Metlakh tiles: varieties and applications in the interior. Where and how to use metlakh tiles: recommendations from designer Ekaterina Lovyagina Cheap metlakh floor tiles in production

At least a dozen new varieties of finishing materials appear on the market of finishing materials every year. Some of them successfully replace the old ones with better technical characteristics and performance.

But this is not always the case. For example, metlakh tiles appeared more than a century ago in the German city of Mettlach (hence its name) and still remains one of the most popular types of tiles.

It was made of multi-colored porcelain and was used mainly in the decoration of palaces, for which it received the second name - "Victorian".

What is this article about

Metlakh tiles - manufacturing features

Refractory clay is used as raw material for tiles. In Russia, the main place of its extraction is the Dmitrovsky quarry. In his district, the main factories involved in the production of products are located.

From this clay, a tile is formed, of various shapes and sizes, then glaze is applied to it and sent to ovens, where it is baked in a temperature range from 1100 to 1300 degrees.

Due to the powerful compaction, the resulting product becomes wear-resistant and is able to withstand a large number of freezing cycles, which allows its installation not only in residential premises, but also in various administrative and public ones.

Technical parameters and advantages

Those who already know what Metlakh tiles are in operation note its high strength, color fastness, and ease of maintenance.

Even from heavy objects installed on its surface and regularly moved, cracks and scratches do not appear on the material. Many experts recommend it for use in those places where a significant operational load is regularly practiced.

Also, the material is practically non-porous, so metlakh floor tiles are used not only for cladding indoors, but also outdoors. The same quality makes it possible to install it in rooms with strict hygiene requirements.

If we talk in more detail about its technical coefficients, the following parameters should be highlighted:

• On the Mohs coating hardness scale - 7 units out of 10 possible for tiles;
• Hydrophobicity from 0.1 to 0.5%;
• The bending strength is also high - 250 kgf / sq. cm;
• Water absorption is 0.1-0.5%. These indicators allow installation even in places with extremely high humidity and temperature fluctuations - in pools, baths, saunas;
• Thermal stability complies with existing standards - this is the ability of a tile to withstand a certain stress during dimensional deformation, as a result of a sharp change in the temperature range;
• Deep scratch resistance - 2.4 cm;
• Pressure holding - 3200-5550 kg/cm2;
• Frost resistance - 150 cycles at temperatures from -15 to +25 according to the results of the study. Lower temperatures have not been officially tested in laboratory tests;
• Acid resistance is higher than standard indicators - 97.71;
• Compressive strength - 90.8 MPa kg / cm2;
• High hollow wear resistance;
• Coloring elements penetrate almost the entire depth of the porcelain tile, which allows us to speak of high resistance to UV rays.

All these technical indicators are tested in practical application. So, for example, ceramic metlakh tiles are perfectly preserved in the historical interiors of ancient buildings of the capital and St. Petersburg, in the palace premises of the Victorian era, centennial plants and factories.

Sizes and shapes

Metlakh tiles can be patterned, glossy, corrugated and even grainy. It can be plain or patterned.

She also has a variety of shapes - rectangular, triangular, cruciform, square, octagonal.

Size range - 6.5-15 cm.

Its thickness is 6-8 mm.

Areas of use

As mentioned above, the possibilities of using this product are practically unlimited.

• Floors in residential premises, administrative, industrial, public buildings;
• Pools, baths, saunas, bathrooms;
• facades;
• Arrangement of garden paths, terraces, porch.

Step by step installation

Metlakh floor tiles are no more difficult to install than ordinary ones, except perhaps for the fact that even in one pack, products may differ slightly in size from each other. It also freely allows you to combine prints, shapes and sizes, due to which the effect of an incredibly beautiful, exotic tiled carpet is achieved.

Stage 1 - Foundation preparation

Preparing the surface carefully is very important, since you have chosen such an expensive type of tile, it must lie perfectly. Therefore, the surface must be carefully leveled, excluding drops, cleaned and primed.

Stage 2 - Layout

At this stage, you need to lay out the tiles on the floor from the central point of the plane, and also, if the pattern is complex and was selected independently, create a preliminary drawing of the location of the elements.

At the same time, please note that the joint gap to achieve the greatest effect should be no more than 2 mm. These actions will allow you not to spoil the given floor print and simplify the work of creating a specific layout.

