Ceramic granite is one of the mostpopular types of flooring. Due to the combination of high strength, durability and decorative properties, it is also used in interior decoration and landscape design. At the same time, laying of porcelain stoneware is not an easy task, since the material is characterized by a large mass and solid structure that makes it difficult to process.
Preparation of material for work
Before installation operations should be maderevision of each party element. The integrity of the structure and the cleanliness of the surfaces is evaluated. It is important that the back side is degreased and ready for gluing. Difficulties may arise except with the processing of the material.
Top cutting quality with clean edgeswill allow you to get a factory sawing machine for stone or a waterjet machine, but at home it’s not worth counting on. But you can restrict electric tile cutters or grinder with a diamond disc for the tile.
Porcelain tile is quite amenable and non-standardmachining with the creation of holes. To do this, you can apply a special model of a tile cutter, provided by a ballerina, and a powerful electric drill with a corresponding nozzle-cutter.
Work surface preparation
It is recommended to lay any tiled materialon a clean, even and technically stable base. The specific list of preparatory activities will depend not only on the type and condition of the rough coating, but also on the option of laying porcelain stoneware, since the installation conditions are different.
Например, технологии фиксации по системе теплого the floor and gluing to the old tiled flooring suggest discrepancies in installation approaches. So, in the first case, pre-laying of hydro and vapor insulation with a reliable layer of insulation is required. In the case of tiles, it may be necessary to dismantle shaky elements, which are revealed by tapping.
Все имеющиеся или вновь обнаруженные дефекты are treated with a putty or primer, according to the characteristics of the corresponding base - concrete, wood, ceramics, etc. The most favorable surface for the installation of porcelain stoneware is a screed from a self-leveling mixture.
What glue porcelain?
Again, much will depend on conditions.coating operation. As a universal solution, it is possible to recommend thick-layer compositions, which are designed specifically for large tiles, porcelain stoneware and stone. By the way, the installation layer without wavy ribs to increase adhesion in height will have 10-12 mm. If, on a draft basis, even minor defects remain after the preparatory work, then leveling glue should be used for laying porcelain stoneware, which can eliminate cavities and bulges up to 5 mm. The effect of smoothing is provided, but you should not rely fully on the repair and restoration function of the adhesive mass. For such tasks it is better to provide priming mixtures.
With regard to external conditions, it is important to considerclimatic characteristics - temperature and humidity. If we are talking about installation on the street in order to form a tiled path, then preference is given to highly elastic and cold-resistant compositions. First, such a base will not lose its properties with strong temperature drops, and secondly, the tile will retain stability under mechanical loads.
At home can also occurthreats from moisture and heat. For example, high-quality laying of porcelain stoneware in the bathroom is possible on a two-component epoxy mixture, which, thanks to the monolithic structure, is distinguished by high moisture resistance.
General laying technology
Traditional and basic installation methodsuggests the installation direction from the corner. To hold the masonry line, stretch the rope parallel to the intended seam. The material should be laid along this contour, strictly fixing the edges at the junction points with the help of mounting crosses-struts. These are plastic elements that allow you to customize interlayer stitches for the same format throughout the whole site.
Glue is applied with a height of 8-10 mm, but alreadyit was said that the thickness of this layer can reach 12 mm. The classic way of laying porcelain stoneware on the floor does not require a large amount of adhesive solution. The quality of fixation will depend on how correctly the tiler has performed the edge of the laid glue. This simple operation can be performed with a serrated metal spatula with a tooth length of 10-15 mm. For porcelain tiles 12 mm will be enough.
The presence of edges or waves on the adhesive solutionwill increase the tenacity and adhesive qualities of laying. Press the tile gently and without sudden movements, not forgetting about the correctness of the position of the coating elements.
Diagonal styling
Due to the complexity of machining, thismounting option rarely used with ceramic granite. But if there is a clear task for a diagonal cover device and there is a tool for cutting elements in half for a side installation, then this configuration can also be realized.
Most often use the layout with compliance with the seam.It is simpler in the installation technique, and in the visual effect, it is not as good for the alternative methods. Starting from the edges, it is necessary to lay the halved halves of the tile so that the entire line is closed. On the left corners in the form of diamonds, the installation of solid elements will continue.
The main difficulty lies in the fact that stylingporcelain stoneware diagonally in completed form should provide symmetry on all sides of the coating. That is, the angled oblique fragments on each side will have the same size. To compensate for the excess or reduction in size can transitional rectangular fragments that visually look like bumpers or powders.
