Ceramic tiles for the bathroom: how to choose and care for it?

Ceramic tiles for the bathroom allows you to create an unlimited number of variations in interior design. Modern manufacturers offer textured and smooth, matte and glossy coatings in a variety of styles. Tiles for walls and floors have long been learned to turn into the likeness of marble or natural wood, decorated with concrete, brick and metal.

Ceramic tile for the bathroom is a finishing material, which is subject to quite stringent requirements in terms of quality and reliability. To make the right choice, to ensure the durability and functionality of the coating, you will have to study all the features of such a decor in more detail.

Ceramic tiles for the bathroom - a material that is almost devoid of flaws. Among its obvious advantages include:

• a wide selection of colors, textures, coating options;
• resistance to moisture;
• high environmental friendliness of the material, it is non-toxic, completely safe to use;
• long service life;
• high aesthetic characteristics;
• preservation of brightness of paints, surface properties;
• chemical neutrality;
• resistance to formation of pollution;
• mechanical strength;
• simplicity in leaving and maintaining hygienic safety;
• unlimited possibilities for creating original interior solutions.

The disadvantages of ceramics designed for the bathroom are not so many and the disadvantages are associated exclusively with the quality of the work. Not every craftsman is able to correctly, evenly and beautifully lay a mosaic coating or decorative panel.

Independent work in the absence of experience can even lead to unpredictable results. The quality of grouting also matters: if mineral-based compounds are selected, over time, the sections between the tiles will not look very aesthetically pleasing.

On the reverse surface of the tile or on its factory packaging, according to the standards in force in Russia, there must be a marking indicating the operational properties of the product. To properly decrypt it, you need to know the established standards. Certain characters are most common.

• PEI This abbreviation refers to the class of abrasion of products. PEI I is only suitable for walls. If the numerical designation is from II to IV, we are talking about flooring or materials with a higher level of resistance to abrasion.
• Image of airplane, medical cross, olympic symbols, bed. Indicates recommendations for the use of materials at specific facilities. For example, for medical institutions, tiles are designed that can be washed with chlorine-containing compounds. At airports, the stability of the coating to vibration loads is important.
• Latin designation of chemical elements - Au, Ag, Pt. These icons indicate that the tile contains gold, silver, platinum.
• Snowflake. It indicates that the material is resistant to frost. Actual if the bath is in a building with seasonal use.
• Image of a faceted diamond. Determines the hardness of the material.
• A black rectangle with a palm on it. They mark all the wall tiles. The image of the boot footprint indicates the floor accessory.
• Image of a bulb on a black background. It indicates an increased chemical resistance of the material.

Standard range of tile sizes for use in the bathroom Allows you to divide all products into specific formats.

• Large. These include rectangular modules 20x50 cm, 25x40 cm, 20x30 cm, square 25x25 and 30x30 cm. They are used mainly for finishing floors or accent walls, to minimize the number of seams.
• Middle. It includes the whole square tile with a side size of 20, 15, 10 cm. It is convenient in laying and calculating, it is in the average format that most of the decorative coatings are most often produced.
• Small. Here you can highlight tiles 6x6 cm, as well as mosaic elements. They are optimal for walls that do not differ in ideal geometry. The small format allows you to hide small flaws and repair defects.

Among manufacturers of ceramic tiles for bathrooms Especially popular brands can be noted.

• Lafabbrica. Italian quality tiles in the most incredible colors and solutions are produced by a manufacturer known far beyond Europe. Regular release of new collections, our own design bureau allow the brand to remain among the industry leaders.

• Kerama Marazzi. The joint Russian-Italian enterprise has been successfully operating for over 27 years. Among 200 products, you can find flooring and walls of economy class. The company has rulers for interiors in Japanese, French, English, Scandinavian, Indian styles.

• Lasselsberger Ceramics. Austrian company with factories throughout Europe. In Russia, its own enterprise was opened in Bashkiria in 2006. Among the range of products of the company stand out a series of flooring "Rustic", "Perfect" and the collection "Parisian" with a laconic glossy surface for decorating the walls of the bathroom.

• Cersanit. A brand from Poland that produces high-quality and inexpensive tiles for decorating bathrooms.The company's designer collections with floral, watercolor prints, as well as rulers with abstract and ethnic ornaments are especially appreciated.

• Azori A domestic company that pays great attention to the design of its products. In its assortment there are many bright collections with photo prints, the company follows fashion trends, seeks to implement them in the lines of its tiles. High quality is combined with an affordable price of finishing materials.

• Vivo. A Chinese company, one of the best in the world in the production of textured decorative tiles. The company has its own clay quarries for the extraction of raw materials, uses its red varieties, achieving excellent durability of the finished product. China is a country with ancient traditions. And in Vivo collections you can find interesting, unique elements of ethnic design.

• Keramin. Belarusian manufacturer with budget prices and a wide selection of products. The company has established joint production with Italians, thanks to which the products have a modern design and meet European standards. The company specializes in producing glossy plain tiles of different formats.

Modern design projects allow you to complete interior decoration in almost any stylistic direction. What decor is relevant for the bathroom today? How good is the eternal classic, are sakura obligatory for the Japanese style, and landscapes with butterflies for ethno?

The room can be decorated in an English style - simple and concise or in the theme of American country, add to it the ease of provence or chic baroque.

