Terracotta tiles: application features

Terracotta used to be used by craftsmen to create interior items, bas-reliefs, sculptures. At the present time, this material is used in various fields. With its help, lining of stoves and fireplaces is carried out.

After reading this article, you will learn about the advantages, features of the use of terracotta tiles, the nuances of choosing such a finishing material.

Such tile coatings are created using white chamotte clay. This material is highly resistant to high temperatures. By firing clay, manufacturers create durable products with a coarse-grained structure. Such tile materials are outwardly similar to Prague bricks and stones.

There are terracotta coatings of black, reddish, brownish shades. These materials go well with a wide variety of design styles. Their texture looks very beautiful, it becomes a unique highlight of the interior.

Typically, such materials are chosen in order to clad fireplaces and stoves. However, other options for using such tile coverings are also possible. Such materials can, for example, be used to clad the facades of houses: these coatings are resistant to low temperatures and have a long service life. They are also used for wall cladding, flooring (such products do not cease to be aesthetic even in cases where they constantly interact with shoes, so they are well suited for hallways).

There are many advantages to such tile materials.

The most significant pluses:

• ease of care;
• resistance to sunlight, ultraviolet;
• fire resistance, frost resistance;
• environmental friendliness, safety for human health;
• resistance to liquid.

Terracotta tile coverings differ not only in colors, but also in shapes. The most popular are square and rectangular products, but hexagonal options are also on sale.

Such materials are created on a machine or by hand. Handcrafted products tend to be more expensive, as minor imperfections on the tiles only make them more sophisticated.

When purchasing tile materials from terracotta, you need to take into account certain nuances. If you want to cover a small area, make sure that all products are from the same batch and do not differ from each other in color.

If the area is significant, and there are many tiles, but the products belong to different parties - just mix all the materials you have. Even if they differ in shades, the overall composition will look very interesting.

When choosing a suitable option for a fireplace or stove, make sure that the thickness of the products is at least 8 mm. Opt for a notched finish. Such a tile will adhere well to the mortar. Some products are installed using special locking systems.

You will have to spend a lot of time on installation work.

The cladding should be carried out in several stages:

• preparation of the basis;
• preparation of glue;
• laying tiles;
• work with seams.

If the basis is old brickwork, you need to remove various deposits, dust, dirt, grease from it. It is the cleanliness of the surface that will determine how well the tile will lay.

If you have recently installed a fireplace or stove, wait about a month before tiling. Shrinkage should occur. Otherwise, it is quite possible that cracks will appear on the tile materials after a while. The tiles may even start to fall off.

In some cases, heat-resistant terracotta coatings are used for lining saunas and baths. Check the surface for fungus before laying the tiles. Make sure the base is dry. If you find mold or mildew, treat the surface with a special primer. It will not only help to deal with the problem, but also prevent the occurrence of mold in the future.

Cracks and chips on the surface can be removed with a fire-resistant cement mortar. After use, it must be allowed to dry completely.

You can choose one of the following options:

• A mixture of sand and cement. Such a solution can be made by hand.
• A mastic that is resistant to high temperatures. It can be purchased ready-made. It dries quickly, provides good adhesion, this material is plastic. The tiled coating will fix well within a few hours. In this case, the material consumption will be small.

• Special adhesives for tiles. They are based on cement. Such materials are highly resistant to high temperatures. These compositions are also distinguished by elasticity and plasticity. With the help of such glue, the laying of tile materials can be carried out as efficiently as possible, but the cost of such compositions is quite high.

If you are going to dilute the adhesive, read the instructions for it and take into account all the recommendations that are indicated there. You shouldn't prepare a lot of glue right away if you haven't worked with tiles before. Lack of experience can simply waste a significant portion of the material.

Some people prefer not to spend money on special glue, but to create a material suitable for installation work on their own.

This option is suitable if:

• you have everything you need to prepare the solution at hand;
• a little work (in this case, spending money on a special adhesive is impractical).

The solution is made as follows:

• mix the sand and cement dry;
• add liquid;
• add salt, asbestos;
• using a construction mixer, mix the mortar thoroughly.

Start laying tile materials from the corners. This will give the finish to the finish and make it look like brickwork. The adhesive should be spread on the grooved side of the tile. With a notched trowel, you can control the layer thickness.

Apply the adhesive not only to the tile materials, but also to the base itself. The coating will only last long if you fill in all the gaps and ensure that the tiles are firmly in place. To correct the position of the product, press it against the surface and lay it down as needed.

It is necessary to cut terracotta tile materials using a grinder; it is not recommended to use any other tools.

Pre-mark the part to be deleted. It should be remembered that terracotta tiles are not resistant to mechanical stress. Cut very carefully, otherwise the product may be damaged.

The next day, you will need to grout. This can be done with the help of special mixtures that are characterized by thermal stability. Remember that the mixture must be prepared, focusing on the recommendations that are indicated in the instructions.

Using a grout gun will give you the best results. You need to move along each seam, the mixture should be equal to the tile materials. You can get rid of excess mixture using a screwdriver or a knife blade. You can make the seams as smooth as possible with your fingers (to protect the skin of your hands, it is recommended to work with gloves).

When grouting, make sure that the mixture does not end up on the tile floor. If this does happen, do not wash it right away. So the mixture will only be distributed over the embossed tiles, and it will be very difficult to get rid of it. Wait until the grout hardens and you can clean it off with a knife blade.

Usually white grout is used, but you can get other shades by using different colors. The role of colors will be played by metal oxides.

If the dirt on the tile materials is strong enough, you need to use products that can be used to remove the stains. A common floor cleaner may work for this.

You can remove small dirt, dust with cleaning wipes. To maintain the aesthetics of the appearance of the tile floor, polish the surface using a wax composition.

Terracotta tiles are ideal when you need not only aesthetics, but also heat resistance. However, when carrying out installation work, certain recommendations must be taken into account. If you use high-quality material and do everything right, the tiles will look very beautiful and will last as long as possible.

For information on how to properly make the facing of the stove with terracotta tiles, see the next video.