Recommendation points
Modern fashion trends in the design of apartments and private houses place increased demands on the combination of reliability and durability with the aesthetic side of the issue. It is to these conditions that such a floor covering as seamless tiles fully meets. In this article, we will take a closer look at all the nuances associated with the choice of this material, the work of gluing and caring for it..
In the first part, you will learn how to choose the right seamless floor tiles, how to calculate the required amount, get acquainted with the very process of buying tiles and related materials, and learn how to prepare a room for work. The second half of the article will be devoted to the very process of gluing the tiles in all details..
Choice of seamless floor tiles
First of all, you need to decide on a tile manufacturer, relying on your own financial capabilities. Here, it should be noted that there are several price ranges for seamless tiles, among which three categories can be distinguished:
- cheap tiles made in China;
- Spanish and Italian floor collections that do not include patterned elements that form panels of several tiles;
- exclusive collections made in Spain and Italy, including panels, inserts, borders and skirting boards.
When it comes to Chinese manufacturers, a wide range is represented by a manufacturer such as Hitom. All tiles of this company belong to the category of porcelain stoneware, which in terms of strength belongs to the Pei 4 and 5 categories, that is, the highest in terms of wear resistance. This manufacturer does not have collections as such. The product is produced in 600×600 format. These tiles are designed for large spaces such as supermarkets, shopping centers or car dealerships. Almost all products are monochromatic. The price range ranges from $ 10 to $ 35 per square meter.
The second category includes the products of the Spanish factory Peronda. For several years now, one of the leaders in popularity has been the Museum collection. Made in two sizes 440×440 and 600×600, this collection fully reflects its name. It resembles the marble floors in a museum. It is used most often in office premises, conference rooms, as well as in private houses and apartments. The tiles in this collection, despite their beautiful design, have one major drawback: they are very slippery and therefore not recommended for use in bathrooms. The price range for this collection is between $ 55 and $ 80 per square meter..
In the latter category, the Concept collection from the Italian manufacturer Novabell should be noted. Made in the style of “shabby stone”, it fits perfectly into the interiors decorated in antique style. This product is virtually flawless. Due to the maximum degree of abrasion, such tiles can lie both indoors and outdoors. The collection is presented in three formats: 320×320, 450×450 and 600×600. Thus, it will be able to meet different customer needs. The price range of the tile itself ranges from $ 30-70 per square meter (the larger the size, the higher the price), but the price of beautiful decors with the image of heraldry is about $ 200 per piece.
Given the relatively high prices for seamless tiles, the calculation must be as accurate as possible. First of all, it is recommended to make an accurate calculation of the area of the room. For standard rectangular areas, try to choose tile sizes that will avoid clipping. Remember that, despite the category of seamless, there will be a seam of 3 to 5 mm during gluing.
A variety of sizes will most often allow you to find the option you need. Manufacturers offer many formats, among which the most common are 400×400, 424×424, 450×450, 456×456, 500×500, 550×550 and 600×600.
If you cannot do without trimming, try to choose a size at which one row of tiles will be cut exactly in half. This way you can save a lot. One way or another, on a level room without pruning, it is recommended to add at least 3% per fight.
So, for example, if the size of the room is 4000×6000, it is recommended to carefully measure the width, before purchasing a size of 400×400 without hesitation. The seams can get in the way of placing ten tiles in a row while avoiding clipping, and cutting 3-4 millimeters is difficult. Thus, if you make sure that the width does not exceed four meters, it is much more profitable to buy a 600×600 tile, at the rate of six tiles in a row, cover 100 mm with 2 mm seams, and the remaining 300 mm strip will be lined with plates, divided exactly in half.
On uneven areas, it is best to leave measurements to a professional. Here the stock can be up to 10%.
Particular attention should be paid to exclusive collections, where necessary, not only to accurately calculate the location of the panel, but also the number of all additional elements, including borders, baseboards, as well as internal and external corners. Here, special computer programs will always come to your aid, which allow you to calculate the exact number of tiles and all additional elements, displaying them ready-made on the monitor screen..
Another helpful tip concerns the choice of color or shade of tiles. Naturally, first of all, it is necessary to build on the general interior design. But, also, remember that dust and any other dirt is much more noticeable on dark tiles, therefore, shades of beige are the most popular. In addition, such tones make the room noticeably brighter..
Buying tiles
Which is better: carry it under the order or buy available tiles?
Today, most of the companies selling expensive seamless tiles have a large number of products in stock. When purchasing tiles from a warehouse, you have the opportunity to check them for chips and breakage, and replace them on the spot. Here you can also check the calibration and tone of each package. This is undoubtedly the advantage of purchasing from stock. However, unfortunately, when it comes to a collectible item, you can often face the lack of the required amount of certain elements..
On the other hand, when ordering goods from a catalog, you receive all the necessary components of a particular collection. However, here I would like to note that when placing an order, be sure to require the seller to sign a warranty statement, in which the following conditions will be clearly stipulated:
- delivery time of the goods;
- complete match of the tone and caliber of the entire batch of tiles;
- matching the tone of all additional elements (matching with each other, since the coincidence with the tone of the tiles is practically impossible, all individual parts of the collection are produced on different equipment, sometimes even at different factories).
We also note that when ordering a collection, it is recommended to make a good supply when calculating in case of a battle or chips. Agree to wait an extra 2-3 months until one replacement border is brought to you, it will be completely uncomfortable.
Preparation for work
So, the goods are in place. Where to start? First of all, you need to cut the tiles. We point out right away that a regular diamond tile cutter will not work for this format. To cut seamless tiles, you must use a special machine that cuts the slab using a jet of water mixed with sand. Such services are provided in almost any city. Use the Internet and you can easily find the company you need.
Next, you need to make a preliminary marking for cutting. To do this, you have to be patient, completely free the room from unnecessary items and lay out the entire collection on the floor. Using a marker, we clearly mark all the cutting lines, carefully pack the necessary tiles and additional elements and take them for cutting.
Now it’s time to choose the glue and grout. Here, there are different opinions, however, practice shows that expensive elite glue is not at all necessary for floor tiles. Unlike a wall or ceiling tile, regular middle grade glue will do. The own weight of the tile will only increase the strength of the bond. However, you shouldn’t skimp on glue altogether. In case of any deformation, the seams will not help, the tile may simply burst.
With grouting, the situation is completely different. We recommend purchasing only epoxy grout with increased hardness, as conventional cement options may not withstand the pressure between tiles. In addition, this grade of grout will retain its color for the longest time on the floor, while cement shades will take on the standard dirty gray shade within a month..
And the last stage before gluing itself is cleaning the room. The floor must be perfectly swept, as every speck of dust that gets into the solution can cause deformation. Be patient, all windows should be tightly closed during operation. The slightest draft can bring dust particles into the room, which are completely undesirable in this situation. After cleaning, you can prime the floor several times and get to work.
We remind you that a detailed description of working with seamless floor tiles is waiting for you in the next part of the article..
What are the key considerations when purchasing large-sized seamless floor tiles? And how should one approach the process of grouting them? Any tips or recommendations for a smoother experience?