Satin porcelain stoneware is an extravaganza of design fantasy. Matte, polished, satin or structured? Choosing porcelain stoneware by surface Scope of application of satin porcelain stoneware

As with all other building materials, you can safely get confused in the variety of porcelain stoneware. The appearance of these tiles depends not only on the size and color, but also on how its surface has been processed. So, porcelain tiles are matte, glazed, polished, satin, embossed and mosaic. Let's consider all these types in more detail.

Matte porcelain tiles

Matte porcelain stoneware has no shine, because its surface is not processed at all. After the manufacture (firing) of ceramic granite tiles, it is not subjected to additional processing and the sintered surface of the tile is not cut off. This is how matte tiles are made. Due to this feature of the manufacture of this tile, it is cheaper, more resistant to mechanical stress, has a high degree of abrasion resistance, very high hardness, is moisture resistant and frost resistant. Due to these excellent characteristics, matt porcelain tiles can be installed both indoors and outdoors. Such a tile can withstand even the harshest conditions. As a rule, walls are lined with matte porcelain stoneware, floors are laid, and used as cladding for building facades.

Such a building material is perfect for areas with increased load and traffic - in garage boxes, train stations, car dealerships, airports, warehouses, shopping centers and so on. This tile is considered an excellent flooring option in bathrooms, hallways and kitchens. A matte wood-like porcelain tile can decorate the floor of the living room, create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Such tiles are perfectly combined with almost any wall decoration materials (wallpaper, mosaic, paint, etc.), which provides unlimited design possibilities.

Glazed porcelain tile

Glazed or smaltized porcelain tiles consist of ordinary porcelain stoneware coated with a special smalt glaze. This glaze improves the performance of the tile. Such porcelain stoneware has additional resistance to abrasion and pollution. It has a low percentage of moisture absorption, thanks to which the tiles can be laid both inside and outside the room. Such porcelain stoneware is frost-resistant and can withstand sudden changes in temperature. Also, glazed porcelain tiles have an excellent aesthetic appearance.

The color palette of this material is unlimited, it can be either monophonic or imitate paving stones, pebbles, mosaics, and so on. According to the texture, porcelain stoneware covered with a layer of glaze can resemble wood, brick, stone, slate and many other natural materials. All this gives ample opportunities in creating unusual design interiors.

Satin porcelain tile

To obtain a satin or polished porcelain stoneware tile, mineral salt is applied to its surface before firing porcelain stoneware. Thanks to this special coating, the tiles have an incredibly soft sheen and are not as slippery as polished porcelain tiles. This material has a high degree of wear resistance. The only drawback of satin porcelain stoneware is its high cost and inability to withstand significant loads. Therefore, this material is used mainly as a decorative material, it is used for walls and floors in residential and commercial premises.

Polished porcelain stoneware

Semi-polished porcelain stoneware tiles are a special type of porcelain stoneware surface. This category includes structured semi-polished porcelain tiles, satin semi-polished porcelain tiles and lopped porcelain tiles.

Structural semi-polished stoneware tiles obtained by partial cutting and subsequent polishing of the surface of matt porcelain stoneware. After this treatment, the tiles form a kind of three-dimensional effect or, in other words, a relief surface. This tile has an anti-slip effect, making it safe to walk on, even when wet. Semi-polished porcelain stoneware looks original and attractive.

shoveled semi-polished porcelain tiles has a polished surface. The surface of such porcelain stoneware looks like polished. However, semi-polished lopped tiles differ from the latter in that a smaller layer of tiles is cut off than with polished tiles.

Satin Semi Polished Porcelain Tiles has a polished, matte, but with a slight sheen, surface. This tile looks a little aged, which gives it a special charm.

Structured porcelain stoneware

The most beautiful, difficult to lay and expensive material is mosaic. However, due to porcelain stoneware mosaics, you can save on its cost, simplify installation and leave the same excellent beauty. According to the complexity of laying, among all other porcelain tiles, mosaic porcelain tiles are the most difficult to lay, but its spectacular decorative look is worth it.

To anyone who has ever dealt with renovation issues, there is no need to explain how big the market for building materials is. And in this diversity it is very easy to get lost. Since in one article it is impossible to tell in detail about all the variety of modern facing building materials, we will pay closer attention to only one type of ceramic granite, the so-called satin porcelain stoneware.

Let's try to make out in its features, let's talk a little about how this species differs from others. And we will try to figure out what are the advantages of its use.