Stage 3 - Installation

Laying begins with large elements if products of different sizes are used.

The thickness gauge is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the adhesive layer.

Do not forget to regularly check the level of evenness of the coating.

Stage 4 - Curbs

Borders are laid from the corner to the center. If trimming is required, this should be done with a special machine and a porcelain stoneware cutting disc.

Stage 5 - Joint grout

If you are laying out a colorful carpet, the grout for the seams should be plain, dim.

First, clean the joints from dust and degrease them. Then wet the seams with a brush or spray.

The mastic is applied with a rubber spatula, ramming it into the surface so that there are no gaps.

When the grout dries, dampen it lightly with water to prevent cracking.

Metlakh tile care

Caring for this tile is easy. Especially if the Metlakh tiles are of high quality and properly laid, it will not be necessary to repair and replace parts for a long time, at least 50 years.

To ensure the long-term coloring, the coating is washed with warm water by adding vinegar (a glass to a bucket of liquid) or using specialized household chemicals.

Curiously and paradoxically, even the professional environment can produce "segmented" laymen. Most tilers (and even good ones!) are confident not only in their own skill, but also in theoretical knowledge, which includes, among other things, an understanding of ceramic classification. Ask any master if he knows about metlakh tiles. The answer, most likely, will be a puzzled look: “Who do you take me for?”.

Meanwhile, provoking a deepening into the details, you can run into the exposure of a frank gap in this part. In fact, even many experts know quite a bit about metlakh tiles. Perhaps this is forgivable. Today, "broom" is an alternative to popular solutions: the usual tile and relatively young porcelain stoneware. More and more real connoisseurs give preference to the brightest representative of more than one era. But there were times when factories and palaces were “paved” with metlakh tiles ...

However, the story is round. An example of metlakh tiles in this sense is very clear. The technology of its production has been developed over the centuries and lost, restored and again disappeared into oblivion. Today there are many manufacturers specializing in tiles that have survived more than one mass "sclerosis". It is quite possible to expect another such mass reincarnation of the "broomstick" in the minds and cloisters of Russians. Therefore, it would be a good idea for both tilers and consumers to get acquainted with the history and technological nuances of a wonderful example of ceramic art and craft.

A bit of history

Name roots

Why "metlakhskaya"? The history of the origin of the name is akin to the history of the naming of a copier - the Russian-language historical version. Like the case of the photocopier, which took its name from the name of the company that first launched it on the market, metlach tiles got their name from the German city of Mettlach, where the Villeroy & Boch factory established the production of tiles.

In fact, Russia also had its own production facilities that produced "brooms". But at that time, the attitude towards foreign products was reminiscent of the attitude towards those in the USSR in the Brezhnev and post-Brezhnev era. And since imported Metlakh tiles were mainly supplied to Russia by the specified company, the name turned out to be appropriate.

If you think that only our ancestors “suffered” in this regard, you are very mistaken. Today, "broom" is called anything that resembles the "carpet" original. Here we digress a little from history and recall that the visual distinguishing feature of Metlakh tiles is their small format and variegation - countless compositions are built from small-sized ceramics of completely different formats and shades, achieving similarity with the best examples of carpet products.

So, it was this visual nuance that became the reason not to bother your head and call any tile of this design “metlakh”. Very often, cement tiles are recorded in this category. Indeed, this material is very similar to the original, but the desire of European manufacturers of the fifties of the 19th century to reduce the cost of metlakh ceramics, which was gaining popularity, is responsible for its origin.

Sometimes clinker suddenly becomes a broomstick. It happens that they are called names for any large mosaic made of colored clays. Less often, but it also happens - ceramics with color printing applied to the canvas also become the object of tiled "mythology". It is appropriate to make a reservation here, what falls under the definition of "metlakh tiles":

• ceramic tile;
• plate not covered with glaze;
• having a very low water absorption coefficient;
• made using high temperature firing;
• tonally homogeneous - the tile is completely, to the full depth, painted in one color.

In order for ceramics to be classified as "Metlakh", all the characteristics described must be present without fail. Therefore, if in houses built during the Soviet period, someone shows you a glazed ornamental tile of the 20x20 format, which was very common at that time, calling it metlakh, know that this is another victim of myths.

