Tile is a popular cladding material used for both indoor and outdoor use. Since wall and floor tiles under a stone are presented in solutions of various composition and design, the choice is significantly difficult. Therefore, to create a harmonious interior, you should study all the features of different tiled coatings for a stone.
Features of the
Decorative stone tiles are now one of the most popular finishing materials. In addition, recently, according to designers, this material is relevant in the interior for interior decoration. The stone is considered the trend of the previous and new seasons. It looks elegant and beautiful, but at the same time it has high functionality and reliability.
This material is of natural origin, so it always looks natural and natural. Moreover, natural stone is durable.
Natural materials are always expensive, so not everyone can afford such a finish. Stone is a heavy raw material, which makes it not always suitable for interior decoration. As a rule, with the help of natural stone, the facades of houses and structures are trimmed, where it looks beautiful, perfectly fulfilling its role and functions, including protective and decorative.
But in the interior of a house or apartment, decorative artificial stone is used for decoration. This is due to the fact that it is much cheaper than its natural counterpart and is lighter. This is what makes it different from natural stone.
- Stone-like tiles can look exactly the same as natural material, and not only externally, but also to the touch. Manufacturers present models with realistic relief and texture. Some models look so natural that even a professional cannot distinguish them from their natural counterparts.
- In addition, new technologies are used in the production, which make this material no less reliable than natural stone.
- Not everyone will be able to cope with the installation of natural stone, but the tiles for this material are quite simple to install, because their installation does not require special skills and special knowledge.
Stone-like tiles are based on high-quality and natural compositions, so they look quite natural. Imitation stone can transform any interior. She can be his highlight. Such a tile can look like granite cut into layers, it can be decorated in marble or malachite, as well as under any, even the most ordinary stone. Moreover, the stone patterns and texture are believable and unique. The stone looks luxurious and elegant
Such tiles are quite easy to install; during the cutting process, they practically do not split, while maintaining their presentable appearance. Stone-like tiles are used to decorate both walls and floors, and are also used as decorative elements of various interior items. As a rule, the floor is finished with porcelain stoneware stone tiles, since they are of the highest quality and most reliable
- In addition, such tiles are capable of withstanding any, even strong, shock loads. That is why the space in the hallway is often trimmed in this way.
- It is easy to care for as it has a very low level of moisture absorption. You can carry out wet cleaning if necessary.
- Stone tiles are considered to be of high quality and quite practical. It can be laid in any room. Thus, it can be called universal. Models under a stone look very interesting and can fascinate with their design. You can pick up almost any shade, texture and texture.
- Manufacturers present models for every taste and wallet. In addition, stone-like tiles are no less environmentally friendly and safe than their natural counterparts. It does not contain harmful components, moreover, it does not emit toxic substances and aldehydes. Stone-like tiles, like many types of this finishing material, meet safety requirements and have low electrical conductivity.
- Many stone models are resistant to sunlight, so they do not fade at all. The tile retains its original appearance for many decades, especially for high-quality high-end models.
- Such tiles are impervious to high humidity. Since the material tolerates the effects of water well, bathrooms, saunas, and swimming pools are also decorated with stone tiles.
- The texture of the stone is quite practical: dust, dirt and minor scratches are invisible on it. That is why such options are often used to decorate rooms with high traffic.
- Stone tiles are quite easy to care for: due to the origin of this material, it is resistant to chemicals, it can be washed using special products.
- Ceramic tiles weigh very little, so they are often mounted on walls. In addition, this particular type of tile is perfect for fragmentary accent wall decoration. With its help, parts of walls, window, doorways and some other elements are often clad. This leads to the fact that you can pick up models of even the smallest sizes, and all of them will look very natural.
But stone tiles have some disadvantages:
- Although, in general, many types of this finishing material are easy to cut, smooth models are much easier to process than embossed products under a stone. This will take much longer than cutting regular tiles without relief. In order to beautifully and evenly cut the tiles under the stone, you will need to purchase tools specially designed for this.
