Clinker tiles for interior wall decoration is a versatile and very popular decorative material, which recently was especially chosen by domestic and foreign designers. Initially, it was planned to use it for decorating facades and socles, but with the advent of fashion for loft, country and scandy styles, the cladding confidently moved inside the house. It can be used both for decoration of the entire room, and as an emphasis on individual elements of the interior.
Material advantages
It is natural that such a popular and popular material has many advantages, such as:
- can be stacked on any objects and in any conditions;
- it is steady against temperature fluctuations and equally well maintains both low, and high temperatures;
- not afraid of moisture;
- ecologicaly clean;
- does not fade in the sun;
- possesses fire resistance;
- easy to install and operate;
- has a long service life;
- allows you to implement interesting design ideas.
As you understand clinker can be used in any room, including wet areas (bathroom, toilet, kitchen, sauna). It will be an excellent decoration for balconies and loggias, as well as those places where difficult climatic conditions can be observed. Another undoubted advantage of this cladding is the ability to install it on any surface. The tile perfectly lays down on concrete, drywall and even metal planes.
What is clinker tile made of?
Clinker brick for interior decoration due to its positive characteristics is obliged to the production technology by which it is made. First of all, clay plays an important role here - environmentally friendly natural raw materials, from which wonderful decorative material is obtained. In general, the tiles are produced using a technology similar to that used for the manufacture of bricks, and there is also firing at very high temperatures.
In total, there are two methods by which the production of cladding of this type is established. In the first case, the molded products are pre-dried and fired, while in the second case, drying is not carried out. So you can get products with low thermal conductivity. Firing is carried out for about 48 hours at a temperature in the chamber up to 1200C. Thanks to this hardening, the bricks acquire special strength.
There are several varieties of clinker tiles, which are designed for various purposes:
- Technical - for facing sidewalks and other street objects;
- Waterproof - for pools, steam rooms and bathrooms;
- Normal - for normal conditions without an aggressive environment;
- Special - for complex architectural solutions.
Since we are interested in ordinary clinker tiles for interior decoration, we will discuss this later.
In the construction market there is no shortage of choice of textures and colors, which are achieved by adding natural pigments to the raw materials, which also contributes to the safety of the material. The most popular are reddish-brown and white-sand shades. The surface of the clinker can be smooth, like a noble brick, or rough, imitating the texture of wild stone. Such a variety allowed him to find wide distribution in modern interiors. Facing looks great on the floor, on staircases, on walls or any other structural elements.
Tile selection
When buying clinker tiles, take the trouble to carefully calculate the area intended for cladding, and add at least 10% to the waste.
Be sure to inspect each product packaging and make sure that there are no products that are radically different in color or texture. If for some time the tile will be on the construction site until installation, protect it from dust. Together with the clinker, purchase special glue recommended by the brick manufacturer. Instructions for the preparation of the adhesive composition are usually indicated on the package, and you must adhere to the specified proportions strictly, then the material will be guaranteed to hold firmly and firmly.
Styling process
For the installation of the cladding to be successful, and the result will be excellent, you must adhere to the rules that accompany each finishing stage, and you need to start work with the preparation of the surface, for which it is cleaned of dirt, old paint and grease stains. Flatness of the surface is checked using the building level. If the plaster has fallen off or you find large chips on the wall, they must be repaired with mortar or putty.
Before laying the bricks, the wall must be primed, which stabilizes the surface and improves adhesion. Also calculate the number of tiles that will cover the wall, it is possible that the material will have to be cut. Cut pieces are recommended to be mounted under the ceiling. Now you can begin to mix the adhesive, which is most often sold in the form of a dry substance.
For internal work, choose a flexible, moisture-resistant, normal-fixation compound. Dry glue according to the instructions is diluted with water and knead with a special nozzle on a drill. The solution before laying should be a little infused (10-15 minutes), so all particles will completely dissolve, and you will get high-quality material. Make sure that the continuous area for applying glue does not exceed 1 m2. Ready glue should be developed in half an hour, otherwise it will harden and will be unsuitable for use.
Clinker tiles for interior wall decoration are applied to the surface on which glue is applied with a notched trowel and pressed firmly, while gently tap it with a rubber mallet. Between adjacent bricks, it is necessary to maintain gaps, which are easier to observe with the help of plastic crosses. The size of the seams, each determines at its discretion, and you can overwrite them 24 hours after laying the finishing material. This time is enough for the clinker to firmly adhere to the wall, and you will not damage the decorative finish. Such work is carried out using special tools and grouting compounds. A rubber spatula or a special trowel with a rubber insert is suitable for this process. Grout residues are removed from the surface with abrasive sponges.
Video installation instructions:
Interior solutions
Decorative clinker is often used to simulate masonry, which looks great in various interiors. They are also faced with fireplaces, arched openings, columns and many other places. With the help of bricks you can support the now popular styles of Provence, hi-tech, scandium, loft, minimalism and even timeless classics, everything will depend only on the surrounding surroundings and decor items that enhance the presence of a particular style. It doesn’t matter at all whether you plan to clad the entire wall, or only part of it, the main thing is to ensure a harmonious combination of each element in the room, and then clinker tiles will become a highlight in the house, and most importantly, comfort is guaranteed to you.