Facade facing tiles - Photo. A variety of facing tiles for the facade of a house, methods of their installation Ceramic tiles on the facade of a house

The facade is the main part of the building, which, first of all, everyone who comes to the house, as well as random passers-by, pays attention to. With the help of high-quality finishing, you can give the building a decent appearance and ensure that the house stands out from other similar buildings with its sophistication and originality.

Nowadays, having a variety of finishing materials and using special tools and finishing technologies, you can turn an ordinary facade into a real masterpiece. To create a high-quality facade, a serious professional approach, accurate calculations and considerable funds are required.

The appearance of a home largely depends on the personal preferences of its owner. Even before deciding what to cover the façade of a house with, it is important to take into account the functional requirements for these structures, as well as the load-bearing capacity of the building walls.

Modern exterior finishing materials

For professional reconstruction of the facade, the modern construction industry offers various cladding materials, the installation of which is carried out using appropriate technologies. With the help of such finishing, you can eliminate various defects of the building and achieve excellent results - correct geometric deviations and irregularities, repair dilapidated facades, insulate the building and perform decorative finishing.

Such materials are:

• porcelain stoneware or clinker tiles;
• natural or artificial stone;
• plastic panels;
• siding;
• block house.

Traditionally, the facades of residential buildings are finished with plaster followed by painting. Plaster is usually applied to a previously prepared base, and if the plaster layer is more than 12 mm, a reinforcing mesh is used. This method will prevent the formation of cracks in the plaster during the operation of the building. The finished surface can be smooth or decorative. To give the applied layer a decorative effect, special rollers and stamps are used.

There are so-called wet plaster compositions with various decorative inclusions and color pigments. As a result of this plastering, the surface becomes rough and does not require painting.

Plaster is combined with decorative stone - natural or artificial. The use of decorative stone can be fragmentary, for example, on the corners of a building, on the base, window openings around the perimeter, columns or ledges of the structure.

Natural stone finishing

Natural stone is also used as an independent material in the decoration of facades. It is laid on cement mortar, and the seams are filled with grout and leveled with jointing. This is an expensive and labor-intensive type of finishing, but due to the durability of the material, the facade will have an excellent appearance for many years. A façade finished with decorative stone, smooth or chipped, will resemble a medieval castle.

Not everyone can afford to decorate their house with natural stone. In this case, artificial stone is used as an alternative for cladding. This material can be an imitation of expensive stones in a variety of colors. Sometimes artificial stone cannot be distinguished from natural stone, so such a facade will look expensive and luxurious.

The advantage of this type of finishing compared to natural stone is that the cost of its acquisition is much lower. This material does not burn, does not rot, and is relatively lightweight.

Clinker tiles imitating clinker bricks are also successfully used for finishing facades. She is not afraid of temperature changes and atmospheric influences. This finishing material is made from natural ingredients in a variety of colors and textures.

Brick cladding

Facing bricks are also often used to decorate the facade.

This finishing performs not only a decorative function, since a layer of brick covers the insulation.

Thermal panels with clinker tiles

With the help of clinker thermal panels, you can simultaneously solve two problems - insulate and finish the facade of both a new building and an existing one. A facade made of clinker panels is practically no different from a facade made of natural brick, and the costs of construction work are significantly lower.

To prevent damage to finishing materials by precipitation, it is necessary to construct gutters.

Porcelain stoneware finishing

Porcelain stoneware, or artificial granite, is used for cladding ventilated facades. This material is durable, able to withstand atmospheric and chemical influences. Porcelain stoneware finishing can be done at any time of the year. Thanks to natural ventilation, condensation does not form and mold and mildew do not develop.

A ventilated façade reduces the thermal conductivity of the house during the cold season, and does not heat up the walls during the hot season. Corrosion-resistant metal load-bearing profiles are attached to the walls of the building vertically and horizontally. Then the insulation is installed and, using special fasteners, porcelain tiles are installed without visible seams or with seams. This façade does not require additional maintenance.

Facade board or block house is used most often for wooden houses, and sometimes for houses made of foam blocks. Reconstruction of dilapidated facades using these materials will completely transform the appearance of the house.

A façade lined with natural, sustainable wood will last much longer. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly. And with the help of various impregnations, you can not only preserve the wooden material, but also give it the desired shade.

A block house with imitation timber will give the facade the appearance of a building made of natural wood and create additional thermal insulation.

Before you start decorating the facade with wood materials, they need to be kept in the sun for several days. Such acclimatization is necessary to ensure that wooden products do not warp during use and cracks do not appear.

Lining

Lining is a cheaper finishing material made of wood. The facades of cottages or bathhouses are also covered with clapboard, which blends perfectly with the surrounding nature.