- Another disadvantage is that it is difficult to dock with other decorative surfaces, since it is quite thick and embossed. Therefore, you need to select other coarse and thick materials. In addition, a wall finished with such tiles will have wide tile joints and a rough texture, so it will not look good with all other coatings.
- Tile for stone is a cold material, therefore, with its help, residential premises are rarely finished. That is why it is purchased mainly for finishing the kitchen, hallway, bathroom. In the bedroom and nursery, such a design is not accepted. In such intimate rooms, natural stone will look out of place. In the interior of residential premises, natural stone can only be used in combination with underfloor heating.
- Some also note the difficulty of caring for coatings with fine relief: dirt and dust are clogged into it, which darken the tile. That is why you have to often wash and clean it so that the coating always remains presentable.
Views
Stone tiled flooring has a variety of types.
Natural stone tiles
This is the only natural stone coating option. It is durable and of high quality. It is the most durable and resistant to external influences material. The stone is dense and hard, withstands all mechanical stress. Manufacturers present both glossy and matte embossed models that have undergone several levels of processing.
Stone tiles can have not only a pronounced relief, but also a smooth surface. It is also coated with glaze or varnish. These models are quite expensive and are mainly used for luxury interiors. Among all the models, the most popular are stone tiles made of marble, onyx, granite, balsat and other rocks.
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All other models of stone tiles are decorative and are not natural. They only imitate this material, therefore they differ in a number of properties and qualities. But in the composition of these finishing materials, the manufacturer includes natural stone shavings, which makes them as close as possible in external and quality characteristics to a natural analogue.
Stone effect ceramic tiles
This is the most common type of this decorative coating. With its help, almost all types of premises are finished. Ceramic tiles with this design have a good price-performance ratio. Its performance characteristics are quite high, the coating can serve for more than 50 years.
Tiled models for stone are distinguished by a huge variety of colors., drawings that are able to display even the smallest relief elements, transitions, as well as stone veins. They can imitate cracks and irregularities, pores of rocks. Ceramic tiles are capable of transferring transitions of different shades, which is typical for this natural material.
She brings comfort to the interior and fills it with freedom. But with its help, you can make a rather strict and restrained finish in shade, or, on the contrary, make a more romantic interior by completing the accent design of the walls. Ceramics can be presented in brighter and more variegated shades, it is often used to hide some surface irregularities and other visual imperfections in a room. Many decorative stone models are able to focus on the merits of the interior, as well as hide all its defects.
She is not susceptible to temperature extremes. Even if it is affected by frost, it will not deform. That is why it is used even in rooms that are not heated. Even street gazebos and paths are decorated with such stone-like tiles.
This type of tile can be easily combined with other materials. This is especially important if you will be combining coatings.
It is used for both full and accent finishes. It is quite lightweight but durable. In its manufacture, a mixture of quartz sand and clay is used, as well as some other elements necessary for its coloring and increasing the level of wear resistance. This material is made by molding at high temperatures.
Decorative tiles for a stone can even be smooth: in this case, it is covered with glaze, and the natural pattern remains the same, but the coatings do not have a relief texture. Also, during production, it is left rough, then the texture of the coating will be similar in tactile qualities to natural stone.
Gypsum decorative tiles
Such stone models have a completely different origin. They are made from a mixture of gypsum and polymers, and are not as dense and reliable. The coating is unstable to the effects of high and low temperatures, therefore it is used only for finishing heated rooms. But stone-like plaster models are quite light and therefore easy to install.
The gypsum, which is the basis of this coating, is completely natural and environmentally friendly., therefore, it is completely harmless to human health. With all the simplicity of its composition, gypsum interior tiles provide good heat and sound insulation, they are flexible and ductile.
Of all types of decorative stone tiles, gypsum models are the thinnest, this wall tile is suitable even for the smallest premises: it will not hide extra centimeters. The small thickness is a huge plus, because it simplifies the joining of this material with other coatings.
