Tile plinth: manufacturing details

Tiles are used in rooms with high humidity. This may be a bathroom, kitchen, bathroom, hallway, porch or staircase. In order to prevent water from entering the junction of the wall and floor, lay a ceramic plinth. Currently, the abundance of tiled products allows you to use them for decoration of living rooms and halls, which requires a special execution of tiles.

Ceramic baseboards are combined with many finishing materials, they are able to hide installation defects, become a beautiful addition to any room, giving the floor a finished look.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of ceramic plinths include the following:

  • plinth protection does not allow moisture and dirt to accumulate along the walls, thereby preventing the appearance of fungus and mold.
  • Resistance to high temperatures makes the ceramic product immune to fire, and its increased thermal conductivity allows it to be used with the “warm floor” system.
  • The plinth perfectly hides all the flaws that were made when installing the tile at the joints of the walls and the floor.
  • Such natural material as clay is involved in the composition of ceramic products; therefore, they do not cause allergies, are not toxic, and comply with environmental standards.
  • The product is resistant to ultraviolet light, does not deform and does not fade under the influence of sunlight.
  • The plinth easily tolerates cleaning with the use of chemicals, but wet wiping is usually enough.
  • A wide selection and attractive design makes products in demand. The color scheme can be chosen for any interior.
  • The plinth itself is as durable as tile.

Despite many advantages, there are plinths and disadvantages:

  • the material is fragile, with it you need to be careful during installation and during operation.
  • Direct products are laid along the walls. The plinth has no angular, curved elements.
  • The price is higher than that of similar plastic products.

Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles

Moisture-resistant plinths can be made from ceramics or porcelain stoneware. To understand the difference, you need to take a closer look at their technical specifications. The production of ceramics is based on natural materials: clay, quartz sand, kaolin and spar. All ingredients are well ground, mixed and baked at high temperature.

The tile becomes moisture resistant, durable, but to some extent retains its porosity.

In the creation of porcelain tiles are the same materials that are necessary for tile, but only in large proportions. Granite crumb is taken as a basis. Material gets special strength at the stage of roasting. Porcelain tile is exposed to higher temperatures, through which all components are not just melted, but literally soldered to each other.

As a result of strong pressure, the porosity decreases, moisture resistance increases, and the material acquires special strength.

Tile used for interior workOnly extremely strong can be mounted on the street. Porcelain tile is designed for outdoor installation.It tolerates temperature changes, heat-resistant, not afraid of frost and sunlight. Increased moisture resistance ensures its unchanged properties with any amount of precipitation. Despite the higher strength characteristics, it looks just as attractive as tile, which is why it has also been used in porcelain tiles.

Shape and size

When choosing a form of plinth, consider the size of the room:

  1. For a small room, such as a bathroom or bathroom, flat elements will do. They look like a continuation of the walls, increasing the visual space.
  2. In large rooms, large figure skirting is necessary, because low and thin will be completely invisible. Corrugated products look more volumetric and beautiful, but in some cases thin elements are necessary.
  3. The flat facing of the lower corners makes it possible to put the furniture close to the walls. Such a plinth has an advantage when installing sliding doors.

In construction markets, tiles are often offered with ceramic baseboard, decor and frieze. Buying a complete set, you can be sure of the correct selection of elements in style.The length of the elements coincides with the width of the tile, which guarantees the coincidence of the joints. Thickness can be from 0.7 to 1.3 mm, and width - from 16 to 90 mm.

Application

Ceramic baseboards can be perfectly combined with tiles. Everyone knows that tiles lay out rooms with high humidity: bathrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, pools. Thanks to a large selection and amazing beauty, tiles were used in corridors, living rooms and halls.

It is used on balconies and loggias, in yards, laying out paths and stairs.

Not always the plinth is laid along a flat surface. There are other options for the use of this material, for example: the design of the stairs. A beautiful floor of tiles with ceramic plinth should not break off at the foot of the steps, it is logical to continue it to the second floor. To accomplish this task, you can find special items on sale that are L-shaped or consist of two parts. During installation, such plinth covers the stage from different sides.

It looks good ceramic plinth as a side bath. It solves aesthetic and hygienic tasks at the same time, not allowing water to accumulate between the side and the wall.

Elements are easy to install:

  • At the beginning of work, the joints of the tile and the bath should be treated with a layer of sealant, let it dry.
  • It is better to glue a plinth with a moisture resistant mastic; you can use liquid nails.
  • Grout for fugues should also have increased resistance to water.