With a shovel of research, we will turn the layers of history

We doubt that you will be interested in a dissertation on the topic, because the roots of the "broomstick" go back to the ancient Roman and ancient Greek eras. Already there you can find a prototype of what today has become a good find in tile stores.

As for the period closer to the present, here the history of metlakh tiles branches. In the UK and in the middle of the 19th century, and today the industry leader is Minton. America today can no longer boast of manufacturers (the Great Depression "killed" all the then tile manufacturers), but 150 years ago the leading company had about 20 thousand employees! This is three times more than that of the already familiar German company Villeroy & Boch. The latter, by the way, and now feels good.

And again a small digression. We are not the only ones who have fallen victim to the naming nonsense. Our Western "colleagues" -consumers are mistaken no less than ours - they call Metlakh tiles "encaustic tile". This is because “encaustic” literally means “scorched out”, and in the Victorian era - another period of restoration of lost technologies - the ancestors of our foreign brethren decided that even more ancient craftsmen burned the image onto the tile.

It is not in vain that we made a brief historical digression. It will help get rid of misconceptions about metlakh tiles. Next, let's talk about the characteristics of this ceramics.

Characteristics of metlakh tiles

Despite a certain oblivion, metlakh tiles are famous and in some circles are still in high demand. Of course, this would not have happened if this ceramic did not have excellent technical characteristics. Indeed, “broomsticks” are in many ways similar to ceramic granite, which has gained popularity due to its performance. Below you can see the virtues of the good old ceramics of one of the companies in an ordered format.

• Water absorption - 0.1-0.5%. Despite the fact that European standards allow a coefficient of up to 0.6% for such a tile.
• Hardness. The parameter is determined on a ten-point Mohs scale. "Broom" takes the seventh position (and, again, the norm is 6). Note that the highest hardness is given to the tenth line, and we are talking about the assessment of materials in general, and not strictly ceramics. By the way, at the very top is a diamond, so seventh place is impressive.
• Frost resistance. The tile is able to withstand up to fifty cycles of transition from minus temperature to positive (-15 - +20). This indicator corresponds to European standards. Such a high rate was made possible due to the density of the tile and its, as a result, low water absorption.
• Chemical resistance. According to the norms, the reaction with active substances should not cause a change in the weight of the product by more than 1%. In the case of metlakh tiles, we observe weight fluctuations within 0.2%.
• Bending strength. Standards require the ability to withstand loads up to 250 kgf/cm². Plates withstand from 380 to 450 kgf per cm².
• Pressure resistance. The norm is more than 1500 kgf per cm². Fact - 3200 to 5500 kgf per cm².

In addition, or rather, precisely due to the described characteristics, Metlakh tiles are a heat-resistant material that is resistant to potholes and scratches. Let's remember the uniformity of the product - this quality determines the resistance to abrasion. Crowds of human feet are not capable of erasing ceramics to a state of unusability over a reasonable period of operation.

It is curious that metlakh tiles, which were laid in churches in the Middle Ages (and then, mainly, religious institutions and were decorated with ceramics of this type), in many places still retained an acceptable quality. True, the “broom”, which was produced in the 19th century, no longer possessed such parameters - the production technology was deliberately simplified (and the tiles, respectively, were cheaper), and with it came a decrease in the properties of ceramics. But even so, the tile was able to last for many decades. Modern tile is not inferior to its predecessors.

The impressive characteristics of the Metlakh tile are due to the high-quality refractory clays from which it is produced, and the high firing temperature (about 1200 degrees). Summarizing the properties of the boards, we note that for the consumer they result in the ability to use the facing material for both internal and external cladding, both for laying on walls and for decorating floors. Most often, metlakh tiles are used as flooring.

The dimensions of the slabs vary from 3 to 20 cm. In this range, you can find a variety of formats and shades that allow you to create intricate compositional illustrations. The spectrum of metlakh tiles includes not only banal rectangular ceramics, but also polygons. All this serves a wealth of possibilities for laying colorful ornamental “carpets”. This "broom" and conquered many generations. For the design of non-standard places, there are additional elements: corners, sides, plinths ...

Calculation and installation

We will not touch on the general principles of facing. Let's touch on the nuances of laying the Metlakh tiles directly.

