The only disadvantages include the fact that PVC melts under the influence of alkali, but we do not conduct chemical experiments in the kitchen.

Better tile finishes for the floor in the kitchen have not yet been invented. Laminate flooring is short-lived, wood floors are very expensive and linoleum has a lifespan of 10 years. But high-quality tile, ceramic or vinyl tiles on the kitchen floor are durable, convenient and practical!

Coming to a hardware store, especially a hypermarket, is very difficult to do right choice with such an abundance of proposals. How to choose high-quality, beautiful and reliable material at a normal, affordable price?

There are several important criteria for choosing any tile flooring that is important to know when shopping.

Criteria and rules for choosing floor tiles in the kitchen

Probably, I, like many, when choosing a building material, focus primarily on price and color. This choice often leads to very unpleasant consequences. The tile cracks, quickly loses its brightness and glides.

Therefore, it is important to focus primarily on specifications material, be it tiles, porcelain stoneware or polymer.

Important technical characteristics of tiles on the floor in the kitchen

What do we want from the tiles on the kitchen floor? Beautiful design - this is understandable, but this factor must also meet certain criteria. We also want the floor to be easy to clean, durable and above all durable.

Therefore, we carefully read all the positions of the characteristics of the material, which are listed by the instructions and accompanying documents for one or another tile:

• PEI - designation of the degree of wear (class 1 to 5).
• Resistance to moisture in percent.

• Resistant to aggressive chemicals. The maximum value is AA, and there is no point in overpaying for such stability, it is quite enough to limit ourselves to the middle class of stability B or C.

• Marking A - extruded materials, B - extruded.
• The strength of the material is determined by the Mohs scale; 5-6 points are quite enough for tiles in the kitchen.
• The type of tile is indicated by color coding. Top grade - red, medium - blue, low - green.

• Wear resistance (the main indicator to which you should pay attention). This figure should be from 3 to 4. Higher values \u200b\u200bare not needed in the kitchen, and tiles with a lower resistance class will quickly lose strength.
• Friction coefficient - it depends on this value whether the tile will slide. For the kitchen, the optimal coefficient is 0.75, both for glossy and matte tiles.

The tiles on the floor in the kitchen must be beautiful, but not at the expense of convenience and durability. Some parameters are worth paying a little more for!

Types and features of floor coverings in the kitchen

There are three main tile options on sale now. Which one to prefer? Depends on the chosen kitchen decor, the number of household members and individual characteristics and preferences.

For example, I have a private house and porcelain stoneware is too cold for the kitchen floor, and vinyl is much warmer and looks great.

Classic ceramic tiles - types and characteristics

Depending on the technology by which the tile was made, it acquires certain properties.

There is a large selection, but it is important to know how different types of ceramics differ:

• Monocottura - enamelled ceramics. Can be used for both walls and floors. In production, a single raw firing is used, and the enamel is firmly connected to the bearing surface of the ceramic. Such materials are more resistant to mechanical damage and aggressive detergents.

• Bikottura - such a tile on the kitchen floor is not recommended, since in the process of double firing the material becomes brittle, and the enamel coating of the material is unstable to abrasion.

• Monoporosis - differs in a porous structure and less strength, since the ceramic contains carbonates, and not iron oxide (more expensive imported components). The advantage of such a coating is large squares, stylized as natural materials (marble, granite). It is necessary to use only white grout when laying.
  The tile looks beautiful, but does not differ in strength, therefore it is most often used for finishing around the perimeter of the room, where there is less stress on the material.

• Cotto is a red clay material produced by extrusion. Warm matte surface, full imitation of natural clay looks great. But it should be borne in mind that after installation, this material must be protected with a wax waterproof layer, which must be renewed at least once every two years.

• Clinker - this finishing option is not worth choosing for the kitchen floor, the high price for the characteristics that are needed for exterior decoration... This decor looks beautiful, but suitable for decoration individual elements floors in combination with cotto or regular matt ceramic tiles.
  Now, all and sundry clinker is produced using this technology, even just in the garage, so the risk of buying a fake is very high.

• Majolica - fired before applying the glaze, at lower temperatures, and after drawing, at a higher temperature. A beautiful graceful pattern or an exclusive painting look stylish and expensive when decorating a country-style kitchen, and in any direction. The price of this material is from 400 to 800 rubles. per square meter. As for me, quite a neat, uncluttered pattern for the floor.

• Cottoforte - the principle is the same as in the production of cotto, only with subsequent glaze. In this case, the material becomes waterproof and no additional coating with wax impregnations is required. Price - from 1000 rubles per square meter.

• Unglazed finishes - with high durability, this finish is not afraid of moisture. Plus - quite a budget price, minus - no drawing, material of dull monotonous colors. But it is interesting to combine such products with more expensive fragments. I believe that this perfect solution as a background for the original pattern.

• Glazed tiles - a layer of glass glaze is applied to the ceramics, decorated with a decorative pattern - the most inexpensive option for flooring, but slippery and short-lived.

