Porcelain tiles for the kitchen floor: varieties, selection and care

The choice of porcelain stoneware for the floor in the kitchen is a good solution to ensure the practicality and functionality of the coating. This material is highly durable, reliable and safe to use.

The large format of the modules is convenient for laying, moreover, in its strength, porcelain stoneware far surpasses other types of coatings. Affordable cost, a variety of design options, aesthetics and durability make these floors a truly profitable acquisition. Let us consider in more detail how to choose this material correctly, which color scheme to prefer, how to lay the tiles so that the floor does not look boring and banal, but stylish.

Porcelain stoneware for the floor in the kitchen must meet a number of requirements, allowing you to harmoniously place such a coating in the interior. This material is manufactured using technology similar to the production of ceramics. The composition includes mineral fillers - spar, sand, clay and natural coloring pigments. Acid colors and an unnatural gamut of shades are not found in the collections of manufacturers of such coatings.

As a result, the obtained material acquires a dense finely porous structure and strength unattainable for ordinary ceramics. The method of coating coating is also different. In particular, pigments are added to porcelain tiles at the stage of preparation of the mixture, and it acquires the desired color throughout the thickness.

Among the characteristic features of porcelain stoneware, some properties can be noted.

1. Low water absorption. Its rate is only 0.05%, while tile absorbs up to 10% moisture. Porcelain stoneware floors are not afraid of spilled water, in the event of an emergency drain from the washing machine or a leak in the sink, the risks of flooding the neighbors will be lower.
2. Service life up to 100 years. Of course, porcelain tiles have been produced for less than 50 years and this characteristic is subjective. But nevertheless, it is completely justified by calculations and test data.
3. Resistance to different types of loads. Porcelain tile is not afraid of mechanical and shock effects, the surface wears out evenly. Subject to the installation rules, it is impossible to split it even when a heavy cast-iron frying pan falls onto the floor.
4. Frost resistance and heat resistance. Such a coating can be put in the summer kitchen of a country house, it will withstand contact with hot coals from the fireplace.
5. Ecological cleanliness and safety. The use of completely natural raw materials eliminates the release of potentially hazardous substances.

All existing types of porcelain stoneware, suitable for laying in the kitchen, can be categorized according to coating properties.

• Technical. As close to granite in its characteristics. Cheap, durable, suitable for summer kitchens that are not heated in winter.

• Unprocessed. Tile with a rough texture and a matte surface. Suitable for work areas where it is important to avoid slipping. For its hardness and moisture resistance, one of the best options has an affordable price.

• Polished. Porcelain stoneware with a top layer having a mirror shine. Visually attractive option, but in the kitchen may be too slippery. By its properties it is inferior to analogues that have not undergone mechanical processing.

• Polished. Material with reduced performance, less durable.

• Lappated or semi-matt. The surface has both smooth and polished or unprocessed areas.

• Glossy, satin finish. It is similar to tile in the method of creating a shiny layer - the outer coating is applied before firing. The finished coating has a pronounced sheen.

• Glazed. Porcelain tile covered with colored decorative glaze. The most diverse in color and decor, but the outer layer can be quickly erased.

• Raised. It has a structure similar to natural stone. The coating is rough, with pronounced bumps.

• Textured or structured. Porcelain tile of this type recreates the surface of concrete, wood, metal, retaining its properties. The surface of such a material does not slip.

Standard size range of porcelain tiles implies the following gradation of square modules:

• 15 × 15 cm;
• 20 × 20 cm;
• 30 × 30 cm;
• 33 × 33 cm;
• 40 × 40 cm;
• 45 × 45 cm;
• 50 × 50 cm;
• 60 × 60 cm.

It is important to note that in the size of the porcelain tile it is allowed to shift up or down within 3-7 mm.

Besides, the category of textured granite imitating parquet laying. In this category you can find tiles measuring 10 × 120 cm, 15 × 30 cm, 20 × 60 and 20 × 120 cm with a thickness of 8-11 mm. Thin products of 3 mm in cut are not suitable for the floor, they are too fragile and can not withstand heavy use. The largest thickness is 14-20 mm, such porcelain tiles are used in areas with high loads.

