Today we’ll talk about how to choose porcelain stoneware for the floor. We will determine which tiles are suitable for flooring and which ones should be avoided. We will tell you how not to be disappointed in porcelain stoneware, and how to make your floor almost eternal.
What is porcelain stoneware?
How did porcelain stoneware come about? Consumers have always liked natural flooring materials: wood, stone, ceramics, etc. But each of them had its drawbacks. Therefore, manufacturers faced a difficult task: to make a cheap and durable material that is not inferior to natural in strength, but devoid of all its shortcomings.
The solution was invented: you need to take a mixture of sand, mica, spar, clay and granite chips, press it and burn it in a kiln. The result is a very dense, durable and completely moisture resistant material.
Porcelain stoneware has the strength of granite, but it does not absorb water, is resistant to chemically active substances, is easy to clean and can be given any texture, shape and color.
What material is suitable for the floor
There are several types of porcelain stoneware on sale, it can have a different surface:
- glossy (polished),
- semi-gloss (partially polished),
- matte and even repeating the texture of natural material,
- rough, anti-slip.
In no case do not use glossy or polished porcelain stoneware for the floor. This is very traumatic! Especially in bathrooms where you will be stepping on the floor with damp or wet feet. With a 90% chance you will slip!
Glossy porcelain tiles can only be used on walls.
Semi-gloss and partially polished material should be used with caution, and it is better to avoid it altogether for flooring, as it is also considered slippery.
The ideal option for the floor is matte or textured porcelain tiles. Such a coating will be safe, pleasant to the touch and easy to care for. The texture can fully imitate wooden parquet, laminate, natural stone, aged ceramic tiles and so on.
Rough or anti-slip tiles are used on stairs, thresholds and in places with increased injury risk. Such a coating is more difficult to wash, since the surface is very tenacious, but it provides perfect grip on the sole and prevents slipping.
wear resistance
Porcelain tiles differ in wear resistance classes. These classes were developed by the Porcelain Enamel Institute and therefore the abrasion resistance index is called the first letters of this institute - PEI, and has 5 classes:
- Class 1 - soft tiles, do not like abrasive effects from sand, dirt and other things. Such tiles can be laid in the bathroom, bedroom and rooms where they do not walk in shoes with hard soles.
- Class 2 - this tile can be laid in the hall, kitchen and other rooms where there is no contact with street dirt and sand. Tolerates normal soles just fine.
- Grade 3 - suitable for corridors, hallways, offices with low traffic. Resistant to sand and dirt.
- Grade 4 - even more resistant to abrasion tiles, can be used on stairs, balconies, front doors, corridors with medium traffic.
- Grade 5 is the strongest tile, it can be laid in the subway, corridors in public places, stairs of entrances and so on.
What class of porcelain stoneware is suitable for flooring in residential premises? Answer: from first to third grade! In public places, it is better to use tiles from the third to the fifth grade.
What to look for when choosing
Porcelain stoneware can be of different thicknesses from 3 to 30 mm, as well as different sizes from 100x100 mm to 1200x1200 mm. The thickness and size of the tiles greatly affect the price: the larger they are, the more expensive the porcelain stoneware.
The best value for money is in porcelain stoneware with a thickness of 8-9 mm and dimensions of 300x300, 450x450 and 600x600, as well as in a format that imitates a parquet board. You can get acquainted with the current prices on the website tnsystem.ru in the "porcelain tiles" section.
Important! The thickness of porcelain stoneware does not affect its strength in any way, so there is no need to buy the thickest material. It is better to spend money on quality styling glue. By the way, you need to purchase a special glue, specifically for porcelain stoneware. We do not recommend using universal glue!
Porcelain stoneware is currently the strongest, most versatile and durable flooring available. We recommend choosing a natural calm texture, it is advisable to lay it on a warm floor (water or electric), use high-quality glue and grout for joints, and then such a floor will delight you for many decades.
