Laying Ceramic Tiles. More Knowledge - Fewer Mistakes!

Ceramic tiles have long been one of the most reliable finishing materials. It is not without reason that its history dates back more than a dozen centuries, because it was known even in ancient times, when ceramic mosaics were used to decorate rooms. From about the 7th century, pieces of fired clay began to be used in construction, which became the ancestors of modern ceramic tiles. Since then, tiles have changed significantly, becoming stronger, more durable, and acquiring new qualities, such as water resistance, for example.

In this article, we will look at options for laying tiles on the floor and walls, give some tips on laying, and draw your attention to the subtleties of this work.

Application of ceramic tiles

Today, thanks to its performance properties, tiles are widely used for finishing both residential premises and various institutions. The range of ceramic tiles is impressive in its diversity: a huge number of textures, colors, sizes allow you to implement any design solution.

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Tiles can be used both indoors and for finishing the exterior facades of buildings. Modern technologies have made it possible to create ceramic tiles of increased strength and resistance to various aggressive environments, which allows them to be used almost everywhere: from home kitchens and bathrooms to chemical laboratories.

Materials and tools

As a rule, laying tiles is entrusted to professionals, because this process seems complicated and laborious. In fact, there is nothing complicated in it, the main thing is to choose the right quality materials and strictly follow a few rules.

Before purchasing materials, it is necessary to determine the design of the room and its purpose. Depending on where the tile will be used, its performance can vary significantly. Will it be a floor or wall tile, for the kitchen or bathroom, what actions will be subjected to during its use - all this must be taken into account when choosing. As for the color and size of the tile - it depends on the chosen design style.

When the choice is made, you need to calculate the required amount of materials. The tile is calculated depending on the area of ​​​​the finish plus a 10 percent margin for various undercuts. In cases where the surface to be finished has a complex shape or the tile pattern requires additional adjustment, the tile margin can be increased to 15%.

As for the glue on which the tiles are attached, it is sold in the form of a dry mixture in building materials stores. You can purchase it together with the tiles in our online store to be sure that it will fit. To prepare it, you need to follow the instructions clearly, observing the necessary proportions. We recommend using high-quality Ceresit adhesive mixtures, the reliability of which has been proven over the years. In addition to the glue for laying the tiles, you will need spatulas (regular and notched), a rubber hammer and dividing crosses.

Ceramic tile laying technology: key points

Regardless of the room in which you plan to use decorative ceramics, first of all you need to decide on the amount of material that will be needed for the job. After purchasing the tile, you need to inspect it, separating out the defective or chipped tiles. They can then be used in places that are hidden from prying eyes. If the tile is going to be used to create a pattern, it is better to lay it out immediately, and when laying, follow the order of applying individual tiles.

Laying ceramic tiles is a process that begins with measuring the surface area, and based on this data, the calculation is made - in pieces, not in m 2.

Facing work can be carried out by using the services of a master, but if you are confident in your abilities, laying ceramic tiles with your own hands is also quite possible.

Also, do not forget that the technology of laying ceramic tiles requires mandatory waterproofing and applying a layer of primer to level the surface. For these purposes, the Ceresit CR 65 waterproofing mixture and the Ceresit CT 17 deep-penetrating primer are perfect.

Styling methods

Wall surfaces are usually faced partially or completely with glazed ceramic tiles. The wall surface is faced from bottom to top in horizontal rows. The rows of tiles are installed on the surface in the following ways:

1. Seam in seam" - tiles are installed with a rectangular grid of vertical and horizontal seams.

2. Bandage" - tiles are installed with vertical seams offset to the side, in each horizontal row.

3. Diagonally - tiles are installed with mutually perpendicular seam lines running diagonally to the floor plane.

Room preparation

Before you start laying tiles, you must check all the walls of the room for perpendicularity; if the walls are poorly aligned, it will be visible after laying the tiles.

It is better to prepare the surfaces well for laying: this will save you a lot of time in the future. In order to level the walls, you can use plaster or drywall. Drywall is faster and more reliable, but if your room is small, you will either have to accept the loss of a few square centimeters of space, or choose plaster as an alternative option.

Preparation and application of ceramic tile adhesive

Ceramic tiles are fixed to the surface using a special adhesive. The adhesive must be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions, otherwise there is no guarantee that the tiles will not fall off soon. And, especially, you should not use various homemade compounds - for the same reason.

Before you start laying ceramic tiles, you need to soak them in water for a while. This is necessary for better adhesion to the surface. Wet tiles will not absorb moisture from the adhesive composition, which will provide maximum adhesion to the surface.

Before fixing the tiles on the adhesive solution, the base must first be primed. If the surface is characterized by strong water absorption, then it is better to apply the primer in several layers.

It is not recommended to fasten elements of finishing ceramics end-to-end. The technology of laying, for example, ceramic floor tiles requires the mandatory presence of installation joints with a minimum width of 3 mm.

If the specifics of the room are such that temperature changes regularly occur, it is better to make the distance between the tiles approximately 10 mm. If the cladding is done correctly, the width of the seam over the entire area of ​​the treated surface will be the same. This is a necessary condition, it can be observed by installing special crosses at the intersections of the seams between the tiles or using plastic or cardboard strips.

Laying tiles on the wall

You need to lay out the tiles on the floor first to see the full picture. You need to immediately mark how the elements will be located on the wall. If the width of the wall in the room is a multiple of the width of the tile, then the laying in width will be done without trimming. You need to lay out one row vertically and a row horizontally below, and then gradually fill in the remaining space. And if there is no multiplicity, then you need to start laying from the most noticeable corner so that the trimming is at the end of the row, so it will not be noticeable.

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This option is suitable if the undercut is less than half the width of the ceramic product. If the undercut is larger, the wall should be divided into two equal parts, and the undercut tile should be placed along the edges of the wall, making sure that the width of the undercut tile on one and the other side of the wall is the same.

Features of laying on the floor

The easiest way to lay ceramic tiles on the floor is to lay them parallel to the walls. If you are the lucky owner of a spacious bathroom, then it is better to lay it diagonally. In any case, you need to pay attention to the places that immediately catch your eye. In such places, it is better to lay the tiles without trimming, so as not to spoil the appearance of the entire room.

Proper tiling begins with first laying out all the elements on the floor, so that the overall picture and the places of trimming will be visible. It is better to start from the threshold of the room to the middle, there it is better to stop and give the mortar time to set. It is better to continue laying the next day. After the floor is ready, you need to let it stand for a few days so that the mortar dries completely.

Grouting joints between tile elements

The joints can be grouted 24 hours after the installation is complete, for this you need to clean them of any glue residue and fill them with grout, for example, you can use the colored waterproof seam Ceresit CE 40, using a rubber spatula. Excess grout can be removed with a damp sponge until it hardens. The final cleaning of the tiles can be done after the grout in the joints has dried using a piece of cloth and a hard sponge. To fill joints and corners, we recommend using the silicone sealant Ceresit CS 25.

If you are going to cover the front of the bathroom with tiles, you need to take care of free access to the pipes. For this, a window is made, which is closed with tiles with magnets; the seams in this place are not filled.