Tile for a bath – how to choose and lay: recommendations, useful information

Tile for a bath – how to choose and lay

The specifics of the premises dictate their conditions for the selection of finishing materials. Bathhouse is a room with high humidity and extreme temperature changes. If wood is an ideal material for a steam room (linden or aspen), then for a vestibule, dressing room, shower room, and also for a relaxation room, the best finishing material will be facing tile. Because the tile tolerates temperature extremes, resistant to increased air humidity, easy to clean, and most importantly, absolutely harmless to health, does not emit harmful substances when heated. But, as you know, tiles are different. It is different not only in shape, color, size, surface texture, but also in operational characteristics. What is the best tile for a bath? – Let’s try to figure it out.

Content

• How to choose the tiles for the bath?
• Tools and materials for laying tiles in the bath
• The procedure for the stages

How to choose the tiles for the bath?

Choosing a tile, we, first of all, pay attention to color, pattern, texture, shape. But if tile is selected in the bath, then the more important indicators of the material are wear resistance and moisture absorption.

In accordance with European classification standards, tiles on the floor in the bath should be selected with the lowest moisture absorption, because it is in constant contact with water. The higher the porosity of the tile, the more it absorbs moisture. Tiles with low moisture absorption (A I and B I) are denser, difficult to cut. The porosity depends on the initial composition of the clay mixture, as well as on the manufacturing method. The tile can be made by extrusion (indicated by “A”) or by pressing (“B”). Extrusion involves the extrusion of a pasty mass through a special molding machine, and cutting to the desired size (you can get tiles of various shapes, with each tile will exactly repeat the previous one). During pressing, each tile is formed from a ceramic mass under the press.

When buying a facing tile, you should also pay attention to its geometry, that is, to the correctness of the shape – the plane and exposure of the corners. Uneven tiles are very hard to lay. It is difficult to determine “by eye” whether the tile is even, but there is one simple way – two tiles are put together “face to face” if they fit tightly against one another with the whole plane and the corners coincide – the tile is good.

Tile for floor in the bath exposed to the most severe effects, therefore, the requirements for it are higher than for wall tiles. As a rule, the floor in the bath is constantly wet, so the tile is chosen with the least moisture absorption, the greatest wear resistance and strength. In addition, the tiles for the bath floor should not be slippery. It is preferable to choose a tile with a rough surface.

An important point is the choice of tile glue. To lay the tiles in the bath, the glue must have good moisture resistant and fastening properties. The glue should be especially good when gluing tiles on old ceramic tiles or glass. In addition, the prepared adhesive must not harden very quickly so that it is possible to adjust the position of unevenly glued tiles.

Tools and materials for laying tiles in the bath

So, we need:

• facing tile;
• adhesive mixture for tiles;
• level ruler;
• rubber mallet (mallet);
• container for diluting glue;
• drill with mixer;
• a container of water for soaking the tiles;
• spatulas;
• plastic crosses;
• fishing line or twine;
• grout for joints.

The procedure for the stages

Laying tiles in the bath practically does not differ from facing any other rooms. Unless, to ensure the flow of water, tiles on the floor in the bath can be laid with a slope. First of all, it is necessary to prepare the surface for facing. Walls and floors are cleaned of dirt and delamination. If necessary, the uneven floor is leveled with a cement screed, and the walls with plaster. The next step is a breakdown of the surface, for which beacons are installed along the perimeter of the surface, between which they pull a fishing line or twine, along which the evenness of tile laying will be checked. If you intend to lay the pattern, you should first make a detailed layout of the tiles.

Note. The tile must be wet before laying, for which it is placed in a container of water. Let the tile be in the water until air bubbles stop coming out of it. It is better to dilute the adhesive mixture for tiles in a plastic container, mixing with an electric drill with a mixer until smooth.

Both on the wall and on the floor, tile laying starts from the corner. Tile glue is applied to the previously prepared surface, on which the tile will be laid. Since the adhesive mixture hardens very quickly and becomes unusable, it is applied to a surface area to adhere one tile.

The glue is smoothed over the entire installation area with a notched trowel dipped in water. It is important that the thickness of the adhesive is not greater than the thickness of the tile. After that, the tile is glued, gently tapping with a rubber mallet, leveling it with a level ruler.

Special plastic crosses of the same size are inserted between the laid tiles, they will help to establish the same gap between adjacent tiles.

The remaining glue at the edges is removed with a spatula, and then proceed to install the next tile. During laying, it is necessary to constantly monitor the evenness of the rows and the surface plane (checked using fishing line and level ruler).

After the adhesive has completely hardened, the plastic crosses are removed, the seams between the tiles are repaired with a special grout using a rubber spatula. You can use a grout of a contrasting color with respect to the base color of the tile. Or apply a grout of the same tone with the tile – this is a matter of personal preference. Wipe up the rest of the grout with a wet sponge..

As you can see, ceramic tile in the bath is the most appropriate finishing material, due to its many advantages (durability, strength, attractive appearance, resistance to temperature changes). Laying tiles in the bath repeats in general terms the process of decorating with tiles any other rooms. It is only important to responsibly choose the materials with the right characteristics..