Everything you need to know about tile crosses. Tile leveling systems or cross and peephole installation Standard size tile crosses

This time we will be discussing ways to achieve good tile alignment when laying. Do automatic leveling systems really work and justify themselves, or is it better to learn how to level tiles by hand from the very beginning and thus fully comprehend the craft of a tiler?

What are the requirements for tiling

In construction practice, tolerances for leveling ceramic tiles are a very relative concept. Indeed, the visual assessment of the alignment of the tiles is much more important than the parametric one: if the irregularities are indistinguishable to the naked eye, then the result can be considered satisfactory.

There are, however, quite specific standards and tolerances for the surface of tiled cladding, established building codes 31.04.01. In short, the departure of the seams and the plane from the vertical should not exceed 1.5 mm / mp, and the run-up along the width of the seam and the mismatch in the plane between adjacent elements should not exceed 0.5 mm. The curvature of the plane - pits and bumps - should not exceed 1 mm / mp.

The situation is much stricter with maintaining the correct geometry of the room. All fine plumbing and installations have negligible deviations of angles and linear dimensions, which means that their adjunction to the walls will make all the existing distortions visible. Therefore, the turn angle between the walls should not differ from the design one by more than 0.5°, and the visually determined leveling tolerances turn out to be very close to the normative ones.

In fact, such strict compliance with the regulatory parameters is far from always possible, and in particular this applies to compliance with the thickness of the seam. Nevertheless, this is not a reason to relax: the alignment of the tiles must be approached as responsibly and scrupulously as possible under the existing conditions.

The traditional alignment

If you do not take into account the very ancient tile leveling techniques, then the most common method is as follows:

The flatness and verticality of the tiled cladding is set by a layer of preparatory plaster over the beacons, the same requirements apply to it as for the final coating.
Thanks to the application of the adhesive with a comb trowel with a constant tooth height, the initial parameters of the base are maintained as accurately as possible with the possibility of more precise adjustment.
The horizontal layout is determined by the base row, the second in a row from the floor. It is with him that all the work begins, a strictly horizontal rail is pre-screwed for emphasis. It also helps move the trim row down, making it less visible.
The constant width of the seams is ensured by inserting plastic crosses into them. Their thickness is determined by the tile format as approximately 1/150 of the widest side.
Periodically, it is necessary to check the horizontality and verticality of the seams, as well as the absence of blockage of the facing plane. At present, the plumb line and rack level have been replaced by laser marking tools.
The coincidence of the plane of adjacent elements is checked by an even bar, which is carried out along the seam in different directions.

What is the difficulty of laying on crosses and wedges

Aligning with crosses would be ideal if the dimensions of the tile exactly matched the declared format. In reality, the deviation from the dimensions indicated on the packaging can reach 0.5%, that is, more than 1.5 mm for the most popular 200x300 mm format. The situation is aggravated by the curvature of the plane of the tile.

That is why every self-respecting master begins work with careful sorting. The tiles are stacked between each other in turn, the gap between them is estimated for clearance. We also measure the length and width of each element.

The tiles of the highest quality and corresponding to the format are subsequently laid in the most prominent places - in front of the door, around the washbasin and mirror, in a belt of 1-1.8 meters in height. Tiles with less correct sizes and shapes are laid above doors, behind installations, along the lower belt and in all those places with which the eye intersects most rarely.

Usually tiles for cladding are purchased with a margin of 3-7% for cutting and trimming. It is in this stock that the elements recognized by the results of sorting as the least suitable are deposited. Of these, afterward, extensions and undercuts will be made, although it is recommended to set aside 2-3 high-quality tiles separately in case of real damage.

And, nevertheless, even the perfect tile sins with a deviation in size, despite the fact that each row must be aligned along the top edge. When typing the starting row, this is ensured by a lining between the tile and the rail of wedges, they are also used when laying out the lowest row in order to press its elements up to seal the seam along the crosses.

In the upper rows, the discrepancy between length and width is compensated by adjusting the seams, for which you always have to keep crosses on hand that are larger and smaller than those used, or undermine the existing ones with a mounting knife.

And yet, the main difficulty in laying tiles in crosses is the impossibility of adjusting the plane in both directions. When leveling, the tile is easy to press down, this allows you to apply glue under the comb. But moving the tile towards you without tearing it off completely is much more difficult, here you have to use suction cup holders, which do not work very well with corrugated, textured and small-sized tiles.

How leveling systems work

All the described tricks and subtleties lose their relevance when using systems (SVP, DLS) of "automatic" alignment. In short, their principle of operation is to clamp the joints with the back and front side special clips.

The lower or consumable part of the clip is a wide area with a leg, laid under each tile 20-50 mm from each corner as the elements are laid on the glue. The upper, spacer part can have a different form factor, but it is due to it that the tiles are pressed to the site with a sufficiently large force.

