The article discusses the characteristics of clinker tiles and their varieties, manufacturers and technology for installing the material on the floor. Clinker tile is a facing material that is made from fired clay. Thanks to its unique properties, it is able to provide a beautiful and durable coating. Therefore, clinker tiles are widely used for cladding floors, facades, swimming pools and even complex architectural forms. You will learn about the types, selection and installation of such products from this article.
Characteristics of clinker tiles
Clinker tiles are produced by double or single firing, which significantly affects the characteristics of the material. Firing of products is carried out in tunnel ovens until completely baked at a temperature of 1200 degrees, after which the tile becomes strong, smooth and resistant to various influences. Single-fired pressed products have high strength and low hygroscopicity. Double-fired tiles are distinguished by a more porous structure, since in the process of their production, bound water is completely removed from the material. For this reason, the indicators of hygroscopicity in porous clinker tiles are higher.
In order to shape the tiles before firing, an extrusion method or a pressing method is used. The first makes it possible to give future products complex shapes, with which various building elements can be connected: corners, gutters and others. Tiles of standard sizes are made by pressing the raw mass.
The manufacture of products by these methods, followed by firing at a high temperature, provides them with all the required properties for active operation at increased loads, for example, in cases of using clinker tiles for porch steps. The features of the material include: color fastness and resistance to abrasion, water repellency, resistance to oily liquids and chemicals.
The strength of clinker tiles is achieved by using special grades of high-density clay, and the color of the products is formed during the firing process. The material receives its water-repellent properties when processing raw materials and then evaporating moisture from it to an indicator of 2%. These properties also explain the resistance of clinker to chemical and oily substances.
The resistance of clinker tiles to static and dynamic loads and its low hygroscopicity allows the use of this material for cladding in car repair shops, garages and industrial enterprises. The finished coating does not need special care, it always looks beautiful and neat.
The disadvantage of clinker floor tiles is its high cost, compared to tiles, its price is noticeably higher.
The main varieties of clinker tiles
According to their purpose, clinker tiles are presented as follows:
- Facing tiles. It is used for finishing structural elements of a building: floors, walls, stairs and others.
- Waterproof clinker. Such tiles are used in hydraulic structures.
- Technical clinker. This material is used for covering floors of public buildings, paving sidewalks, roads and pedestrian areas.
- Details of complex architectural forms.
The most commonly used are clinker paving stones, facade and floor tiles. It is worth telling about them in more detail.
Clinker paving stones are quite popular in Europe and are used for paving paths located in front of the house. For decades, it has retained its original appearance and is gaining more and more popularity. Thanks to the rich choice of colors, clinker paving stones are in stark contrast to conventional cement paving slabs. Traditionally, it is made in the form of a rectangle measuring 200x100 mm, the price of paving stones is 35-65 rubles / piece.
Facade tiles are in demand largely due to their brick-like shape. At the same time, it looks much more beautiful on the wall and lasts longer. Standard dimensions of clinker tiles for facades are 280 x 85 x 9 mm and 120 x 65 x 8 mm. The color scheme is very diverse, so you can choose any material with different textures and overflows of its colors to your taste. The cost of products - 900 rubles / m2.
Floor clinker tiles are used for cladding horizontal surfaces in houses and in the design of swimming pools. It is easy to clean and retains its original appearance for a long time. Available in various sizes and therefore suitable for all types of floors. In many collections of floor tiles, there are decorative elements that give the finished coating a certain pattern. The cost of such products is 50-250 rubles / piece.
By the type of surface, clinker tiles can be raw, glazed and structural. For industrial enterprises, a special type of anti-slip products with a corrugated profile, star or round protrusions has been developed. Coatings with this property are often used in public buildings, swimming pools, bathrooms and kitchens. Anti-slip clinker tiles are indispensable in any home at the entrance to the porch.
In terms of shape, clinker products can be produced in the form of baseboards, corner or regular steps, balcony facings, paving stones and other figured elements.
