Porcelain stoneware for the street frost-resistant: choice, installation tips
Porcelain stoneware for the street is frost-resistant: selection, styling, nuances of working with the material
Porcelain stoneware is a stone–porcelain tile that has high performance characteristics and is very popular in construction. Porcelain stoneware for the frost-resistant street is used for facing facades, making steps and for other purposes. The selection and installation of the material requires knowledge of its varieties and their differences from each other, the nuances of working with them.
Finishing the facade with such a modern material as frost-resistant porcelain stoneware has many advantages
Types of porcelain stoneware
This material appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already managed to gain great popularity among buyers. The use of frost-resistant porcelain stoneware of Italian and Spanish production is considered a sign of good taste and well-being. The material itself appeared as an alternative to natural stone, but modern tile models can simulate various surface options. There are the following main types of porcelain stoneware:
- technical – durable and reliable, but not particularly attractive in appearance. Technical tiles are relatively inexpensive and are used for lining industrial premises and technical areas;
An important criterion when choosing porcelain stoneware for the street is the degree of the planned load on the surface lined with this material
- matte – characterized by an unglazed surface. The use of matte porcelain stoneware for the street is advantageous because this type of material has a high level of durability, but regular maintenance is necessary for such tiles, since traces easily remain on its surface;
- polished – has a characteristic mirror shine, is most often used for facing facades and other vertical surfaces. It is not recommended to use polished tiles for facing the floor or steps, as over time the coating is erased and the tile becomes matte.;
- glazed – the surface of this type of porcelain stoneware is covered with a special glaze, which gives it a unique shine. Such a porcelain tile for the street can be stylized for different materials, have a different color and pattern. It is better to use it for finishing walls and other surfaces that will not be subjected to a heavy load;
- satin – porcelain stoneware, on the surface of which a layer of mineral salt is applied. After firing, such a tile boasts a velvety surface structure. Used for decorative purposes;
- structured is another decorative variety that can look like products made of natural stone, wood, leather and other materials.
In the modern construction market, there is a wide range of offers of porcelain tiles of various designs and characteristics
Each of the tile types has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is worth choosing depending on your needs and the characteristics of the material operation.
Useful advice! One of the main criteria for choosing porcelain stoneware for the street is the maximum load on the material. Therefore, first of all, you need to start from this parameter, and then take into account the rest of the characteristics.
Characteristics and advantages of porcelain stoneware
One of the main advantages of ceramic granite tiles over other facing materials is its increased density and strength. It significantly exceeds the performance characteristics of conventional ceramic tiles and is distinguished by the following features:
- frost resistance – the ability to easily tolerate low temperatures is one of the main advantages of frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for the street. You can buy such a material for use at temperatures up to -50 ° C, so it is advantageous to use it for outdoor use. In addition, this material is resistant to temperature changes;
Diagram of the production process of porcelain tiles
- wear resistance – the tile resists scratches, chips and other mechanical damage well, which allows it to be used with equal efficiency for finishing steps, porches, floors in the house and other surfaces that are often subjected to heavy mechanical loads. The service life of anti-slip frost-resistant outdoor porcelain stoneware is approximately 7 years or more;
- low level of moisture absorption – porcelain tile does not absorb moisture at all, so it can be safely used at any humidity indicators;
- impact resistance – a heavy object can be dropped on a surface lined with granite tiles without fear that the coating will be damaged. At the same time, the thicker the tile, the greater its impact resistance, so the thickness indicators of porcelain stoneware for a porch on the street should be high enough.
All these advantages make porcelain stoneware an excellent option for use as a facing material for a wide variety of surfaces. He is not afraid of frost and heat, tolerates heavy loads well and can serve you for many years without losing the attractiveness of appearance.
How to choose the right porcelain stoneware
When choosing a material, you need to pay attention to a number of important points. One of the primary ones is the tile manufacturer. The level of quality depends on the manufacturer, so it is worth giving preference to Italian models. They are more expensive than porcelain stoneware of domestic production, but also have higher performance characteristics.