• This type of ceramic is not characterized by perfect uniformity of tones and dimensions, therefore, before facing, it is recommended to “shuffle” the slabs in order to avoid spotting the final coating.
• Facing with metlakh tiles is not an easy process, requiring high qualifications. The very essence of the tile delivers problems, which, from a decorative point of view, is obliged to form a mosaic panel. Of course, you can get by with a monocolor, but in this case, only the technical part remains from the tile. In order for the laying to match the idea, you must first make a “dry” layout of the tiles. An accurate calculation will help to avoid discrepancies with the project.
• If the floor contour does not have right angles, it is desirable (and with a significant departure from 90 degrees, it is necessary) to “pass” along the perimeter of the floor with rectangular tiles. Usually it is a tile 15x15 or 10x10 cm.
• The calculation should take into account the seams, the width of which varies between 1-7 mm. The size of the joints is determined based on the size of the tiles.
• The usual situation is a combination of large and small tiles in the design. It is correct to start laying with a larger tile.
• Metlakh tile is not an option that you can work with on an unprepared basis. The surface must be leveled; without this, preliminary layout is impossible and the laying of small products is very inconvenient.
• Fugue of neutral shades is better suited for grouting. Not all putties are suitable for wide joints, so if the composition involves volumetric joints, check this point with the seller.
• The presence in the assortment of broom manufacturers of a range of auxiliary elements expands the possibilities, but complicates the cladding. It must be remembered that each of these components must be in its place. So, for example, corner curbs, of course, must be in the corners. However, the dimensions of the room are fixed, which forces you to more accurately calculate the layout - you need to rejoice at the result, and not regret the resulting miniature trimming or overly stretched seams.

Perhaps you will never become a participant in the "Metlakh" issue. Maybe, on the contrary, you are purposefully looking for your encaustic tile. Be that as it may, in the end I would like to recommend combining the tiles beloved by our ancestors with technologically advanced ceramic products of our time. Porcelain stoneware and clinker are especially good in terms of interior or exterior company. The first resembles "brooms" with technical characteristics, the second - not only in operational properties, but also visually. The combination of legacies from different eras, with a trained eye and skillful hands, leads to excellent design results.

Metlakh tiles are designed for decorative floor or wall decoration. Such tiles were produced in ancient times. we will burn about it today.

Due to its excellent performance today it is also in some enterprises of the country. For a long time, metlakh tiles have not lost their popularity.

Nowadays, not only apartments and houses are ennobled with it, but also painted carpets are made in museums and other important institutions.

This video will tell about the pros and cons, as well as the use of metlakh tiles:

Advantages and disadvantages

Why is this product so popular? The secret lies in its positive qualities. So, metlakh tiles:

• Universal. Tiles are used everywhere: indoors, on buildings, for. Fresh air and precipitation will not be able to harm the metlakh coating. Multiple options for shapes and colors of tiles allow you to make original and nowhere to be found patterns.
• natural. The composition of the tile includes water and natural high-strength.
• durable. Thanks to a special technology, Metlakh tiles are very hard. Even the heaviest object, when dropped, cannot damage it. It turns out that the biggest loads are not terrible for the metlakh carpet.
• durable. The original coating will retain its appearance and color for a very long time. This property is achieved by deep impregnation with color pigments. With their help, after firing, the product turns into a single whole, incapable of losing its qualities.
• multitasking. Tiles are good for both interior and exterior. Metlakh tiles will help to make various and bold patterns on the surface.
• hardy. Tiles are well suited for outdoor decoration. Snow, hail, rain, wind are not afraid of her. If we take others for comparison, then the metlakh tile best of all resists acid and alkali.
• Reliable. Metlakh tiles are reliable in terms of operation. It can be easily used in rooms with a large accumulation of devices and people.
• Availability. Building material is available to absolutely all segments of the population in terms of price.

This, in every sense of positive coverage, has several disadvantages:

• Difficulty of installation. It will be problematic for an ordinary person to make an interesting design drawing from such tiles.
• Not good for cutting with a tile cutter.
• Old fashioned style. Many do not like the look of the tile, reminiscent of antiquity.

Metlakh tiles in the interiors of different rooms (photo)

Bar Bath Living room Kitchen Entrance Hall

Kinds

Metlakh tile has several types, which depend on the method of production.