The floor in the kitchen can be tiled with tiles, and it is quite inexpensive if you combine several different materials... For example, we trim the main area with ordinary matte tiles, and we create a pattern around the perimeter and in the center from expensive material that matches the style of kitchen decoration.

Tile is a durable finish, so focus on trendy bright decors, which will be difficult to combine later with another style - undesirable. It is better to dwell on the austere, seasoned classics of neutral tones (beige, muted sandy colors, all shades of gray with contrasting black decor.).

Porcelain stoneware - new technologies in floor finishing

This durable material is made from a mixture of clays, quartz sand of the finest fraction, and mineral pigments and metal oxides are added to add color. The result is a finish without pores or voids.

Plates undergo a special type of processing - pressing during the firing process. The end result is a high-strength finish that is resistant to moisture and aggressive chemicals.

This cladding also has a significant disadvantage - the floors are cold. It is imperative to install a "warm floor" system, especially in private houses. With this material, it is good to finish the floor around the kitchen perimeter - it is strong and reliable, but for the central part it is better to stay on ceramics, it is warmer.

Collection "Vintage" - glazed porcelain stoneware

Another disadvantage of porcelain stoneware slabs is a small selection of colors, mainly imitation of marble, granite, sandstone, quartz.

The cost of ceramic granite tiles varies significantly - from 300 to 2000 rubles per square meter... It all depends on the design and brand of the manufacturer. Sometimes similar materials from different brands can have a price difference of three times or more.

PVC tiles - a well-forgotten old coating

This is my favorite kind of floor finish, I admit. Once upon a time, almost all Khrushchev buildings were decorated with this material, which has served faithfully for decades. Of course, the design was unpretentious, dark green and unmarked, but this is the ideal floor tile for the kitchen, especially its modern variations.

This material consists of several layers:

1. Polyvinyl chloride base.
2. Decorative finishing (the choice of patterns is huge).
3. Polyurethane coating.
4. Additional protective water-repellent layer.

For the kitchen, it is better to choose plates with a thickness of 2.5 to 3.5 mm, they are more durable.

Now about the merits of this wonderful material:

1. It is not cold, it even insulates a little concrete screed... I have this material in a private house on the floor without an insulating backing, and it is not cold at all, we walk barefoot in winter.
2. Looks like a seamless finish, especially if you choose a parquet finish, the seams between the slabs are minimal.

1. Laying is easy to do with your own hands, the material is easily glued to a special mastic on any clean surface (concrete, wood, even linoleum).
2. Cost per square from 600 to 1200 rubles.
3. It is a pleasure to transport the finish, as its weight is minimal.
4. Does not slip.

1. You can combine different colors and textures.
2. The coating is resistant to abrasion and impact. They dropped even very heavy objects - not a scratch.
3. If you manage to scratch or deform the floor, you can easily cut out a fragment and replace it with a new one. Therefore, purchase the material immediately with a margin (approximately one to two squares).

{!LANG-bfb4612e1a12b4f6f7cec29c965125c9!}

{!LANG-1494cfc855b74de4432e7b93d5b13a16!}

{!LANG-b895368b91dae183cfaa333cee48b2bb!}

1. {!LANG-4b0a9c9d8a887e342123a4023ad45447!}
2. {!LANG-06a4c3bcab0fe34e2100f15ad58dae0b!} {!LANG-67b26bacfa3df8b4eac679603223df17!}{!LANG-3f5331c48a859a00c3b76cbc80ea1682!}

1. {!LANG-524fd65754162195ca8a8269fb847dbd!}
2. {!LANG-28c9f078696d1ecd2e37a59acc3ca173!}
3. {!LANG-aab3f1addca4d06b83ac11b49dffa7b5!}

1. {!LANG-f834cda21cce06a0d06b484d8842aec8!}
2. {!LANG-f171fbf455f99ea342a41e2f6c3e2ea5!}
3. {!LANG-20c2bf2cfa434bb22b2f5e0bf01907dd!}

{!LANG-d7ffe03474be36add52d7d189c60b461!} {!LANG-9e4fc023e268c990bfd0e28bc2dd0b71!}{!LANG-7651c01819786caadaa0cd2685cb94f1!}

{!LANG-78397b23ea7f9dff602ac1ea6cf4ae67!}

{!LANG-ace9a1ad5392e06ed3f6dc03659d156b!}

{!LANG-e727c3f3a83e0e1ead0079e41e54edbf!}

{!LANG-690c2bbedaadbc4d64dfdcefc73a2524!}

{!LANG-d8af48f482effc52773b1e61e0682397!}

{!LANG-49d1461ba8a648674bf87113ece4c964!} {!LANG-ad71dc483f61c524ed2f555dacd1eca7!}{!LANG-51debbc3b5c6a1faa5f9835d5dd5a53d!} {!LANG-a9416dfece49e5f4161e656f3e1ab52d!}{!LANG-6ae36933c8435f778eceff2247ce93c2!}

{!LANG-1c7cc5ce8afb238ecebb7f1600b623ca!}

• low slip level;
• increased wear resistance;
• protection from exposure to chemicals;
• porosity;
• sunburn.

