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Finishing the bathroom in most houses and apartments is carried out much less frequently than repairs in other rooms. Many owners choose practical and durable tiles as the main material. Bathroom tiles differ significantly in different parameters, and its installation has its own nuances.

Types of bathroom tiles

Most designers agree that bathroom tiling is a universal balance of practicality and aesthetic properties of the material. Modern ceramics allows you to create a variety of interiors in different styles and colors. Modern bathroom tiles are distinguished by a large number of parameters. At the production stage, it can be made:

1. Unglazed ceramics. The raw material is shaped, dried and fired.
2. Glazed single firing is one of the most common types.
3. Glazed double firing. This technology is applicable for expensive tiles, which are distinguished by the quality of the applied decorative layer and wear resistance.

In addition to technological differences, the features of the top coating also stand out. It can be:

• matte;
• glossy;
• mirror.

Glossy bathroom tiles

One of the popular varieties is glossy bathroom tiles, which are used mainly on walls. Its advantages include:

1. Gloss reflects natural sunlight and artificial lighting, thereby filling the room with light and visually increasing the space.
2. Such ceramics always have a brighter and more saturated color, allowing you to create fresh and non-trivial interiors.
3. Possesses the minimum moisture absorption and is easily washed off from pollution.
4. Any pattern or ornament can be applied to the gloss.

However, glossy bathroom tiles have their drawbacks:

1. When water gets in, the surface becomes slippery, so it is not used for floor decoration.
2. After cleaning, stains may remain on the gloss, which will spoil the appearance of the interior.

Matte bathroom tiles

The opposite of glossy is matte bathroom tiles. It differs significantly in the structure of the front surface and has its advantages:

1. Matte ceramics always have more calm and muted shades, emphasizing the colors of sanitary ware and furniture. The interior is warmer and more comfortable.
2. This finish is practically non-slip, so professionals advise laying it on both the floor and walls.
3. After cleaning, there are no streaks left on the material.
4. Does not create glare in any kind of lighting.

However, matte bathroom tiles have their drawbacks:

1. Due to the porosity of the surface, dirt accumulates in microcracks, which makes it difficult to clean the room.
2. Dark colors in small bathrooms can create a gloomy and uncomfortable interior.

Mirror tiles for the bathroom

A relatively new material is mirror ceramics. A completely bathtub in such a tile is laid out extremely rarely. The material is mainly used as:

1. The decor of one of the walls to expand the space.
2. Decorative inserts between matte and glossy counterparts.
3. Material for finishing the space above the sink, as an analogue of a stationary mirror.
4. Ceiling decor that visually enlarges a small room.

The advantages of the material include an unusual appearance and the ability to change the geometry of the room. Among the disadvantages of mirror tiles for the bathroom can be noted:

1. Difficulty in care. Any dirt and stains immediately become noticeable on the glass surface.
2. Features of installation, which should be entrusted to professional craftsmen.

Bathroom tile material

The differences between bathroom tiles do not end at the manufacturing method and features of the front surface. In the last century, sellers could only offer ceramics, while now bathroom wall tiles made of the following materials are no less popular:

• glass;
• porcelain stoneware;
• natural or artificial stone;
• vinyl.

Bathroom ceramic tiles

The most familiar and common material is the tile in the bathroom. It is made from clay, to which sand and various minerals are added. After molding and firing, the glazing process begins. At this stage, the tile familiar to everyone acquires its own shade or pattern. The advantages of the material include:

1. Price. This is one of the most budget options for finishing the bathroom.
2. Quality. Such a tile does not allow water to pass through and, with proper installation, has a long service life.
3. A large selection of shades, patterns and even textures, allowing you to create a variety of options for the interior of the bathroom.

Bathroom glass tiles

A more expensive analogue of ceramics is glass tiles in the bathroom. It is made of special tempered glass with the addition of dyes and so-called silencers, which give the surface a heterogeneity. The main disadvantage of the material is its high price, while there are much more advantages:

1. Geometry. Unlike ceramics, glass is not deformed during production, so the material has a flat plane and the same angles.
2. Strength and durabilitybecause tempered glass is able to withstand heavy physical exertion and shock.
3. Ease of carebecause a flat surface is easy and quick to wash.
4. Sun resistance. Dyes for glass do not fade even when exposed to ultraviolet for a long time.

Bathroom Porcelain Tile

In recent years, porcelain tiles on the bathroom wall have become popular. It is made from the same materials as the tile, only using a completely different technology. In the process of kneading clay, natural dye and additives are immediately added to increase the strength of the material. The mixture is placed into molds that are subjected to high pressure and temperature. At the output, the material has an absolutely uniform color and structure, increased strength.

The advantages of porcelain stoneware include:

1. Increased strength, resistance to impact and abrasive substances.
2. Low electrical conductivity, which eliminates electric shock in the presence of electrical appliances on the floor.
3. Resistant to aggressive chemicals.