Siding

Inexpensive facade finishing can be done using siding or facade foam. In English, “siding” is translated as “cladding.” Siding can be vinyl, plinth, metal and wood.

• Basement siding is used to cover the base of a building. For this purpose, panels with a thickness of at least 3 mm with imitation of natural building materials (stone or facing brick) are suitable.
• made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This material is resistant to mechanical damage. Also, when choosing siding, you should avoid bright colors, since vinyl products are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.
• Metal siding is a material that is quite durable and resistant to external influences. They are most often used for cladding the facades of industrial buildings.
• Wood siding is a natural material, and therefore the most expensive. It is environmentally friendly, but not durable.

You can purchase siding in a variety of colors. Polyvinyl chloride panels (PVC) are produced with imitation of various materials. The most popular siding is wood or brick. The advantage of the material is that it is lightweight and easy to install.

Siding is installed on a layer of insulation, but it can be done without it. This modern material is widely used for finishing houses, residential country buildings and for repairing old dilapidated facades. Siding is an excellent waterproofing material that can protect the walls of a house.

Panels with decorative elements

Panels with decorative elements made of reinforced foam plastic can be used to finish facades with high quality and relatively inexpensively. Such panels are both insulation and decor.

Decorative elements such as moldings, cornices, balusters, pilasters are suitable for finishing classic facades. These elements are made of polystyrene foam with a protective coating. They are installed on a plastered surface using special glue.

As you can see, in order to reconstruct the facade, there is a wide variety of finishing materials. The choice should be guided, first of all, by the financial side and personal preferences. Also, criteria for selection are the protective functions of the material from atmospheric influences, environmental friendliness and ease of installation and subsequent maintenance. The main thing is that the beauty of the facade is preserved for a long time.

Video

This video talks about the exterior decoration of buildings:

Photo

All houses, regardless of type, have a façade that you want to decorate as brightly and unusually as possible. It doesn’t matter whether it is a large multi-storey building or a cottage, it needs not only decoration, but also good protection, because no one needs erosion of the walls by rain and damp, as, in fact, other problems that the facade may suffer from. Therefore, we recommend using façade cladding tiles as a cladding material for external walls, which will last you 50 years or more and do not require special care.

Types and types of facade tiles

Today, the following types of facade tiles are actively used:

1. Decorative;
2. Clinker;
3. Terracotta;
4. Made from natural stone;
5. Porcelain tiles.

Decorative tiles and their features

Decorative tiles for the facade are an imitation of crushed stone. It harmonizes perfectly with any materials and on any building facades. Installation of facade facing tiles is quite simple and requires minimal bricklaying skills, etc. you can do the installation work yourself.

Peculiarities:

• Pure material, absolutely safe.
• A huge range of colors and textures, with which you can satisfy the most insatiable imagination of the designer.
• Contributes to excellent heat and sound insulation of the building.
• It is not susceptible to destruction by rodents and chemicals; all that is required of you after installation is to wipe off any dirt, if any.
• It is not subject to fading in active sunlight and is not damaged by adverse weather conditions.
• A very durable material that can be destroyed by strong physical impact.
• Easily tolerates temperature changes.

The first step is to plaster the wall well, creating a flat surface for laying and wait a while for the plaster to dry.

You need to start tiling facades with ceramic tiles from the very bottom row. When laying, especially the lower part, it is important to constantly check the evenness of the row with a level. If the first 2-3 rows are very even, then the rows above will be similar.

Clinker is one of the most popular materials for tiling facades. He perfectly demonstrates his own resilience and practicality in the most unfavorable environments. Easily tolerates humid air and sudden changes in temperature. Clinker tiles for facing and facade are excellent protection for the facade of a building for many years.

A wide range of textures and design solutions will allow you to create a complete composition on the walls of your home and emphasize your individuality.

Watch the video about the properties and characteristics of the product:

During the production of building material, purified and carefully tested refractory shale clay is created. After the tile is formed, it is fired in a kiln with a temperature above 1300 degrees.

This manufacturing technology creates a micro-grained structure in which large elements of clay and voids are absent, thereby increasing the strength of the product. Conventional ceramics, for comparison, are fired at a temperature that does not exceed 1000 degrees.

To diversify the range of colors, dyes are added to the mixture.

The special clinker production technology and its composition have made it possible to achieve a huge number of advantages, including:

• Excellent frost resistance;
• Easy UV tolerance and protection against fading for many years;
• Clean and harmless material;
• Serves for more than 50 years;
• Does not allow moisture to enter the structure;
• Many colors and original appearances, even abstractions;
• Special structure of the surface layer for creating compositions;
• Difficult to mechanical impact and destruction.

Due to the specific manufacturing conditions, the cost of the material is the biggest disadvantage. It is an order of magnitude higher in cost than ceramic, but also lasts several times longer. When looking at the future, it makes sense to purchase it.

