In what cases is metal tile used for finishing floors, its advantages and disadvantages, the rules for laying the material. Metal tiles are a material that is most often installed in industrial premises, where the floors are constantly subjected to strong external stress. Such a coating prevents the destruction of the concrete screed, prolongs its service life, and significantly increases the wear resistance of the surface.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal tiles
Metal tiles are usually used to decorate floors in industrial buildings, warehouses, barns, garages, and so on. Less commonly, this material can be found on the floor at home.
In construction, such tiles are also called "topping". The same term is used when it comes to strengthening any floor surface in a room.
The material for making topping is most often steel obtained by cold rolling. This is the KP or 08PS brand. Sometimes cast iron is used for this purpose. Products made from such material are very heavy and expensive. However, they are indispensable in rooms where thermal processes, casting or welding take place. Cast iron perfectly withstands thermal and chemical stress. Sometimes cast iron tiles are used when decorating sidewalks in suburban areas. It looks beautiful and unusual. Topping has a number of advantages:
- Resistant to high and low temperatures, as well as temperature extremes.
- Long service life. If you follow all the recommendations for use, then metal tiles can last up to 45 years without requiring replacement or repair.
- Lack of dust in the room where the tiles are laid. This is important in certain types of production and when storing a number of goods and substances.
- Ease and speed of installation. There is no need to attract additional special equipment or professional craftsmen for the installation of such products. In a short time, it is possible to cover a large surface with topping.
- Attractive appearance. Modern metal tiles can have an interesting design that will decorate even a living space decorated in the appropriate style.
Among the disadvantages of this finishing flooring material, it is worth noting the limitations of its use in rooms with high humidity. Although recently, new alloy tiles have appeared that are not afraid of corrosion. In addition, there is a separate type of metal tile, which has a porcelain stoneware layer as a base. This material combines the strength of metal and the practicality of porcelain stoneware. It is used exclusively in domestic conditions for surface decoration.
Features of using metal tiles
The use of such a tile for interior flooring in residential premises began relatively recently. Initially, its scope of use was limited to industrial buildings. Now in construction supermarkets, you can pick up the material that will satisfy any need.
Metal tiles for industrial buildings
Topping is the optimal solution for buildings where:
- work is carried out with peak temperature changes (foundry, hot rolling, metalworking operations involving corrosive substances, etc.);
- heavy equipment is constantly entering and leaving (tractors, dump trucks, loaders, etc.);
- transportation and movement of goods is carried out by dragging;
- repairs of machines and other equipment are carried out.
All metal floor tiles vary in thickness and performance. If you plan to lay topping in rooms with a large external load (moving heavy equipment, storing products with a large mass, etc.), you must use thick products. For a warehouse, barn, utility room or span between areas, choose a tile of small thickness.
Basic recommendations when choosing topping thickness:
- For finishing warehouses in the light and food industries, educational plants, workshops and repair services, you should choose products with a thickness of 1 mm and a mass of one module of 0.75 kg.
- For shops of the mechanical assembly cycle, warehouses where multi-ton goods are stored, boiler rooms and mechanical shops, tiles with a weight of 0.9 kg and a thickness of 1.2 mm are intended.
- For steel production, heavy engineering workshops, when using tracked vehicles, in forges, give preference to material with a thickness of 1.5 mm and a weight of 1, 12 kg.
- For military installations and aircraft factories, tiles with a thickness of 1, 8 mm and a weight of 1, 35 kg are suitable.
In specialized stores, you can find perforated metal tiles with a thickness of 2.5 mm. It is characterized by high wear resistance and a very long service life.
The use of metal tiles for living spaces
In our time, designers are increasingly using this finishing material to create flooring in houses and apartments. The technical characteristics and appearance of the metal tile allow it to be used in a variety of modern styles. As a rule, the basis of such products is porcelain stoneware. From above it is covered with thin plates of stainless steel (less often with other metals and alloys).