After the glue dries, the clips are knocked down with a mallet, which is facilitated by a weakened groove at the base of the leg of the consumable part. Thus, the platform remains hidden under the tile, but the seam is completely free, and nothing interferes with the grout. A separate minus is the requirement special tool, although this does not apply to all alignment systems.

With the use of SVP, the problem of ensuring the flatness of the cladding does not arise as such, but the task remains to control the thickness of the seam if it is greater than the thickness of the leg. It is also necessary to compare the position of the tiles at the intersections of the seams - in both cases, the same plastic crosses come to the rescue. In this case, the plane of the tile will in any case remain ideal, and it will not be affected by the shrinkage of the adhesive. And in the case of floor cladding, the coating will be able to take the through load in the shortest possible time even before the final drying of the glue.

We summarize: how is it better to lay tiles

The optimal way of laying and leveling ceramic tiles should be determined by its quality, i.e. grade. On the one hand, SVP elements are more expensive than crosses and wedges; their use is not always justified. For tiles of particularly low quality, it is unlikely to achieve the ideal quality of the veneer in any case. However, we can unequivocally recommend the use of leveling systems on floors with a high throughput load: this significantly reduces the risk of injury to the coating.

On the other hand, even very high-quality tiles from exclusive collections can have dimensional distortions, such are the costs of their production method. However, in this case, the cost of the SVP cannot be compared with the cost of the tile itself, and the result will be much better, with an additional guarantee and the exclusion of the influence of uncontrollable factors such as glue shrinkage or simple human carelessness.

The main purpose of these parts is to create even tile joints. Their use in work allows you to perform a beautiful laying of tiles without defects and various distortions. The tile laid according to all the rules will last a long time.

Using crosses when laying tiles

These four-pointed parts look like crosses or a plus sign. They are usually made of plastic. In thickness, such spacers are made from one and a half to ten millimeters. Their length can also vary. The parameters of the products should be considered in more detail in order to figure out which crosses for laying tiles are suitable in each case.

Dimensions

The choice of fixtures is influenced by the type facing material and methods of its installation. The use of products of certain parameters depends on the final result that you strive to achieve when finishing surfaces.

Varieties of spacers for tiles

Allocate direct laying of tiles and apart. For each method of carrying out these works, masters prefer certain types of marking seams. So, direct cladding involves the use of parts with four ends, and laying apart requires the use of three-ended products. However last option receive manually - separately such copies are not presented for sale. Therefore, in order to make devices with three ends, it is enough just to break off an extra element of the standard “cross” with the help of wire cutters.

Plastic crosses for tiles

So, they produce products with a thickness of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 mm, as well as 4.5, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm. The width of these parts, as a rule, reaches 10–12 mm. They are usually sold in plastic bags 50, 100, 150, 200 pieces and so on. The number of spacers in one package is always a multiple of fifty. However, there are exceptions: for example, products trademark"Zubr" complete 75 pieces in a set. Remo Color is also a well-known manufacturer of such products.

The choice of details for the formation of joints depending on the size of the tile

Not very experienced specialists may argue that the thickness of the seam is considered an indicator of the quality of the cladding. Allegedly, the thinner the gap between the tiles, the better the laying. However, this is a controversial claim.

Formation of tile joints

In some cases, when finishing with low-cost ceramics, too thin a seam of one millimeter will complicate the necessary and inevitable adjustment of the distance between the tiles. In such a situation, thin seams are only harmful - the finished lined surface will not look attractive at all.

To perform such hard work neatly and end up beautiful walls or the floor often has to tinker with the width of the tile gaps, correcting the irregularities and flaws that appear in the process. Sometimes this is simply necessary when laying products of a certain size or shape. Too thin seams deprive the master of such an opportunity.

In addition, barely noticeable joints are unacceptable for medium-sized tiles, since such a finish will look bad. Some types of tiles provide for laying with a pronounced seam, as evidenced even by the end part of such ceramic products, made at a certain angle.

For example, if you are working with tiles with parameters of 200 by 300 millimeters, the width of the joints is 3 millimeters, that is, 300 divided by 100 = 3. For square products 150 by 150 mm, we use the same example: 150 divided by 100. We get 1.5 mm for the width seam.

Usually for surface finishing standard types tiles with parameters 250 x 250, 200 x 300, 250 x 333 mm, it is advisable to choose the size of crosses for tiles from two and a half to three mm for wall cladding and 3.5 or 4 mm for pasting the floor.

10 mm crosses for laying clinker tiles

Spacers for floor tiles

floor ceramic finish has its own characteristics. Such tiles are usually more impressive in size than wall tiles. Often it has the shape of a square, so the crosses for it should be purchased wide. The finished cladding should have a slightly different look than the wall decoration. For tiles with a format of 300 x 300 or 333 x 333, as well as for porcelain stoneware samples, 4 mm cross-shaped spacers are preferable.