Tiles with smaller modules and even mosaics may also work. But keep in mind that the smaller the tile size, the harder and more expensive it will be to install.

If you nevertheless decide to purchase tiles with large modules for a small kitchen, then be prepared that it will have to be cut often, which will lead to a large amount of waste, which will result in large expenses even taking into account the cheap installation of large tiles.

If you have a medium-sized kitchen of 9-12 square meters. then tiles measuring 33 by 33 and 40 by 40 centimeters are quite suitable.

Besides square shape rectangular tiles are often used. Often, tiles of this shape are laid when it has the color of parquet or imitates brick and stone.

Rectangular tiles will visually expand a narrow kitchen. To achieve this effect, lay the long side of the tile perpendicular to the long wall of the room.

An unusual kitchen effect can be achieved by laying tiles of an unusual shape. A hexagonal or rounded shape is suitable for this. It also uses a rhombus shape and a wavy modulus.

Ceramic tile color

It is customary to choose the color of the tiles depending on the chosen color of the walls and the kitchen set. It is advisable to stick to the middle between the color of the walls and kitchen furniture.

Here are some basic tips for choosing a tile color if your headset has this color:

• If your headset is white, then you can put a scarf in almost any color, but still keep in mind that white color referred to as cold. If white kitchen has a blue tint, then the floor should be selected in a similar range. It is better to put terracotta or brown tiles in a milky white kitchen.
• With blue kitchen furniture white tiles with inserts of blue or blue... Solid blue and sandy with light orange are also suitable.
• Yellow, coffee, as well as light brown tiles will look good against the background of a green kitchen set.
• For furniture in burgundy tones, choose tiles in gray, beige and vanilla colors.
• It is more difficult with a wood-colored kitchen, since it should be taken into account here appearance, namely color and texture. If the furniture has tree rings clearly visible, then it is advisable to purchase a plain tile without a pattern. Also, do not lay tiles imitating wood, because this will create a "conflict" of colors.
• It is advisable to revive a gray kitchen with bright colors such as red, orange, yellow. Or an ornament that dilutes the monotony of a gray shade is suitable.
• The kitchen set is yellow, on the contrary, it is required to shade somewhat with calm colors. Black, gray and turquoise colors are perfect for this. But also look out for the brown, olive and terracotta tiles.

Styling

At first glance, there is nothing difficult in installing tiles on the floor, however, if you look in more detail, there is a large number of nuances that should be taken into account before starting installation.

It is very important to take into account the coating on which the tiles will be laid and the degree of their preparation. Leveling the floor is required with a cement screed. The surface must be thoroughly cleaned, all cracks are tightly sealed with a special solution.

Then, using a grinder, the cement influx is leveled and the screed is allowed to dry. Further, the floor should be primed, and do not forget about the waterproofing of the surface.

In order not to have any difficulties with its installation, it is better to immediately invite professionals, which, in the end, will save your money.

There are some more “secrets” to keep in mind when laying tiles. To make the tile less noticeable, it is worth choosing a dark grained or matte surface with an ornament. It will be easiest to notice a chip on a glossy monochromatic tile, which will not add to its presentability.

To visually divide the kitchen into zones, lay the tiles, creating a single pattern. A simple drawing will make the kitchen bigger, while a complex one, on the contrary, will give the impression of a small kitchen.

Do not underestimate the effect of choosing a grout color. The more contrasting the grout is, the more attention will be focused on the floor and the pattern on it. If you want to avoid unnecessary glances at the floor and are going to use it only as a background, then the grout should be in tune with the color of the tile.

And the last secret: on a dark grout, dirt is not as visible as on a light one, which will create the effect of a cleaner floor.

Following the above tips, choose ceramic floor tiles in your kitchen and enjoy your choice every day.

Tiles for the kitchen on the floor (real photos)

Ceramic tiles have long been used for flooring... It is durable, wear-resistant, practical and beautiful material... Of course, only professionals can afford exclusive finishing. But the floor in the toilet, bathroom or kitchen is quite realistic to do with your own hands. Be persistent and everything will work out. Even if you break several tiles, the savings will still be many times greater.

What are the characteristics of ceramic products?

• composition of raw materials: from red, white, colored clay;
• manufacturing method: pressed, extruded;
• firing: single, double;
• material structure: porous, dense;
• type of coating: glazed, unglazed.

With deviations up to 10 cm, a leveling cement-sand mixture is first applied, and after drying, a self-leveling one.

The wrong choice of mixture will lead to the fact that the surface is cracked or poorly leveled, which will lead to additional costs and loss of time to fix the work.

If you plan to lay tiles on top of an old tiled base, no leveling mixtures are needed.

Finally, the ceramics can be laid on the wooden floor after having been reinforced. Fiber-cement boards are required for pre-sheathing.

Step 3. Purchase of everything you need

So, the layout drawing is selected, the method of preparing the base is outlined. What is required from the materials:

Basic:

• ceramics;
• glue;
• grouting (in the vocabulary of builders - fugue);
• impregnation;
• plastic dividing crosses.

