Doing your own stoneware

Among the materials used as a floor covering, it is impossible not to mention the porcelain stoneware. Such a floor will have good resistance to physical impact, while having an attractive appearance, which makes this finishing option appropriate in many cases. However, it is important to understand that when working with a material it is necessary not only to follow a number of binding rules, but also to have some experience in the production of such actions.

In this article we will tell about self-laying of porcelain tiles, give detailed instructions, as well as photos and video materials.

Material description

Ceramic granite is called artificial finishing material obtained in the process of pressing and subsequent firing molded blanks, consisting of special mixtures. Ingredients include various types of clay, quartz sand, spar and water. To make the products aesthetic appearance in the tile may include various dyes.

Porcelain tile has the following performance characteristics:

• Good resistance to moisture. This property allows you to use the material as a finish in rooms with high humidity, as well as during facade works.
• The material has resistance to the effects of chemical elements, and therefore can be used for finishing laboratories, chemical fertilizer depots and other premises.
• Resistance to temperature changes.
• Aesthetic appearance.
• Resistance to mechanical stress. This refers to the resistance to abrasion in the case of use as a floor covering, and non-susceptibility to fading, if the material is finished with a facade.
• Durable use. Due to the combination of the above properties, the porcelain stoneware finish can perform its functions for a long time.

General rules

Before proceeding to the description of laying porcelain stoneware on the floor, it is necessary to consider some general rules in accordance with which the work should be carried out.

1. First you need to prepare the surface. First of all, you need to carefully dismantle the old coating. If the tile was laid, then you need to remove all residual adhesive solution. The surface should be as flat and clean as possible, so it should be vacuumed and wet cleaned if necessary.
2. In addition, it is necessary to inspect the surface for mold detection. In the event of a fungal surface lesion, the entire affected area should be removed. That is, with the help of a jackhammer, a piece of the surface is hollowed out and re-filled with the mixture.
3. In the case of laying on a wooden base, you must carefully inspect the logs and fix them. Even the slightest displacement of the base is unacceptable, since this may lead to a violation of the integrity of the coating.
4. Before direct mounting the surface must be coated with a primer. So the adhesion of the adhesive composition will increase, which will positively affect the quality of the coating.
5. If you plan to cover the warm floor, the system should be previously disabled. It will be possible to use a warm floor only after the glue has completely cured.
6. All work should be carried out in a room with a temperature not lower than 0 ° C and a humidity of no more than 80%, as this may affect the state of the adhesive composition, and therefore cause a deterioration in the quality of the coating.
7. The use of simple tile adhesive is unacceptable, since in this case the adhesion of the tile will be insufficient.

If it is recommended to pre-soak it in water with respect to ceramic tile, then in case of work with ceramic granite it does not make sense, which is due to the low water absorption of the material.

Another feature is the correct choice of adhesive used for installation of the coating. It is obligatory to use only special mixtures that are prepared with the addition of a minimum amount of water compared to conventional tile glue.

As in most cases, tile laying work should be divided into several separate stages and carried out sequentially.

Training

At the preparation stage, it is necessary to determine the type of porcelain stoneware used. Among the most common options are technical, glazed, matte, polished and satined material. In addition, the material may vary in size and thickness.

At the same stage it is necessary to dismantle the old coating and prepare the foundation in accordance with the above-mentioned principles of work. Special attention should be paid to leveling the plane. If the surface has significant differences in heights or other defects, then a concrete screed should be made.

In addition, you should prepare the glue required for laying. It is important to note that the mixture should be prepared in strict accordance with the attached instructions. The use of any third-party additives in this case is unacceptable. It should be noted that the mixture is poured into water, and not vice versa. This common mistake leads to a violation of technology, which will affect the quality of coverage. The solution is kneaded before it acquires a uniform and plastic consistency.

After mixing the components, the solution is suitable for use within 2–3 hours.

Before work, the surface is also primed with special compounds.

Technology

After surface preparation, you can start laying porcelain stoneware. Glue is applied first. It is most convenient to do work with a special spatula with teeth.

The thickness of the adhesive layer should be no more than 5 mm. It is not necessary to apply the solution to a large surface area. It is better to limit the area of ​​two or three tiles.

So, a layer of glue is applied, onto which the tile is laid, after which with the help of a mallet the tile is lightly tapped into the glue. It is important to maintain the horizontal position of the element for which it is appropriate to use the building level.

Next tile next tile. Works are carried out in a similar way, but for uniform seam between tiles, special plastic crosses are installed. Thus, porcelain tile is laid over the entire surface of the floor.

It is important to note that often when placing the extreme elements of the coating they need to be cut. For these purposes, you should use a special cutter. It will be possible to use the coating only after full hardening of the adhesive composition, which, depending on the brand, may last for 1-3 days. Excess glue, which can tread during the installation process, must be removed immediately, since after solidification this will be much more difficult.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that before the glue hardens, any mechanical impact on the surface is unacceptable, therefore, laying of porcelain stoneware should be carried out, starting from the far corner of the room towards the door. After the glue hardens, it is necessary to wipe the seams with special grout of a suitable color. This is necessary to achieve absolute tightness of the coating.

At this point, the description of the main stages of installation of porcelain tiles on the floor can be considered complete. As can be seen from the above material, it is quite possible to handle installation work yourself. It is important to follow all the necessary rules and to pay attention to the choice of suitable materials and tools. If qualification is not enough, then you can turn to the services of specialists, but even in this case it is better to know the general algorithm of actions for the possibility of control over the actions of workers.