Many people think about how to tile the stove . If the heating device has lost its original appearance, then such a cladding may well replace the old layer of plaster. If the oven was whitened or stained, then after some time its appearance had to be updated. But if you correctly lay the tile, then it will be ready to serve for several decades.
Finishing is carried out not only to make the stove look attractive, but also to preserve the layer of plaster, which acts as a protective barrier that does not allow the seams between the bricks to open. Among other things, the tile has a high heat capacity, so when heated, it itself gives off heat to the room for a long time, not allowing the stove to cool quickly.
Previously, tiles were laid only on mortar, and today it is customary to use new methods that over time can replace the facing material with a new one. However, before starting the finishing work, it is necessary to carry out some measures that are no less important for the safe use of the furnace and the quality laying of materials.
Preparatory work
If you have a question about how to tile the stove, then you need to start the process with the preparation of tools, including:
- spatulas;
- tile cutter;
- pencil;
- metal ruler;
- building level;
- electric drill;
- container for glue.
As for spatulas, you will need several varieties, among them:
- toothed;
- normal;
- angular;
- rubber.
The first is needed for applying and distributing glue. It is recommended to purchase a tool with a tooth height of 6 mm. But a straight putty knife, which is also needed, will be required to clean the surface. To design the corners, you should purchase a corner spatula, but you can close the seams between the tiles with a rubber tool.
Among other things, you should take care of the presence of an electric drill, which will have a nozzle in the form of a mixer. So you can knead glue. In addition to the construction level, you should purchase or find a plumb. For marking, you may need a pencil or marker. When performing the installation, it is best to have at hand:
- scissors for metal;
- hammer;
- riveter.
For the manufacture of corners, you may need a rubber or wooden hammer. Perhaps you should take care of the presence of a drill with a set of metal drills.
Preparation of materials
Quite often, beginner home masters wonder about how to tile the stove . If you are also one of them, then you need to prepare the following materials:
- heat resistant glue;
- grout;
- primer;
- baseboard.
As for glue, it is necessary to choose the one that is intended for facing stoves and fireplaces. But if the tile will be installed dry, then you should prepare:
- galvanized iron sheet;
- aluminum two-meter strips;
- steel corner.
As for the steel sheet, its thickness should be equal to the limit from 0.6 to 0.9 mm. Aluminum strips will have a width within 20 mm, they will be useful for the manufacture of the frame where the guides will be installed.
Tile selection
The choice of tile depends not only on the type of furnace, but also on the characteristics inherent in the material. Stoves can be heating, heating, cooking, kitchen or made in the form of fireplaces. Each variety has a specific duration of the heating and cooling cycle.
Ovens may also differ in heating temperature, so it is logical to assume that the tile should be selected taking into account these features of operation. Cladding material must be resistant to high temperatures. In general, the stove can be covered with any tile, but not every variety of it is suitable for these purposes. For facing, you can use heat-resistant (heat-resistant, fire-resistant and heat-resistant) tiles. The coefficient of thermal expansion in this case will be equal to the limit from 7 to 8%.
If you are faced with the question of how to tile the stove, then you must also take into account the strength of the material. Some varieties have a strength within 300 N / m 2 , which is much higher compared to concrete. Many consumers primarily pay attention to chemical inertness and environmental friendliness. When heated, the material should not emit harmful substances, so the chemical composition must be given increased attention.
Tile selection by other characteristics
In order for the furnace lining to serve for a long time, it is necessary to choose one that is resistant to scratches, wear and abrasion. For the reason that stove and stone tiles are installed for a long time, it is desirable that during this period it does not change its aesthetic qualities. In addition, the tile must be slightly porous. The higher this indicator, the lower the strength.
It is also necessary to take into account the coefficient of moisture absorption, it should not exceed 3%. If the coefficient increases, then the porosity increases and the strength decreases. Tiles for stoves must also be fire resistant. It’s good if there is a certificate for the material containing data about it.
The main types of tiles
Tile "Terracotta" is one of the varieties of material for facing heating equipment. The process of its production involves the use of a certain type of clay, as a result, it is possible to obtain a heat-resistant tile, which has proven itself as a facing material for fireplaces and stoves. Among the main features, high strength and the presence of terracotta tint, which can be glazed or unglazed, should be highlighted.
Due to the fact that the terracotta glazed tile is more attractive, it is used most often. Due to the fact that the products have vapor permeability and a special structure, this finish is recommended for use when facing furnaces in saunas and baths. It is easy to care for such a surface, it is heat resistant, and during installation it exhibits excellent adhesion to any surfaces.
Tile "Majolica"
Another variety of heat-resistant tiles - “Majolica”, which is a more advanced version of terracotta glazed tiles. Their characteristics are similar, the difference is only in appearance. Due to the fact that the “Majolica” pattern is applied in a thin layer, surface cracking is almost impossible. However, the “Majolica” tile is not recommended for lining stoves in a bathhouse or kitchen, as well as in rooms with high humidity, as the material has a porous structure.