Auxiliary (preparation of the base):

• self-leveling mixture (or fiber cement boards);
• primer-primer;
• roll or coated waterproofing;
• quartz sand;
• degreasing agents.

What tools are needed:

• container for glue;
• electric drill with mixer attachment;
• master OK;
• spatulas: toothed metal for applying glue and narrow rubber for grouting;
• manual roller or electric tile cutter, as an option - tile cutter, glass cutter;
• diamond-coated tungsten wire;
• a hacksaw blade for metal or a jigsaw for cutting (for attaching a string);
• ring crown for drilling holes, or ballerina drill;
• roulette;
• marking cord;
• pencil;
• square;
• short (up to 300 mm) building level;
• metal rule or level 1.5 m long;
• rubber mallet.
• protective glasses.

Step 4. Floor preparation

In order for the coating to hold on to the base securely, not to fall off and crunch underfoot, the base should not be loose, non-rigid (unsteady). After the revision, determine whether you need to do something with the base, if yes, then what exactly. Based on the results of the audit (step 2), a decision is made on how to strengthen the foundation.

Concrete base:

Loose, flaking places are scraped off manually (with a chisel) or with a perforator with a flat nozzle. They clean the surface from dust, dirt and grease using chemicals. Level the base using a solution based on one or another leveling mixture.

A layer of liquid primer is applied. Glue roll or coating waterproofing... Sprinkle on top with a thin layer of quartz sand (for better adhesion of the adhesive to the base).

In order to lay the new coating on the old tile, sand the base using a rotary or surface grinder (round metal brush, abrasive wheel, abrasive belt).

On a wooden floor:

The base is covered with gypsum fiber sheets (GVL) 20 mm thick (for dry rooms) or cement-bonded particle boards (DSP) with a thickness of 10-15 mm (in rooms with high humidity). The joints should not be located between the boards, for GVL they are filled with special glue, for DSP - elastic polyurethane mastic.

Step 5. Markup

The outline of a room is rarely perfectly rectangular. With a plain floor finish, this is not striking. The perpendiculars of the tile joints emphasize the unevenness of the walls. How can this illusion be reduced? Procedure:

If the walls are straight enough (the diagonal difference is not more than 1 cm), draw one of the marking lines parallel to the long side of the room.

Step 6. Glue preparation

Dry mix for tile glue is sold in 25 kg bags. To mix it, take an open container with a volume of 5 - 10 liters (empty plastic cans from paint, putty and other materials are suitable). The main thing is that the inside is dry, clean and fat-free.

Pour some water into the container, then add the appropriate amount of the dry mixture (the ratio is indicated on the package).

Make the first batch small until you feel how much solution you can use during its pot life.

Take an electric drill with a mixer attachment and mix the contents until the solution acquires the consistency of sour cream, and there are no unmixed lumps left in it.

To avoid stratification of the solution, do not set the mixer speed too high.

Let the mixture stand for 10 - 15 minutes and stir again. The glue is ready to use.

Step 7. Laying

How to lay floor tiles can be seen in this video:

We dance from the stove. The first tile is laid according to the layout (step 5) according to the selected layout option. If the work starts from the center of the room, choose a quarter of the marking, opposite to the entrance, so as not to walk on the newly laid tile.

Using a trowel, spread the amount of mortar on the floor per 2 - 3 tiles. Smooth the adhesive with a notched trowel with a cutout width of 6 to 8 mm. Lay the first tile in the corner of the marking, lightly press it from above with your hands or a level, checking its horizontality with a short level. If necessary, adjust the horizon by embedding one edge of the tile with a rubber mallet or placing an additional portion of glue under it.

The next tile is installed close to the first, dividing crosses are placed in the corners, some prefer to put them upside down on the sides of the tile. Check horizontality and relative position with a long level. After the smeared surface is laid out, lay and smooth the next portion of the solution.

A few more pieces are stacked. After a while, it will become clear: how many tiles you have time to put on one portion of the solution, after which the work will go faster. When the time comes to lay additional elements (non-integral), they are cut to the desired size. For the passage of various pipes, curly cutouts are made. Laying is carried out, starting from the far corners of the room and ending at the front door.

Step 8. Grouting

The grout mixture is diluted to the state of a thick paste, after which it is applied into the inter-tile gaps, trying to fill them to the full depth. Only then can you be sure that after some time cavities will not appear on the seams, where moisture will penetrate.

The joints are filled with paste using a hard rubber spatula, making them cross movements
along the seam from left to right and vice versa, while keeping at an angle of 45 ° to the floor. Excess fugue is removed the same rubber spatula, leading it along the seam perpendicular to the coating.

After about 20 minutes, finally wipe the floor with a damp sponge, which is periodically rinsed from adhering grout particles. After complete hardening, the surface of the joint is covered with a sealant or joint compound to protect it from moisture.