The technology of facing the facade with clinker tiles is similar to laying conventional tiles and is performed as follows:

1. The base is prepared, cleared of uneven surfaces, and plastered.
2. The adhesive agent is carefully selected. The glue in this case must withstand temperature changes and resist water well.
3. Grout is selected using the same principle.
4. Cladding the facade with clinker tiles should begin from the bottom row to the top, occasionally checking with a level.

Terracotta tiles

This type is often called architectural ceramic tile because of its preparation method. It is made from pure, undyed kaolin clay. At the same time, the variety of colors is influenced by the type of clay.

The outer part can have several types, for example:

• Gloss coated;
• Glazed;
• Natural.

In addition, you need to pay special attention that terracotta tiles can be either hollow or filled. The difference is clearly visible in the thickness of the product.

Peculiarities:

• High resistance to frost;
• Environmental cleanliness;
• Ease of installation;
• Lightweight material;
• Very attractive and aesthetic appearance;
• Affordable price category;
• Heat and UV resistance;
• Long service life.

1. The laying of tiles is similar to the previous options, however, there are its own masonry features.
2. Installation on the lathing. In this case, masonry is carried out using clamps. First of all, a clamp is attached to the frame, after which the panel is inserted onto the protrusions.
3. Base mounting. The laying is carried out using an adhesive solution. Suitable for thermal panels, chipped ones have a layer of polyurethane.
4. Using self-tapping screws. The panels are attached to the sheathing with self-tapping screws through specially made holes.

Natural stone tiles

Natural materials, no matter how ugly they may seem at first glance, always look great in the composition and are very different from the copy.

Watch a video about this product:

A structure decorated with non-artificial stone takes on a new life, and the lifespan of the stone is tens of times higher than any artificial competitor. Having prepared many gradations, it is possible to lay out a very interesting composition.

Peculiarities:

• The richest color palette;
• There are no polyester resins that can be harmful to health;
• Durable, frost-resistant structure;
• Unique textures;
• Service life - over 100 years;
• Not amenable to chemicals. reactions.

One huge disadvantage of this material is the cost. Laying facing tiles for the facade with your own hands is somewhat more difficult than usual. We recommend watching video tutorials on this matter.

Porcelain tiles

About 5 years ago, porcelain tiles gained enormous popularity, which remains with them to this day. This building material has found wide application in all countries of the world.

Watch the video, characteristics of porcelain stoneware:

It is used for cladding internal and external elements of the house. Advantages of porcelain stoneware:

• Long service life;
• Several types of installation;
• Low price and high variety of colors and textures;
• Fire safety;
• Resistance to weather and physical influences.

In addition to a large number of advantages, porcelain stoneware is famous for its composition, which includes:

• Kaolin;
• Quartz sand;
• White clay;
• Dyes;
• Feldspar.

As can be seen from the composition, porcelain stoneware has an almost identical composition to standard ceramics, however, the percentage of materials is very different. It is because of this that porcelain stoneware is much stronger than ordinary ceramics.

When making porcelain stoneware, the raw material comes under strong pressure from the press and is fired. In this case, all elements of the raw material are broken down to a molecular form and combined into one whole.

Bottom line

The choice of means for organizing the facade depends only on your preferences. It is better to buy facing tiles, if, of course, you have a sufficient budget for the purchase. Regarding installation, it is the same everywhere, only the adhesive solution can differ, so there is no point in describing its principle in detail.

If you have doubts about the correctness of laying it yourself, it is better to call a specialist who will lay out the tiles efficiently and quickly. The cost of a master’s work can range from 200 to 1000 rubles per square meter, depending on the type of material and the characteristics of the area to be laid.

The decoration of the facade is of no small importance for the aesthetic perception of the appearance of the building. And this is not the only reason for its cladding.
To make the inside of a residential or administrative building comfortable, it must be insulated, and it is better to do this from the outside. The outer cladding provides additional thermal insulation.
It slows down the process of gradual destruction of the facade - tiling is practically hermetic protection of walls and plinths from atmospheric influences. That is why this type of finishing is so popular today.
In our article we will talk about what facade tiles are used for exterior decoration today and what properties are inherent in this or that type.

Tiles for finishing facades have been used by humans for several centuries. And its popularity is only gaining strength day by day, thanks to its remarkable properties and enormous variety.
A wide range of colors and textures of tiles allows you to get away from monotonous cladding and create unique architectural designs.

So:

• With the help of different types of tiles, you can adjust the visual perception of the dimensions of the building. This question is very relevant for high-rise buildings - creating a three-dimensional façade on them is a primary design task.
• To be fair, it must be said that facade tiles for interior decoration are also not uncommon. It is used not only in finishing the bathroom and kitchen, as we are all used to.
  Many types of such tiles look great in the design of loggias, lobbies and corridors.

