When laying wall and floor ceramics, it is extremely important to pay attention to the design of protruding edges and joints. For these purposes, an outer corner for tiles is used, which simultaneously performs a protective and decorative function.
What is an accessory?
Outdoor tile corner is used when facing external tile joints. One side of such accessories is presented in the form of a groove where the edge of the ceramic is fitted. The other one plays the role of protection against chips and bumps, and also acts as a decorative surface. The hidden side of the accessory has a grooved structure, which provides a good grip during installation.
Materials of production
Currently the outer tile corner is made from:
- Aluminum.
- Plastic.
- Ceramics.
- Stainless steel.
Due to the neutral hue, aluminum corners take on the most spectacular appearance when facing the joints of tiles, presented in severalindividual tones. This accessory is ideally combined with any metal elements.
As for plastic outer corners, products in this category are distinguished by a special variety of colors and shades. The material is lightweight, flexible and waterproof. The outer corner for PVC tiles can be easily set with silicone sealant at any time after the tile has been installed.
A distinctive feature of ceramic accessories for masking joints is the ability to create a pattern on the outer surface, which corresponds to the texture of the main cladding. Such products are more expensive and often belong to a specific collection of tiled products.
The outer metal tile corner made of stainless steel is the most durable and reliable. As a rule, accessories of this category are painted in silver, golden tones, which contributes to the formation of a single composition with faucets, pipes, shower cabin elements. Quite often on sale you can find a nickel-plated or chrome-plated outer corner for stainless steel tiles.
Mounting Features
How to install outdoor tile corner? The work is being carried out in stages:
- First, a profile of the desired length is cut off, after which it is tried on to the joint.
- The tile is inserted into the grooves of the corner on both sides, measurements are taken and marks are made. All elements are temporarily removed to the side.
- Glue is applied to the corner area, after which the profile shrinks according to the markup.
- The edges of the tiles are placed in the groovescorner, the design is pressed against the surfaces.
- The cladding is cleaned of traces of protruding glue and mortar. Surfaces are wiped dry.
- Using masking tape, the tile is strengthened together with the corner until the glue dries completely, which takes about a day.
In conclusion
External corners can provide additional security for the protruding part of the ceramic tile. Regardless of the material of manufacture, it is recommended to select profiles slightly thicker than the tiles, by about 2-3 cm. If the difference is too small, there is a high probability that the ceramics simply will not fit into the groove.