The subtleties of styling

We suggest you watch a video on laying tiles:

Some tips from the tilers' experience:

• For flooring, it is better to choose ceramics with a matte surface;
• If possible, choose tiles without chamfers (rounds) at the ends. They visually increase the thickness of the seam, that is, if the seam is chosen equal to 3 mm, then it will look like 5 - 6 mm;
• When choosing a notched trowel, it is assumed that the thicker the ceramic product, the wider the cutouts should be;
• For more durable gluing, sometimes the back side of the tile is also coated: apply a layer of glue with a notched trowel, and remove it with a flat one (smearing "on the sdir");
• In this way, it is more reliable to glue large-format products;
• To remove incorrectly laid tiles (especially if it is not located on the edge), use special suction cups;
• The crosses are removed without waiting for the glue to set completely;
• Before grouting ceramic products with a rough surface, in order to avoid contamination, they are pre-coated with a protective liquid;
• Tile joints should be slightly sunk in relation to the tiles. To do this, after grouting, the seams are ironed with the end of a metal tube, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the width of the seam;
• Choose the right time after which the coating can be wiped off the fugue. If you start too early, the grout will smear on the tiles, if you delay, the putty will harden, and you will have to scrape it off, at the risk of scratching the surface.

So, the technology of finishing the floor with ceramics does not present any particular difficulties. The main thing is to follow all the tips and recommendations for tiling works... More confidence in your abilities, and the new floor will delight you for years to come.

In terms of price-quality ratio, ceramic tiles - the best option for finishing the floor in the kitchen, and therefore the most popular. Find out how to choose the perfect floor tile with our Buyer Guide and get floor design ideas from our selection of interior photos.

Pros and cons of a tiled kitchen floor

Ceramic tiles have many more pros than cons:

• Due to its smoothness and anti-static properties, it is very easy to clean and at the same time is not afraid of aggressive cleaning agents.
• Can lie in good condition for at least 15 years.
• It tolerates flooding, burning, and temperature extremes (unlike wood / laminate).
• It allows you to repair the floor locally, replacing only the damaged areas.
• Ceramic / tile is cheaper than porcelain stoneware, parquet and wooden board and even more so of stone, but it can adequately imitate the texture of natural materials.
• The variety of colors, textures, standard sizes of tiles and masonry patterns allows you to create a unique floor design and even correct some of the flaws in the room.

And here is a list of the cons of tiles and ways to minimize them:

• Ceramics are very cold, so it is advisable to combine it with underfloor heating system (since the material has excellent thermal conductivity). You can also tiled only working area, and to decorate the dining room more warm material - a tree. The photo below shows an example of combined floors with tiles and laminate.

However, you can do even easier and lay rugs on the floor and get into the habit of moving around the kitchen in slippers.

• Another disadvantage of ceramics is poor sound insulation, which is corrected with an additional sound-insulating layer.
• The tile is somewhat traumatic due to its slipperiness and rigidity. Bruises on tiled floors are more painful than bruises on wood or linoleum.
• Pottery can crack if you drop something heavy on it, such as a cast-iron skillet. By the way, dishes that accidentally fall to the floor will inevitably break.
• Laying tiles is a rather troublesome and messy business. It is necessary to accurately calculate the consumption of material, to lay it correctly, and most importantly - to make the base perfectly flat. After all, if there are voids under the tile, then it will surely crack. Therefore all renovation work it is best to trust the craftsmen tilers, rather than take on the job yourself.

Quality indicators and labeling

How to choose a tile on the floor in the kitchen that will withstand increased traffic, frequent washing with chemical means and constant temperature drops? The labeling on the packaging will help determine the quality of the material.

• For kitchen will do tiles not lower than class III according to the PEI wear resistance scale or not lower than 5 class according to GOST. Also, the sign of the foot on a shaded background can indicate increased wear resistance.
• The floor tiles can be of 1, 2 or 3 grade. The first type of tiles allows only 5 defective tiles per hundred, and the third - 25 or more.
• When choosing floor tiles, make sure they are truly floor tiles. A sign in the form of a foot will tell you about this. Wall tiles with a palm sign are not suitable for flooring. By the way, floor tiles, on the contrary, can be installed on both floors and walls.
• To make the floor as little scratched as possible, choose a tile that has a hardness of at least 7 units of mohs scale ... Then neither the sand brought from the street, nor a knife or a shard of glass that fell on the floor will damage the surface of the ceramics.
• Which tiles are better for the kitchen - glossy or matte? From a practicality standpoint, matte or semi-matte tiles are preferable as they are more scratch and abrasion resistant. The main thing is that the matte tile does not have a pronounced relief and roughness, otherwise it will be difficult to care for it. Glossy tiles are very beautiful, easy to clean and visually lighten the space, but, unfortunately, they can have only 5 or 6 points on the Mohs scale, which means they are easily damaged by harder materials - sand, glass and metal.

A single tile for the kitchen and hallway floor should be particularly resistant to scratches (especially from sand that accumulates in the hallway) and have at least 7 points on the Mohs scale of hardness

• To prevent the kitchen floor from being too slippery, choose tiles with a friction coefficient of at least 0.75. By the way, if the safety of moving around the kitchen is a priority for you, then we advise you to choose a tile that is slightly rough as in the photo below and with a slight relief. Unfortunately, such a coating is somewhat more difficult to maintain than smooth or glossy tiles.