Tile "hog"

This type of tile has its own history. It appeared in the nineteenth century and was a brick-shaped blank, covered with glaze on both sides.
This finishing material got its funny name thanks to two through holes at the end, making it look like a pig's snout. So it turned out to be a “hog”.

Appearance of the “hog” tile

So:

• These holes allow you to split the blank into two equal halves with a hammer blow. Thus, it produces two tiles, smooth on the front side and rough on the back.
  Thanks to this design, it is very convenient to fold and transport.
• The price of “hog” tiles has always been affordable to a wide segment of the population. We can judge its service life from the condition of many century-old buildings with such external cladding.
  Even after so many years, there are still no visible chips of tiles on their facades.

Exterior decoration "hog"

• In Soviet times, finishing facades with “boar” tiles was almost universal. In the nineties, it faded into the background, and little was built at that time - more and more were destroyed.
• Now, thanks to the efforts of manufacturers, interest in this tile has revived. Its graceful shape, convex and relief textures, bright and rich colors allow you to highlight the base, beautifully decorate the porch and beautifully trim the pediment.
• The craftsmen have their own secrets for beautifully designing corners and cutting tiles correctly. For those who are planning to cover the surface with a “hog” with their own hands, it is better to watch the video first.

If a regular tile has only two types of laying - a straight seam and a diagonal one, then the “hog”, in addition to these methods, can have: staggered laying, and with offset seams, and installation of tiles in a vertical position. There's a lot to learn here.

Clinker tiles

This type of tile in terms of production technology is fundamentally different from the hog. Completely different types of clay and high-temperature firing are used here.
The clay mixture is not pressed, but extruded, which provides the product with high density.
So:

• The configuration of clinker tiles can be square, rectangular, in the form of a narrow brick, but small in size - and there are also mosaic options. It is not enameled and is rarely glazed, but may have a glass surface.
• The manufacturing technology of these products allows us to produce tiles with complex geometric shapes. You can’t do without them when finishing swimming pools, plinths, steps - it is possible to make solid corners: both external and internal.

Finishing the facade with clinker tiles is often done in conjunction with landscape design. This combination makes the local area cozy and harmonious.
In terms of resistance to abrasion, clinker is not inferior even to marble. Therefore, it is used for cladding entryways, steps, terraces and sidewalks.

• Tiling the facade of a multi-storey building is greatly simplified when façade thermal panels with clinker are used for this purpose. They are only a decorative structure, but also a kind of insulation.

The panels are made from polyurethane, pressed wood chips, marble chips and sand. During the production process they are lined with clinker tiles.
This is a very effective finishing method that allows you to save labor costs and energy resources, as a result of which the cost per square meter of area becomes cheaper.

Cotto tiles

This type of ceramic tile differs from clinker in its porous structure. The French invented it.
By selecting a special clay composition and processing it at temperatures exceeding one thousand degrees Celsius, this product was obtained.

• “Cotto” tiles are not coated with enamel; after laying, they undergo additional processing: polishing and grinding. The shape of this tile is not always traditional - there are triangles, rhombuses, and polyhedra.

Finishing the facade with cotto tiles brings a touch of antiquity to its interior. It is traditionally made in yellow, pink and red-brown tones, and can have a relief or pattern on the surface.
This type of tile is equally successfully used for external cladding of facades and for interior decoration.

Porcelain tiles

Porcelain tiles, compared to clinker, appeared relatively recently. It is made from granite chips, expanded clay, and binding additives - it has nothing in common with ceramic tiles, but this does not mean that porcelain stoneware is inferior in strength to other types of tiles.
So:

• It is often produced in a square shape, in quite large sizes: with a side from half a meter to ninety centimeters. These sizes are convenient for cladding large areas of buildings, so finishing work progresses quite quickly.
• In addition, porcelain tiles are not laid on a mortar, but are simply glued to the wall, or mounted on a sheathing with insulation. Thanks to this, decorating the outside of a wooden house with facade tiles has become a reality.

• Porcelain tiles for facade finishing can be considered the most convenient to install. Their surface is not necessarily smooth - there are options that imitate stone.
  Yes, its characteristics are in many ways similar to the properties of natural stone.

Facade polymer sand tiles

By and large, this tile is an artificial decorative stone. It is currently used widely: tiling facades, fences, balconies and loggias, stoves and fireplaces - and much more.
Polymer sand tiles are also successfully used in landscape design.

• The tile is light, with rich color, and is not afraid of water and temperature changes. And you can even make it at home.
  Instructions on this topic can always be found on the Internet.