Satin porcelain stoneware is a beautiful and practical building material

To begin with, a few words about what types of ceramic granite are.

For example, matte porcelain tiles. Its surface is not processed after manufacturing, thereby reducing the cost of this facing material.

Next, it is worth mentioning glazed or smalted porcelain stoneware. The name itself suggests how this material is made. Ordinary porcelain tiles are covered with a special glaze or smalt.

And now let's go directly to satin porcelain stoneware.

What is this material, and what are its main features? To obtain tiles from satin porcelain stoneware, a special mineral salt is applied to the base immediately before firing. As a result of these actions, each tile acquires a soft, beautiful sheen, and, most importantly, becomes less slippery and more resistant to wear. Sometimes, such a surface is also treated with wax. In this case, the material can be used for indoor flooring.

But, unfortunately, with all the advantages, satin porcelain stoneware has its drawbacks. In particular, this is its relatively high cost, and a fairly large susceptibility to stress. Best of all, this material is suitable for decorative cladding indoors. For example, walls in the kitchen or bathroom. For the convenience of buyers, manufacturers produce tiles of different sizes, one of the most common is porcelain stoneware 600 by 300 mm. But you can find other sizes on sale. Also, this material lends itself to cutting, which greatly facilitates and expands the scope of its application in the construction business. Among other things, it is impossible not to mention the rich color palette. Since this material is used mainly for decorative work, such a quality should even more firmly fix satin porcelain stoneware in a very high position among finishing building materials.

Porcelain stoneware is a relatively new building material that began to be produced around the 70s of the last century. Its good performance, durability and strength have led to this material being widely used.

Matte porcelain stoneware is widely used for exterior and interior decoration of the house and allows you to create an original design of the room.

What is porcelain stoneware?

Matte porcelain stoneware is one of the most durable facing materials. It is made using a special technology, which guarantees a high level of strength and reliability of the product. Its dimensions can be very different, the shape of the tile is square or rectangular.

• high humidity;
• temperature fluctuations;
• strong pollution.

This material has proven itself well in places with high attendance and the simultaneous presence of a large number of people. Porcelain stoneware has three main types of surface, differing in their main characteristics.

How is porcelain stoneware made?

Porcelain stoneware for the floor receives its characteristics even in the manufacturing process. The technological process of manufacturing this product consists of several stages. The initially prepared mixture, consisting of natural ingredients, is pressed under high pressure.

The resulting product is fired at high temperatures. In the process of firing, the bonds in the structure of the material are destroyed, which contributes to an increase in its strength and reliability.

Main advantages and disadvantages

Before choosing a product, you need to study the main types of porcelain stoneware, advantages and disadvantages, as this will allow you to make the right choice. The main advantages of porcelain stoneware include:

• environmental friendliness;
• abrasion resistance;
• strength;
• low water absorption;
• frost resistance;
• resistance to chemicals;
• fire resistance;
• durability.

It is worth noting that this material has practically no drawbacks. If it is laid in compliance with all the rules and technological requirements, then such a coating will last for a long time, without requiring special care and repairs. However, if the flooring is installed incorrectly, voids can occur between the floor and the tile itself. In this case, its deformation is possible.

What are the types of porcelain stoneware

You can use a variety of types of porcelain stoneware in the interior, but it is often quite difficult to make the right choice, as more and more new and modern varieties of this product appear. Among the main types of porcelain stoneware, it is necessary to highlight:

• building;
• glazed;
• matte;
• semi-polished;
• polished;
• satin;
• structured.

The most affordable and resistant to abrasion is considered to be construction, which is obtained by applying a special glaze to the surface of the tile and subsequent baking. Matte products are not subjected to additional processing, but they are distinguished by a high level of strength.

To obtain its surface, it is treated with special abrasives, which helps to give it a beautiful appearance. Semi-polished porcelain stoneware is obtained by cutting off the matte part of the surface with subsequent processing by polishing. As a result, you can get quite beautiful and unusual tiles.

In the manufacture of a satin product, before firing, mineral salt is applied to the surface of porcelain stoneware, which helps to give the product a unique soft sheen. Structured porcelain stoneware is a product with a relief surface that can imitate almost any material.

Features of the matte texture

Matte porcelain stoneware is one of the most durable tile materials, since it is almost 2 times superior to others in terms of basic strength indicators every year, it is becoming increasingly popular and in demand, since its quality and decorative characteristics are somewhat similar to natural stone.

