Porcelain stoneware for the bathroom: features, selection and application

Decorative finishes in bathrooms should be made of high quality materials, as this room is characterized by high humidity, which destroys the surface of the coating. Today, the most popular material for cladding surfaces in the bathroom is porcelain stoneware. It is presented in a huge assortment, which allows it to be used in any design.

Porcelain stoneware is a modern finishing material that surpasses conventional ceramic tiles in many respects and has unique performance properties. In the manufacture of porcelain stoneware, components such as natural dyes, spar, clay and quartz sand are used. They are thoroughly mixed and sent to a special press, where the drying and firing process takes place.

Thanks to this unique production technology, an extremely dense and durable monolith is obtained, which has vitrification, non-porosity and retention of the pattern on the surface.

In addition to standard production technologies, many manufacturers use the double loading method, which produces beautiful tiles with unique shades and stains.The micro-flow method is also very popular, which consists in careful processing of the batch with the formation of original drawings.

The production method called "passing vein" is also widely used. - it allows you to make interesting porcelain stoneware, on the surface of which colored "veins" are placed in a chaotic manner. This material looks like marble and looks chic in modern bathroom interiors.

Many homeowners choose porcelain stoneware when decorating a bathroom design, since surface finishing with this material has a number of advantages. The main advantages of porcelain stoneware include the following factors.

• High density. Such products do not contain microcracks, inclusions and voids, which improves their bending strength and allows even an uneven surface to be clad. Thanks to this characteristic, the decorative coating is able to withstand loads of up to 400 kg.
• Resistance to damage of various types. The appearance of chips and scratches on the tiles is excluded.
• Good moisture resistance. Because of this, the material can be used in the decoration of rooms with high humidity - it will reliably serve for a long time. In addition, stains are never formed on the surface of porcelain stoneware.
• Non-flammability. In the event of a fire, the material will not only not burn, but will also allow you to suspend the spread of fire to other finishes.
• It is not an electrical conductor. This is especially important when the "warm floor" system is installed in the bathrooms.
• Environmental friendliness. The material is produced exclusively from natural raw materials, therefore, compared to simple granite, it is devoid of radioactivity.
• Uniform color throughout the entire thickness of the tile. Thanks to this, the material retains its original appearance for many years.
• Huge assortment of collections. This allows you to quickly select porcelain stoneware for the appropriate style.

As for the shortcomings, they include the following points.

• Despite the fact that porcelain stoneware can be laid on a not quite ideal surface, it is recommended to carefully level the floor before cladding, leaving no air cushions. If this is not done, then the finish can crack over time under the weight of the homeowners. The procedure for leveling the floor will require additional financial and time costs.
• High price. Compared to other types of tiles, porcelain stoneware is not cheap, but this is justified by its beautiful appearance and high durability.

Porcelain stoneware for the bathroom is represented by a huge selection of models that differ not only in price, manufacturer, but also in appearance. According to the texture of the coating, facing products are divided into several varieties.

• Such a tile top with a layer of smoked glaze, which increases its hardness and strength. The only disadvantage of the coating is that it can fade over time. In addition, the glazed surface is slippery, which is not recommended for bathrooms.

• Matte. During production, this type of porcelain stoneware is not additionally processed, so its surface is rough and non-shiny. The advantages of tiles include high resistance to heavy loads.

• Polished. They are characterized by a mirror-like shine, but due to surface polishing, its wear resistance decreases, and water absorption increases.

• Satin-finished. This is porcelain stoneware with a polished surface, on which a layer of mineral salts is applied during the manufacturing process before firing. This type of tile is characterized by a non-slip surface and gloss.

• Structured. They have a matte or embossed surface and are well suited for finishing both floors and walls in the bathroom.Such porcelain stoneware has a varied design; products with imitation of parquet and natural leather are especially popular. They serve for a long time without losing their original attractiveness.

In addition, porcelain stoneware can differ in the shape and size of the tiles. Most often, there are square and rectangular options on sale. Wall porcelain stoneware can be small in size, it is usually chosen for decorating individual areas.