Crosses for floor cladding

Product types by configuration

What else is useful to find out before choosing crosses for tiles? By appearance Products can be classified into the following types:

How SVP works

On the principle of operation of the system for leveling tiles, it is worth dwelling in more detail. The device has two main elements - a clip (clamp) and a wedge. The device can be used both on the walls and on the floor.

Stepping back from the edge of each tile 5–10 centimeters, clamps are installed under it during gluing. In some systems it is also necessary to use conventional plastic crosses.

After the tile is laid, wedges are inserted into the clamps or clips. They are held on two adjacent tiles, resting against them. Thus, the tile becomes even in level.

Tiling with a tile leveling system

After the solution has hardened, the wedges are pulled out, and the clamp leg is broken off. However, the hat remains.

Plastic crosses

On average, there are from 30 to 100 pieces of cross-shaped inserts per square meter of tiled cladding. It depends on the size of the tiles. Knowing the parameters of the tile, it will not be difficult to find out the number of auxiliary parts. The calculation of the required number of products is carried out as follows: you need to multiply the number of tiles in square meter by 4 or 8 crosses, and add a reserve of 10 - 15%. On sale, most often you can find sets of plastic spacers of 100 and 200 pieces per pack.

Packing of inter-tile crosses with a thickness of 1.5 mm

During finishing works 4 crosses are placed on each tile. If you install 8 elements each, the seams will be curved and it will take longer to wash the tiles from excess adhesive.

Spacers for tiles with lintels

There are crosses for laying tiles with jumpers. They allow you to better fix the seams, make them the same.

The appearance of crosses with jumpers

Ordinary plastic products without a jumper often cannot guarantee beautiful view lining.

After laying the tiles, when grouting is required, the spacers are removed. To do this, it is convenient to use pliers or a screwdriver. It is not always easy to remove products from the seams. Sometimes the crosses break. At the same time, it is undesirable to leave fragments of spacers. In these areas, the layer of grout will be thin.

Features of choice

Today, in building stores and markets, the choice of crosses for tiles is very large. There are especially many products made in China, which are packaged and sold in our country. Prices for tile crosses also vary.

Crosses for laying tiles 2 mm thick by Remo Color

Some novice craftsmen do not see the point in carefully choosing these details for cladding. There is a widespread belief that they are all the same, made of plastic, and therefore you can buy any without hesitation. However, there are still differences between these elements, and this should be understood.

Plastic can be used as a material for the production of crosses. varying degrees viscosity. They produce fragile products, breaking off excess elements in which it is easy, and more reliable, plastic. Such crosses are more difficult to separate.

Spacers for tile joints are also available with different profile. There are instances with the same parameters and those in which one part is wider than the other.

Various forms of crosses for tiles

Even if it seems unimportant to you, you should listen to experienced craftsmen who know what types of products are easier to work with. So very fragile crosses, being divided into parts, can remain in the tile joints. Removing small fragments of plastic is quite difficult.

The unequal product profile will also cause a lot of inconvenience during facing works. The fact is that it is always necessary to install inserts in the gaps between the tiles with the same side. Sometimes you have to spend a lot of time turning over the cross-shaped parts, picking up the right part of them. Otherwise, the alignment of curved seams will be required.

In order not to make a mistake by buying a low-quality product, you need to learn how to distinguish “good” crosses from “bad” ones. Quickly breaking, uneven fixtures are distinguished by somewhat smoothed corners. Therefore, it is better to carefully consider tile crosses before purchasing them. Of course, ordinary samples can also be used, but it is better to choose a higher quality option, especially since the assortment of crosses is widely presented.

Main functions of products

As you can see, even such small and, at first glance, unimportant fixtures as tile spacers can affect the time and quality of finishing work.

It is the crosses that provide the creation of tile joints. Properly treated joints with a special grout protect the cladding from the harmful effects of moisture. This problem is especially relevant for finishing the bathroom.

Grouting tile joints

Ceramic tiles are made with a special glazed coating. It prevents damage to products from water and steam. However, if the gaps between the tiles are not protected by anything, water penetrates through them, so it is important to correctly highlight the seams and wipe them with a special moisture-repellent composition.

Laying tiles without crosses will negatively affect the life of the cladding. Moisture seeping inside the ceramic product leads to its weighting. In this case, the tile may simply fall.

In addition, ceramic finishing without the use of crosses makes the masonry unaesthetic, with noticeable irregularities. During gluing surfaces with tiles, distortions and minor defects often occur. The seams allow you to hide them.