Artificial decorative tiles are quite durable. To damage it when it is already on the wall, you need to try.
For cladding ventilated facades, three-layer thermal panels are also produced, with a top layer of polymer sand tiles.

OSB boards

Standard oriented board (OSB), which is essentially a three-layer wood-polymer board, appeared on the domestic construction markets quite recently. In appearance, it is very reminiscent of chipboard - this is clearly visible in the photo below.

• But such boards cannot be used in residential premises, since epoxy and polymer resins are used as binders in their production. For this reason, finishing the facade with OSB boards is the main area for their application.
• These boards are much more durable than chipboard - you can screw screws and hammer nails into them without any problems. They are moisture resistant, do not warp, and have no internal voids.
  OSB can even be used to construct formwork.

• Processing of this material is carried out using conventional tools used when working with wood. A façade lined in this way receives additional sound and heat insulation.

OSB boards are installed quickly, with virtually no waste; easy to glue and paint with any paints and varnishes. And most importantly, they have a virtually unlimited service life.
As you can see, it is quite possible to avoid large financial costs when decorating the exterior of a house, while obtaining an original and beautiful facade.

By the appearance of modern houses it is very difficult to determine what they are made of or what they are lined with, since a lot of materials have appeared that qualitatively imitate stone, brick, wood or glass. First of all, these are finishing slabs for facades, which are a relatively inexpensive analogue of natural luxury materials.

Outwardly, they practically do not differ from the originals, and in their characteristics they often even surpass them. So why pay more if you have the opportunity to decorate your home with high-quality, durable and beautiful cladding without “tightening your belt”?

What are the benefits of façade tiles?

How were houses decorated before the advent of modern facade materials? They covered it with wood, plastered it, and faced it with brick. Those for whom price did not matter much chose expensive, but truly representative and luxurious-looking natural stone.

All these decisions are relevant to this day, but now those who cannot boast of huge incomes have the opportunity to make their home solid and respectable.

For reference. The high cost consists of the price of the material itself, which is quite difficult to process and transport, and the cost of its installation, which requires complex preparatory work to strengthen the foundation and load-bearing base. Tiles are cheaper because they are initially given the required color, shape and texture, which allows for virtually no waste. And less weight - without complex preliminary surface preparation.

Prerequisites for the appearance and general demand for facade tiles

Surely many readers remember the times of widespread shortages of everything and anything - when, even with the financial ability, it was difficult to get basic facing bricks in the required quantity.

Times have changed, and now there is everything, but not everyone can afford “everything”. That is, there is a need for materials that are affordable and at the same time high-quality and capable of giving even a rather modest structure a decent appearance.

And they appeared. Along with siding, various types of decorative plaster and plaster, slabs for finishing facades have become the most popular.

Advantages

What advantages does this material have besides its affordable price?

• Continuing to talk about cost, it should be noted that it allows you to save not only on the purchase of the tile itself and payment for its installation, but also on the construction of the foundation. It does not have to be made too powerful, as would be required when facing with brick or natural stone, since the tile weighs much less.
• In terms of time and labor intensity, the process of installing facade slabs is much simpler. It is quite possible to do it yourself, again saving money.
• Tiling allows you to hide all the flaws made during the construction of walls, level them and at the same time insulate your home.
• The main advantage is, of course, a huge assortment, allowing you to choose any texture, color, shape and size, brick, wood, etc.

For reference. Facade tiles are often used for interior decoration, covering walls, niches, doorways, fireplaces, etc.

• Finally, the performance characteristics of this material are very high. It is resistant to natural and mechanical influences, has good strength, durability, and the ability to maintain its original appearance for many years.

Types of tiles for facades

Finishing facades with tiles is an opportunity to implement absolutely any design solutions. It is simply impossible to list them, since this material can imitate not only all types of brick or natural stone species existing in nature, but also have original colors.

Therefore, let's talk not about the decorative variety of tiles, but about the materials from which they are made.

Concrete

Concrete slabs are the most economical in cost. At the same time, thanks to modern dyeing technologies, finished products are practically indistinguishable from natural materials.

Made by vibration pressing, they have high strength, and their lighter weight than natural stone makes installation faster and easier.

Ceramics

Ceramic products are produced using the same technology as brick, only their thickness changes, which reduces weight and simplifies installation technology - the tiles are not laid like bricks, but are glued to a prepared base.

The installation instructions are no different from facing the internal walls with ordinary tiles. And for finishing corners, special corner elements are produced.

Note. There are slabs that can be mechanically attached to a pre-assembled wooden or metal frame. This allows you to additionally insulate the walls by laying a layer of thermal insulation under the cladding. Such hinged ventilated facades have become widespread due to their excellent performance and ease of installation, eliminating “wet” work.

Ceramic tiles are presented in a fairly large assortment. The most popular are products that imitate different types of bricks (facing, clinker, hand-molded, etc.) and methods of laying them.