The floor on the terrace of a private house is lined with granite stone
The second most important tile parameter is the presence of a non–slip surface. Buying anti-slip porcelain stoneware for the street will ensure your safety, since it is easy to get injured when using a slippery surface. High-quality tiles should be rough to reduce the risk of injury even when wet. In addition, too smooth tiles will often have to be sprinkled with sand and other anti-slip materials, which can lead to a rapid loss of attractiveness of its appearance.
The use of anti-slip frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for antislip street is more profitable than the use of corrugated surfaces. The latter are not as slippery as smooth ones, but they are much more difficult to clean from dirt and quickly erase, acquire an unattractive appearance. There are several varieties of non-slip frost-resistant porcelain stoneware according to the wear resistance parameter:
- PEI I, II – low wear resistance, it is recommended to be used for facing vertical surfaces or floors on which a large load is not expected;
- PEI III – medium level of wear resistance, best used in residential areas with low intensity traffic;
- PEI IV – good wear resistance, can be used in public buildings;
- PEI V is the maximum level of stability.
The choice of the appearance of anti-slip frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for the street, as well as the size of the tile depends solely on your taste. The price per m2 of porcelain stoneware for the facade or for the steps depends on the manufacturer and can vary in a very wide range. For example, for domestic manufacturers it can be 700-800 rubles per sq. m, and for foreign – 1000-1500 rubles.
The choice of design of frost-resistant porcelain stoneware, tile size depends solely on your preferences
In addition, a number of additional material parameters must be taken into account when choosing. These include, for example, the caliber – the difference between the size indicated on the packaging with the material and its actual dimensions. This difference can be up to 0.5 mm and is of great importance when facing the floor or walls.
It is quite easy to check the tile quality level. To do this, you need to estimate her weight. For example, a tile of frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for a 30×30 cm street with a thickness of 8-9 mm should weigh about 2 kg. If the weight of the material is less, it means that the manufacturer has saved on quality and such a tile will quickly fail.
Features of the choice of porcelain stoneware under the stone
Granite tiles with natural stone styling are the most popular, so it is very important to know how to choose this particular type of material. There are variants stylized as granite, marble, onyx, sandstone, jasper, basalt and many other types of stones. They are widely used for the manufacture of steps for stairs made of porcelain stoneware, facade cladding and for other purposes.
The most common are two variants of imitation of natural stone. This is an exact imitation and artistic decoration. The first option exactly repeats the pattern and texture of a natural mineral, and the second is characterized by the presence of decorative additives. These include gold veins, stylization of rock paintings, and so on. In the catalog of ceramic granite Kerama Marazzi, for example, you can find many similar options.
The platform under the canopy is decorated with glazed granite stylized as a stone
Advantages of porcelain stoneware for marble and travertine
Natural marble and travertine are among the most popular materials for imitation. Imitation of the latter is very difficult to distinguish from the original, even for a specialist, since the tile completely repeats the color and texture of the material. With artificial marble, everything is somewhat more complicated, it is very similar to natural, but does not have the depth of black color that natural stone is characterized by. At the same time, a large tile looks better, for example, laying marble steps made of porcelain stoneware for the street using 1200×600 mm tiles will look better than 600×600.
The subtleties of laying the material
The laying of porcelain stoneware technology differs from the installation of conventional ceramic tiles. When laying porcelain stoneware on the street, it is not necessary to use cement-based building mixes, but it is better to use a special glue. If we are talking about finishing the facade, there can be two methods of laying:
The choice of the method of fastening the material depends on many factors. This includes climatic conditions, the type of structure and other parameters. Each of the above methods has its own nuances.
The choice of fixing granite tiles depends on many factors, the main of which are the climatic conditions in the region, as well as the type of structure
The choice of frost-resistant glue for porcelain stoneware for outdoor work, the nuances of use
As already mentioned, when finishing surfaces with granite, it is impossible to use conventional cement-based building mixes. There are many types of specialized glue specifically for fixing this material. When choosing an adhesive for laying porcelain stoneware on the street or indoors, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
Useful advice! As a rule, for each of the types of premises, as well as for interior and exterior decoration, different brands of construction glue are needed. Of course, there are universal options, but they will cost you much more.
