Do not doubt it: ceramics are in fashion. If before we only saw them in the bathroom and on the kitchen walls, today ceramic floors have rebelled and now occupy all the spaces in the house. Learn to place the tiles correctly and get luxury finishes in your home!
We love ceramic wall tiles. Currently we find them on the floor of the living room, the terrace and the entrance, but also on the walls of the entire house Handmade. The new, more elegant and contemporary designs allow the creation of a thousand and one effects that turn any space into a place where you want to be.
But to achieve this sensation, the laying of the tiles and the finishing of the joints must be impeccable: a poorly done job will ruin the entire project, and will cause you to lose time, money and enthusiasm.
To avoid this, today we will tell you how to lay ceramic tiles like a professional. And we reveal some tricks to achieve avant-garde and contemporary effects, with which to achieve that wow effect! that excites us so much
Ceramic bonding: better with the thin layer system
Installation of ceramic “glued”
Have you ever heard of the “glue” gluing system? If you have ever installed ceramics or are interested in this type of reform, it will surely sound familiar to you. It is a technique of always that, in fact, is called “gluing by points”.
It simply consists of depositing a pellet (glob) of mortar-glue in four or five points on the back of the tile, to then fix it to the wall. This technique, designed to save time and product, is actually not recommended at all: over time, the tiles can fall off or become loose. Don’t trust him with your job!
Ceramic installation by thin layer
Instead, it is best to resort to a technique that does work and stands the test of time: thin, single or double layer gluing.
The “thin layer” technique consists of fixing the ceramic tiles after applying a layer of mortar-glue up to 5 mm thick on the wall and/or the tile. The mortar-glue is spread with a notched trowel. If you are going to install pieces with traditional mortar (not with mortar-glue), you must use the thick layer technique; however, current ceramic coverings are almost always placed with mortar-glue and pastes, which are easy to use and have a high bonding power.
Depending on the absorption level of the tiles, thin-layer gluing can be simple or double:
Simple gluing . This technique is used with medium-high absorption ceramic tiles and small or medium format. It consists of applying the mortar-glue to the wall and fixing the pieces on it, then setting them down with a rubber mallet.
Double glued . In this system, in addition to gluing the wall, the mortar-glue is also applied to the back of the tile. This generates a thicker layer with grooves on both sides, which favors grip and provides a more resistant fixation. It is the appropriate system for ceramics with a low level of absorption, such as porcelain stoneware. It is also recommended for large format tiles, from 30×30 cm.