Cement Floor Tiles: Tips for Choosing

Everything new is well forgotten old. This expression can be applied to a cement tile that is currently experiencing a real rebirth of its popularity. This finishing material combines simplicity, durability and luxury. Appearing in the XVIII century in Morocco, cement tile does not lose its relevance today. It will decorate the house with a stylish interior and will add zest to the dwelling with simple furniture.

Special features

The name of the tile speaks for itself. It is made from cement, sand and dyes. All production is manual. Firing is not applicable.

The manufacturing process consists of several stages:

  • First, a sketch is developed, the drawing can be in the form of flowers, symbols, ornaments and other things.
  • According to the sketch create a special cliche of metal. It plays the role of a stencil.
  • Then the composition is prepared for the main layer of cement, sand and a decorative layer of natural coloring pigments.
  • Mixtures are laid in a cliché or in another way in the matrix. First, a decorative layer with a height of about 0.4 cm is poured, then a cement-sand mortar is laid. The decorative layer gives the tile not only beauty, but also strength.
  • Next, the matrix is ​​closed with a lid, pressing occurs for better adhesion of the entire composition. Use a hydraulic press of 2 tons or more.

At the end of the tiles are soaked in water and dried for 3 weeks. The thickness of the finished product ranges from 13 to 20 mm.

Application

Cement tile is used as a floor covering in a house or on a terrace, facing material for walls, stairs and facades, as paving slabs. In the interior of the house it is put in the kitchen and other rooms, bathroom, it draws the floors of the corridor and porches.

It is in perfect harmony with other types of tiles, wood, and other materials. Therefore, it can be used not on the entire area of ​​the floor, but in the form of panels or mosaics, for example.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of cement tiles are the following characteristics:

  • In the manufacture of environmentally friendly materials.
  • It is universal in the creation of any interiors, suitable for decorating different styles. It is convenient to combine colored tiles with objects in the interior.
  • The material is resistant to stress, moisture, ultraviolet. You can put in the bathroom, sauna, kitchen room, spa areas and use for exterior decoration of buildings.
  • Aesthetic component. Beautiful appearance, polished, but not slippery surface that repels dirt.
  • Easy installation.
  • Profitability due to long service life. She will delight you for several decades. And grow old beautifully.
  • Does not require complex care. It is enough to eliminate the pollution using ordinary detergents.

Among the shortcomings can be noted that Due to manual work, the tiles may vary slightly in hue and thickness. Lines may not be flat enough. When drying on the surface may form a white haze, on the edges of the tile to cause chips.

However, such products are not considered defective. In the process of installation, chips are removed using a grout.The complete picture after laying the floor will help to make the difference in shades unnoticeable.

How to choose?

A few recommendations:

  • When purchasing products, you should study the product specification. Is it possible to lay it on the street, there are tests for resistance to frost, for example.
  • If you choose a tile for the floor, you should pay attention to the amount of abrasion and strength. After all, flooring is usually experiencing daily loads, unlike walls.
  • For finishing surfaces in the open air, it is necessary to clarify the material's resistance to temperature extremes.
  • It is important to find out if the tile is impregnated. If not, its surface will absorb liquids. And then you need to buy an additional water-repellent solution.
  • How to check tile? Lay it horizontally, pour water on the surface and wait a couple of minutes. If the liquid is absorbed, the tile is not processed or is poorly processed.

Piling

The floor surface must be clean, flat and dry. Therefore, it is worth waiting until the new floor is completely dry.

The temperature in the room should be about 20 degrees. If the room is cool, you should warm it up first.To make the seams between the individual elements look neat, it is best to put the tiles together as close as possible. It is better to make the seam width not more than 1.5 mm.

Apply a special glue to the floor surface, then to the tile and gently fix it. It is enough to press a hand. Do not use a hammer or other tools for leveling. A day later, the floor is washed and put a solution that repels water. Then there is a grout, after washing off, the surface is again treated with a solution.

When exterior finish first lay a layer of waterproofing, and then tile.

How to handle cement tiles before laying, see the following video.

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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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