The adhesive composition for laying porcelain stoneware on the street must be resistant to high and low temperatures
All types of adhesives for porcelain stoneware can be divided into three categories:
- single – component;
- two – component;
- mixtures using a plasticizer.
A feature of the one-component frost-resistant adhesive for porcelain stoneware is that you can work with it immediately after purchase. It is characterized by a high level of elasticity, as well as a long solidification time. Thanks to the latest quality, you can immediately glue a large number of tiles without fear that the glue will harden.
Two-component mixtures are so called due to the fact that when you buy you get two components of the adhesive mixture. Immediately before applying to the surface, the components must be mixed using a special mixer. The two-component adhesive hardens faster, but also has greater strength and elasticity.
Plasticizers in the adhesive mixture help to increase its elasticity and prolong its service life. If you need high–quality glue for finishing the facade with granite, cement mixture with plasticizers is your option.
A good option for reliable and high-quality fastening of granite tiles will be a cement mixture with plasticizers in the composition
Facing with granite with glue: recommendations
Different adhesive mixtures are suitable for use in different conditions. For example, for finishing walls and floors in rooms with high humidity levels, it is better to choose a moisture–resistant composition, and for rooms with high traffic intensity – a composition with high strength characteristics. This will prevent shrinkage and extend the service life of the coating.
But when using the technology of laying porcelain stoneware on the street, it is better to use frost-resistant and heat-resistant mixtures that tolerate the effects of moisture and direct sunlight well. If you do not want the steps, walkway or facade with a ceramic granite coating to crack after a couple of months of operation, it is better to use glue with increased strength and elasticity.
Also note that the larger the tile size, the more glue you need to use to fix it. Based on the tile size, the thickness of the adhesive layer is also calculated. By the way, the parameters of the spatula, which is used for applying glue, also depend on the estimated thickness of the interlayer. The thicker the layer, the larger the spatula.
The technology of laying frost-resistant porcelain stoneware on the street
Facade decoration with frost-resistant granite
Facing the facade of the building with granite slabs gives you a number of advantages:
- attractive appearance – there are many options for the appearance of porcelain stoneware slabs, so when finishing you can use your design imagination at full capacity. And, for example, when creating a hinged facade made of granite for an office building, you get a respectable look of the building that will tell all visitors about the solidity of your company;
- protection from humidity – when creating a ventilated facade from porcelain stoneware, natural ventilation is obtained. Due to this, mold or pathogenic bacteria do not accumulate in the walls of the building, and in the cold season they do not freeze. All this contributes to a significant extension of the service life of the structure;
- thermal insulation – ventilated facade reduces heat loss of the entire building. This means that in the warm season they will not overheat, and in the cold the air layer will reduce heat loss and, accordingly, the cost of heating the room.;
- durability – if you are planning to buy frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for the street produced in Russia, it is worth knowing that this material is characterized by wear resistance, strength, resistance to temperature changes, and also does not require special care during operation. The price of frost-resistant porcelain stoneware for a 600×600 cm street will be higher than that of other finishing materials of a similar size, but this is compensated by high performance characteristics;
The arrangement of a ventilated facade helps to significantly extend the life of the building
- high level of noise insulation – in combination with an air layer of ceramic granite slabs perfectly protect the premises from external noise;
- fire resistance – porcelain stoneware is a non-combustible material. Other elements of the ventilated facade belong to the same class;
- easy installation – the material is easy to install, and it can be done at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions. At the same time, the laying of porcelain stoneware slabs is carried out quickly enough;
- the ability to mask the irregularities of the walls without the need for additional plastering.
Components of a ventilated facade made of porcelain stoneware and its installation
With a relatively high price of a ventilated granite facade per m2, you get a large number of advantages that finishing with other building materials will not be able to give. Any facade consists of the following elements:
- load–bearing wall – acts as a support for the structure;
- sub–facing wall – serves as an intermediate structure between the load-bearing wall, the thermal insulation layer and the plates of the finishing material. It consists of brackets that are attached to the wall using dowels and anchors, bearing profiles and special fasteners;
Diagram of the device of a ventilated facade with a granite veneer
- heat and sound insulation layer – protects the walls from temperature fluctuations, possible thermal deformation, as well as the room from external noise;
- the vapor barrier layer is a special film that prevents condensation from settling on the walls and promotes its evaporation;
- the air layer is the gap between the insulation and the plates of the facing material. It serves to remove moisture;
- granite slabs – protect all previous layers from negative natural influences, and also perform a decorative function.