• To ensure that your kitchen floor can withstand cleaning even with harsh cleaning agents, choose the least porous tile with the lowest moisture absorption, that is, the AA-labeled tile.

Of course, the higher the quality, the more expensive the price. As a rule, the price of a good tile without overpaying for design and brand is from 20 to 36 Euro per square meter.

Sizes and formats

The shape of the tile / ceramic floor tile is most often rectangular or square.

• The most common standard sizes are formats: 20 × 20, 25 × 25, 20 × 30, 30 × 40, 33 × 33, 40 × 40 cm and their variations, departing from the canons by 1-3 cm. Small-format tiles 15 × 15 and 10 × 10 cm.

Rectangular tiles 20 × 30 cm in the interior of the kitchen

The format and size of the tiles determines not only the appearance of the kitchen floor, but also the final cost and complexity of finishing, the amount of waste and cut tiles. Here are some tips for choosing a size and shape:

1. Ideally, the size of the tiles should be such that when laying them, cutting is required to a minimum and waste is generated as little as possible. The layout drawing will help to calculate the required number of tiles and determine the standard size optimal for your kitchen. The simplest calculations and drawings can be done independently, armed with a calculator, a notebook sheet and a calculation guide (see.

An example of the simplest tile laying

1. It is best to entrust the calculation of complex layouts to a specialist. The main thing is to provide him with the exact dimensions of the kitchen, taking into account all the features (protrusions, niches, pipes, etc.), choose several options for the tiles that you like, and decide on the layout pattern. As a rule, the service of a designer-designer is provided free of charge with the subsequent order of the material.

Having calculated the exact number of tiles, add another 10-15% of the stock to this number. It is necessary in case of a fight, detection of defects and local repair of the floor in the future. If suddenly the purchased tiles are not enough, there is a great risk of simply not finding tiles of the same tone / caliber.

1. Before paying for your purchase, make sure that all boxes have the same caliber, that is, the actual size, which may differ from the nominal by 5-7 mm. The caliber is indicated on the packaging next to the nominal size, for example, like this: 30 × 30 cm (W288x288 mm) or just an alphabetic / numeric code as in the photo example below. By the way, such an error is not a marriage, but only technological feature production of ceramics.

To make the tile lay flat, without crooked seams and joints, make sure that it has the same caliber

1. If the base is uneven, then for its finishing it is worth choosing a 10 × 10 cm or 15 × 15 tile. So the floor drops will be the least noticeable, and the coating will turn out to be very strong. However, it is somewhat more difficult to lay and maintain small tiles.

Tile tone

Besides the caliber, critical importance also has the tone of the tile, that is, the actual shade of the declared color. The fact is that the tone always differs slightly from batch to batch, despite the same color and belonging to the same collection. The difference between colored tiles may not seem significant at all, however, after installation, it will most likely become noticeable. Inaccuracy in shades is still the same feature of ceramics production, which manufacturers solve by sorting the material by tone.

When buying tiles or taking delivery of goods to your home, check that the tone on all boxes matches. Usually it is indicated next to the caliber in the form of an alphabetic or numeric code.

What to do if tiles of one tone were not enough? In this case, you should take the tile as close as possible to the main one and lay it where it will be least noticeable. For example, under a kitchen unit, refrigerator or under a table.

Floor design, tile color and installation options

Now let's talk about the most interesting - planning the design of the flooring, choosing the color, texture and pattern of the tile layout. Here are some tips to take on board:

• If small kitchen , then tiles laid diagonally, herringbone or in a run will help to push the walls apart. Remember that tiles that are too large can visually "squeeze" an already small space.

An example of the layout of black and white tiles on a diagonal

Floor tilesstaggered

• If narrow kitchen , then the tile should be chosen rectangular and laid across the floor.
• On spacious kitchen floor tiles are preferable in medium to large sizes, small tiles risk getting lost and overload the interior with a number of seams. However, keep in mind that the larger the tile, the less durable it will be.

• Seamless tile floor (rectified tile) - versatile and easy to clean. However, due to the fact that the coating is almost monolithic, it becomes less durable.
• If the kitchen lacks natural light, then the warm shade of the floor will be the most organic. Conversely, if the room is flooded with the sun most of the time, then the tiles should be chosen in a cold shade, for example, gray or blue.
• Light and medium saturation tiles, oddly enough, are much more practical than dark ones, for example, black or dark brown. Stains, drops of water, crumbs and dust on it are practically invisible. However, a tile that is too light has weakness - seams that quickly get dirty and darken over time.

• Floor tiles should be combined with walls or other elements of the interior - an apron, a kitchen set and even curtains. For example, the color of the tiles can be matched to the pattern on the wallpaper or in the same style as the apron as in the interior in the photo below.

