting mixture or a special mastic, which is used for fireplaces, stoves, saunas, that is, for rooms with high temperatures.

It is better to use a gun for grouting. The mixture is made according to the instructions. Use a pistol to fill the gaps with the grout mixture, let stand for two hours and remove any residue. Put on your gloves and use your fingers to fully align the seam.

Terracotta tiles are often used on any surface, not only indoors, but also outside. This material is not expensive, has good properties, and is easy to use. Natural textures allow you to create interesting images, give the interior originality and uniqueness.

It is a natural and high-quality material that allows you to veneer surfaces with high temperature resistance. It is used to decorate floors, walls, fences. By choosing this tile, you are choosing reliability, availability and durability.

For information on how to make a heat-resistant screen for sauna stoves with terracotta tiles, see the following videos.