Leveling the corners of the floor tiles

If it's about flooring, then the lack of properly processed joints will not allow you to install the "warm floor" system. Ceramic tiles may separate from the adhesive cement, because under the influence high temperature clay base facing products will expand, and the tiles will begin to "bump" into each other. The lining seems to "swell".

If you want to spend quality repair bathroom and make beautiful tiling, you should responsibly approach the choice of crosses for tiles.

Using crosses when laying tiles Plastic crosses for tiles Forming tile joints 10 mm crosses for laying clinker tiles Crosses for flooring T-shaped crosses for laying tiles

In order for the laying of tiles to be of high quality, it is necessary to use crosses for tiles. Despite the simplicity of the product, it must be chosen correctly and be able to use it correctly.

Assigning crosses for tiles

Crosses for laying tiles are used to obtain even seam. Thanks to these leveling elements, it is possible to maintain a uniform distance between the cladding. It looks more aesthetically pleasing than when the gaps between the tiles different widths. Depending on the size of the tiles used different thickness crosses. This allows you to compensate for the discrepancy in size when the need arises. Also, maintaining one distance avoids errors in the geometric arrangement of elements on the wall or floor.

The use of standard crosses or other spacing elements is necessary not only to create aesthetic beauty.

Due to temperature change ceramic tile expands. In the case of butt-to-butt laying, the lining will collapse. This is especially important for floor tiles when installing heating elements underneath.

If the installation of tiles takes place in the bathroom or other rooms with high humidity, the joints of the fragments are sealed with a special grout. This prevents water from getting under tile. End and back side are not protected by glaze, so the material tends to absorb moisture and swell. This leads to deformation and destruction of the tile, significantly reducing the life of the material.

Product types

All spacers are made of plastic. Because it consumable, this raw material can reduce the cost of the product. Plastic elements are soft, this does not allow damage to the tile.

In form, there are such spacer elements:

Cross-shaped with four beams, which are used for simple styling.
T-shaped, used during laying apart.
Wedges. Used in cases where it is necessary to create a seam of different widths, or the tile has a beveled end surface.
Tile leveling system or 3D crosses. Allows you to form the exact distance between ceramic elements with a thickness of 1.5-1.8 mm.

T-shaped products are practically never found on sale, so they are made independently, separating one beam from a simple cross with the help of wire cutters.

Spacer elements differ in size. The minimum thickness of the product is 1 mm, and the step of increasing the distance is 0.5-1 mm. Crosses, which are used in everyday life, are 1.5-6 mm thick. Sometimes meet big sizes. Products can be hollow and solid. The first type is used more often, since when installed in the seam, the spacer element does not displace the adhesive.

Plastic crosses

There is a wide range of products of this type on the market today. You can choose a budget option or a high-quality professional one. Simple crosses do not have jumpers between the knees, which greatly impairs fixation. Products of this type cannot fully provide uniform gaps. As a result, the seams between clinker tiles or any other are crooked.

Jumpers on the crosses do not allow the edges to bend, thereby maintaining a single geometry between the tiles and one distance. high quality and reliability are distinguished by products called Rubi or Rubi Twin Flex.

They sell products in packages of 50, 100, 150 pieces, etc. This number is associated with the average consumption of spacers per 1 m2, which is 30-100 pieces. The exact calculation depends on the parameters of the tile. Minimum size product is 1 mm.

Plastic wedges

Wedges are used instead of crosses in cases where you have to work with curved tiles or decorative stone. If the parameters of the facing material differ from each other, it is necessary to adjust each joint separately. This is the only way to create an even geometry. This method is not very convenient and can take a lot of time, especially for an inexperienced master. However, it is considered a budget option to compensate for uneven tiles.

Tile Leveling System

The tile leveling system is suitable for laying tiles or porcelain stoneware with a thickness of 3-20mm. The main advantage of the SVP lies in its ability to automatically align two adjacent elements at the same level so that there is no height difference between them. Thanks to this adjustment, you can get a flat horizontal plane. The distance is maintained even after shrinkage of the adhesive. Such a system reduces the time of laying tiles and allows you to get an accurate result.

SVP allows you to evenly distribute the adhesive, which is especially important for uneven tile surfaces. All voids can be completely filled with an adhesive mixture, which is difficult to do manually. The system protects the facing material from subsidence. And the fixation of each element allows you to prevent differences in the plane or displacement. Such a system allows you to perform laying without crosses.

The following are noted as disadvantages:

time is spent installing and removing wedges;
the process of cleaning the seams is complicated;
high cost compared to simple crosses;
when installing large-sized tiles, a double layer of glue is applied so that the SVP can perform its functions.

On the domestic market, SVP is presented in the form of wedges and clamps. The first are a reusable product, and the clips are consumables, because after use, part of them remains inside the seam. For the installation of Western products, you will need special tongs. Clamps can be made wedge-shaped or in the form of flexible petals.