The apron and floor of this classic kitchen are tiled with Spanish tiles Vives

• Most often, the floor plays the role of a neutral background that does not interrupt other elements of the interior. But sometimes it is the floor covering that becomes the main accent, for example, if the tiles are bright, with a contrasting grout or pattern. In this case, it is very important to arrange the rest of the interior in a rather discreet manner.
• As a rule, for modern interiors, tiles are chosen smooth, monochromatic or imitating wood, stone, reptile skin and other unusual textures.

• For classic kitchens more suitable tiles for a square stone and small size (from 10 × 10 cm to 30 × 30 cm), wood-like tiles (though most often it is already porcelain stoneware) or patterned tiles.

In case of going to the store

Before going to the store, carefully measure the kitchen, roughly decide on the styling pattern, color and design of the coating as a whole.

• Do not forget to grab a notebook and a pen to write down the parameters of the options you like: article, price, name of the manufacturer and collection, and most importantly - dimensions (caliber can be ignored at the planning stage). Returning home, carefully consider which tile to choose in size and design, calculate the material consumption, make layout drawings if possible, read reviews and monitor the market. Perhaps in some online store the tiles of the article you need are cheaper.
• And once again we remind you that before paying for the purchase, you need to independently recheck the caliber and tone of the boxes you have typed, and also buy material with at least 10% margin.

Photo gallery

The tiled floor in the kitchen has earned its widest popularity for a long time, thanks to the specific qualities of this finishing material... The assortment in specialized stores allows you to choose tiles for every taste in design, but it would be nice to pay attention to other qualities and properties of such a decorative coating.

The main advantage of ceramic or tile tiles is the environmental friendliness of the material, which is very important for residential premises. Basic principles technology for the production of tiles over the centuries have not undergone any special changes, perhaps only improved. It is still made from natural clay, and then color, pattern is applied to its surface and covered, if necessary, with glaze.

The floor tiles are quite durable and strong, they are little susceptible to mechanical damage, are easy to clean, perfectly protects the surface of the floor base from moisture, as they are very moisture-resistant, does not absorb odors, and are resistant to the chemical effects of detergents and disinfectants.

To better understand where the tiles got their positive traits, you can refer to some of the features of its production.

Ceramic tiles are produced in three ways, and each of which gives its specific advantages to the material.

1. Extruded tiles are produced on special lines, where a homogeneous mixture is passed through forming heads, receiving a tape, which is then cut into tiles. The mixture consists of clay, feldspar, quartz sand and carbonates. In its original state, it should have a certain moisture content - not less than 15-20%.

After molding, the raw tiles are sent to dry in certain temperature conditions into drying chambers.

Next, dry tiles are treated in one of two ways - their glaze and sent for firing, or first fired, then glaze and fired again. With double firing, the tiles acquire special strength and are perfectly suited for floor decoration.

2. Pressed tiles are produced using special equipment under high pressure... Press etcgoes the clay mass has an increased density, and after firing the tiles receive the highest strength.

This type of tile can also be single or double fired,similarly extruded. The method of manufacturing by pressing is verywidespread and is considered high-tech.

3. Cast tiles have been made for many centuries and, as the name implies, its production consists in pouring prepared heated clay mixture into certain forms.

It should be noted that the resulting product may have several different sizes and thickness, as well as not quite straight edges. This option is most often used for the manufacture of paving slabs.

Tiles can be matte or glossy - this parameter depends on the glaze layer that covers its surface. Glossy tiles are rarely used to cover floors due to their low coefficient of friction.

Tiled flooring in the interior of the kitchen.

The variety of tiles for the floor is so rich that the required material can be selected for any kitchen design project. The tiles can be of different sizes and shapes, color finishes and ornaments, or they can be of a single color type.

Ceramic tiles will help you fulfill the most interesting ideas without any restrictions. In addition, floor tiles are able to visually expand or lengthen the room, depending on how it will be installed.

Through different methods laying and varying in color or pattern on the surface of the material, it is quite possible to visually divide a large kitchen into two or more zones.

To determine the choice of design and the way to decorate the kitchen floors, you can consider several very good options design solutions.

In this version, a warm color tile was used with a border, laid in two ways - even and diagonal.

The tile has a pattern with a clear "touch" of antiquity and vaguely resembles the floor of a feudal castle. Only the warm color of ocher betrays the love of the hostess of the kitchen for comfort - such a shade seems to illuminate the room from below. The matte surface of the material gives the room not only visual softness, but also the convenience of moving around the floor. It is impossible to slip on such a tile - it is intended for such premises where it is completely undesirable to lay glossy option... The kitchen is a place where oil or grease can accidentally get on the flooring. On such a tile, these spots will be invisible, even if they were not removed in time, and when cleaning, they are easily removed.

Masonry made in different appliances, visually separates two zones - the premises of the kitchen and a small corridor, which is a passage. Due to the fact that the pattern differs in the location of the tiles, the floor does not look monotonous and boring. In the middle of the kitchen area, a lighter-colored material was placed, which is framed by a tile border with an ornamental image. As a result of this sophisticated design, the kitchen floor has acquired a kind of carpet. Pleasant warming color, neat laying and arrangement of elements give the room respectability.