Porcelain tiles

This material is known to many - it is often used for interior decoration of walls, floors, and cladding of various surfaces.

Porcelain tiles- a high-quality alternative to natural stone, often superior to it in its resistance to water absorption and temperature changes, strength and decorative diversity.

The basis of porcelain tile is the same clay as in ordinary ceramic tiles, but it also contains quartz and feldspar. All these components are subjected to high-temperature firing and pressing, as a result of which they are sintered into a monolith that has the properties listed above.

It is difficult to say whether the assurances of the manufacturers of this material that its service life without loss of decorative and operational properties is more than one and a half centuries are true, since it appeared just over fifty years ago. But it is worth recognizing that during this time the first houses lined with porcelain stoneware did not lose their attractiveness.

Conclusion

We have tried to give a general description of this material and the possibilities and advantages that its use provides. And in the video in this article - see the topic in more detail and in full!

Using tiles, you can not only give an elegant look to a new building, but also restore an old house, spending a minimum of money and time.

In the usual common sense, it is not used for finishing facades. But ceramic tiles are not only the glazed version, which is actually called tiles, but also many other materials, some of which are made specifically for external work.

And this article will tell you about the sizes, properties, price, production of ceramic facade tiles for external wall cladding.

Ceramic tiles are famous for their combination of high strength and water resistance, these are its most outstanding qualities.

However, another property is also important for cladding facades - the lightness of the material. Relative, of course, but compared to stone tiles, the difference is quite significant.

The same system is used for product labeling. However, when choosing, you need to pay attention to other indicators. After all, a material intended for external work must have very specific properties.

A specialist will tell you about the properties of clinker and other types of ceramic tiles for finishing the facade of a building in this video:

• Frost resistance and water absorption Frost resistance

– the main indicator for facade finishing. Essentially, a material's ability to withstand a certain amount of freezing and thawing determines its durability. Of course, laboratory tests differ from the effects of weather factors, but they indicate the degree of resistance quite accurately.

.

• The parameter is indicated by a conventional image of a snowflake. The further north the region is located, the higher the indicator should be for the selected material Frost resistance is in a certain way related to water absorption coefficient

. Even such a low-porosity material as ceramics absorbs moisture to some extent. When the latter freezes, it increases in volume and destroys the tile. It is clear that the lower this indicator, and, in fact, the lower the porosity, the better. The norm for facade tiles is considered to be a water absorption of 3%. However, for materials such as or it is even lower.

Facade ceramic tiles “wood look”

• Other important indicators Abrasion resistance

However, another approach is possible. Some manufacturers offer highly porous - relatively, of course, facade tiles in order to improve thermal insulation properties. It can be used, but taking into account the fact that this material is easier to damage.

• Chemical resistance is important for facilities built near industrial enterprises or for the buildings of factories and factories themselves. In other cases, the parameter can be ignored.
• Tile thickness indirectly determines its strength. But here something else needs to be taken into account: the thicker the tile, the heavier the cladding will be. In addition, high strength can be achieved in another way by choosing dense tiles - for example.
• The method of installation of products depends on size and weight.
  • A small tile is a “hog”, clinker can be laid on glue.
  • Large facing sheets are mounted on the frame. The latter method allows you to provide additional ventilation to the wall and effectively insulate the building.

Are excluded. High-density ceramics, especially porcelain tiles, have low adhesion, so they are held on the surface only by glue. Accordingly, the latter must have an excellent gripping effect and not be afraid of water. The same cannot be said about cement.

Types, designs and colors

Ceramic tiles are very diverse, both due to texture and size. The façade finishing group allows you to choose the design for any type of building.

The most common type of ceramic cladding is. made of kaolin by a single firing and is not glazed. Before firing, the material is passed through an extruder, which makes the final product denser and suitable for external work. The color scheme of “terracotta” is determined by the composition of the initial mixture; coloring pigments are not added here.

