Porcelain tile is a popular finishing material for both internal and external works. From the tiles of the presented variety, a durable coating is obtained for walls, floors, even in wet, cold rooms, as well as outdoors. From this material it is good to create sidewalks, paths. Facade decoration is also carried out using this type of tiles.
Porcelain tile, the thickness and size of which are very diverse, requires a special approach when choosing. The scope of the material depends on its parameters. The variety of textures and colors allows you to create a beautiful decorative coating for a variety of objects.
Manufacturing process
Finishing tiles (porcelain tiles), sizes, the thickness of which are distinguished by enhanced indicators of strength and durability, in our country were previously produced for industrial or other premises with increased load.
To give the coating the required strength, manufacturers use a special technology during the manufacturing process. Materials are pressed under high pressure 450-500 kg / cm². After that, the tile is fired at a temperature of 1200-1300 º.
The slip, which is subjected to such a treatment, consists of white clay, sand, koalin, feldspar. Special pigments and water are added to the mixture. Sometimes, various oxides are added to the material to create some shades. It all depends on the method of application of the tile and the desired decorative effect.
Porcelain Properties
Porcelain tile, the thickness and characteristics of which are set by the production technology, has a number of unique qualities. They explain the durability and strength of such products.
Water absorption of porcelain stoneware is from 0.01 to 0.05%. This allows the coating to repel moisture quite well. The bending strength of domestic materials is 480-550 kg / cm², and for imported products can reach 600 kg / cm².
Wear resistance of porcelain tiles is higher than that of ordinary tiles. She reaches the mark of 3-5 points. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is 6-8 points. A distinctive feature of porcelain stoneware is frost resistance. The number of cycles is 3-4 times higher than this parameter, when compared with tile. With a decrease in temperature from +5 to -5 º, frost resistance is up to 300 periods. Therefore, this material is used for outdoor installation.
Format
Studying what thickness of porcelain tile will be optimal for each object, it is necessary to pay attention to its format. A variety of sizes allows you to create different finishes.
The smallest tiles from this material are now produced in a 5 x 5 cm format, and the most dimensional - 120 x 360 cm.
In the latter case, the presented porcelain tile has a relatively small thickness and is used for finishing facades. The most commonly used formats are 30 x 30, 40 x 40 and 60 x 60 cm.
The smaller the size of the tiles, the more visible the seams will have a finish. But on the other hand, products with small dimensions are easy to mount on a surface with minor irregularities. Slabs from 60 x 60 format require a perfectly flat base.
Caliber
During the manufacturing process, the edges of the tiles may remain uneven. The run-up of this indicator can reach 1-2 cm in different lots. Therefore, when packing, the caliber must be taken into account.
Tiles from one batch are put in the delivery set. Their caliber is the same.
If high accuracy of this indicator is required, porcelain tile, the thickness of which is also maintained at the same level, is trimmed. Such products have a single caliber. Special diamond equipment cuts off excess material.
Such boards can be mounted in a seamless manner. It is ideal for facades. The flooring is created using ordinary sorted porcelain stoneware. It must be from the same batch.
Material thickness
The thickness of porcelain stoneware for outdoor or interior decoration can be from 3 to 30 mm. When choosing it, they are guided by the level of load, especially if a floor covering is created. According to building codes, the thickness of porcelain stoneware for floors in rooms with high loads should be at least 8 mm. If heavy technological equipment is located in the room, this indicator increases to a minimum of 12 mm.
However, for the decoration of facades, wall cladding, thin porcelain can be used. A tile that is smaller in thickness may, when properly installed, not inferior in strength to thick porcelain stoneware. You need to choose the right format. 8.6 mm thick tiles can withstand pressure of 200 kg / cm².
Key questions when choosing
The cost of porcelain stoneware depends on its thickness. Therefore, reinforced materials are chosen for warehouse, industrial premises when arranging the floor. Thin varieties are great for wall decoration. For example, porcelain tiles with a thickness of 20 mm should not be mounted on the wall, since the weight of such a finish is very large. Not every partition is able to withstand such a load.
For flooring subject to high pressures and vibrations, the tile format is reduced. Most often, porcelain stoneware 30 x 30 cm is used for such purposes. Wall elements can have the largest dimensions. However, their thickness remains minimal.
Porcelain tile has a large weight. Therefore, choosing a material for decoration, be sure to consider this feature. The thicker the tiles, the greater the load on the base.
Cost
The thickness of porcelain stoneware for floors, walls, to a large extent determines the cost of the material. The country of origin and the overall design of the tiles also affect this. Domestic manufacturers create material of fairly good quality. But imported porcelain stoneware has more shades and formats.
Russian and Chinese materials with a format of 60 x 60 cm will cost the buyer about 500 rubles. for 1 m². Italian porcelain tiles of a similar format will cost about 1.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m², and Spanish - 700 rubles. for 1 m².
If the size of the tile is non-standard, it will be quite expensive to purchase such a finish. Domestic manufactures produce coverage only of popular, standard dimensions. If you want to purchase 10 x 10 cm format material, you will have to pay about 1.7 thousand rubles. for 1 m². Such products are most often produced by Italian manufacturers.
You should not buy cheap (from 170 rubles for 1 m²) tiles, since even in one package there are products of different sizes. Such products are significantly inferior in almost all characteristics of medium and high-cost finishes. Therefore, it is better not to save on the quality of the presented material. The durability of the entire finish depends on this.
Tile cutting
When installing the cladding yourself, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate tool. It is best to entrust this work to professionals. But if you wish, you can perform all the actions on your own.
It should be immediately understood that tile equipment is not suitable. When cutting, for example, porcelain stoneware (thickness 10 mm and above), you need to use only high-quality high-strength tools. Better if it is electric.
The cutting tool has a diamond-coated blade. Sometimes, angle grinders (angle grinder) are used for such purposes. But there will be a lot of dust from her. Therefore, it is worth purchasing a special tile cutter for porcelain tile. It is mechanical and electrical. The second option is preferable if the volume of work and the thickness of the granite are large.
Thin sheets of material can be tried to cut with a diamond glass cutter. But for this it is necessary to have sufficient experience in carrying out such actions.
Expert Advice
Experienced builders adhere to certain rules when decorating porcelain stoneware. Their advice will help the novice master do the job well.
When installing floor porcelain tiles, the thickness of which is quite large, it is better not to lay the tiles exactly one above the other. In this case, it is better to give preference to installation with offset. This approach allows you to hide uneven edges that may be present when cropping or calibrating. However, trimming in this case will require much more.
Also, experts do not recommend using manual glass cutters when cutting porcelain tiles. To draw a straight line on the material, some experience is required. Before starting installation, it is necessary to calculate the location of all rows of tiles. If a narrow strip remains at the end, the first row should also be cut. This will also avoid cutting thin strips of porcelain stoneware, which greatly facilitates the work and improves the appearance of the finish.
Having considered what porcelain tile is, the thickness of which is selected according to the method presented above, you can use it to make a quality finish. This cladding has worked well in both outdoor and indoor installation. Properly selected plate thickness will create a durable, durable coating. It will be distinguished by high aesthetic characteristics, as well as strength and reliability. Therefore, such material is very popular today.