A porcelain stoneware countertop is a base, the upper surface of which is covered with porcelain stoneware tiles with minimal inter-tile seams. The end is finished with the same material, or complemented with another, suitable in texture, color and quality.
How to make such a countertop? What to pay attention to when preparing the base and choosing tiles? What are the disadvantages and advantages of a porcelain stoneware surface? Let's consider the answers to these and a number of other questions.
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Features of countertop manufacturing
You can order the tiling of the kitchen work surface from a master tiler, or if you have some skills and tools, you can actually do it yourself.
The secret to the success of making a porcelain stoneware countertop depends on the quality of the base preparation. It is important to make the entire structure as rigid as possible to avoid movement and deformation during operation.
- Preparing the base
Anything will do – wood, metal, concrete, plastic.The easiest to cover is concrete, porcelain stoneware is simply laid on its surface. The disadvantage of a concrete base is its weight.
The metal base is treated with appropriate primers, a steel mesh is stretched, onto which a suitable tile adhesive is applied. The treated surface is dried. The selected tile is laid on top.
Plastic kitchen countertops use MDF or chipboard as a base. Constructions made from these materials are quite durable and allow you to lay heavy porcelain tiles on top.The preparation of the plastic surface can be done in two ways - by fixing the mesh and in a more simplified way — by directly gluing tiles with silicone.
For wooden surfaces, due to the wood's ability to "play" from temperature and humidity changes, it is especially important to fix the rigidity of the base. The strength of the structure is achieved by fixing two layers of thick birch plywood.
All wooden parts are treated with protective impregnations against mold and fungi to prevent wood rotting in conditions of high humidity.
- Laying. Grout.
- Porcelain tiles are laid on a prepared base using tile adhesive or liquid nails.
Use the toothed side of the comb to remove excess to create even grooves of glue. - The method of laying (diamonds, rows, herringbone, ornament) depends on the chosen kitchen design. To obtain a visually monolithic surface, the width of the seams is made minimal.
To emphasize the pattern and rhythm of the styling, on the contrary, the seams are highlighted. - It is recommended to use moisture-resistant epoxy grout for grouting seams. Conventional cement-based mixture requires additional protection with hydrophobic impregnation.
The impregnation is applied to the well-matured grout, no earlier than a week later.
Economic effect
With all its advantages, durability, decorativeness, ease of manufacture — This is an inexpensive type of cladding. The cost of its production is comparable to the price of a PVC countertop with much more positive aesthetic and operational qualities.
By choosing porcelain stoneware that imitates natural stone (marble, granite), you can get a magnificent coating that is not inferior to natural stone and even exceeds it in terms of strength. In terms of price, a countertop made of porcelain stoneware will cost tens of times less than a similar stone one.
Artificial stone, used to create monolithic surfaces, is also inferior to porcelain stoneware in strength, and is much more expensive.
You can cover a porcelain stoneware work surface with your own hands even from the remains of tiles left over from the renovation of other rooms. The main thing is to group the materials well according to the color, texture and thickness of the tiles.
Flaws
The weak point is the joints between tiles. Over time, the grout may lose its freshness and acquire a dirty shade. This defect can only be corrected by replacing the grout.
Porcelain tiles are very durable and difficult to cut. A diamond disk is used to cut tiles. To cut porcelain tiles well, you need to have the skill.
Technical and operational advantages
Requirements for a kitchen countertop are water resistance, easy-to-clean surface, and aesthetics.
Porcelain stoneware is an ideal covering. Technical characteristics (strength, moisture and heat resistance) make it an indispensable finishing material.
Any type of porcelain stoneware is suitable. When choosing it, pay attention to the smoothness of the tile. If the surface is uneven, it is difficult to care for it, and food particles will get stuck in the relief pattern during processing.
Porcelain stoneware surface in kitchen design
The countertop in any kitchen is allocated a significant place, this interior detail influences the general mood, sometimes, sets the style of the entire interior. On the other hand, it is massive and solid, made for a long period.
The walls can be repainted, the kitchen fronts can be replaced, but changing the countertop is a troublesome and expensive matter, so you need to approach the choice of material for its manufacture especially carefully from the very beginning.
The wood-like finish will bring warmth and coziness to the interior. The clinker-like tiles will add brutality, the severity of knightly times and the feeling of a medieval castle.
Facing the kitchen work surface with expensive polished tiles, combined with wooden cabinet fronts, will bring notes of luxury and nobility.
Experiment with porcelain stoneware in your kitchen, the result will certainly please you.
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