• Terracotta Available in smooth and structured. The latter is more popular because, in combination with a natural range of colors, it creates the full impression of natural stone finishing. They produce not only tiles, but also fairly large facade panels up to 60 cm wide and up to 180 cm long. Installation of the latter is simpler, but the aesthetics of the tiles are higher.
• Clinker– as a rule, it repeats the dimensions of the tray side of the brick, and has a corresponding color scheme. Clinker tiles are made from slate clay and carefully selected. Most often, single-firing material is produced without glaze and in a natural red-ocher color scheme. However, dyes are used here very willingly, so clinker can imitate any stone surface. In fact, structured, polished, and even glazed tiles are produced, although the latter is rarely used for facades. Sizes can be very different.
• "Boar"– what makes the type of tile stand out in a separate category is its unusual structure. Its composition is not much different from terracotta, but it is made by firing twice and covered with glaze. The tile follows the same shape, but includes two through longitudinal holes. Before laying, the product is hit on the end with a hammer to break it into 2 halves with beveled edges and a structured reverse side. Since the product is covered with enamel, its color can be anything. Considering that this development was intended for the Art Nouveau style, the shade can indeed be both very bright and very unexpected.
• Porcelain tiles– a unique type of CP, characterized by extremely high density, strength and water resistance: water absorption of porcelain stoneware does not exceed 0.05%. This is an exceptionally resistant material to all factors, as a rule. However, if desired, you can make porcelain stoneware look like wood. The finish is heavier than terracotta, for example, but the thickness of the facing sheets can be smaller, since porcelain stoneware is much stronger. Water resistance and the ability to not worry about the wear resistance of products allows for almost any tile treatment. .
• Matte– remains smooth, but has no shine. This is a very popular option for bricks, whose smooth surface also does not have shine. In addition, the matte surface is the most non-marking.
• Polished or glossy– it is obtained either by direct polishing of the material or by applying a glassy transparent glaze. This product has an excellent shine, emphasizing the similarity of the finish to real polished marble, granite or basalt. Since slipperiness does not matter for facade finishing, this option is very popular, especially when cladding office buildings that emphasize the status of the company.
• Rustic or structured- an extensive category of tiles that imitate a very wide range of unpolished stone and even. The strength of the material and low porosity make it possible not to worry about the smoothness of the surface, so as not to accumulate water - ceramics do not absorb it anyway. A variety of effects are used: crushed stone, wild, aged brick, rubble stone, etc.
• A modern and rather exotic method of processing CP - photo printing, forces us to place the “victims” of this technology in a separate category. The smooth and durable surface of high-density ceramics is an excellent basis for photo printing, and has recently been actively introduced into the market using various technologies.
  • For interior decoration, the method of sublimated printing and hot decal is used. Both involve applying an image to specially treated paper, which is then glued to the tile and coated with varnish. These technologies are cheaper, but are not suitable for facade cladding.
  • The firing method involves applying an image to the tile using special substances. The pottery is then glazed and fired. This option is extremely resistant to weather factors, and the image, therefore, simply cannot be damaged.
• Actually photo printing– here the design is applied on top of the glaze and fixed under ultraviolet irradiation. The image is even brighter, but not as durable and strong as when fired. This kind of facade finishing is very expensive. However, the effect of a building lined with panels with images is incredible.

Ceramic facade tiles “brick-like”

Product sizes

Formally, GOST regulates the dimensions of the product, but in most cases the dimensional parameters are left to the specifications. In principle, facade ceramics of any kind can have almost any technically possible size. But in reality they are limited by the aesthetic factor.

• in the form of medium-sized tiles: 240*71*11 mm, 302*148*12 mm. Ceramics are laid on glue. It is also possible to produce façade panels up to 180 cm long and 14 to 40 mm thick. The panels, however, do not reproduce the facing stone.
• “Boar” has dimensions typical for brick - 285*85*9 mm, 250*100*8 mm, 120*60*8 mm, since it imitates brick.
• Clinker, despite its primary purpose - reproduction of brickwork, in addition to parameters of 285 * 85 * 9 mm, 250 * 100 * 8 mm, can have other sizes: 250 * 65 * 10 mm, 302 * 148 * 12 mm and more, especially when it imitates stone.
• vary widely. Small tiles are also produced - 30*30 cm and 45*45 cm for laying with glue, and large panels for the construction of ventilated facades - 30*60, 60*60, 30*120 and 120*180 cm. The thickness rarely exceeds 14 mm, since porcelain stoneware is 4 times stronger than natural granite, and its cladding does not need much thickness.

In most cases, small-sized tiles are chosen for finishing low-rise buildings. Installing tiles, of course, is somewhat simpler than brick, but it takes almost as much time.

Large tiles are preferred for finishing high-rise office buildings and industrial facilities. Both the style of the building and the form of finishing matter: it is clear that if a ventilated façade imitates polished basalt, then large cladding sheets are preferable even on a small building.

Laying

Laying ceramic tiles for facades with adhesive is fundamentally not much different from laying them inside a building. The evenness of the surface is also important here, so the walls are prepared very carefully.

You also need to choose the glue carefully: it is not suitable due to its relatively low water resistance. Moreover, glue for external work must also have good frost resistance. The only difference is, perhaps, the beginning of the installation: only from the corners.

Ventilated facades are a much more effective and practical system, although its installation is associated with many difficulties.