As for the color scheme, then porcelain stoneware can be gray, black, red and white... Neutral colors are great for small bathrooms, they allow you to visually adjust the space, while contrasting colors are recommended for spacious rooms that require a unique interior.

Today, most designers prefer to use porcelain stoneware when decorating bathrooms, since this material reflects light well and transforms the interior of the room in an original way. In the construction market, porcelain stoneware is represented by various manufacturers, whose products differ not only in design, but also in price and quality. The most popular brands, under whose name exquisite collections of facing material are presented, include the following.

• Kerama Marazzj (Russia together with Italy). It is the only trade mark in the world that uses the dry pressing method in the production of porcelain stoneware. Thanks to this, the products are obtained as close as possible to natural stone, are inexpensive, have good geometry and are easy to cut. The only drawback of the collections is the complexity of the combination of the color range. The collections "Winter Garden", "Floral", "Muse", "Alba" and "Sunset" deserve special attention.

• Fap Ceramiche (Italy). Elite and expensive tiles are produced under this brand, represented by more than 30 collections (the most famous are Desert, Boston, Meltin). The products are distinguished by an unusual appearance; a pattern with imitation of wood, marble and stone is applied to their surface. The advantages of porcelain stoneware include a respectable appearance, resistance to mechanical damage, disadvantages - high price and possible size deviations.

• Keramin. This is a Belarusian trade mark that has released more than 80 tile collections. For bathrooms, porcelain stoneware from the Buckingham, Burma, Dune and Marseille collections is ideal. The plus of this porcelain stoneware is an affordable price, high quality, a large selection of designs, minus - sometimes there are discrepancies in the width and length of the tiles of 1-2 mm.

• Unitile. This is a Russian brand that, together with Italian and Spanish designers, has created 30 unique collections, the most popular of which are Selena, Romance and Agat. The tiles are sold at a low price, they are of good quality, but there may be discrepancies in different batches from the same collection in tone.

Porcelain stoneware for the bathroom is represented by a huge assortment, so it is difficult to make the right choice in favor of one type or another. In order for the facing surface to last a long time and not lose its attractiveness, it is important to pay attention to the following points when buying a tile.

• The size. This indicator depends on the configuration and area of ​​the room. For small bathrooms, it is best to purchase small-sized, square-shaped porcelain stoneware. For spacious rooms, tiles of any size and shape are suitable.
• Color and texture... Designers recommend choosing tiles in aqua or delicate blue shades for bathrooms. Floral products are not considered a good option; they look simple and uninteresting in design. As for the texture, for the bathroom, you should purchase porcelain stoneware with a relief or rough surface that does not slip.
• Strength. The tile must withstand both mechanical shock and be resistant to aggressive substances and scratches.

The bathroom is considered a special room in the home, so its design must be appropriate. For the decoration of bathrooms, porcelain stoneware is usually used, which allows you to give the interior a special look. With the help of this finishing material, you can embody any design ideas into reality, the only thing that it is not recommended to use too bright colors in the interior, which can quickly get bored. Small bathrooms can be arranged as follows.

• In white. The snow-white porcelain stoneware is ideal for the classic style, serving as a symbol of purity. To avoid monotony, you should create several contrasting areas with decorative elements in other colors. Gray, beige, pale blue and green go well with white. To get a single composition, you should install a white false ceiling with a matte surface and place furniture in the room in the same color scheme.

• In warm colors. This is a very interesting option for creating interiors in small spaces. It is advisable to give preference to white-pink porcelain stoneware or warm yellow shade. To dilute the contrast, colored ceramic borders can be installed separately. Great attention should be paid to the lighting of the room; the illumination built into the stretch ceiling of light colors is well suited. It is also important to provide for the presence of decorative elements in the room, in the form of small rugs, stylish towels and openwork napkins on the cabinets.

• The bathroom is large can be decorated in a modern style, applying any design ideas. For example, a 3D version will become an unusual solution, thanks to which the room can be transformed beyond recognition. To do this, the main part of the surface is revetted with light blue porcelain stoneware, and compositions with images of sea fish, palm trees or shells are laid out in the middle. The ceiling in this case can be of any shade, even a combination of several contrasting tones is allowed.

See below for details on finishing the bathroom with porcelain stoneware.