How to choose a tile for the bathroom and toilet

The tile is the most practical facing for any premises where hygienic cleanliness is required, as well as mechanical strength and moisture resistance. It is difficult to find a more suitable option for finishing the bathroom. It is easy to care for tiles, but it serves for decades - until it gets bored or finally goes out of fashion. And it somehow reconciles with its high cost. However, here the choice should be approached seriously: the tile does not forgive mistakes. If you do not think over the consequences of your purchase, then you will not be able to replace the tile with “little blood”. This is not a wallpaper.

The best manufacturers of bathroom tiles - which company to choose

There are a lot of good tile manufacturers, but most of them are Italian and Spanish companies. It was there that some 1000 years ago the first masters appeared, making beautiful ceramic veneer. But Western Europeans have made the best tile manufacturers not the centuries-old experience of local artisans. It’s just that the largest deposits of white clay are located in Italy and Spain, from which flawless ceramic tiles are made.

If you want to make a luxurious repair in the bathroom, choose the facing of the following companies:

1. Kerama marazzi

2. Fap Ceramiche

3. Keramin

4. Golden tile

5. Cersanit

The range of these manufacturers is huge, and the tile itself is of high quality and beautiful design. You can learn more about their best collections in our ranking of the best manufacturers of ceramic tiles. But you have to choose a specific finish option yourself.

Types of bathroom tiles

Not a single pottery! Modern manufacturers offer to veneer the bathroom not only with clay tiles (although it is the most popular). Other hygienic and durable materials can be used for decoration: glass or porcelain stoneware. Let's compare their pros and cons.

Ceramic tile

The most common material is molded and baked clay. Depending on the type of surface, this tile can be smooth to gloss or rough. In any case, it is a very durable material that is not afraid of high humidity and does not create problems in the care. Its only drawback is fragility. With a pinpoint tile tiles just breaks.

Pros:

• After compaction and glazing, the surface becomes waterproof;
• Durability and abrasion resistance;
• Easily maintains a large weight of furniture and appliances;
• Does not conduct electric current;
• Unreal wide assortment.

Minuses:

• Fragility;
• High cost per square;
• Due to the nature of the manufacturing process, it may have deviations in shape and size.

Glass tile

A relatively new option for finishing wet rooms, but the bathroom looks interesting. Glass tiles are produced in the same formats as tile, and in laying it is no different from its older counterpart. But the unique glossy shine and "depth" became its hallmark.

Glass trim is also available in a fairly wide range: it can be opaque and back painted, smooth, dull and rough. It is also easy to “hide” a picture or a small decor (flowers, sparkles, etc.).

Pros:

• High strength and durability;
• Resistance to scratches, chips and abrasion;
• Absolute waterproof and hygienic;
• Opportunities for decor;
• Always perfect shape.

Minuses:

• High price;
• Heavier than ceramics.

Porcelain stoneware

Absorbed all the advantages of tile and granite. This composite material has a very high strength and can last for at least 50 years. Its moisture resistance is even higher than that of ceramics, and approaches the characteristics of tempered glass. Also, porcelain stoneware is not affected by chemicals.

Pros:

• Maximum durability and wear resistance;
• Almost 100% waterproof;
• Not as fragile as tile;
• A good choice in terms of design;
• Ideal for laying on the floor.

Minuses:

• Very heavy.

Rectified tile

In fact, both tile and porcelain stoneware can be rectified. This is not the features of the material or even the production technology, but a special way of cutting, which allows to obtain a lining with perfectly smooth edges. This kind of tile appeared relatively recently, but now European companies are massively switching to the production of high-precision tiles.

Pros:

• Perfect fit for the joints;
• Fitted with minimal seams, which simplifies tile maintenance;
• Large selection of shapes, sizes and colors.

Minuses:

• Requires a well leveled base.

Bathroom tile selection options

First you need to figure out what the marking on the packaging with tiles means. This will allow you to learn a lot about the features of the chosen finish.

We are interested in the following icons on the packaging with tiles:

1. A hand or a leg - such an icon will tell, this tile is intended for walls or a floor.

2. Sole on an inclined surface - friction coefficient. It is important when choosing a safe bathroom tile.

3. Strip with two arrows (top and bottom) - tile thickness.

4. Gear wheel with the inscription REI under it and the Roman numeral (from 1 to 3) - shows resistance to abrasion.

5. Latin letter flask (A to D) - degree of resistance to aggressive chemicals. "A" means maximum resistance, "D" - the minimum.

Type of pottery

Tiles, ceramics - all these are just the common names of natural cladding.