Clinker tile selection
If you decide to use heat-resistant clinker tiles for stoves and fireplaces, then you need to seriously approach its choice. Heat resistance is indicated by the letter "T". Before you purchase the material, you must make sure that it is fire resistant. But as for the preferred thickness, then for the fireplace or stove, it should be 8 mm. It is impossible to use thinner only if it is not 6 mm, otherwise the material will experience constant heating and quickly collapse.
For cladding, the best are square tiles with a side of 120 mm. If the dimensions are quite large, and the thickness remains the same, then the strength and rigidity of the masonry are reduced. With increasing thickness, there are problems with fastening, because the glue is not able to maintain the impressive weight of the cladding. The color of the tile should change to a small extent, only if you do not use special decorative techniques.
Before laying the tiles on the brick oven, you must make sure that the products correspond to the exact dimensions. The point here is not even the aesthetic side of the issue, but the complexity of installation. After all, if the tiles will have different sizes, then they will not be able to be laid tightly to each other, therefore, before purchasing, the tile must be checked for compliance with geometric parameters. To do this, the two products are folded together, which will check whether there are gaps between the surfaces.
Preparatory work
Whatever finishing method you choose, the furnace surface must first be prepared, for this you need to remove the old layer of plaster. In order to make this work easier, the walls are wetted several times with water. If the coating is clay, then it can be removed with a spatula. But if there is a surface from a cement-based mortar, you may have to act with a hammer and a chisel. However, in the end, you should get the furnace wall completely freed from the old finish.
After you manage the plaster, you need to go over the surface with an iron brush or grinder, the last of which must be supplemented with a special nozzle. The surface is sprayed with water from the spray gun, and the seams of the brick are cleaned, it is necessary to go deeper by 10 mm. This is required so that the plaster is fixed to the wall.
If the masonry is new, then it should be dried well, and then cleaned of dust and residual mortar. As soon as these works are completed, the surface is primed, and the composition must fall to the full depth of the seams. Before proceeding with the laying of tiles for the oven, it is necessary to allow the base to dry. The optimal preparation will be a primer in 2 layers. The walls are checked for their straightness, because in the end you should get the foundation without drops. The process is carried out using a plumb line and a building level.
If you notice differences, then the wall will have to be leveled. This can be done with a stucco mixture, which is intended for finishing the furnace. If the layer is thin, then it is applied using a wide spatula, leveling the solution. But if it is necessary to form a thick layer, the solution is applied by spraying, and then leveled by the rule.
Glue selection
Before you start facing, you need to pick up glue. In order not to calculate the proportions, it is better to purchase a finished composition intended for decoration of fireplaces and stoves. Some craftsmen prefer to use a solution based on cement, adding salt or PVC to it. If you add a little salt, the substance will gain the ability to accumulate moisture, preventing the rapid drying of clay, concrete and glue.
Laying tiles
Laying tiles on the stove is carried out, starting from the bottom. At the first stage, it will be necessary to repulse the line of the first row. Marking is carried out using a colored cord. At first, the cladding can slide down, so a perforated metal corner must be installed along the line. It is fixed with dowels, which must be removed from each other by a distance of 200 mm.
Before you start facing the Russian stove with ceramic tiles with your own hands, you need to install perforated corners on the corners of the heater, which will allow you to make a corner joint. After preparation, you can proceed to the preparation of glue. The solution is infused for 10 minutes, only after that you can proceed to the installation of the first row.
With the help of a notched trowel, a glue mass is applied to the wall, after which it is distributed over an area equal to 7 tiles. On the surface covered with glue, it is necessary to lay the lining, and crosses between the individual tiles. When laying the Majolica tile, a gap can be left between the individual elements, the thickness of which will be 10 mm. Instead of crosses in this case, you can use chopped pieces of drywall.
Specialist advice
Tiles must be pressed against the wall, checking their position with a building level. Adhesive protruding from the seams must be removed immediately. The seam space should remain empty, because later it should be filled with grout. It is necessary to lay the tiles as evenly as possible, but the position of the products can be corrected within another 15 minutes. After this time, the glue will seize, and the lining will no longer be able to move.
After you finished the stove with tiles in the first four rows, you need to take a break for a couple of hours so that the glue grasps well. After laying, you can complete, and then leave for a day or 36 hours. It is important before this to take care of cleaning the surface of adhesive residues. At this stage, it will not be difficult to wipe it off, but after it finally grasps, it will be very difficult to remove the stains.
By laying brick tiles for stoves, you can proceed to grouting the seams. To do this, it is necessary to use heat-resistant compounds that can withstand about 200 ° C. The composition is selected by color, but do not choose white, as with temperature extremes it can get a dirty shade. Having completed the seams, you can proceed to wet cleaning. After some time, the mixture will be difficult to remove from the surface of the cladding and the floor.
Conclusion
Now you know how to lay tiles on an old stove. To do this, thoroughly clean the walls of the heater, and then cover them with a primer. It is important to ensure that the base is as even as possible, otherwise it is aligned. As for the masonry mortar, the best option is a heat-resistant adhesive for ceramic tiles, because you do not have to choose the ingredients yourself, as well as the proportions. The manufacturer has already done all this for the master. And cement compositions have many disadvantages. For fire resistance require additives to the composition.