This design project is good for a large kitchen that is standard apartment almost never will. A private house allows you to have a room of such an area, and of course, you want to make it not only convenient in terms of furniture arrangement, but also aesthetically decorate the walls and floor.

Into this interior fit perfectly classic combination colors - red, white and black with inserts in the form of separate elements and objects made of white metal. It is these inserts that remind of the modernity of the interior, as they are characteristic of the techno style.

The tiles for the floor were chosen in black, which, as it were, emphasizes the solidity of the interior, since the floor covering makes it heavier at the bottom. The rest of the furniture and kitchen accessories look much lighter due to their color. It is this color distribution that maintains the balance necessary for the design.

To visually expand the space, the designer chose tiles with a glossy surface in which color reflections from bright furniture may be partially reflected. The well-thought-out and well-built interior will make your stay pleasant and the cooking comfortable.

The "cool" color tone of the floor is in good harmony with the shades of natural wood

Unlike the previous, somewhat cold interior, design decoration it is filled with home warmth. This impression is created by the combination of correctly selected colors - the shades of furniture look especially cozy.

Large tiles of a pleasant cold blue-gray color interspersed with black, imitating natural granite, serve as an excellent background for warm shades of tables and cabinets.

The selected tile size visually expands the space, and therefore the kitchen appears larger in size. The color of the floor covering will well hide dust or oil that has accidentally fallen on it, and it will not be difficult to put it in order, since the material does not absorb odors and various substances. Easy wet cleaning with the addition of a small amount detergent will make the floor look like a brand new one.

This kitchen design option can be called sunny, since all combinations are reduced to yellow shades of different saturation. Even on the present white color of the furniture, gentle warm reflections play. In this case, several colors have been chosen for the floor covering, which are collected in one palette and are in perfect harmony with each other. Ocher, daffodil yellow, pleasant wood color, beige and juicy orange - all these shades have merged on the surface of the floor of this kitchen. Thanks to such a reliable camouflage, randomly planted spots will not be visible on the tiles. Tile cleaning is very easy and does not take much time - most often it will be enough for it to use a regular broom or brush, and warm water, a little detergent and a soft cloth will cope with the overhaul of such a floor.

The interior of the kitchen, made in these soft and warm colors, will always cheer you up, which means that cooking will take place with special pleasure.

Such tiles on the floor will somewhat "expand" even the cramped kitchen of a city apartment

The tile floor shown in the next photo will perfectly fit into the small kitchen of a city apartment. The matte surface of the tiles in light soft colors, combined with kitchen furniture of almost the same color, create a harmony of the room, and it seems to be larger in size.

The color scheme creates a calm atmosphere - bright colors do not distract from cooking at all. The non-slip surface is pleasant even on bare feet, especially if the tiles are laid on a warm electric or water floor.

Decorating with carpet tiles on the floor makes the room especially cozy, and combinations of different laying techniques, inserts of tiles with ornamental patterns, as well as framing narrow stripes, give the floor an elegant decorative effect.

In the interior of such a "Venetian courtyard" everything is thought out to the smallest detail

This kitchen resembles an Italian courtyard in its appearance, as if descended from the paintings of Bryullov. Color solution, all accessories present in the room, and especially - outdoor the coating suggests that the designer's goal was to create this particular image. A beautiful floor of a juicy ocher color is the main element in the whole interior, dictates the mood to the rest of the accessories, that is, it was for it that the window was decorated, furniture and all other design elements of the decor were selected.

The floor tiles have an artificially aged look - this was achieved using different shades and texture of the coating. Thus, it seems that the coating is "worn out" in some places. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail - for example, darker tiles are laid near the stove, which indicates its "wear", since the hostess spends more time around the stove than in other places in the kitchen. Such a moment is also advantageous in the fact that those who fell on the floor of the heels on on dark tiles will not be as noticeable as on light surfaces.

Thanks to all the elements so carefully assembled, the whole environment is filled with home comfort. This is facilitated by the selected warm shades of ocher, which are ideal in combination with the green color of the climbing plants near the window.

A bold checkerboard-style solution - both tiles on the floor and furniture in black and white contrast

The floors, decorated with black and white tiles laid diagonally, visually lengthen the room - this effect is unnecessary wide room... In this case, the kitchen does not have a large width, and therefore the tile only aggravates its elongation.

Be that as it may, the colors of the flooring play a major role in the overall composition, since it is it that first of all attracts the eye of those entering the room. Only then can you notice that the furniture has the same colors as the tiles on the floor. The yellow color of the walls only slightly enlivens the black and white space and makes it more homely. Still, the severity of white and black flooring prevails in this interior, so there is some official accuracy in it.

Choosing the color and texture of the tiles for the kitchen, you need to consider what style of interior it is intended for and how it should "work" with its color and location. If you need to visually expand the room, then you need to apply different types of masonry when decorating the floor and use several colors. You need to know that warm shades and a matte surface contribute to the creation of coziness, and cold and neutral colors make the premises more strict and formal. The correct combination of warm and cold tones brings the necessary harmony to the interior.