Gypsum can affect the humidity in the room. So, it can release moisture if the air is excessively dry or, on the contrary, absorb it if the air is very humid. This is a great regulator that is suitable for living spaces. Plaster models are easy to work with, but still very fragile. That is why you need to be very careful during the installation process.
The material is plastic and soft, it differs in looseness from other types of stone coatings. It is mainly used only for wall cladding as it is not stable enough for floor cladding. Such tiles are easily damaged by mechanical stress, which is its disadvantage.
Experts advise using gypsum decorative stone models mainly for accent decoration in rooms with light loads and a good microclimate. That is why walls in corridors, halls and some elements of the walls of living rooms are often faced with it. It is customary to varnish decorative plaster models under a stone, since the coating is excessively embossed.
Plaster models are often used for cladding doorways, arches, and offices. In some cases, decorative fireplaces are trimmed with tiles, since such a cladding looks no less advantageous. Many designers note that it is gypsum that is best able to convey the texture of natural stone, so such tiles look the most realistic.
Clinker
This type of tile is a small bricks under the fireplace. It is customary to use this material not only for interior, but also for exterior decoration. It is excellent for cladding the facades of buildings. In addition, due to its high stability and reliability, it is often used to finish surfaces in bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas and even baths. In addition, clinker is often used to decorate real home fireplaces.
Stone clinker models are ideal for both wall cladding and flooring. The clinker is placed even in rooms where heavy loads are placed on the floor.
Porcelain stoneware
Such stone models have practically zero water absorption. That is why such tiles can be used both inside the house and outside. They are used to lay the floors on verandas, terraces, in gazebos, as well as walls and floors in houses. Porcelain stoneware is the highest quality analogue of decorative stone and is practically not inferior to it in strength and reliability. It has a high class of wear resistance and can serve up to 100 years.
Cotto
This type of models for decorative stone have an unusual color and texture. As a rule, cotto is made from red clay, so it looks very natural and natural. Usually, such coatings are not glazed, leaving its texture a little rough, which makes it even more natural. As a rule, cotto flooring is often used for cladding floors in hallways, hallways, and in the kitchen. Walls with such tiles are rarely finished, but the corner cotto is perfect for cladding the lower part of the hallway walls.
Majolica
This material has one important feature - a painted bright surface. Usually these are rather small tile models that look quite unusual. Now designers are advised to lay majolica decorated with marble, and it is not at all necessary to follow the pattern. It is this styling that can become the highlight of any interior.
Large models of such tiles are also popular. With their help, you can make an almost seamless installation both on the walls and on the floor. This coating is suitable for both classic and modern interiors. With its help, you can make a bright contrasting stone floor and lighter walls. Such a design solution will look bold and interesting.
Conglomerate
This type of tile has the largest percentage of natural stone in its composition. So, it partly consists of crumbs of natural rock. Moreover, such models may include quartz or acrylic in their composition, therefore they are durable and of high quality.
Due to the inclusion of natural stone chips in the composition, conglomerates are able to imitate almost any kind of natural minerals, including malachite, granite, onyx, jasper, marble, travertine and others. The conglomerate is hard and of high quality, besides, this tile is easy to process. With its help, both walls and floors are finished.
Dimensions (edit)
Decorative models for natural stone vary greatly in their external characteristics. So, manufacturers present both large tile elements, displaying small pebble details and simplifying laying, and smaller products in the form of each individual stone. The last option looks more natural and voluminous.
Stone tiles can have almost any shape from square or rectangular to hexagonal and even round. Small tile models are suitable for mosaic stone finishes. This design is great for small spaces.
It is customary to use large slabs for facing spacious rooms. In this case, choose models 30 by 30 cm or 45 by 45 cm. The indicator of the thickness of such materials is especially important. Since such stone models generally have an interesting and large relief, they are always more than 5 mm thick. The average thickness of such a tile is 12 mm.
Design
Stone tile designs can vary greatly.