• First view: cast tiles. This tile has a significant drawback: the resulting products have different thicknesses, as a result, when laying the coating, the lion's share of the products is sent to marriage. It's all about production technology. Raw materials are poured into special molds, then dried and sent to a kiln for firing.
• Second view: pressed tiles. Products are made from powdered clay, water (no more than 6%) and special additives. In the manufacturing process, the mixture is pressed under pressure and then cut into shapes of the required size. Pressed tiles have a porous structure. These tiles are often used for flooring.
• Third view: extruded tiles. This is the best type of tile. It is obtained with the help of a mouthpiece, through which the raw materials pass, forming a tape. After that, the tape is cut into pieces and fired in a kiln. The thickness and size of the tile is adjustable using the settings.

Appearance

Describing the appearance of a tile, we can say that it looks like a mosaic. The tile can be in the form of a square and a rectangle.

• The sides of the tile can be 48 mm and 23 mm.
• The thickness of the metlakh tile can be from 6 to 8 mm.
• And also it can be multifaceted. The number of faces can be 3, 5, 6 and 8. The length of the faces is usually from 50 to 150 mm, the thickness is 10-13 mm.

The front part of the tile can be smooth, embossed and embossed. The color of the tiles can be solid (for example, gray, red or yellow), or it can have several shades with patterns.

Role in the interior

Metlakh tiles allow you to implement quite bold and original design solutions. Its shape enables architects to make various stylistic compositions on the floor or on the walls.

Metlakh tiles are successfully used for finishing baths, corridors and kitchens. Because of its practicality and durability, the corridors of hospitals, hotel halls, reception rooms of administrative buildings and other crowded places are laid out with a metlakh carpet.

Composition and properties

For the production of metlakh tiles, high-strength clay, water and coloring pigments are used. This raw material is mixed and sent to the formation. Here it is important to control the quality of the supplied raw materials.

The manufactured metlakh tile is characterized by the following properties:

• Frost resistance. The tile easily resists low temperatures and chemical influences.
• fire resistance. Tiles are not damaged by high temperatures.
• Environmental friendliness. Metlakh tile does not emit toxic substances in a cold and hot state.
• Water resistance. The material perfectly resists moisture.
• Resistance to aggressive influences. The material easily tolerates the effects of alkali and acids.

Application and production

Good performance indicators made it possible to use Metlakh tiles when finishing the floor and walls of restaurants, cafes, shops, and ordinary houses. It is well suited for ennobling the porch, paths in the garden and gazebos. Such a coating will add zest to any interior.

The tile has earned good characteristics thanks to the old and special production technology. A special glaze is applied to the formed raw material (the layer must be strong enough), after which the products are sent to the oven, where they are sintered at a very high temperature (at least 1200º). As a result, the tile gets an excellent density. It also provides the coating with the declared characteristics.

Read about analogues of metlakh tiles below.

This video will tell you how Metlakh tiles are made:

Tile analogs

Metlakh tiles are made from special raw materials and using sophisticated technology. Therefore, one hundred percent analogues of this product does not exist.

But metlakh tiles can be replaced with Karr ceramic tiles (manufacturer Euroceramic) and. These materials are somewhat similar in properties.

Laying

Laying a complex metlakh carpet is only possible for professional craftsmen. The process is complex and painstaking. A rookie obviously can't handle it.

Equipment and raw materials

During the work you will need:

• Metlakh tiles in the amount to fully embody the conceived idea.
• Base-adhesive for tiles or.
• Special grout.
• Trowel with 3-6 mm teeth.
• Machine for porcelain stoneware (not in all cases).

Technology

Laying metlakh tiles should take place in the following sequence:

1. Surface preparation. The tile must be laid out on a perfectly flat base. Therefore, any, even a slight difference in height, must be eliminated. The durability of the coating will be extended by a pre-made concrete screed and waterproofing of the base. If metlakh tiles are laid on the street, then a frost-resistant base will need to be laid under it.
2. Surface measurement. It is very important to measure the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe masonry with bends, ledges and doorways. Next, you need to determine the center of the base and draw center lines from it in different directions.
3. Pre-layout. It is necessary to perform one horizontal and one vertical row. Here, between the metlakh tiles, it is necessary to leave a gap of 1 mm. After that, you can adjust the position of each tile. Laying out is carried out without glue.
4. Applying adhesive and tiling. For these purposes, a trowel is used. The adhesive must be suitable for the material to be fixed. If there are large and small tiles in the future pattern of the Metlakh carpet, then laying them out should start with large ones. In the case of a complex pattern, it is better to lay it out in advance without glue. In addition, it is worth remembering that tiles from different batches may differ from each other.
5. . The stage is carried out after the glue has set. Gray, white or beige grout is best suited for these purposes. During surface treatment, it must be applied to the entire depth of the seam.