SVP with wedge-shaped elements is used in cases where the surface does not have significant irregularities. A device with a concave shape allows you to achieve self-leveling tiles. This system allows you to adapt to existing conditions and create flat surface thanks to the even distribution of the adhesive.

Which ones to choose?

To make the right choice of spacer elements, it is necessary to take into account the following factors:

The cheapest products break quickly and are easily deformed. This leads to inaccuracies in work. Parts of the crosses remain inside the seam, making it difficult to clean up the space. Sometimes fallen elements have to be removed with pliers, which can lead to damage to the tile. Before starting work, you need to check the product for strength.
Determine the correct width. If you are not sure what the thickness of the seam should be, you should give preference to SVP. It allows you to create a different distance between the elements of the cladding.
Flatness of the tile surface. The manufacturer allows errors in the production of tiles up to 1.5-2 mm. AT budget options products can be very curved. Standard crosses in such cases should not be used. To correctly and beautifully lay out the facing elements, it is better to use the tile leveling system. They compensate for curvature and create a flat surface.
When using a seamless connection, the thickness of the gap can be 1 mm. Note that this can only be done with quality tiles. In this case, it is necessary to select the smallest high-quality crosses.

How to choose the size of the crosses and the width of the seam

The size of the crosses for tiles directly depends on the thickness of the seam. The parameters of the tile affect: the larger the dimensions of the plates, the wider the seam is used. There is a rule according to which the thickness is calculated: width tile joint must be equal to the length of the longest side of the tile divided by 100.

Thus, if the plate size is 300x300 mm, then the seam should be 300/100=3 mm. For a large tile 600x600 mm, the seam will be 600/100 = 6 mm, etc. For laying medium format tiles, it is better to use a gap of 2.5-3 mm for wall and 3.5-4 mm for floor cladding.

Calculation of the amount of materials

Up to 100 pieces of crosses are consumed per 1 m². The exact amount depends on the size of the plates. To calculate the number of crosses, you need to determine how many cladding elements are used in 1 m², then multiply by 4 or 8 and add 10-15% of the stock. The stock must be taken into account, because the spacers are quite fragile and break easily.

Most often, 4 crosses are installed on each tile, less often more are used. The latter is due to the complexity of installation, since it is sometimes difficult to achieve an even seam and clean the joint from excess glue. When using SVP, the consumption is 6-8 pieces per 1 element.

Rules of use and rookie mistakes

The main mistake of beginners is laying crosses with the entire plane at the intersection. This should not be done for the following reasons:

The parameters of the tiles cannot be completely accurate, sometimes the error reaches 2 mm. Laying the crosses flat will lead to a violation of the geometry of the pattern. The tile will lie unevenly, and the thickness of the seam will be different even within the same gap.
Spacer elements (especially cheap ones) are not always of the same thickness, they may have some errors. This leads to asymmetrical seams and deformation of the pattern.

You need to install crosses only vertically. Installation is carried out in this way:

glue is applied to the tile and the surface of the wall or floor with a comb;
the second element is laid;
the tile is pressed with a metal level;
after fixing the plates, crosses are installed;
they are installed at a distance of about 5 cm from the edge of the ceramics;
2-3 parts are needed on each side;
after about a day, the adhesive mixture dries up, and the crosses can be removed;
at the end, the seams are filled with a special grout.

Installation of SVP is carried out in the following way:

a solution is applied to the surface to be glued and the tile, the element is fixed;
2 clamps are placed under it on each side at a distance of about 5 cm from the edge;
lay the next plate;
between tiles and top clamps, insert the wedge and fix it so that the lower part fits snugly against the surface, and the edges ceramic elements aligned.

Proper dismantling and reuse

Crosses can be reused. To do this, you need to properly dismantle. Crosses are removed with pliers after solidification adhesive mixture. Damaged specimens are thrown away, and whole ones are set aside for reuse.

SVP is slightly different from crosses. In this case, only the wedge lock can be used again. Dismantling is carried out as follows:

after the adhesive has completely dried, to remove the clamps, hit the top of the clamp along the tile seam;
the lower part breaks off and remains, and the wedge is reused.

How to replace crosses for tiles

There are situations when it is not possible to use crosses or you need to lay several plates. It is not advisable to buy a pack of spacers for the sake of mounting several ceramic elements. In this case, it is necessary to replace the crosses. Some use matches for this purpose, but these products are not suitable. They have too much variation in thickness, which does not allow you to level the tiles.

Sometimes a dense cable or wire of the required diameter is used. They are laid in a seam, and after the glue has hardened, they are removed.

If you need to fix only a few plates, use solid objects of the right size as spacers. It can be:

plastic container, cut into pieces;
washers;
pieces of ceramics;
drywall, etc.

Is it possible to lay tiles without crosses?