Features laying on a wooden floor
The problem of mounting on a wooden base isin its instability. Even in the presence of perfectly laid lag, their integrity and strength, massive plates deform the base with their load over time. Therefore, the work will consist of two stages - stripping the existing coating and laying screed. As for the finishing of the wooden floor, you should make a complete replacement of damaged and rotted elements with new ones, perform surface polishing and, if necessary, install a rigid substrate.
The second stage is to perform the screed.As noted above, a self-leveling solution is the best option. It is not necessary to make too thick a coating for laying porcelain stoneware, but it is necessary to ensure a smooth surface. After drying the polymer coating, you can proceed to the installation of tiles according to the general technology.
Seamless styling
Visually, this coating creates an effect.solidity, but the complete elimination of gaps is not in question. The tiler does not deliberately create seams of a certain size and fixes the elements end-to-end, but 1-2 fragments will still separate 1-2 mm. Moreover, the difference of this technology is rather not in the configuration of the relative position of the tile, but in the initial preparation of the material.
High-quality seamless styling porcelainis possible only under the condition of rectified processing. This is a special finishing of the edges of the material in the factory, thanks to which elements can in principle be joined together without the risk of deformation. You should not forget that intermediate joints of 5-10 mm are also made for technological holding of the gap, which protects the material from overvoltage.
Rules for laying large format plates
Fundamentally, the installation technology differs little from the installation of conventional porcelain stoneware, but there are some nuances that, if taken into account, will help extend the service life of the coating:
- On a large site, it is recommended to use only square elements - for example, a 600 x 600 mm format.
- It is recommended to glue the material on a mixture of reinforced fixation. This adhesive is highly resistant to dynamic and static loads.
- Before laying large format porcelainA 3 mm primer layer should be applied, which will perform a leveling function during installation, and during operation it will level the loads from heavy tiles.
- After laying the elements of the coating, it is advisable to physically fix for the time of hardening of the glue, using special tile fittings - nuts with pressure washers and wedges.
Grouting
Clearance processing is an important technologicalan operation that makes expansion joints stronger and more tight. But for this you need a suitable grout composition. If polymeric and silicone products are used for conventional tiles, it is desirable to treat ceramic granite coatings with cement mixtures.
How is grouting done?With the help of trowels and spatulas, the design of which provides a special leveling groove for temperature-shrinkable joints. Sealing density will depend on the gaps with which the porcelain stoneware was laid. With your own hands, you first need to put in the seam a small mass of the solution, and then gently tamp it. When it is obvious that there are no voids left in the groove, you can finish the work with a decorative molding with a trowel tool.
Cleaning laid tiles
После монтажных работ и затирки на лицевых porcelain stoneware surfaces will certainly remain consumable. If the adhesive and grout traces have not yet dried out, then you can try to get rid of them alkaline and degreasing solutions. Use clean rags and napkins to gently wipe contaminated areas.
If this does not help, then for a few hoursleave marks wetted, then repeat the operation. Sometimes the laying of porcelain stoneware is performed on large areas with a delay in grouting and cleaning procedures. In such cases, the already hardened pieces of adhesive masses remain, which are not easily removed even by washing with potent chemistry. Only grinding tools or hard brushes will help. The main thing in such processing is not to damage the tile surface using sparing felt and felt nozzles.
Workflow Tips
In working with laying tile materials andEspecially with porcelain stoneware there are many nuances and subtle points, many of which have already been considered. But there are a number of tricks that will facilitate the installation technique and make the coating even better:
- If you plan to lay out complex mosaic or patterned patterns, then you need to start laying with the center of the room.
- After applying the adhesive, you must remember the periodpolymerization (solidification). The longer time the composition is in the open air, the worse will be the adhesion when laying tiles. The porcelain tile should be fixed immediately after the application of the adhesive composition, therefore the application of the method of single-piece masonry will be optimal.
- The geometry of the coating can be maintained not only with the help of expansion crosses, but also with the level, timely adjusting the height differences.
Conclusion
Толстые и тяжелые плиты керамического гранита require a lot of effort and time during installation. In this case, without the skills of a tiler high risk of being disappointed in the result. However, the laying of porcelain stoneware with all the difficulties will justify itself in the process of operation. This is the most reliable, durable and resistant coating that is used indoors. Outside this material lay out the paths, terraces and platforms that retain their appearance for decades.