It is possible to find on sale not only a direct plinth, but also elements for corners.

Floor edging color

The plinth should not match the color of the walls, but the color of the floor. Then its natural continuation is felt, and the space visually expands. Items may be lighter or darker than the floor. The coincidence with the color of the walls is permissible only when the color is uniform. Tile, which depicts a pattern or ornament, is not always combined with a plinth. In such a situation, the white color of the elements can help out: it is perfect for a motley tile. If the plinth is chosen according to the color of the door, then the material, thickness and width of the door frame should be taken into account.

Installation of ceramic plinth

To properly and quickly carry out installation, you need to consider that it is carried out in several steps.

Preparatory stage

Increasingly, instead of plastic baseboards used ceramic.When buying, you need to make sure that the length, color and texture match the characteristics of the tile. This will facilitate the installation of the product and bring harmony to the interior. On the prepared dry floor, all parts should be laid out and inspected. Joints and seams will be immediately visible.

To fit a simple plinth, a device such as a roller glass cutter is suitable. More complex textured products need to be treated with a diamond grinder. When working with ceramics, it is necessary to be extremely careful not to damage the decorative layer, to prevent cracks and chips. Minor defects can be removed with coarse sandpaper. To perform a turn, you should use the corner elements. You can also trim the baseboard at an angle of 45 degrees.

All fitting and trimming must be performed before diluting the adhesive composition. For the installation of plinth used the same compositions as for the tile. You can make the solution yourself by purchasing glue on a dry cement base, or buy ready-made pasta, which will help eliminate the mistake of adding water. The plastic mass is evenly distributed over the surface of the material, easily connecting the baseboard with any base: concrete,tile, drywall.

The working process

It is necessary to gently wash and wipe dry all work surfaces. The cleaner they are, the higher the adhesion of the material. To protect the facing of the walls from falling into the solution, it is necessary to glue them over with masking tape along the height of the plinth. The mixture is applied with a notched trowel, then carefully glue the ceramic element, each time checking the level. The product can be trimmed by hand, as well as a mallet. It is necessary to remove excess glue, let the baseboard dry for a day, then fill the joints with a fugging solution. It will protect the finish from moisture and microorganisms.

Work carried out from the corner, moving to the middle of the wall. Then they move to another angle, again moving to the center, until both working sections are connected. This method will help avoid seam divergence, especially when installed on uneven surfaces. The distances between the elements are maintained with the help of plastic crosses, as in the installation of tiles.

If this is not done, then clear lines between the baseboard and tile will not work. After completion of the work should be thoroughly wipe all work surfaces.

Installation of tile skirting

Ceramic baseboards, bought with tiles, are easier to install and look better than handicraft edging. If there is a need to install a homemade product, then for its manufacture you will need a tile cutter and a drill with a diamond disc. It is necessary to decide on a material for a plinth: a tile or porcelain tile.

The second option has increased strength, but requires additional effort when working with a tile cutter. The edges of the products must be rounded off with an abrasive tool.

For curly cutting elements of plinth need grinder. To eliminate vibration, it is better to lay tiles on foam plastic. This will help avoid chipping. You can not use the usual circle for cutting stone. It will heat the porcelain stoneware, which will lead to its destruction. Water cooling will help, however it is extremely inconvenient. If you need to drill the plinth, then you have to use diamond drills.

Cutting the decor of a complex configuration is better to entrust a professional. This will require additional costs, but the quality will be guaranteed. The top of the tile is rounded and polished. Even with factory cutting, some of the material will be consumed.The price of the product will be 160-180 rubles per linear meter. You can connect a designer to work, but this will increase the cost of the order.

In more detail how to make a plinth from a tile, the following video will tell.

What influences the choice of skirting?

Ceramic plinth is appropriate wherever there is tile. It is influenced by the overall design intent. There should be a match of texture and color. It is better that the plinth and finishing material belong to the same collection. When choosing, you should take into account the quality of the product: there should be no defects on the ends, distortion of the pattern or deformation of the plane.

If it is difficult to choose an option that meets these requirements, you will have to cut the elements from the tile used to cover the floor.

Having invested in the repair of strength, energy and money, you should not save on a ceramic plinth, replacing it with plastic. Difference is difficult to feel with the direct purchase of items in the store. Only having mounted a product, it is possible to notice how much it differs favorably from its counterparts.

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

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