One of the most popular types of flooring nowadays is porcelain stoneware. It combines the best qualities of ceramic tiles and granite - beauty, variety of colors and patterns, and the strength of natural stone. Its resistance to physical impact - shocks, scratches, chemical reagents is much higher than that of ordinary floor tiles, so porcelain tiles are used in places with high traffic and humidity: in shops, in the halls of institutions, in the kitchen, in bathrooms, swimming pools.
Representatives from the NG Kutahya plumbing and flooring store answered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the choice of porcelain tiles when renovating rooms with high humidity.
What types of porcelain tiles are there?
Porcelain tiles can be glazed, polished and unglazed. Glazed has a pattern or layer of solid paint on the surface, which makes it more elegant than unglazed, which has the same color as the material from which it is made. Polished has a glossy, almost mirror-like surface. Unglazed porcelain tiles, in turn, are divided into polished, unpolished and structured (with imitation of the relief of natural leather, wood, stone, etc.). Unglazed has a non-slip surface, so it is often used for finishing stairs and floors in large stores and institutional halls.
Why is porcelain tile better than regular tile flooring?
Firstly, it is thicker and stronger than tile. Secondly, porcelain tiles are painted throughout their entire thickness, while ceramic tiles are painted only on their surface. The exception is glazed porcelain tiles, which are painted in the same way as ceramic tiles. Thanks to this, porcelain tiles do not lose color even under harsh operating conditions.
Porcelain tiles can be up to 30 mm thick, while tiles are only 8 to 10 mm thick. The dimensions of porcelain tiles are also larger - 60 by 60 cm. Porcelain tiles are much more resistant to temperature changes, and they withstand low temperatures especially well.
What load can porcelain tiles withstand?
Porcelain tiles can withstand a static (fixed load) load of up to 550 kg/m2, which is one and a half times more than tiles can withstand.
How to choose the right porcelain tile?
Porcelain tiles can be used to cover both floors and walls. In order to distinguish one from the other, special markings are used:
- PEI I – porcelain stoneware for wall cladding;
- PEI II – stronger than the previous one, can be used for floors, but in rooms with low traffic (bathroom or toilet at home);
- PEI III – medium-strength porcelain stoneware;
- PEI IV – high-strength material, can be used in areas with high traffic (public institutions, etc.);
- PEI V is the most durable type of porcelain stoneware; it can briefly withstand the weight of a passing car. Suitable for large stores, airports, train stations and other premises with very high traffic.
The thickness of porcelain stoneware varies from 7 to 30 millimeters; the thicker the tile, the stronger it is. For flooring, porcelain tiles with a matte or structured surface would be preferable, especially in rooms with high humidity. When decorating walls, you can choose glazed or polished porcelain tiles.
It is better not to use porcelain tiles for floors for finishing walls - due to its thickness and heaviness, it will not hold well.
For a large room, it is better to choose large tiles; for a small room, smaller ones. For the floor of a kitchen, bathroom or toilet at home, the suitable thickness of porcelain stoneware is 8-10 mm.
It should be remembered that all types of porcelain stoneware, except matte unglazed and structured, can slide.
The plumbing and flooring store NG Kutahya (the official distributor of the Kutahya Seramik company in Turkmenistan) offers a wide selection of porcelain stoneware coverings for walls and floors of residential premises. By contacting the sellers, you can get comprehensive advice regarding the properties of a particular type of porcelain stoneware, its performance qualities and purpose.
The store's assortment includes porcelain tiles with glazed and polished, as well as with a rougher surface, in a variety of colors, without a pattern, as well as with a pattern imitating natural marble or granite.
The NG Kutahya store organizes free delivery of goods throughout Ashgabat, delivery to velayats is also possible.
The store of the official distributor Kutahya Seramik is waiting for customers at the address: Ak Bugday etrap, industrial zone, NG Kutahya building. Contact phone: 611 611.
Resources: www.ivd.ru; lagomera.by; rkeramika.ru