Of the minuses of the material can be identified:

1. The cost, which is significantly higher than the usual tile.
2. The need to install a warm floor under the material, otherwise standard heating will not be able to heat the stone and it will be unpleasant to stand on it.

Bathroom stone tiles

Bathroom tile is considered the most budgetary material, while stone material can be attributed to the elite, which is made in the form of a tile for ease of installation. Natural stone is more often used for outdoor work, however, it is also found in the interior of bathrooms. Stone tile for the bathroom has its advantages:

• strength and durability;
• fire safety;
• noise-absorbing properties;
• environmental friendliness;
• presentable and rich appearance.

The disadvantages of the material are no less than the advantages:

1. High price.
2. Porosity and hygroscopicity.
3. The need for special care: polishing, waxing, treatment with protective compounds.
4. Susceptibility to household chemicals.

How to choose bathroom tiles?

Before the tiles in the bathroom fall into the hands of the laying master, it is important to choose the best option, based on the following parameters:

1. The style of the room, the desired shade and texture.
2. Appearance and quality of the variety you like.
3. The size of the tile and its shape, which affect the geometry of the room and the laying pattern.
4. Physical properties, whether it be strength, hygroscopicity and varietal affiliation of the material you like.
5. Features of laying and the materials and components used.

Bathroom tile size

An important parameter in choosing a bathroom tile is its shape and size. Here the designers advise:

1. For small spaces, do not choose too small and too large tiles, which will look ridiculous.
2. The larger the room, the more details can be.
3. Squares and rectangles create the correct geometry of the room, while multifaceted tiles look unusual.
4. The standard size of a wall tile is 20×30 cm for a rectangular variety and 20×20 for a square one. Manufacturers also produce other sizes, from the smallest mosaic 2×2 cm to large ones, in which the side is 60 cm or more.
5. Floor tiles are available in several large sizes. The generally accepted standard is 40×60 cm, but there may be deviations in one direction or another.

Bathroom tile design

The basis for choosing a finishing material is the desired design of the bathroom. Modern tiles are able to create a variety of interiors, for which there are practically no restrictions. Designers are advised to consider the following nuances:

1. Desired color or combination. Light shades visually expand the space, while darker ones hide the necessary centimeters a little.
2. The chosen style also has its own requirements for shade and pattern. In classicism, this is a clear separation of the top and bottom, and in the eastern, the presence of a large number of patterns is mandatory. Minimalism is famous for its monochrome shades, which are diluted with bright accessories.
3. Mosaic tiles for the bathroom look more appropriate in rooms with a medium and large area. You can choose from monochromatic varieties, as well as gradations and other color transition variations.
4. Wood-like tiles in the bathroom, while natural stone, emphasizes the beauty of plumbing and furniture more than it is a semantic accent of the interior.

How to lay tiles in the bathroom?

The technology of laying tiles in the bathroom consists of several stages, each of which should not be neglected:

1. Dismantling of the old finish. This is one of the dirtiest types of work, as the old tiles will have to be knocked down and the plastic removed with special tools.
2. Assessment of the condition of the subfloor and walls. At this stage, verticals and horizontals, the presence of potholes and cracks are evaluated. In order for the tile to serve for a long time, the floor and walls must be even. With significant flaws, the vertical surfaces are puttied, and a screed is poured onto the floor. Minor defects can be corrected locally.
3. Laying waterproofing material on the floor. It can be roofing material, coating or pouring waterproofing.
4. The walls are treated with a special primer with an antifungal effect.
5. Cutting tiles into desired pieces.
6. Application of adhesive and laying of material.

How to lay tiles on the wall in the bathroom?

In order for the tiles on the floor and walls to lay down in the bathroom correctly, it is important to consider the following nuances:

1. Beginners and experienced craftsmen should first mark up and mark the rows of future masonry. To do this, the height of the wall is divided by the height of the tile, the same is done with the width.
2. In rare cases, it is possible to arrange an equal number of rows. Rather one will have less width or height. It is better to place it at the bottom or in the far corner of the room.
3. Under the first row is a wooden starter bar that supports the tiles.
4. The preparation of the solution should be done right before the start of laying.
5. The adhesive is applied to the wall and passed over it with a special ribbed spatula.
6. Then the first row of tiles is laid.
7. Professionals advise beginners to lay out the second row the next day, when the first layer is already slightly dry and fixed.

How to lay tiles on the floor in the bathroom?

According to the same algorithm, tiles in the bathroom are laid out on the floor with their own hands. The only exception is that you can first lay out the material on the floor and evaluate the quality of the picture. The following types of masonry are used:

1. Straight, during which the tiles are laid out evenly. Waste with this type is 5-10%.
2. Chess. Each next row is located symmetrically shifted relative to the previous one. Waste is about 20-25%.
3. Diagonal. It is laid out in a rhombus diagonally to the walls. Waste is about 15-20%.
4. artistic, in which tiles of different sizes are often used. This option can only be performed by experienced craftsmen.