Basic introduction to tiles

Shanghai Jiani Material Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional company specializing in the production of stone tiles.

Here is an introduction to tile selection for your reference. Tile laying techniques are not complicated. Frankly speaking, most homeowners pay little attention to construction methods besides choosing tiles, yet there are many key details worth noting.

First, level the ground. Many original building floors are uneven, so you need to smooth out uneven areas with cement mortar before construction. For large floor spaces, you can lay decorative tile patterns, or border the floor with dark-colored tiles while using light-colored tiles inside the borders. In addition, floors of kitchens and bathrooms must be sloped properly to ensure smooth water drainage.

It is essential to reserve gaps when laying tiles. So-called seamless tiles are actually a makeshift solution. Tile gaps not only compensate for inconsistent tile sizes, but more importantly, leave room for thermal expansion and contraction. Many people have heard of seamless steel pipes, yet consumers should stay alert to the hype around seamless tiles.

From a physical perspective, seamless tiling is theoretically impractical. Seamless steel pipes expand outward in all directions without cracking. In contrast, most tiles are installed in relatively enclosed spaces. Taking wall tiles as an example, they are fixed and enclosed by walls and floors on three sides. If laid without gaps, tiles will have no space to expand when heated. Realizing truly seamless tiling requires zero thermal expansion and contraction rate of tiles, which is impossible in reality. Forcing seamless installation will only lead to tile bulging, as tile adhesive cannot generate enough force to push away walls.

Unless you are fully confident in your construction workers’ craftsmanship, avoid using large floor tiles larger than 900×900mm. Such big tiles tend to trap air in the middle during laying, causing various problems in the future.

As for gap width: keep wall tile gaps at 1-2mm. Small-sized tiles (100×100mm) need wider gaps for aesthetic effects.

For floor tiles, retro-style tiles require gaps of 5-10mm, while other common tiles suit gaps ranging from 3mm to 10mm.

For families with elderly members, avoid overly slippery polished tiles and vitrified tiles for flooring to prevent accidental falls and unnecessary injuries.

Homeowners may not need to master tile laying skills, but they must know how to accept finished work, which can be summed up in two words: level and straight.

Take four 600×600mm tiles as an example: place a level diagonally across two opposite tiles to check flatness, then test every adjacent tile. If laid evenly, the bubble in the level will stay in the center (this method does not apply to kitchens and bathrooms). Finally, check whether all tile edges and corners are neatly aligned. With qualified tiles, this method can effectively judge the construction quality of tile workers.

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