This material is used in everyday life for the following purposes:
- For the combined finishing of the bathroom floor. This decision is considered quite controversial, and he has many opponents. This is due to the tendency of the metal to rust when exposed to moisture. However, if you choose it correctly, provide good ventilation and maintenance, the surface will remain in good condition for a long time.
- For high-tech, art deco, loft or classic interior decoration. Colored matte metal tiles look great in a high-tech room. For a loft, artificially aged metal is suitable, and for a classic style - metal with a patina.
Recently, a method of decorating a room using a combination of natural stone and metal tiles has gained wide popularity. This is true for rooms with fireplaces, hallways in large houses. In this case, it is better to involve a professional designer who will select the optimal combination.
Installation technology for floor metal tiles
To get a durable floor covering, it is necessary to follow not only the rules for installing metal tiles, but also to carry out the preparatory work with high quality. In general, the procedure for laying topping on the floor is not much different from using tiles.
Preparatory work before installing metal tiles
The metal tiles should be laid on a cement or concrete floor. If a flat screed is already ready, then it only needs to be cleaned of debris and dust collected with a construction vacuum cleaner. If the base is not of high quality and even, then you need to fill in a new one.
We do it according to the following scheme:
- We put the beacons indoors. You will be guided by them when laying tiles. Steel tubes, beams, strips, corners, etc. can be used as landmarks.
- The distance between the beacons should be equal to three to four tiles.
- We align the beacons using a laser level or hydro level.
- Pour concrete mortar between the landmarks. We leave the resulting surface for two hours.
- We remove the beacons, and fill the resulting holes with a solution.
Note! It is impossible to wait for the complete solidification of the surface. We leave the concrete base to dry only slightly, then proceed to laying the metal tiles.
Instructions for laying metal tiles
The peculiarity of the installation of this finishing material is that it must be laid on an uncured solution. You do not need to use any other adhesives.
We carry out the laying of metal tiles in the following order:
- We start installation from the corners of the room.
- We press the tile into the concrete until it is on top. To get this result, we tap with a hammer on the edges of the product.
- Do not hit the middle of the module while laying it. The surface can deform and bend, resulting in a dent in the floor.
- Remove excess mortar with a spatula.
- When all the tiles are laid, remove the remnants of concrete from the surface and thoroughly rinse it with a damp cloth.
- We leave the resulting surface until the concrete screed is completely dry.
- At the end, we carry out the final cleaning and cleaning of the metal tiles.
Sometimes the material is laid on a finished concrete surface. In this case, before starting the installation, it is necessary to lay a metal mesh with large cells, for example, 100x100 mm, on the base. To hold it, it must be fixed to the floor with construction dowels. Then we fill in fresh cement mortar with a thickness of about 60 mm and we carry out the laying of metal tiles. Using a mesh will allow you to get the right adhesion between the old and new layers. If you want to make a floor from cast iron slabs indoors, then it will be useful to know that the installation of the material is carried out according to the scheme that is used for topping made of steel alloy. For this, cement mortar is used. When using cast iron slabs outdoors (terraces, paths), this heavy material can be laid in a simplified and more suitable way - on the sand. In this case, cement mortar is used only for the installation of side elements if they are adjacent to the walls. The rest of the products, located in the middle, are fixed to the sand. To obtain a solid surface after work, you need to walk over the tiles with a roller or tamping machine.
Grouting metal tiles
For grouting the joints between metal tiles, use the same mixture as for working with ceramic material. The main thing is to choose the necessary shade that will harmoniously combine with the metal. Grouting instructions:
- We dilute the grout mixture in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Using a rubber trowel, fill in the seams by pressing the substance inward.
- We collect the surplus by running the tool perpendicular to the seam.
- Use the edge of a rounded trowel to shape it into a concave shape. This should be done after the mixture has dried.
- Wash off the remnants of the dried grout with a washcloth dipped in warm water.
How to make a floor from metal tiles - watch the video:
[media = https://www.youtube.com/watch? v = yGdljHikf2Q] Metal floor tiles will last for years with proper care. It will not crack or lose its appearance. The main thing is to choose the right material and install it in accordance with the technology.