Many models have an interesting relief with a heterogeneous texture. Thus, this design can be used for contrasting wall finishes in combination with smooth, even surfaces. Colors can also be contrasting: black granite looks great with white marbled tiles
Antique decorative tiles should be noted separately. These coatings look vintage and very stylish. It seems that such a stone has been lying for many years, which affected its texture. Such coatings can mimic chips, cracks, and scuffs. This design is perfect for a classic, Provence or country style interior
Tiles with a torn stone design look interesting. It is distinguished by obvious irregularities in texture, color and resembles a chipped stone. It seems that the old stone has simply lost its integrity. It is difficult to trace any specific pattern on such a coating. Torn stone looks original and interesting, so it is used in some new interiors to emphasize the walls
Decorative tiles under rubble stone also look original. It differs in that on one tile there are stones completely different in size and type. Moreover, it can be both large slabs with images and reliefs imitating a stone, as well as individual elements of different sizes, which are assembled and combined by the hands of a master on the walls or on the floor. In any case, such a coating will look heterogeneous and original, the specific finish will depend only on your wishes and imagination
Manufacturers also present models with a wild stone design. They are distinguished by maximum naturalness. The finish appears to be raw and most natural. This material will perfectly fit into the interior in eco or country style, and is also suitable for rustic interior decoration
Manufacturers
Nowadays, Italian is in great demand. Atlas Concorde tiles … It is made of ceramics and perfectly imitates natural stone. Many buyers indicate that the texture and design of this coating is almost indistinguishable from natural.
Spanish tiles Gomez Ceramica under the wild stone is also popular. The models look exquisite and unique, perfectly convey the texture of the wild stone.
The tiles that are produced in Spain look beautiful by Onix Mosaic … It consists of glass, ceramics and stone chips. This coating looks natural.
Selection Tips
When choosing a tile, you must rely on the quality characteristics of each specific type of this finishing material. Although outwardly they are all beautiful, especially natural stone models, their properties can be very different.
For the bathroom and hallway, try to purchase only the most durable models with a low level of water absorption., low porosity and dense texture. It is better to treat such products with compounds that prevent the spread of the fungus. If you are choosing a tile for finishing the floor for those rooms where the coating will be exposed to mechanical stress, then it is better to give preference to natural stone tiles or models made of porcelain stoneware for a stone. Other similar acrylic-based coatings will work as well.
Keep in mind that drywall models are only suitable for accents and interior decoration. In no case should they be used for full wall and floor cladding.
How to care?
First of all, care for decorative tiles of any kind must be carried out immediately after installation. So, it is necessary to grout the joints, and then clean the coating from cement or glue mortar. Never remove the grout with scrapers and knives, otherwise you may damage the coating and its texture.
After the first cleaning, it will be necessary to provide regular maintenance of this coating. So, it is better not to treat gypsum models with water and dry cleaning. To do this, you can use a soft brush, vacuum cleaner or sponge. Other coatings, however, can be washed with water.
For wet cleaning, it is better to use special detergents., marked "for smooth" or "for embossed tiles". It is advisable to take into account the type of texture when choosing specially designed tools. In addition, any tile can be cleaned with soapy water. It removes dust and dirt well without damaging the surface.
Beautiful examples in the interior
Stone effect tiles look great in the interior of the bathroom. So, you can give preference to a marbled finish. Such a light design will look stylish and restrained, and will also fill it with light. Having correctly played the room with lighting, you can make it more spacious and pompous.
By adding more wooden textures to the interior of such a bathroom, you can make the design in the classic style. By filling it with glass and mirrored high-gloss finishes, you can make your bathroom look more stylish and modern.
In the interior of the living room, stone will also go well with wood. Stone textures and wood can be combined both on the floor and on the walls. For example, narrow natural stone porcelain stoneware tiles can be combined with wooden slats.
In the living room, stone tiles can also be used for accent decoration: with its help, you can beautifully decorate the arch, as well as make a covering in the form of columns or stone stairs on the wall adjacent to it. This design is perfect for many stylistic interior options.
For information on how to use decorative stone in the decoration of an apartment, see below.