Popular clinker manufacturers
When buying clinker tiles, the choice of its manufacturer is of great importance. The following companies provide the best quality products to the finishing materials market:
- EURAMIC (Germany) … The Stroeher plant, owned by this company, produces floor tiles for consumers in Eastern Europe. Its durable and high-quality products can be bought for 1780-7230 rubles / m2… The price depends on their modification. Technical clinker tiles from this manufacturer are resistant to many alkaline and acidic liquids, as well as to the load from wheeled vehicles. Frost-resistant clinker products from EURAMIC are distinguished by a durable glazed coating that protects the finished cladding from moisture. It reliably protects the floor from moss and is not prone to chipping. Corner elements, overflows, curbs, steps and other decorative elements produced by the Stroeher plant can decorate the landscape of a private house and any interior.
- CERRAD AUTUMN LEAF (Poland) … The elegant products of this company distinguish it favorably against the background of other manufacturers. Floor decorative clinker, imitating sandstone, fits perfectly into the interior, made in any style. Long-term operation of the coating, based on the amazing strength of its material, is guaranteed by the manufacturer. Low cost of 848 rubles / m2 allows middle-income citizens to install clinker tiles at home.
- SIERRA GRES (Spain) … The products of this company are distinguished from other brands by the refined simplicity of classic forms. Cordoba models of this company create modern stylish coatings, kept in beautiful and practical proportions. Soft shades of beige on the matte surface of the cladding contribute to the atmosphere of home comfort and are perfectly combined with various interior designs. The cost of Cordoba tiles is 1630 rubles / m2.
Clinker tile installation technology on the floor
When laying clinker tiles, building codes must be observed. They provide for the installation of this material on concrete and stone foundations. When working, take into account the weather conditions, which are not always suitable for cladding surfaces outside the building. In addition, according to the standards, the presence of floor slopes up to 2%, the need for expansion joints and waterproofing are taken into account. The thickness of the concrete base for laying clinker tiles must be more than 100 mm; for garages, this value must be doubled. The device of the tiled flooring is carried out in stages, starting with preparation for work and ending with grouting its seams.
Preparatory work before laying clinker
When laying clinker tiles on the floor, the air temperature should be above five degrees. For the rest, the main thing is to use high-quality materials and follow the installation technology. At this stage, it provides for the preparation of the tool and the base for the tile.
For clinker flooring you will need: a rubber and notched trowel, tile adhesive, grout compound, masking tape, dividing crosses, a tile cutting machine, a roller, a mixer and a container for mixing glue, a plumb line, acrylic primer, an electric drill, polyurethane sealant and rubber mallet.
In order to achieve an ideal base for clinker tiles, it is necessary, first of all, to check and eliminate voids in it, knock down all sags and protrusions from the floor, seal the grooves and cracks on its surface with mortar or plaster mortar, clean it of debris, and then level everything with a screed.
After it dries, the floor should be treated with a primer, which will increase the adhesion of the substrate with the clinker tile adhesive. Then you can make a test layout of the tiles on the floor, taking into account the joints of the cladding.
Important! Tile manufacturers always indicate their quantity in 1 m2 covering, taking into account its seams, equal to 10-12 mm. If they are smaller when laying, it is necessary to recalculate the number of piece products per 1 m2.
Clinker laying instructions
Laying the tiles should start from the center of the room parallel to the wall in a diagonal manner or in a checkerboard pattern. The first option looks nice, but this method leaves too much waste from trimming tiles.
The second solution involves the use of two colors of products. Randomly arranged multi-colored cladding elements are easy to fit and look original. Tiles can be trimmed using a tile cutter or a conventional grinder.
Clinker tiles are laid on a cement-sand mortar or glue. In the first case, a binder is applied with a notched trowel to a dry base with a layer of 4 cm, then the product is laid on it. After the mortar has set, the joints of the clinker tiles are trowelled with a rubber trowel. Excess grout is removed from the front surface of the coating with a damp sponge. After that, the finished floor must be covered with plastic wrap until it dries.
The tiles are laid on glue in the same way and in the same sequence. After the grout has dried, the lining seams must be covered with a protective emulsion and also covered with cardboard or foil until dry.
Important! When laying clinker on steps, the adhesive should only be applied from the inside to a horizontal surface: the decorative corner of the steps does not need to be glued. How to lay clinker tiles - watch the video:
Clinker tiles are a reliable but expensive material. Therefore, it is difficult to install it on your own without the appropriate skills. If you are not confident in your abilities, it would be better to entrust this work to specialists. Good luck!
