Porcelain stoneware is a popular finishing material for both interior and exterior work. From the tiles of the presented variety, a durable coating for walls and floors is obtained, even in wet, cold rooms, as well as on the street. From this material it is good to create sidewalks, paths. Facade decoration is also carried out using tiles of this type.
Porcelain stoneware, 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.
Production process
Finishing tiles (porcelain stoneware), dimensions, the thickness of which is characterized by enhanced strength and durability indicators, were previously produced in our country 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 of 450-500 kg/cm². After that, the tiles are fired at a temperature of 1200-1300 ºС.
Slip, which is subjected to such processing, consists of white-burning 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 how the tile is applied and the desired decorative effect.
Properties of porcelain stoneware
Porcelain stoneware, 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 surface ranges 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, while for imported products it can reach 600 kg / cm².
The wear resistance of porcelain stoneware is higher than that of ordinary tiles. It reaches the level of 3-5 points. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is 6-8 points. A distinctive characteristic of porcelain stoneware is frost resistance. The number of cycles is 3-4 times higher than this parameter when compared with tiles. When the temperature drops from +5 to -5 ºС, frost resistance is up to 300 periods. Therefore, this material is used for outdoor installation.
Format
Studying what thickness of porcelain stoneware 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 of this material are now produced in 5 x 5 cm format,and the most dimensional - 120 x 360 cm.
In the latter case, the presented porcelain stoneware has a relatively small thickness and is used for finishing facades. The most commonly used sizes are 30 x 30, 40 x 40 and 60 x 60 cm.
The smaller the size of the tiles, the more visible seams the finish will have. But on the other hand, products with small dimensions are easy to mount on a surface with minor irregularities. Slabs from 60 x 60 require a perfectly flat base.
Caliber
During the production process, the edges of the tiles may remain uneven. The run-up of this indicator can reach 1-2 cm in different batches. Therefore, when packing, the caliber must be taken into account.
The delivery set includes tiles from one batch. Their caliber matches.
If a high accuracy of this indicator is required, porcelain stoneware, the thickness of which is also maintained at the same level, is cut off. Such products have a monocaliber. Special diamond equipment cuts off excess material.
Such plates can be mounted seamlessly. This 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 indoor 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 withheavy loads should be at least 8 mm. If there is heavy technological equipment in the room, this figure increases to a minimum of 12 mm.
However, for finishing facades, wall cladding, thin porcelain stoneware can be used. A smaller tile in thickness can, with proper installation, not be inferior in strength to thick porcelain stoneware. You need to choose the right format. 8.6mm thick tiles can withstand pressure of 200kg/cm².
Main selection questions
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 stoneware 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 subjected to high pressure and vibrations, reduce the size of the tiles. Most often, porcelain stoneware 30 x 30 cm is used for such purposes. Wall elements can have the largest dimensions. At the same time, their thickness remains minimal.
Porcelain stoneware has a lot of weight. Therefore, when choosing a material for finishing, be sure to take into account this feature. The thicker the tiles, the greater the stress on the base.
Cost
The thickness of porcelain stoneware for floors and walls largely determines the cost of the material. This is also influenced by the country of manufacture and the overall design of the tiles. Domestic manufacturers create material of fairly good quality. But imported porcelain stoneware has more shades and formats.
Russian and Chinese materials in the format of 60 x 60 cm will cost the buyer approximately 500 rubles. for 1 m². Italian porcelain stoneware of a similar format will cost about 1.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m², and Spanish - 700 rubles. per 1 m².
If the size of the tile is non-standard, it will be quite expensive to purchase such a finish. Domestic productions produce coatings only in popular, standard dimensions. If you want to purchase material in the format of 10 x 10 cm, 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 per 1 m²) tiles, as even in one package there are products of different sizes. Such products are significantly inferior in almost all characteristics to medium and high-priced finishes. Therefore, it is better not to save on the quality of the material presented. The durability of the entire finish depends on this.
Tile cutting
When installing the cladding yourself, you need 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 clear right away that tile equipment is not suitable. When cutting, for example, porcelain stoneware (thickness 10 mm and above), it is necessaryuse only high-quality high-strength tools. Better if it is electric.
The cutting tool has a diamond-coated blade. Sometimes, for such purposes, angle grinders (angle grinders) are used. But there will be a lot of dust from it. Therefore, it is worth buying a special tile cutter for porcelain stoneware. It is mechanical and electrical. The second option is preferable if the amount of work and the thickness of porcelain stoneware are large.
Thin sheets of material can be cut with a diamond glass cutter. But for this it is necessary to have sufficient experience in carrying out such actions.
Expert Tips
Experienced builders adhere to certain rules when carrying out finishing work from porcelain stoneware. Their advice will help the novice master to 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 offset mounting. This approach allows you to hide jagged edges that may be present during trimming or sizing. However, much more trimming will be required in this case.
Also, experts do not recommend using a manual glass cutter when cutting porcelain stoneware. To draw a straight line on the material, a certain 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 a thin strip of porcelain stoneware, which greatly facilitates the work andenhances the appearance of the finish.
Having considered what porcelain stoneware is, the thickness of which is selected according to the method presented above, you can use it to make a high-quality finish. This cladding has proven itself well both in outdoor and indoor installation. Properly selected thickness of the plates 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.
