Quartz vinyl floor tiles: features of choice

The flooring plays a huge role in the design of housing, so it must be not only beautiful, but also multifunctional. To date, the construction market provides a huge selection of finishing materials for the floor, but quartz vinyl tile deserves special attention. This product is unique for use in the interior., as it meets all performance characteristics and looks great in rooms decorated with decorative stone, wood and metal. A huge range of colors and textures allows you to use the material in all style directions, and the positive characteristics possessed by the tile make it popular and widely used.

Quartz vinyl tile is one of the modern building materials, which is used for laying the flooring.The material can be considered an advanced type of PVC coating. The tiles are made using unique technologies, by pressing PVC, quartz sand and other components. As a result, a multi-layered product is obtained having an elastic and flexible structure.

In appearance, the tile is identical to heterogeneous linoleum, because it includes a thermoplastic base, and the presence of polyvinyl chloride allows manufacturers to produce products of various textures that mimic natural materials. Especially beautiful look cover, decorated with ceramics, wood, slate, marble and granite. Quartz tiles can be rigid and flexible. Rigid construction is chosen for laying on well-prepared surfaces with a perfectly aligned base.

The quartz vinyl tile is a multi-layered floor covering consisting of many components and minerals. They are formed into the finished product using a special heat treatment. Depending on the type of production, the material may acquire different properties andcharacteristics, but its structure always remains the same.

The structure of quartz vinyl tile is as follows:

• The basis responsible for the density of the fit of the material to the floor. It is made of polyvinyl chloride.

• The reinforcing layer, for the production of which glass fiber is used.

• The middle layer consisting of vinyl and quartz components. With it, the coating is not only durable, but also provides good thermal insulation.

• The upper base, which is usually covered with decorative elements and drawings.

• Protective film consisting of aluminum oxide and polyurethane. It prevents mechanical and chemical damage, and also makes the surface non-slip.

In addition to the basic elements, the coating also includes lubricants, stabilizers, dyes and plasticizers. The main components of the material are natural silicon and quartz, their share exceeds 80%, the remainder is occupied by vinyl additives.

Quartz tiles are very popular in modern construction, as it has many positive characteristics in addition to the aesthetic look. Recently, most masters opt for just such a tile, because They managed to highlight the following advantages of the material, based on personal experience:

• High strength.

• Long service life. With proper care, it can exceed 15 years.

• Resistant to external damage. Thanks to the protective layer, the coating is not afraid of friction and chemical influences.

• Possibility of mounting on top of the “warm floor” system.

• Good sound insulation. The product has the ability to absorb noise.

• Moisture resistance. The tile can be used in rooms with any level of humidity, as it does not get wet and does not swell. This type of coating is great for the balcony, kitchen and bathroom. In addition, on its surface does not appear mold and fungus.

• Increased grip. Slip on the surface of the tile is almost impossible.

• Simplicity in dismantling works. If there is a need to replace individual sections or the entire coating, it is easily removed.

• Thermal insulation. The floors retain heat well.

• Resistance to temperature changes.

• Environmentally friendly material. Its safety is confirmed by quality certificates of international standard.

• Fireproof. The product does not support the combustion process and even independently provokes damping of the fire.

• Ease of installation.

• Huge selection of colors and textures. The product can imitate grass, stone and wood.

Despite the presence of a variety of positive characteristics, quartz vinyl tile has disadvantages.

Its main negative properties include:

• The presence of substances of non-natural origin.

• It is impossible to apply a covering in places where placement of heavy furniture is planned. Even if the material can withstand considerable mechanical loads, dents and marks from the legs of the sofas or overall cabinets may remain on its surface.

• Before starting the installation, the base for the tile must be carefully prepared and leveled. In addition, you will need to eliminate all defects in the base coat.

• The product can fade in the sun due to instability to ultraviolet rays.

Therefore, you can safely choose to update the floors in the room this particular material.

Recently, the majority of owners of houses and apartments prefer to choose quartz-vinyl tile for decoration of the floor covering. This is due to its original appearance and a lot of positive characteristics. Since the construction market is represented by many types of such products, you need to know what to look for when buying and how to protect yourself from low-quality fakes.

Before you buy quartz vinyl tile, you need to consider the following points:

• Wear resistance class. This indicator is central to the choice of product. To date, there are homogeneous and multi-layered types of plates, which differ in the total thickness of the coating and the quality of the protective layer. Since its material resistance to mechanical loads depends on the thickness of the material, it is recommended to purchase a classic version of slabs with a thickness of at least 3 mm and a protective coating up to 0. 7 mm.

Manufacturers make models with ten classes of wear resistance, but for a quartzvinyl floor in residential premises, it is enough to know only two main classes:

• For finishing of rooms with any loads, class 34 is suitable, the thickness of the plates is 2-3 mm, and the protective layer does not exceed 0. 5 mm.