What you will need

Arranging a ventilated façade is a complex job, which in all cases is best left to specialists. For its construction you will need the following materials:

• ceramic tiles - any facade decoration will do. But as a rule, tiles specially designed for ventilated facades have additional technical holes for fastening;
• Z; L and T-profile. In principle, you can build a frame for the facade with your own hands, but it is much easier and faster to use a ready-made system;
• brackets, clamps and screws or other fastening methods required by the type of frame and tile;
• waterproofing – roll or liquid;
• if you plan to insulate the building, you will need thermal insulation material - mineral wool or polyurethane foam, and also a windproof membrane. It is impossible to use ordinary polymer film in this capacity, since it does not allow moisture to pass through;
• drilling tools and drill bits according to the load-bearing wall material.

This video will tell you whether it is possible to attach façade ceramic tiles to polystyrene foam:

Installation technologies

The process looks quite simple, but in reality, without experience and equipment, it is very difficult to cope with the installation.

1. Preparing the wall comes down to removing the old finish, if any, and treating the walls with a deep penetration primer. Irregularities do not matter here, since they are completely leveled by the frame.
2. Mark the walls - determine the line of the starting profile, mark the place of vertical fastening and the location of the brackets.
3. If the wall is treated with liquid waterproofing, then the brackets are fastened after treatment. If a roll is used, then the brackets are first installed - fasteners are used in accordance with the wall material, and then the waterproofing is fixed. For brackets, special slots are made in the material.
4. Vertical posts are attached to the brackets. The distance between them is determined by the size and weight of the facing sheet.
5. If insulation is intended, then the heat insulation slabs are laid between the vertical posts so that the material is buried in the cell. The slab is fixed with glue along the edges and center, and after installation it is secured with disc-shaped dowels. A windproof membrane is fixed on top of the heat insulator.
6. Attach the transverse profile. The distance between the crossbars is determined by the size of the tiles, so when installing, for example, clinker tiles, the horizontal planks are laid very closely. This creates a ventilation gap between the windbreak and the tiles being laid.
7. The tiles are hung in accordance with the fastening provided by the manufacturer. These may be holes for decorative screws with which it is attached to the frame. Installation on special clamps is possible, as is, for example, done when laying porcelain tiles.

There is a simpler installation method: on a frame, which, however, is less effective and durable. In this case, a wooden sheathing is erected on the wall, insulation is performed, and backing sheets - OSB, OSB, and so on - are fixed to the frame. The tiles are glued to the resulting surface in the usual way.

After installation is completed, apply a suitable composition. If a seamless installation method was used, for example, marbled porcelain tiles, then grouting is not required.

Read below about the price of ceramic tiles for the facade of a house.

Stylish ceramic facade tiles “stone-like”

Cost of work and materials

The price of ceramic tiles for façade cladding varies within the same wide range as tiles for interior decoration. Moreover, the quality and design of the gearbox are equally important.

• You can find material for 280 rubles. per sq. m, and you can choose the finishing for 2800 rubles. per sq. m.
• Finishing facades is considered a job of medium complexity, and, as a rule, such work costs 900–1200 rubles. per sq. m.
• The installation of a ventilated facade is more complicated, so the cost of the service is slightly higher - 1200–1500 rubles. per sq. m. However, depending on the complexity, the price may increase to 3200 rubles. per sq. m.

Popular brands

Ceramics for decoration are produced by many different companies. Among such abundance, you can find ceramic tiles with the most incredible or the most classic designs.

• Barwolf is a well-known German company that produces various types of ceramic finishes. Most of the collections are designed in a classical and even antique style, which gives the buildings an aura of respectable solidity.
• It is quite difficult to list well-known Italian companies: Italians and Spaniards are trendsetters in the field of ceramic finishing, and are famous for the extremely diverse design of their products. On the Russian market, the most famous are Cerpa Ceramica, for example, or RHS. What attracts you is not only the impeccable quality of these products, but also the huge selection.
• Arcana Ceramica is a Spanish company offering ceramic tiles for both interior and exterior use. The collections often use a natural range of colors, obtained by mixing different types of clay.
• TERREAL is a French company that offers both regular finishing tiles and ventilated facades - ceramic panels with special fasteners. In the collections you can find clinker, terracotta, and hand-molded tiles.
• Among Russian manufacturers, the Sokol enterprise is considered the leader. Using Italian equipment they produce all possible types of ceramic tiles, including clinker.
• Ceramo Marazzi is a joint venture. Particular attention is paid to product design. Of course, the decorative value of facade tiles is somewhat lower than that of wall tiles, but in this case there is a huge choice.

Low porosity porcelain tiles are an excellent material for façade cladding. Waterproof, insensitive to cold, practical and extremely beautiful - it stands the test of time with honor. In addition, ceramic finishing is much lighter than brick cladding, and it provides more possibilities.

This video explains how to lay clinker ceramic tiles on a façade: