Porcelain stoneware for walls: main types

Porcelain stoneware is one of the most popular materials for wall cladding, which is used for both exterior and interior decoration. Porcelain stoneware tiles have quite a few advantages over other finishing materials. Such material attracts consumers not only with its high quality, but also with its aesthetic appearance. It is worth considering in more detail the main types and features of such a building material.

Porcelain stoneware is a modern artificial material, similar in characteristics and appearance to natural stone. Most often, this material is found in the form of tiles, which have a grainy texture. Such tiles are very popular. This building material is used for external and internal wall cladding, as well as flooring. Porcelain stoneware tiles are of high quality due to their composition and production technology.

For the production of such building materials, the following components are used:

• high quality clay of two types;
• quartz sand;
• feldspar;
• natural mineral components for coloring.

The components are mixed and tiles are formed from the resulting mass, which are pressed under high pressure (500 kgf / cm2). Then the tile is fired at a temperature of 1300 degrees. Due to the high temperature after firing, a hard, moisture-resistant tile is formed, which has a high density.

Porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles have identical components. However, at the same time, these building materials differ significantly from each other in terms of technical characteristics. The differences are due to the difference in the manufacturing technology of materials.

Ceramics are fired at a temperature of 1100 degrees, and it is 200 degrees less than the temperature required for processing porcelain stoneware. The pressure indicators under which the plates are pressed also differ.

Ceramic tiles are subjected to half the pressure than porcelain stoneware. For this reason, ceramics are thinner and less durable.

The modern market of finishing materials abounds in various types of wall coverings. Porcelain stoneware is especially popular.

The main advantages of this building material are as follows:

• High strength indicators. Porcelain stoneware tiles withstand significant surface pressure.
• Resistance to various mechanical influences.
• Wall cladding from the outside with porcelain stoneware allows you to increase the level of sound and heat insulation.
• Resistant to temperature extremes.
• Resistance to natural influences.
• High heat resistance. Such material is not subject to combustion, and also prevents the spread of fire.

• Environmental friendliness and safety for health. No chemical additives are used in the production of this material.
• Ease of care. It is enough to periodically wipe the walls lined with porcelain stoneware with a damp cloth. For stubborn dirt, it is permissible to use cleaning agents.
• Insensitive to solvents, acids and alkalis.
• Minimal moisture absorption.
• A variety of shades, shapes, sizes and textures. The tiles can be matched to any interior design.
• In the event of mechanical damage (cracks, scratches), the tile will not lose its attractive appearance. This is due to the fact that the tiles are completely painted over: coloring agents are part of the materials from which the coating is made.

Porcelain stoneware tiles also have their drawbacks.

Cons of this material:

• Installation of tiles has certain features, such work is quite difficult. It will not be easy to work with such material without skills and abilities.
• High price.
• In the event of serious damage, the tiles cannot be repaired.
• Considerable weight. The porcelain stoneware coating will create additional stress on the walls.
• Such material is difficult to cut. This requires the use of special tools.

All the advantages of ceramic granite are due to the specific technical characteristics of the material.

Let's consider the main characteristics of porcelain stoneware in more detail:

• High resistance to mechanical stress and abrasion. Porcelain stoneware can withstand up to five hundred kilograms of load without being damaged. It will also be difficult to scratch such material. According to the Mohs scale, porcelain stoneware (depending on the specific type) can have a hardness of 5 to 8 units. The maximum hardness index on this scale is 10 units.

• Moisture absorption coefficient. There are almost no pores in the tile structure. The moisture absorption coefficient is almost zero, it is 0.05%. Neither ceramic tiles nor natural stone have such low indicators.
• Resistant to temperature changes. The material perfectly tolerates sharp temperature changes (in the range from -50 to +50 degrees). Porcelain stoneware will not tarnish from direct sunlight and will not lose its performance due to adverse natural influences.

There are several types of porcelain stoneware wall tiles, each of which has its own characteristics. According to the structure of the material and the method of processing, porcelain stoneware is divided into:

• Unpolished (matte). The cost of this type of porcelain stoneware is relatively low, since during production the material is not subjected to additional processing (after the firing procedure). The coating has a smooth, slightly rough and absolutely non-slippery surface. The disadvantages of matte tiles include a rather simple appearance.

• Polished (glossy). Has a shiny, reflective surface, as the finished tile is sanded. Such a facing material is perfect for a living room decorated in a classic style. It is best used for interior wall decoration rather than flooring. Polished tiles become slippery when exposed to moisture.
• Semi-polished (lappated). There are both matte and glossy areas on the surface.

• Satin-finished. The surface is characterized by a soft shine and velvety. Before firing, the tiles are coated with minerals (with different melting points).
• Mosaic porcelain stoneware. A panel is laid out from such a tile, but this process is quite laborious. Manufacturers produce mosaic tiles with a ready-made pattern, but they can also make materials to order - according to the customer's sketches.

• Glazed. After preliminary firing, glaze is applied to the material, after which the firing procedure is repeated once more. Such tiles are distinguished by a variety of shades. The disadvantage is the low level of wear resistance. Such porcelain stoneware is suitable for a hallway, bedroom, living room.
• Structured. The surface of such a material is capable of imitating almost any texture.The tiles can be made for wood, fabric or leather. Sometimes patterns are applied to the embossed surface.

Porcelain stoneware tiles vary in size.

The most common options are:

• Sixty by sixty centimeters. Such products are convenient to use as floor coverings.
• Twenty by twenty centimeters.
• Five by five centimeters.
• Large-format ceramic granite (1.2 x 3.6 meters). A material of this large size is excellent for cladding the outer walls of a building.

Porcelain stoneware has many advantages (when compared with other finishing materials). However, certain difficulties may arise during the installation process. To get a good result after finishing work, you must follow certain recommendations.

If you are going to purchase wall-mounted porcelain stoneware, you need to calculate the approximate amount of material that you will need. It is worth considering that when carrying out finishing work, a certain amount of tiles will need to be cut. The cutting process for porcelain stoneware is quite difficult, and some of the material may deteriorate.

When you are going to start interior decoration, you need to prepare the wall. First, you need to remove the old coating from the wall surface. Porcelain stoneware should only be laid on a flat surface.

There should be no cracks, chips, or various irregularities on the walls. If there are cracks on the surface, you can fix the situation with epoxy glue, putty or cement. Having eliminated the cracks, you will need to prime the surface.

Having prepared the wall, you need to decide where the masonry will start from. Then you will need to apply the markup. Most often, the cladding starts from the far wall.

Cut tiles are usually laid out next to the door. When laying tiles, you can use a seamless method. However, this method is rather complicated, and not everyone can lay tiles using this technology.

Another important task is the selection of the adhesive mixture. Since there are practically no pores in ceramic granite, it will not work to put it on a cement mortar. Glue that contains water is also not suitable for styling. You can buy special glue at a hardware store or make an analogue of it at home. To make the glue, you need cement, as well as sand and acrylic (you can replace it with latex).

For information on how to choose porcelain stoneware tiles, see the next video.