It is not worth using masonry without a gap, as this will lead to deformation of the tile. However, crosses are not always used to maintain the width of the seam. In some Western countries, a special cord is used for this purpose. It allows you to compensate for the difference in tile parameters. And accuracy geometric pattern can be observed with laser level or by eye.

There are also C-shaped inserts. This is an analogue of crosses, but they are easier to dismantle and install due to the shape features. Sometimes adjustment of the seam thickness is not needed at all. In such cases, it is enough to lay the tile on the eye. If used original idea design, some kind of insert can serve as a guide.

Ceramic cladding - complex technological process, so the master is hired. It gives a list of consumables, which includes the item "crosses for tiles". The size is specified by the master. What is this material used for, what types are there, how to choose the size, we will consider in more detail.

This consumable is required for high-quality surface cladding. It performs several important functions:

Fixing the width of the seams. Crosses for laying tiles have beams of equal thickness. Installing them at the intersection of the tiles, they adjust the width of the seam, fixing it in four directions.
Fixing the level horizontally, vertically. The installation of these clamps on the four sides of the tile does not allow the canvases to “float away”. Due to this, the level of rows is maintained horizontally, vertically.
Visual correction of the seam parameters. Using the width, depth of the beams, experienced master corrects facing gaps so that they are perceived as even. The final effect is achieved by grouting. This is done due to factory defects in ceramics. Nodules at the corners, sides make the tile uneven. And with such methods it is possible to visually align the seams.

Not a single master can do without this material. An experienced tiler checks his work with their help. This allows you to correct the inaccuracy of masonry in a timely manner. If you do not use crosses, then in each row there is a minimum error in level. And at one of the points, a visible defect in the cladding can come out, which will spoil the effect of the repair. It should be understood that the quality of the tiled surface is determined by even seams.

There are several types of crosses for laying tiles:

Classic. Presented in the form of a cross. Allows you to adjust the size of the seam in four directions.
T-shaped. The number of sides for work - 3. Used in the final rows. Instead, classic types are often used. For this cut off right amount rays.
Wedges. Used for the initial rows. Adjust the height level.
Tile leveling systems. Not only regulates desired width seams, but also fixes the tile until the mortar hardens. Relatively "young" way. But not all masters speak positively about him. Who has filled his hand, he claims to be indispensable for large areas. Others argue that the time of work increases, the tile still “floats away” and note the high cost.

There are options full-bodied, hollow, with jumpers. The master selects a convenient option for himself.

How to choose the right crosses for tiles

There are several points that are taken into account when buying a plastic consumable:

Tile quality. Four canvases are taken from different boxes and a square is laid out tightly to each other. The suture cross must be straight. Along the edges of the resulting canvas, the protrusion of the tile is checked with a finger. It is rare to find ceramics without errors. Usually it lies in the range up to 0.5 mm. If an error is detected, then the depth of the beam of the cross should be 0.5 mm less than its width. This allows in the process to correct errors that appear due to factory defects in ceramics.
Tile size. Rarely does anyone pay attention to the edges of the facing material. Along the perimeter, it has a beveled profile type. Putting the tiles tightly next to each other, it turns out that the factory has already laid a certain width of the seams. Usually it is about 0.5–1 mm. When selecting crosses, this parameter is minus.
Defects. Before buying, consider the consumable for the presence of sags, deformations. The rays of the crosses should be even. Any distortion will affect the quality of the seam.
Which cross tiles are better. Professionals are popular with ordinary classic version. If necessary, cut off the required number of rays. Or one of the sides is inserted. Be sure to take a package of pegs. This material allows you to adjust the level in the initial rows. Crosses with jumpers give additional opportunity control the level of facing in three planes.
Rigidity. Intermediate level. Too hard ones will not allow you to adjust the laying, soft ones will be deformed under the influence of the weight of the ceramics and the level of the row will be disturbed.

The choice of a consumable determines the degree of convenience of working with it, dimensions. It is sold in packs of 50 pieces.

The selection of the width of the seam is based on the dimensions and error of the tile, the designer's ideas. The main factor, the larger the tile, the wider the gap. But this rule has an exception - seamless laying is used for even designer tiles.

The cross is represented as two straight lines intersected at a right angle. The length of each lies in the range up to 20 mm. Width, and this is a fundamental parameter, is from 1 mm - 8 mm. This size is increased in increments of 0.5 mm. The depth of the beams differs by 0.5 mm downwards. For example, the main size of crosses for tiles on the floor is 4 mm, and the depth will be 3.5 mm.

Useful video: How to choose the size of crosses for tiles?

There is no unambiguous method for selecting crosses. Some visually choose. Lay out four tiles, form a gap as you like, measure. Others choose based on the size of the tile divided by 100. Do not forget about the factory bevel on ceramic sheets. When choosing the size of the crosses, it is better to take it into account.

