Some Internet users are interested in what is a tile. It seems that the word has been around for a long time, and everyone knows that this is one of the varieties of ceramics. However, not everyone knows how this type of decoration differs from ordinary tiles.
So, the tile is called clay tile, burnt at high temperatures, designed for decorating walls, building facades, as well as furnaces. It differs from ordinary ceramic in that it has on the seamy side the so-called rump - a side around the entire perimeter that forms a box. Such a design makes the tile very easy to install when finishing surfaces. Today, when designing exteriors, and most often interiors, this type of decoration is also used as a tile. A fireplace, walls in the kitchen, in the hallway or even in the living room - this is the main field for applying this wonderful material. Glazed fired tiles can tolerate increased humidity, significant temperature changes, various mechanical influences without harm to themselves, do not decay, do not fade and look more than attractive.
Types of tiles
The stove tile may vary in appearance. In this regard, tiles are classified into:
- plain plain;
- plain embossed;
- smooth painted;
- painted relief;
- stucco.
All these varieties are very beautiful and are considered to be almost the highest quality type of ceramics. Different kinds of patterns and whole pictures with a clearly defined storyline - this is how stoves and walls can be decorated using such material as a tile. You can see photos of the designs finished by him on the page. Nowadays, interest in this type of finish has increased significantly. And so workshops specializing in the manufacture of just such cladding for stoves and walls began to be created. Most often they sell standard types of such tiles. However, if desired, you can order an exclusive kit designed for these specific stoves or interiors.
Meaning of the word “tile”
The exact meaning of this name for this type of ceramic is not known. However, it is assumed that it came from the word “cut”. The fact is that in the manufacture of such cladding, wooden forms were once used. The beauty of the tile in this case directly depended on the skill of the woodcarver. The more skillful the master was, the more original and more attractive the finished material was.
Perhaps the meaning of the word "tile" has several other roots. Some researchers draw a parallel between it and the word "pattern." The fact is that the latter was very common in Russia precisely in the heyday of tiled art.
Features of the design and installation of tiles
So, what is a tile, we found out. So called facing material made of clay. Next, let's see what are the features of the installation of this kind of finish. Facing with this material is not at all done like tile. Most often, tiles are used to decorate stoves. If you just put them on a solution or glue, due to the effects of high temperatures during heating, they will soon disappear. Concrete mixture is not used for the same reason, even when laying stoves. It is replaced with a clay solution.
Installation of tiles is carried out not on the finished furnace, but immediately - already in the process of laying it. In the sections of the rump, which are opposite in height, during the manufacture of tiles, holes are drilled into which a metal rod is inserted. Next, the box on the wrong side is filled with clay mortar, into which small brick gravel is pressed. When laying the furnace in this solution, a hole is selected to a metal rod. Further, a wire laps around it, the ends of which are laid between the bricks during the laying process. Traditionally, no seams between the tiles are left. The result is a beautiful and yet very reliable finish.
The history of tiles in Russia
Thus, you now know what a tile is and what are the features of its installation. Now let's take a short digression into the past and see when exactly this type of decoration appeared in Russia. The history of the manufacture of this type of facing material is inextricably linked with the history of the development of the art of masonry furnaces. Once upon a time in Russia, the hut was drowned "in the black" with the help of simple designs - a heater. However, later more modern stoves began to appear - with a chimney. Of course, the Russian love for decorating household items also touched on this important element of the hut. Clay tiles intended for the decoration of floors and buildings began to be produced in Russia as early as the 10-11th century. Then she was decorated mainly with churches and temples.
Actually, the stove tile itself appeared a little later - in the 16th century. At that time, it was an ordinary clay tile with a relief pattern. The subjects of the drawing on such a finish could be very different. Watering (an analogue of modern glaze) tiles began to process in the 17th century. In any case, the oldest of all the tiles found dates back to this century. The second half can be safely called the golden age of tiled art. It is starting from the 17th century. and for the 19th decoration of furnaces with this type of cladding becomes traditional. Plots of Israeli paintings, as well as motifs of patterns are becoming more complicated. Colors become unusually bright and colorful. Tiles decorate the furnaces of large churches, homes of wealthy citizens, palaces.