It is important to immediately remove the mortar and grout that has fallen on the surface of the tiles.

At the end of the work, the quality of the coating can be checked with water. For this, water is poured onto the base. Drying should be even, without puddles.

Price of works and materials

Now let's talk about the price per m2 for laying floor and other types of metlakh tiles.

• Prices for tiles depend on the manufacturer, shape, type and size. On average, the cost per square meter of metlakh tiles starts at 200 rubles.
• The cost of work starts from 2000 rubles per square.

Is the old metlakh tile to be used, is it possible to recreate floors from it, read below.

Metlakh carpets in home decoration

What can be done with old raw materials

Metlakh carpets have been used since ancient times. Therefore, when carrying out repairs in houses and office buildings, one can now find a similar old coating. How to be with him? Taking it off is pretty tricky. What to do?

Many people practice laying out new tiles on the old one. At the same time, for better adhesion, a layer of primer and special glue is necessarily applied. During the behavior of the work, you should always try to lay out only a flat surface.

To obtain a durable and flawlessly even floor, the old metlakh tiles are usually removed. And the new coating is laid out from scratch.

About why it is still worth laying metlakh tiles at home, this video will tell:

A dozen new items appear on the building materials market every year. Among the thousands of finishing materials, there are those that do not lose their relevance even hundreds of years after the development of production. These, of course, include metlakh tiles. Surprisingly resistant and original finishing material is used very widely, however, not every owner has full information about it.

Metlakh tile, what is it

The secret of making metlakh tiles was found more than a hundred years ago in Germany, in the city of Mettlach, from where it began to spread to different countries. From Germany, the subtleties of obtaining special material migrated to Italy, Portugal and France, and Russian-made metlakh tiles are becoming more and more popular in our country.

There are only a few factories in the Russian Federation that can produce competitive tiles according to those recipes. One of these enterprises is the EuroKeramika plant, which was built in the city of Pechory back in the USSR. Products comply with all international standards and current state standards, and its price is an order of magnitude lower than Italian and German tiles. The price per square meter of Metlakh tiles (dimensions - 300x300x20 mm) produced in the Russian Federation does not exceed 200 rubles. The technical characteristics of the material are given in the table, and the photo shows samples of ornaments from it.

There are not too many branded tiles made using the old technology on sale. Only a few plants producing such material remain abroad, and the French Winckelmans plant is considered the most famous in the world. The enterprise, despite the complete replacement of equipment, has been operating since 1886 and produces ceramics according to old technological maps. There is another plant in Portugal, but its tiles are not so well known, especially in our country. The price of imported tiles starts from 0.3 to 17 euros per square.

Production technologies

The second name of the metlakh tile is Victorian tile, since it was actively used to decorate the interior surfaces of the palace premises. Then the tile differed from other types of tiles not only in small size, shape and high strength, but also in the ability to realize absolutely fantastic patterns thanks to deep colors. All this made it possible to use it as a tool for work, corresponding to the style of many artists of that time.

Refractory clay remains the main material for the manufacture of such a tile. It is in the places of its production that factories are located. For the Russian Federation, this is mainly the Dmitrovsky quarry. Tiles of various sizes and shapes are formed from clay, glaze is applied, and then baked in an oven at a temperature of about 1100-1300 degrees. Due to the high degree of compaction, the tile becomes very wear-resistant, frost-resistant, which makes it possible to use it not only for arranging residential premises, but also for finishing administrative and public buildings.

Benefits and properties of tiles

Thanks to the characteristics of clay and a special production technology, it is possible to achieve excellent performance properties of the material:

Physical strength and color fastness. The results of strength tests are shown in the table, but the strength properties of tiles can be indicated by the fact that many historical buildings in Europe are finished with it and look like new for hundreds of years. The tile withstands pressure from an average car and barely loses color saturation over time. In addition, ceramic tiles withstand more than 300 freeze and thaw cycles. Rare material can show such frost resistance.