• 43 class is not afraid of temperature changes, the thickness of PVC can reach 5-6 mm and the protective surface 0. 7 mm.

During operation, the tile will be constantly subjected to various mechanical manipulations, chemical influences and cleaning. Therefore, it is best to give preference to coatings whose category is indicated by the letter "T". As a rule, such tiles are made by domestic and foreign manufacturers and are characterized by high resistance to acids.

• The ability of the mother to burning and smoke. It is advisable to purchase products with minimal indicators that have the following type of marking: for refractoriness - “G2”, for the level of formation of smoke - “D2”.

• Place of installation. It is necessary to consider the main operational characteristics of the product and in accordance with them choose one or another type of coating.Often, a warm water floor system is used in houses and apartments, which can also be covered with quartz vinyl tile. But it must be resistant to moisture and temperature. For the bathroom, balcony and kitchen should be purchased waterproof products of increased strength.

• Installation systems. Laying tiles can be carried out in various ways on a previously prepared and leveled base. For rooms with high humidity and temperature changes, it is recommended to buy products that can be fixed with glue. The quartz vinyl tile with a lock joint resembles laminate, as it is fixed with the help of shaped locks and forms an airtight, durable seam. It is best to buy it for the decoration of rooms in which there are small differences in the level of the subfloor, and if the repair requires a minimum investment of time.

Coatings with glue locks are also available, and they are fastened with adhesive tape. There is a tile that just lays on the floor without additional fixation. This type of material is best suited to protect the main coating from damage, and not to decorate it.

• The composition of the product. Buying a tile, it is important to pay attention to what it is made of. Quartzvinyl differs from PVC in that in its composition the concentration of quartz sand exceeds 80%, which contributes to the strength, durability and durability of the product. If this figure is less, then manufacturers offer for sale ordinary PVC coating that can not withstand mechanical loads. In addition, products must have the appropriate quality certificates with a list of all the primary raw materials used in the manufacturing process.

• Appearance. Thanks to modern production technologies, various imitations and reliefs can be applied to the external surface of the product. The tile in accuracy transfers beauty of a natural tree and a stone. As a rule, the material must be purchased in such a design that would fully comply with the overall design and decoration of the room.

This also applies to the color range of the coating, which can vary from dark to light tones.

Therefore, it can be installed as a floor covering both in an apartment and in a private house. Such floors during operation perfectly preserve the aesthetic appearance and do not creak. Most often quartz tiles are chosen for the design of children's rooms, living rooms, bathrooms and kitchen rooms.

Due to the ability of the material to withstand cold, reaching -30 degrees and heat within + 60 degrees, it can be used not only for laying in residential premises. A good option would be tiles for the veranda, terraces, offices, shops and unglaced balconies. A rich color palette is perfect for decorating bedrooms.

Installing a new flooring in the house, every owner wants it to serve long and reliably. Therefore, when choosing quartz vinyl tile floors, it is necessary to take into account a number of rules that will help to prolong its service life.

Masters advise to adhere to the following recommendations:

• It is necessary to carry out installation on well prepared and dried basis. Laying should be done in rooms with a temperature of at least +25 degrees.

• You can not immediately begin to use the tile, furniture placement can be carried out only 24 hours after laying the coating.

• Quartz tiles “afraid” of sharp objects, so you should avoid direct contact of the floor with furniture legs or heels of shoes. In places where it is planned to install heavy furniture, it is best to additionally install special protective supports.

• The cleaning process should be done with a damp cloth and try to avoid using chemical cleaners.

• In crowded rooms where the floors experience high mechanical loads, it is advisable to install coatings with increased wear resistance.

• To protect the tile from burning out, it is necessary to install the most favorable lighting system in the rooms and hang curtains of dense materials on the windows. Thus, it is possible to avoid direct rays of the sun on the surface.

Despite the fact that quartz vinyl tile is considered a novelty in the construction market, it has already managed to successfully establish itself as a beautiful and durable flooring.Due to the many positive characteristics of this material has received good reviews and has become very popular among modern designers.

Such tiles are a great option for decorating floors with a water heating system. Unlike other products, the coating is not subjected to deformation and remains warm at any time of the year. Young mothers who have active children grow in the house, like quartz vinyl floors. The high level of the protective layer prevents sliding processes and saves babies from injuries. In addition, it is easy to clean such a covering - it is enough to perform a wet cleaning and the floor becomes clean.

Appreciated the material beginner masters, because the products are simple to install. Plates can be quickly installed even without extensive experience in construction work.

See the next video for more on quartz vinyl tile features and how to lay it correctly.