Modern tile manufacturers offer the widest palette of colors to their customers. Here you can easily find all the colors of the rainbow, and they are advised to combine them as safely as possible. Blue and yellow, pink and purple, green and orange tones create a special mood even in a small bathroom.

If you want to be in a trend, you should choose all shades of citrus: lemon, lime, orange, they can be combined with neutral white, juicy lime or scarlet.

Small one-color “brick-like” tiles, similar to the one that adorns the lobby of the Paris subway, are most often disrespectfully referred to as “boar” in Russia. But this does not prevent her from being at the peak of fashion.

Correct geometric elements with a pronounced relief look neat and orderly, allow laying with a "herringbone" or classic brick. In bright red or blue, it looks good in small rooms. Neutral white, gray and black colors are best left to large and medium sized bathrooms.

Marble tiles are great for wall and floor decoration. You can arrange the entire room in one color or choose contrasting shades. The noble pattern of natural stone looks luxurious and presentable. But such decoration is best combined with spacious rooms, where such decor looks appropriate and stylish.

Using mosaics, it is better to highlight part of the space: the area around the mirror, shower room, floor. A solid mosaic panel on all surfaces looks too colorful. Such a decor looks interesting in combination with horizontal or vertical metal elements, a frame of ledges with natural stone tiles.

Complex geometric patterns that violate all the rules and laws - this is what designers consider fashionable. Tiles of different sizes and colors laid diagonally or broken lines look very bright, unusual and stylish.

You just need to choose the right option for such an avant-garde finish. For example, gray honeycomb tiles are popular in Scandinavian design, and bright purple or purple rhombuses on the walls are suitable for Provence or Rococo.

Patchwork tiles or Egyptian hieroglyphs, imitation of rough stone and natural fabric. All this allows the design of bathroom ceramics in ethnic or country style. Options for gzhel or other types of traditional art will also be helpful.

Light, slightly blurred watercolor drawings - this is what is well suited for decorating a bathroom in a romantic, delicate style. Japanese sakura blossom, landscape of the Parisian suburbs or a reproduction of a famous painting. All this can be added to the design of the bathroom. True, large-format panels should be used in spacious rooms.

The choice of tiles for the interior of the bathroom implies a very important decision. The chosen wall and floor decoration will not be as easy to change as wallpaper or paint. In addition, the tile must meet a number of requirements related to the characteristics of the microclimate of the room. What do you need to pay attention to first? It is worth remembering the most important selection criteria.

• Appointment of the premises. If it is a bathroom in a residential building or in an apartment, you can not overpay for a high class of mechanical strength. Increased abrasion to the coating and so will not be a threat. Only the toughest tiles can be laid in the hotel’s apartments or in the hospital’s sanitary unit, which can easily endure frequent washing and cleaning.
• Place for installation. Floor coverings radically differ from wall coverings in their characteristics, sizes, and degree of roughness. If you do not take into account all these points, you may encounter serious problems during the operation of the product.
• Surface area. The larger the room, the larger the elements in its decoration can be. For small housing, where the bathroom is often very crowded, it is better to select mosaic coatings with a small fragment size.
• Color spectrum. It can be neutral, bright or monochrome. The presence of natural light or well-organized artificial lighting allows you to choose dark tones. Variegated ethnic patterns visually deepen the space, create the illusion of more space. Large, complex, plot panels are best left for spacious baths.
• Material type. Porcelain stoneware is more durable, with its help the functional zones are usually finished. Ceramics or tiles require more careful handling.
• Edge processing. Rectified tile is suitable for laying with a minimum gap - the seam will be invisible. It is this method of edging that is used by leading world manufacturers.
• Styling method. For independent work, it is not recommended to choose complex or different-sized compositions. Expensive panels and decorative coatings are best left to professionals.
• The form. There is a rectangular, square, polygonal tile. It’s easier to dock with each other in the bathroom with a simple form.
• Tile options. For walls, you should not choose modules thicker than 6-9 mm, glazed, glossy coatings are more suitable in the bathroom. For the floor, medium-format tiles with a thickness of 9-12 mm are suitable, the tile should be low porosity.

In order for ceramic tiles in the interior of the bathroom to retain their appeal for a long time, it requires proper and thorough care. In its absence, a humid environment in combination with not too good ventilation can turn the room into a source of bacteriological danger. There are several rules that should be followed.

• Abandonment of abrasive products and hard tools. Despite the rather high mechanical strength, a surface regularly in contact with hard washcloths or mineral-based compounds will lose its luster and gloss faster and become covered with scratches.
• Ban on chlorine and its compounds. This is due to the fact that it is not possible to predict a possible change in the color of the coating upon contact with a caustic chemical. That is, the tile can both preserve the former shades, and become covered with spots or even radically change the color.
• Sponges and wipes as tools. One should have a more rigid and dense coating on the back. The second will be soft. Microfiber wipes will be needed to bring shine.
• Liquid detergents, selected based on goals and objectives. Fat deposits clean dishwashing detergents well. Complex pollution will wipe away baking or soda ash. Spray products are suitable for removing limescale and other specific deposits.
• Regular cleaning. It must be performed at least 1 time in 10 days or as it becomes contaminated. Once every 6 months, it is recommended to cover the seams and the coating with protective compounds.
• Elimination of condensation. Moisture from the surface of the tile needs to be wiped immediately after taking a shower or bath, to improve the appearance of mold and mildew will help improve ventilation, installation of air dryers.

See how to choose the right ceramic tile for the bathroom in the next video.