In fact, such tiles can be made from different grades of clay and have a number of differences in production technology. All of them do not need to know - enough to be able to distinguish between the main varieties:

1. Earthenware

Tile of white clay, very plastic and durable, even with a small thickness. It is considered the best in the world. The faience is obtained by pressing and double firing, while refractory substances are added to the white clay. This tile is very expensive, often has a beautifully decorated surface, so it is usually bought only for wall cladding.

2. Majolica

Another expensive material, characterized by high temperature resistance. And although such a tile is made from fairly common red clay by pressing and double firing, its cost may not be lower than that of faience. All due to the fact that the majolica is decorated with hand-painted over opaque glaze. To preserve the design, this finish is used only as an additional decor in the driest areas of the bathroom.

3. Gres

It is made of red and white clay by pressing under very high pressure, followed by firing. Despite the lack of glaze, this tile almost does not absorb moisture - all due to the high density of the surface. True, the price paid for this is a very large trim weight (up to 20 kg / m2).

There are several types of ceramic tiles, but they are not suitable for finishing the bathroom for one reason or another.

Wear resistance

Tiles in the bathroom can be laid on the walls and on the floor. That's just the resistance to abrasion from it will require different. According to this parameter, ceramics is divided into 5 categories and is indicated by a number next to the inscription PEI. First class tile is least resistant to abrasion and is used only for wall cladding. 2 and 3 PEI is suitable for laying on the floor. The fourth and fifth category is already finishing for rooms with high traffic, in the family bathroom it is not needed.

Surface properties

Here two characteristics are important: water absorption and roughness.

Glass tiles and porcelain tiles have zero permeability, so they can be safely used in the bathroom. But the pottery itself is porous and needs additional protection. To do this, its surface in the production of compacted and necessarily covered with a layer of glaze. And if you do not like the glossy shine, you can always choose products with a matte effect.

The roughness is important for the floor tiles, as on the wet floor there is a high chance of slipping and serious injury. The desired coefficient of friction is achieved by applying a special granular spraying, as well as using relief patterns. For the floor, choose a tile with a roughness of at least 0.75, for the walls this parameter does not matter. On the other hand, it is more difficult to maintain a clean rough surface than a glossy one, since dirt accumulates on it faster.

Dimensions

The tile format determines the complexity and speed of its installation. It is easier and faster to lay large elements, small ones will make you tinker with both when sticking and when grouting. But the size of the individual elements depends on what visual effect the lining in the room will create. For example, in a spacious bathroom from a small mosaic will ruffle in the eyes, and large-format decoration in a small room will make it visually even closer.

By the size of the tile is divided into 4 categories:

1. Large - this includes the tile, which has one side longer than 40 cm, regardless of shape.

2. Medium - standard version with a length of 15 to 30 cm.

3. Small - has dimensions on one side from 6 to 10 cm (less often 15).

4. Mosaic - a special type of square tile (glass or ceramic) with sides from 1x1 to 5x5 cm.

Recently, the vogue tile has come into fashion. It can have different sizes: from 7.5x10 to 8.5x28.5 cm, but the most popular format is 10x20 cm. The peculiarity of this decoration is that the tile looks like a brick and even has quite reliable chamfers. Alas, it is on them that dust and limescale build up quickly, which will be difficult to clean.

Which bathroom tile to choose

1. It is better to purchase durable porcelain tile or wear-resistant tiles with a PEI rating of at least 2-3 and a roughness of 0.75.

2. For walls, take any glazed tile that you like, not really chasing strength, so as not to overpay.

3. If you want to finish serving more than a dozen years and not split, choose ceramic gres. But keep in mind that such tiles are very heavy and will only hold on concrete or brick walls.

4. The owners who adore sterile cleanliness and hygiene, more like glass tiles. It does not absorb moisture at all, calmly transfers cleaning with abrasives and aggressive chemicals, and sometimes it looks even better than exclusive ceramics.

5. For those who have a shower in the bathroom, it is best to take the rectified tile on the floor and on the walls. Scrubbing limescale from wide seams is very difficult, and you will be spared from such problems.

6. For the decor of relatively dry areas, you can choose a mosaic or majolica. They will decorate the interior of the bathroom, and at the expense of less exposure to moisture and more rare cleansing will keep an attractive appearance longer.

How much does a bathroom tile cost?

1. Ordinary tile for walls can be bought at a price of 200-400 rubles / m2.

2. Ceramic tiles made of white clay and painted majolica will cost you from 30 to 6000-7500 rubles, but already for a piece.

3. For the gain will have to pay from 25-35 to 10-11 thousand rubles.

4. Mosaic costs from 150 to 80 thousand rubles / square.

5. Glass tiles are sold at prices ranging from 600 to 20 thousand rubles per 1 m2.

6. On average, porcelain stoneware was the cheapest - from 400 to 8000 rubles / m2.