Planning and design of floor and wall surfaces. Step two

The second step in planning and designing surface cladding with ceramic tiles is the selection of material: tiles, in accordance with the previously specified criteria; materials for the base; materials for filling seams.

The range of base materials offered on the market is quite wide and can be divided into two main groups: cement-lime mortars (applied in a thick layer) and adhesive mortars (applied in a thin layer). Typically, cement-lime mortar is a mixture of a binder (limestone and/or cement) and an inert material (sand) homogenized with an appropriate amount of water, which makes the mixture paste-like and provides the binder with the necessary amount of water for complete hydration. A thin layer of cement is sprayed onto the layer in direct contact with the tile. The following ratio of cement-lime mortar is recommended: 200-350 kg of cement (usually Portland cement M400) per m3 of sand.

The use of adhesive solutions when laying ceramic tiles has become the most popular installation method. There are many types of adhesive mixtures. Based on the standards GOST R 56387 and EN 12004, adhesive solutions are divided into two main categories: adhesive based on reactive resins (a mixture of synthetic resin, mineral fillers and organic additives, the hardening of which is carried out due to a chemical reaction. Can be single- or multi-component); cement-based adhesive (a mixture of hydraulic binders, fillers and organic additives. Mortar mixtures are mixed with water or aqueous solutions containing modifying additives shortly before use).

These standards define not only the characteristics, but also the necessary requirements for adhesive solutions. It is important to emphasize that various commercial types of adhesive solutions can differ significantly from each other in such fundamental characteristics as adhesion, chemical resistance, elasticity, frost resistance and others. Therefore, choosing the right adhesive is just as important as choosing the right tile.

And finally, for filling joints, along with traditional cement-based grouts, sometimes with the addition of latex, joint fillers based on reactive resins are offered. They are characterized by increased resistance to abrasion, reduced water absorption, and resistance to staining (from acids, alkalis, dyes). Glitter and special additives allow you to get interesting design solutions. Silicone grout mixtures are used to seal wall-to-wall and wall-to-floor joints. Thus, in this case, it is necessary to carefully approach the choice of material, since grout is an integral part of the cladding and affects not only the technical, but also the aesthetic properties of the lined surface.