The porcelain stoneware used to finish the kitchen floor, the color scheme can be very different. When choosing the optimal color, you can build on the main gamut of the kitchen interior or choose contrasting design options. In addition, it is worth considering that only matte porcelain tiles provide accurate color reproduction.

Among the color solutions in the monocoloristic range, it is customary to distinguish 2 main groups.

• Chromatic or colored. These include all coatings having a colored structure.

• Achromatic. These include white, gray, black colors, as well as their various variations from silver and graphite to ivory.

Such colors are homogeneous, do not have inclusions, stains, unpainted areas, pronounced granularity.

Multi-color solutions include several options.

• Under a natural stone (most often marble). The material can have a polished or lappated surface, reliably reproduces the colors and textures of a natural mineral, while being much more durable.

• Textural. With pronounced midtones creating transitions of colors and shades. Such porcelain stoneware looks very decorative and attractive, most often the texture technique is used to create wood coatings.

• Pepper and salt. Variant of surface finish, in which it is uniformly covered by a mixture of dark and light inclusions. The achromatic gamut of tones or light beige shades usually acts as a basis. The most noble this color scheme looks in combination with a gray background.

When choosing a shade, it is important to remember that the dazzling white tones in the kitchen look too active.

When choosing a design for porcelain stoneware, it is important to understand that a simple smooth tile in a kitchen room may look too strict. The optimal solution would be a not too slippery coating with a matte structure of saturated colors (blue, green, brown, yellow) with decorative inserts.

It is worth considering the use of coatings with the texture of natural stone - black porcelain stoneware with white veins marbled looks very aesthetically pleasing. In the loft style, you can choose modules that simulate concrete. For country and scandi destinations - with a wood look and parquet laying.

There are simple rules for choosing porcelain stoneware for laying in the kitchen. Pay attention to the correspondence between the area of ​​the room and the size of the modules - it is better not to take tiles larger than 30 × 30 cm in a small kitchen. It is worth paying attention to the wear resistance class - it must be at least PEI 3.

Another important point - practicality. The best material will be a classic matte or textured version. Smooth tiles with a mirror shine will easily turn a wet floor into a skating rink - it is better to leave it for the dining room area.

There are different combinations of laying granite, but this coating can only be mounted on a very flat base - a concrete floor screed will be an ideal option.

Among the popular options for laying porcelain tiles on the floor in the kitchen are:

• traditional, direct in a row, suitable for any format;
• diagonally (for square plates) at an angle of 45 degrees;
• sideways, with an offset of half the module, as in brickwork;
• herringbone, allows you to simulate parquet;
• modular, with tiles of different sizes, laid according to a certain pattern.

In a small kitchen room, it is better to use direct transverse or modular laying. In a large kitchen, the diagonal version looks spectacular.

Porcelain tiles in the kitchen do not require particularly sophisticated care. But there are a number of recommendations that can extend the life of the coating. It should not be washed with caustic acid products. - joints that are less durable than the base of the tile may suffer.

Limit should be the use of chemistry on an abrasive basis. Before wet cleaning, it is necessary to carry out dry - using a vacuum cleaner or a broom.

Traces of tar, bitumen, rubber are erased with acetone or other household solvent. Traces from construction or finishing work are removed with slightly acidic agents. It is recommended to periodically additionally protect the kitchen floor with synthetic wax or silicone and resin based products.

Various styling options make this tile a stylish addition to an existing room decor - confirmation are various examples of beautiful combinations in the interior of the kitchen.

Stylish matt porcelain stoneware floor for the loft-style kitchen-dining room. The texture imitates a concrete surface.

Porcelain tile floor with imitation of natural stone. Laying apart looks interesting and boring in the complex geometry of a large kitchen.

Porcelain tiles in the decoration of the working area of ​​the kitchen. Perfect laying and motley texture of the tiles create the impression of a single piece of canvas.

The following video will tell you how to choose porcelain stoneware.