How to use tile crosses

Ceramic cladding difficult process. It requires precision and slowness. Installation rules recommend working with crosses. Better if draft base has a flat surface. This will reduce the cost of glue, simplify the work. The thinner the applied layer, the less likely the cladding will slip. (See how to calculate).

Work starts from the door. Because this area is conspicuous. How to arrange the canvases is chosen individually. The best option is when a seam or the middle of a tile is brought to the middle of the opening, ensuring the symmetry of the pattern. The installation method is important. The simplest is in a straight line. The most difficult - diagonally with an offset, alternating material of different sizes.

When facing, it is recommended to use crosses for tiles in order to adjust the level of masonry, fix the position of the canvases. For an inexperienced craftsman, it is important to understand that tiles are rarely without parameter errors. Therefore, it will not be possible to achieve an ideal seam intersection using the thickness of the cross. Professionals correct different sides plastic consumable the width of the seam so that it is visually even. Large defects are brought to the corner joints, to invisible zones (behind the bathtub, washing machine).

Useful video: 3D crosses, pros and cons

Crosses are used for the final fixation of the canvas by levels (X; Y). The tile is glued to the floor, leveled by forward and reverse movements in the Z plane, the level is checked. Excess solution is removed. Crosses form a gap. It is done in two ways.

First. One of the beams of the consumable is inserted into the seam, two are located along the edges of the adjacent tiles. This method uses two crosses on one side of the tile.
Second. The consumable is inserted into the intersection of four tiles.

The two methods are often combined. Typical for large tiles.

How to remove crosses from a tile

After the solution hardens, the consumable is removed. They pick it up with wedges or other crosses, pull it out. If a plastic product does not lend itself to this method, then pliers are taken, one end is hooked, and pulled out with a slight twist. In the running version, the cross is overwritten.

The difficulty of removing the consumable appears if a lot of adhesive solution remains in the seams during cladding. Therefore, at the time of installation, it is recommended to monitor the cleanliness of the gaps. In the future, this will facilitate the preparation for grouting.

The removed material can be reused if there is no deformation, it is not stained with glue.

Conclusion

How to apply crosses between tiles, and which ones to choose is decided individually. Someone likes to use the cladding alignment system more, someone prefers the classics. But without such a consumable, you can not achieve an even seam. It is the symmetry of the gap between the tiles that makes the cladding complete and of high quality, emphasizing its beauty.

Useful video: Crosses or SVP?

Before making repairs, the most rational move is to purchase all the necessary materials with a margin in advance. Their set depends on the scope of the proposed work. If you plan to tile walls or floors, in addition to tiles and glue, you also need to purchase special beacons, so the question of how to choose crosses for tiles may seem interesting to many. From right purchase, in this case, depends on the quality of styling, its external attractiveness. Therefore, it makes sense to talk about the designated issue in some detail.

Why is it necessary to use crosses for laying tiles?
This consumable helps control the width of the seam that forms between two adjacent modules. After laying the tiles, they are simply inserted into the gap, and until the glue has set, the tiler can easily move the tiles, focusing on the space left by the crosses. After such an operation, the seams are smooth, and the lining itself looks neat and aesthetically pleasing.
But this is not the only function of crosses for tiles, they have different sizes, with the help of them you can form a space that allows you to maintain the integrity of the modules during the operation of the cladding. The fact is that the tile tends to expand with temperature exposure. The left seam allows you to compensate for it.

Another task of grout joints is to mask minor defects in the tile itself. Even in the same batch, tiles do not always have even, identical cuts or side lengths. Thanks to the ability to maintain the optimal distance between the two fragments, this disadvantage can be easily eliminated. That is why it is considered mandatory to use crosses for tiles - how to choose the size of such elements? The answer is in the next section.

Existing sizes

On sale there are several varieties of crosses for tiles (2mm, 1mm) there are varieties, the thickness of the details of which can be different (from 1 to 8 mm), you need to select crosses taking into account required thickness grout. There are no standard indicators in this matter, so you do not need to focus on the imaginary indicators of the professionalism of the tiler. Correctly choose the thickness of the seam according to the following criteria:

If there is no chamfer along the edges of the tile, it is necessary to form clearer boundaries of the space between two adjacent modules. Help to align the edges of the tiles 2 mm beacons. Crosses, one millimeter thick, are used only by those who already have extensive experience with tiled cladding.
It is useful to evaluate in advance the evenness of the sides of the tile, the presence or absence of cracks and chips along the edges of the tile, which then will need to be hidden with grout. To accomplish this task, it is enough to conduct a fairly simple test: you need to lay the tile in front of you from the wrong side so that a minimum gap forms between two adjacent tiles. Move away from the tile and look. Such an operation allows you to see what needs to be done in order to make the seam smooth and beautiful.
Professional craftsmen use a fairly simple formula to calculate the thickness of the required space: they take the length of the longest side of the tile and divide the resulting figure by 100. The result is taken as the basis for the future gap.