Metlakh tile is a versatile material. It is equally successfully used both for interior work and for exterior decoration of facades, platforms, paving paths and finishing entrance groups.

The high firing temperature provided the tile with extreme moisture resistance, so such tiles can be used to finish not only approaches to the building, but also wet rooms - pools, baths, bathrooms.

Fire resistance and environmental friendliness. The tile does not lose its properties and does not crack, does not burn out at high temperatures. This makes it possible to use it for finishing fireplaces and stoves, it also does not include synthetics and when heated, the tile does not emit harmful fumes.

Laying metlakh floor tiles

In fact, laying metlakh tiles is not much different from finishing other types of tiles, but has some minor features. Experts recommend laying it only on a prepared and planned surface. Before directly laying on the adhesive, the ceramics are laid out in the form of a conceived ornament, taking into account the tile joints. The tile is soaked in water for about two hours, after which it can be laid on the marked plane.

First, large tiles are laid, and the adhesive is applied to the back of the material. After laying fragments of a smaller size, the seams are rubbed either with a special grout that meets the operating conditions, or with cement mortar to the entire depth of the seam.

Caring for tiles is no different from caring for any other ceramic tile. Choose the finishing material to your liking and good luck to everyone!

Every month, more and more new varieties of facing ceramic material appear on the world building materials market. However, often people do not trust new samples of design art and acquire brands that are either well-known or have already proven themselves. Metlakh tile is one of the few giants of the construction industry, which to this day is a really popular product for Russian and foreign buyers.

Peculiarities

The history of metlakh ceramic tiles originates in Germany, in the city of Metlakh. In 1894, the production of this high-quality ceramic product began. To date, there are factories in France ("Winkelmans") and in Russia ("EuroCeramics") - these are the largest production facilities for this building product in the world, which maintain the unsurpassed quality of the goods. Also, small factories are scattered throughout Europe, but these factories are the main ones.

This tile is a small-format ceramics, made in a variety of interesting configurations. Thanks to the porcelain component and firing at high temperature, the resulting products have the best qualities, which are similar to those of porcelain stoneware. It is used in almost all areas of cladding: at home, in rooms with a large stay of people, on the street.

Metlakh tiles are unique, because with the help of various molding of this ceramics, a designer highlight is created: a complex graphic picture for the floor and walls. A loyal price approach for this product makes this tile affordable for almost any ordinary buyer.

Specifications

All technical indicators of this wonderful cladding material are much higher than the norm:

• Water absorption according to GOST 473.3-81 is 2.5% (the norm for the highest grade is 3.5%, no more).
• Acid resistance according to GOST 473.1-81 - 97.71% (standard for the highest grade 97%, not less).
• Strength (compression) according to GOST 473.6-81 - 90.8 MPa for 200x200x20, 92.8 MPa for 200x200x30, 75.2 MPa for 300x300x20 (the norm for the highest grade is 50 MPa, not less).
• Strength (bending) according to GOST 473.8-81 - 42MPa (the norm for the highest grade is 25MPa, not less).
• Water permeability according to GOST 13993-78 - 24 hours after testing, there are no drops on the tile.
• Frost resistance according to GOST 473.5-81 - 300 cycles (norm - 20 cycles, not less).
• Thermal resistance according to GOST 7025-91 - 2 shifts (standard - 3 shifts).
• Wear resistance according to GOST 961-89 p.3.13 - 0.11g/cm2.
• Radiological control - a complete list of applications.

Summing up the qualities of this product, we can characterize metlakh tiles as follows:

• The unsurpassed hardness of ceramic is a great indicator for those looking for a tile that can withstand the toughest conditions.
• Extensive applicability - such a product, due to its resistance to temperature extremes, is applicable in all weather conditions.
• Durability - due to the deep penetration of paint into the structure of the tile and subsequent firing, ceramics receive excellent properties that allow the tile to not fade over time and not lose its original appearance.

Tile types

Like any facing ceramic material, this product is divided into wall and floor tiles. Mostly metlakh ceramics are used for decorating flooring.

The division into types also occurs according to the principle of production.