Useful advice! There are several options for attaching the frame system to the load-bearing wall. Choose from them the one that is best suited to your specific conditions.
The most popular way to attach porcelain stoneware to a frame system is a combined one. This means that the frame is mounted simultaneously from horizontal and vertical guides. At the same time, you can first install either horizontal or vertical ones. The first method allows you to evenly distribute the load, but it is quite expensive, so it is not used very often.
The method in which vertical guides are first mounted is effective when using thick slabs of porcelain stoneware and allows not only to reduce the load on the structure, but also to hide the method of fastening.
The facade of the modern building is lined with granite tiles of various colors and sizes
The type of joints between the plates of the finishing material may also differ. The visible seam is the simplest option and involves fixing the plates with screws, screws or rivets through special seals. Laying without seams implies the use of hidden fastening. There are several variants of it:
The use of any of the above methods of fastening takes relatively little time, and also allows you to create a high-quality and beautiful facade that does not need additional care.
General view of a fragment of a granite curtain facade
Porcelain stoneware for the street frost-resistant: installation of steps made of porcelain stoneware
To make steps from porcelain stoneware, you need to understand that the whole structure must have a number of qualities. First of all, it must be safe. To do this, the optimal height of the steps should be about 15-20 cm, and the width – 25-30 cm. Secondly, when making steps for a stoneware porch, it should be taken into account that the material will often be exposed to moisture, so it should not slip. Thirdly, the appearance and design of the steps should be in harmony with the appearance of the entire building.
According to the type of laying of the material , the following variants of steps are distinguished:
The porch, steps and the area in front of the building are decorated with frost-resistant granite tiles
In addition, according to the method of processing, several types of granite steps are also distinguished. You can buy the following options:
- polished steps are characterized by a high level of surface specularity, which is 80%;
- under–polished – the specularity is 25%, usually used on the street;
- polished – they are good because, thanks to the matte surface, they do not slip from moisture, they are characterized by a high coefficient of friction;
- glazed – combine a high level of specularity and a non-slip surface. They are used equally effectively indoors and outdoors.
Useful advice! Glazed slabs are better suited for use in rooms with a low level of patency. For stairs and other places where heavy traffic and heavy load are expected, it is better to use a matte or polished version.
Installation scheme of steps made of porcelain stoneware
Facing of steps with granite
When laying steps made of 1200×300 porcelain stoneware with kapinos or other variants of steps, approximately the same procedure is performed:
The price of granite steps for stairs depends on the type, size and other characteristics of the material. For example, the price of granite Estima can vary from about 300 to 800 rubles per sq. m.
Waterjet cutting is used to carve figured products, create delicate and exquisite patterns and ornaments
Features of waterjet cutting of porcelain stoneware and other processing methods
Often, when installing porcelain stoneware, the material has to be cut. You can do this in various ways. For example, you can use a special machine for cutting granite. It can be electric or manual and allows you to carefully cut solid material. The machine uses special discs for cutting granite with diamond coating.
It should be understood that with the help of a machine it is convenient to cut plates into large parts, but for cutting figured products you will need laser or waterjet cutting. The first method is carried out using special industrial lasers, and the second is a jet of water with abrasive materials. Waterjet cutting is cheaper than laser cutting, but at the same time it allows you to get a good result.
To use waterjet cutting, you will also need a special machine, but with its help you can get fine ornaments or exquisite patterns from porcelain stoneware slabs.
It is not for nothing that porcelain stoneware is one of the most popular finishing materials on the modern market. It boasts high performance characteristics, a variety of design options and ease of installation. Choosing a ceramic granite finish, you choose quality, reliability and attractive appearance.