Until the 18th century, it was customary to clad with such tiles, including the facades of buildings outside. However, by the end of this century, such a fashion came to naught. Tiles began to be used only for interior decoration.
Use of this type of facing in the USSR
Unfortunately, after the revolution, the art of making tiles in our country almost fell into decay. However, it was not completely forgotten. The stoves continued to be decorated with tiles. In particular, this type of decoration was popular in Ukraine. Such a lining was used even for decorating one of the Moscow metro stations - Borovitskaya. Tiles were delivered to other countries of the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia, East Germany, etc.
Preparing clay for tiles
Technologically, making a tile for a stove yourself is actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. However, this work takes a lot of time and includes several stages:
- First you need to dig up a good red clay without impurities.
- Then it is placed in a wooden box, carefully crushed and sieved through a fine sieve.
- Next, the resulting dust is diluted with water and left to settle.
- After some time, the leached light water is drained, and the liquid clay is scooped out so that the lowest dense layer remains at the bottom.
- He is left to dry a little. After it acquires the consistency and flexibility of plasticine, you can begin to manufacture the actual tile.
How to make a form
The tiles are poured with their own hands in a special matrix form. The latter can also be made independently. The easiest way to make it out of plaster. First, a tile model is cut out. Then formwork is installed around it. Next, a plaster solution is poured into the resulting box (approximately 1 part alabaster per 10 parts water). The mold is first dried along with the model. Then the latter is removed and drying is continued without it.
Pour tiles
Next, they begin to manufacture the tile itself. A tile is made for the furnace as follows:
- The finished form is filled with clay solution.
- Notches are made at the edges of the workpiece.
- Four long blocks of rectangular cross-section are molded from clay.
- The sticks are glued along the edges of the workpiece. This results in something like a box.
- In the two extreme segments of the frame in the middle, holes are made for the mounting pin.
After the clay dries, the tiles are pulled out of the mold.
Firing and painting
The preforms thus obtained are placed in a muffle furnace. The tile should “cook” in it for four hours at a temperature of up to 950 g. Then the oven is turned off, it is waiting for cooling and the tiles are taken out. After they have cooled, you can start painting. Tiles are painted either with oil paints or engobes. The latter variety is clay of various compositions, which take on different shades at high temperatures. After the drawing is applied, the tile is coated with special glaze. After the latter has dried, the tiles are again placed in the oven and fired again.
Second way
You can make a tile with your own hands in another way. This is a simple technology that does not require firing equipment. However, tiles made using this method can only be used for wall cladding. She cannot finish furnaces. In this case, instead of clay, the usual putty mixture is taken, which can be purchased at any building materials store. It is bred with water, guided by the instructions on the package. However, you need to add it a little more. The finished mixture should have a consistency of 15% sour cream. It is thoroughly mixed until all lumps disappear and left to stand for a while.
Molds for tiles can be taken silicone, designed for baking cookies. Putty mixture is poured into them so that no voids remain. Next, a rectangle of comparable size to the shape is cut from the reinforcing mesh. It must be gently pressed into the mixture. Tiles reinforced in this way will be stronger. Next, the upper layer of the mixture is removed by the right-hander, carefully aligning the wrong side of the workpiece. After the mixture has set, the tiles can be removed from the mold. Sometimes ugly flows remain on the blanks thus obtained. You can remove them with ordinary sandpaper with large grains.
Painting of putty tiles
Paints for drawing on tiles made in this way are selected based on the purpose of the tile. If, for example, it is installed behind a stove, it is better to choose a heat-resistant one. In all other cases, you can use acrylic dye. Then the tile can later be washed and cleaned.
We hope that we have fully disclosed the topic of the article and answered the question about what is a tile. How to make such a finish with your own hands, you now also know. That's all. We wish you good luck in this interesting undertaking!