There are three varieties in total:

• Cast ceramics. Such tiles have a large number of defects due to the low quality of the goods received. First, clay masses are poured into molds, then they are dried and sent for firing at a kiln temperature of 1200 degrees Celsius. The marriage lies in the fact that such a tile has a different thickness.
• Tiles formed by pressing. This category of ceramics is obtained by pressing under pressure a mixture made of clay in the form of a powder, water and the additives required by the manufacturing technology. After pressing, geometric shapes of the required dimensions are cut out from the obtained elements. This type of facing material has a non-porous structure. Due to this, its use is reduced mainly to decorating the floor.
• Products made with an extruder. The raw material passing through the mouthpiece forms a ribbon, which is subsequently cut and fired. To set the required thickness of the product, the mouthpiece is pre-adjusted.

Metlakh tiles are also divided into classes according to strength characteristics:

• First grade. Characterized by its low strength. Therefore, this category of finishing material is used exclusively in places remote from the entrance from the street. On such tiles you can not walk in street shoes.
• Second class. It is used in places where the permeability is not too high. For example, such tiles can be placed in patient wards, toilets and other similar rooms.
• Third category or class differs in application for places with higher traffic. It can be used in corridors, kitchens or hallways.
• Fourth variety ceramics has found its application in places with a large stay of people: supermarkets, concert halls and many other similar places. The price for such products is much higher than for other classes of this material.

Dimensions

The dimensions of this finishing material are very diverse, as is its shape: the range of building material sizes varies from 6.5 to 15 cm, thickness - 6-8 mm. The geometric structure of the products is made in the form of many different shapes: a rectangle, a square, a triangle, a hexagon, an octagon, and even a cruciform shape is commercially available, often used as a wall decor.

The surface structure of finished products can be patterned or unpatterned, patterned, embossed, granular or simply smooth.

Styling nuances

Laying this tile is no different from laying any other. However, there are some nuances of lining.

Before starting the installation process, it is necessary to prepare the floor surface.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Level the floor surface. Any difference in height promises problems in installation work. To increase the service life of the tiled base, you can first install waterproofing and a concrete screed. A frost-resistant base is installed for outdoor ceramic coating.
• Measure the surface of the lining. But this must be done in such a way that all possible zigzags and protrusions are taken into account - this also applies to doorways.
• Next, we find the center of the surface, from which we draw centerlines in different directions.

Soaking this category of ceramics is considered by some experts to be a necessary step for an ideal veneering effect. This procedure must be carried out within 2 hours.

The installation process itself takes place in several stages:

• It is necessary to first lay out the tiles in one vertical and horizontal row without adhesive, while leaving a gap between the tiles of 1-2 mm. Thus, during the preliminary laying out, it is possible to adjust the position of each element. Such a visual approach will help to lay out a difficult ornament correctly and without flaws and “fit” ceramic products to the desired result.
• Then you need to dilute the adhesive, which should be fully suitable for this ceramic, and prepare a trowel with 3-6 mm teeth for work.
• First, the largest elements of the ceramic coating are planted on the glue, then the smaller ones. However, we draw your attention to the fact that some of the goods in one collection may differ from the rest in their dimensions and thickness. This difference is usually 1-2 mm. But this variation is easily eliminated by applying glue: where the tile is thinner, you need to use a thicker layer of glue.
• After the adhesive has set, the resulting joints are grouted. The choice of grout color is an important point. Its color should not be striking and you need to choose it a few tones less than the main color shade. A neutral solid color is the best option. Usually the choice of buyers stops at white, gray or beige grout. Rubbing should be carried out to the entire depth of the joint gap. Often, cement mortar is also used for such purposes.
• During the laying process, it is important to maintain the same level of the new floor decor. If the work is carried out on the street, then it is recommended that the laying be carried out with a slight slope so that during precipitation, water does not accumulate on the surface of the ceramics, but flows, for example, into a specially designated gutter.
• After finishing laying the horizontal coating, you can proceed with the installation of curbs. The process of this event usually starts from the corner to the central part. It is advisable to protect yourself from unnecessary unnecessary work, such as cutting off the remaining material, and purchase edging in several sizes, among which there should be not only long borders, but also short ones. After all, for trimming you will need a special tool: a machine with a disk for porcelain stoneware.
• To check how well the work was done, water is poured onto the surface of the laid tiles. Uniform drying without puddles - excellent quality of work performed.