Note! How larger tiles, the wider the grout should be.

When determining the width of the space between two modules, one must be guided by the location of the cladding. If it fits on the walls, optimal width seam from 1 to 2 mm. Crosses with a thickness of 1.5 or 2 mm will eliminate the unevenness of the tile. If the tiles are laid on the floor, the thickness of the joints should be 2-3 mm. Beacons 2 mm wide are selected when high-quality European tiles are used for flooring. When working with domestic tiles, it is better to use crosses 3 mm thick. Thicker joints will not look very neat, and they will also increase the grout consumption.

Note! The size of the inter-tile space should be taken into account when buying grout mixtures. Some of them are suitable for processing a space of no more than 5 mm.

Summarizing all the above criteria helps to choose the right cross size.

Other structural features of the described elements

In order for the selected cross to allow you to perform quality styling it is necessary to pay attention to other characteristics of the described elements. There are several types of crosses on the market.

Standard cruciform elements, one millimeter in size - four-pointed elements. They can be used for normal masonry. But for laying tiles, a run-up or dressing will need three-pointed crosses (or T-shaped ones). You won’t be able to buy them, so the masters take standard elements and cut off one leg.
There are crosses in which the structure is not the same, that is, one side is wider than the other. They are used to perform specific masonry. If execution repair work it is planned to master it on your own, it is better to choose standard crosses with sizes of 1mm or 2mm.
Crosses shaped like wedges. By deepening them into the inter-seam space, it is easy to adjust to the desired width. Wedges are most often used for laying large porcelain tiles. They are indispensable for wall cladding with a simple tile. They help to more accurately adjust the distance between the two modules, experienced tilers always use wedges to set the first row.
To create uniform joints with a depth of 1.8 mm, it is better to use tile leveling systems. These are a kind of three-dimensional beacons. They allow you to align the modules not only in width, but also in length. 3D crosses tightly press the tile, preventing it from sagging as the adhesive dries.
Also on sale there are hollow and solid beacons. The former are easier to immerse in viscous glue; when they are immersed, the adhesive composition is not squeezed onto the tile.

Advice! When choosing beacons, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the plastic. High-quality flexible crosses after the adhesive has hardened can be easily pulled out with pliers. Poor-quality plastic at this point will simply break or crumble. It is impossible to pull out low-quality beacons of their frozen tiles, as practice shows, the first time.

How are crosses placed?

After the choice is made, it is important to learn how to use crosses correctly. The algorithm for installing them is extremely simple:

The tile is installed with glue on the wall or on the floor, according to the markings.
Two tiles are laid in such a way that there is a technical gap of 2 mm between the modules.
Crosses are inserted into the joints either on the straight side or on the corner, two beacons on each side of the module. Of course, you can use more, but then it will be more difficult to clean the tiles.
The cross helps to control the distance between two tiles.
While the glue has not hardened, this distance can be easily adjusted.
Beacons are removed after the adhesive has dried.
The final stage is grouting.

How not to use crosses?

You can not insert beacons at the intersection of the seams. It seems to many that such a solution will allow you to qualitatively adjust the width of the inter-tile space. But some factors prevent this from happening.

Firstly, manufacturers have not yet learned how to produce tiles that can boast ideal sizes. Even in one batch, the length and width indicators for individual elements can “walk” around 1.2 mm.
Secondly, there are no perfectly made crosses. Minor errors in their production are also not uncommon.
Thirdly, only an experienced craftsman is able to lay the first row perfectly evenly. It is on it that they are then guided during the installation of the remaining rows of cladding. The slightest mistake at this stage leads to the fact that the tile is laid with an offset, so you should not focus on the plane of the intersection of the seams.

How to calculate the consumption of crosses?

The one with the purchase building materials encounters for the first time, wants to know how to calculate the required volume necessary materials. Above, the number of crosses for fixing one tile module has already been indicated. Considering that the beacon is used to form a seam between two modules, it is not difficult to calculate the number of crosses: we divide the number of tiles in half. Given that the cost of the described modules is cheap, you can purchase them with a large margin. A couple of packages are enough to complete the lining of a standard toilet. Knowing right size crosses for tiles, it will not be difficult to make a purchase of this tool.

Generalization on the topic

Without the use of the described elements, if you need to lay a tile, you can not do it. Of course, ready-made factory crosses, if desired, can be replaced with matches, cardboard boxes or washers, but their use will greatly complicate repair work. Given that the crosses cost a penny, you should not save on their purchase. With the help of them, it will be easier than ever to realize your first experience in carrying out repair work, to create quality finish capable of serving for decades.

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