Even if the house was built of stone, concrete or brick, it requires additional protection of the external walls from the effects of adverse factors. Porcelain facade can become a similar protection. This finishing technique has recently become increasingly popular.
Why is it worth facing the building with porcelain stoneware
The described material effectively protects the walls from destruction. Porcelain tile has the qualities of strength, it is not exposed to moisture and temperature fluctuations. It can be affected by aggressive substances, so the shell of it acts as a reliable protection. After completion of the finishing work, it will be possible to reduce the cost of operating the building. Despite the fact that the cost of this finishing material is high, the facade will free the owner of the house from the costs associated with the repair. Another argument that favors the use of porcelain stoneware as an exterior finish is the ability to change the look of the building. On sale you can find slabs of different sizes and shapes, colors and textures, with which you can give the building the desired look. The conditions inside the building will improve, become more comfortable, and external protection will favorably affect the internal microclimate. The porcelain stoneware facade extends the life of the building, makes it fireproof, the walls are dirt-repellent, and the materials are more durable.
Disadvantages of porcelain stoneware facade
This material, like any other, has its drawbacks. They are expressed in high cost and significant weight. The latter factor complicates not only transportation, but also installation work. Nevertheless, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Installation of porcelain tile on glue
The facade from porcelain tile can be equipped according to one of the existing technologies. If the walls are fairly straight, then you can use glue. It should be selected so that the composition is resistant to the effects of the external environment, temperature and humidity. Installation work on this technology should be carried out only at a positive ambient temperature. Most often, this finishing option is used for cladding the basement, while the technique of constructing a ventilated facade is used to improve the walls with porcelain stoneware . For the design of external walls, tiles with sides 300x600 or 60x600 mm are most often used. Knowing the dimensions of the material and the area of all the walls, you can determine how much tile will be needed for finishing work. However, it is necessary to purchase material with a margin of 15%, which can go into battle during transportation, as well as for trimming if necessary, size adjustment.
Adhesive recommendations
If the facade cladding with porcelain stoneware will be carried out on glue, then you should choose a solution that has a high level of adhesion. This is due to the fact that the tile absorbs water rather weakly and repels moisture well. Do not use ordinary cement mortar, as this will cause a decrease in the quality of the finish. The facade, lined with a cement composition, will not be so durable, despite the fact that the quality of the finishing material will be high. When choosing glue, you should pay attention to compositions that contain a large number of additives from the polymer.
Clearances and grouting
When decorating the facade with porcelain tiles, you must consider that for the formation of gaps you need to prepare and use crosses. If necessary, glue residues are removed from the grooves, then, using a rubber spatula, the seam is overwritten. Use a dry sponge to remove moisture and grout. The mixture for this is applied in a thin layer. When facing a new building, one should take into account its possible shrinkage, while seams are necessary in case of deformation. This finish has high strength, which is why it is used for the facades of public buildings, the walls after the completion of the work gain anti-vandal qualities. The surface can be operated in any weather, temperature and humidity.
Features of installation of porcelain tiles on glue
The facade of porcelain stoneware houses looks attractive if the craftsmen followed the technology during the work. For this it is necessary to use frost-resistant glue, which is able to undergo aggressive environmental influences. Tile gluing can be carried out at a temperature that ranges from 5 to 25 °. In this case, the solution will not lose its qualities. At the first stage, the surface area is calculated, from which the area of the door and window openings is subtracted. The resulting figure should be divided by the area of one tile, which will allow you to get the number of products that should be purchased. To calculate the corner elements, it is necessary to measure the length of all angles, external and around the openings.
For reference
Before you start the installation of porcelain stoneware facades , you must familiarize yourself with the information provided by the material manufacturers. They indicate the number of tiles per 1 m 2 taking into account the recommended thickness of the joints.
Surface preparation and tile recommendations
If necessary, the surface of the walls must be leveled and primed, for this you can use a layer of plaster. If it is thick enough, then it should be strengthened with a reinforcing mesh. Having marked the horizontal line, glue should be applied to a small section of the wall. In this case, a notched trowel is used, with which you can form a ribbed profile from the solution. It is necessary to start laying the tile from the corner, maintaining a certain thickness of the seams with the help of plastic pegs or crosses. In order to achieve a positive result, glue should be applied not only to the tile, but also to the base surface. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the adhesive composition is not strongly squeezed out through the seams. The facade from porcelain tile cannot be laid out only from the whole tiles, for their cutting it is necessary to use a special disk on a stone. A few days after the glue hardens, the seams should be filled with a special mixture using a binder or a construction gun.
Attention! The method of laying material on glue is not recommended for large tiles, since they can come off the wall and collapse on people below.
Arrangement of ventilated porcelain stoneware facade
If the walls are not too smooth, and the space between them and the decorative material must be insulated, then use the technology of a ventilated facade. The fastening of the material is carried out using a system of holders. After fixing the brackets, you can proceed with the installation of insulation, which should fit snugly against the walls. Material fastening is carried out by plastic expansion bolt shields and screws with a wide hat. The brackets should be selected so that their length provides a clearance of 40 mm after laying the insulating material. This parameter is minimal, while it can be increased up to 60 mm. A windproof membrane is located on top of the insulation , which eliminates the blowing of insulation fibers. At the next stage, you can begin fixing the porcelain tiles to the brackets with the help of clamps.
Features of the hidden fastening of porcelain tile
After the porcelain tile for the facade has been selected, you can decide on the fastening system. If it is hidden, then one of its varieties may be preferred. For mechanical fastening in the plates, holes should be made in advance, through which they will be fixed to the facade using screw anchor dowels. If pins are used to install the material, they will replace the dowels. Fastening on profiles is carried out in cuts, which are done at the ends of the products. There is also a combined hidden fastener, which combines not only a mechanical, but also an adhesive installation method. At the same time, the facade of buildings made of porcelain is formed in such a way that each plate is glued to the profile and fixed with double mechanical fasteners. The last installation method is the most reliable and may involve the use of large tiles for work.