This product is quite easy to care for, since to maintain an attractive appearance, the coating only needs to be periodically wiped with a damp cloth. This material is resistant to negative climatic conditions and temperature fluctuations, which is why it is suitable even for laying outdoors.

Matte porcelain floor tiles are safer than other types of flooring, as the surface of the tile does not become slippery when water gets in. Therefore, it is ideal for rooms with high humidity. Matte products are considered pure porcelain stoneware, however, despite this, its cost is much lower than that of other types of tiles, and its quality characteristics are higher.

Properties and characteristics of matte tiles

Matte porcelain stoneware does not have a shine, since its surface is not additionally polished or processed after firing. This manufacturing method gives the tile not only a natural look, but also has such qualities as:

• environmental friendliness and hygiene;
• resistance to abrasion and deformation;
• preservation of aesthetic characteristics regardless of the level of load;
• ability to withstand various temperatures;
• minimum porosity and moisture absorption.

This product is characterized by an anti-slip effect, which is why you can be completely sure of safety when mounting it outdoors.

Areas of application of the matte product

When choosing tiles for finishing your home, matte porcelain stoneware can be an ideal option. This is one of the most durable facing materials, which has found wide application in the finishing of exteriors and interiors. The unpolished product is excellent for laying in rooms with high humidity, and is also ideal for use in the most aggressive conditions.

The surface of such a product can be of absolutely any color, since with the help of innovative technologies it is possible to add texture:

• concrete;
• marble;
• fabrics;
• tree;
• skin.

In addition, the product can be decorated with various patterns. Ceramics, which has a wood texture, very accurately imitates parquet or laminate. It is able to serve for a long time and it does not require special care. Tiles imitating granite or marble are just perfect for kitchens, saunas, bathrooms, swimming pools.

Gray matte porcelain stoneware is the best option for decorating a unique interior at an affordable cost. It goes well with interior items made in the style of a loft or minimalism. In addition, it will be a great addition to the Scandinavian style.

This is ideal for flooring, walls, terraces, building facades, stairs.

Rules for the care of matte porcelain tiles

Matte tiles are resistant to aggressive chemicals, which is why a variety of chemical solutions can be used to eliminate pollution. Acidic agents help to eliminate lime, cement, glue residues. They also work well on nicotine, rust and ink stains.

Alkaline solutions help remove vegetable and animal greasy stains, as well as coffee, blood and juice stains. Solvents such as acetone, turpentine and gasoline will help remove wax stains, chewing gum residue, varnish, resins. Stain removers will be able to remove greasy and various colored stains.

If the tile is not very dirty, there are no greasy stains and stains on it, you just need to wipe the surface with a soft sponge dipped in absolutely any detergent. It is advisable to remove all existing contaminants immediately after their formation, as this will simplify the care of porcelain stoneware. Do not wash it too often with products that contain acids, as over time they can destroy the tile joints.

How to choose the right porcelain stoneware?

Before choosing a tile for home decoration, you need to study its technical characteristics. For the kitchen, white matte porcelain stoneware is ideal, which will help to slightly visually raise the low ceiling and enlarge the room.

A dark product and rich color combinations can be used for decoration only if the room is spacious enough. The color of the furniture also plays an important role. If it is light or white, then it is best to choose a dark color for the flooring, otherwise the room will not be very comfortable.

Porcelain stoneware is a relatively young facing material. Compared to ceramic tiles, which were used by the ancestors of our ancestors, it is just a baby. The modest age, however, did not prevent the artificial stone, if not to outdo the older comrade in popularity, then irreverently step on his heels.

The “blame” for the success of ceramic granite should be placed on its extraordinary properties. A consumer who prefers a young tile receives durability, strength, frost resistance, wear resistance, chemical resistance and (in most cases) excellent decorative characteristics. Curiously, porcelain stoneware was the result of a pleasant technological error.

Realizing that "hack-work" led to such fantastic consequences, tile manufacturers have already purposefully developed several types of "stone". Apart from technical porcelain stoneware, intended for facing unpresentable premises, other types of material are very effective. Two of them are particularly impressive. Looking ahead, before the announcement of the details, we note: if the task is to decorate the interior with durable and beautiful tiles, choose satin or smalted porcelain stoneware. Now to the nuances.

Features of satin porcelain stoneware

Everyone has come across polished ceramic granite. Everyone was impressed by the luxurious sheen of the tile. Anyone caught themselves thinking about a rather slippery surface that is not appropriate everywhere. The developers of satin porcelain stoneware not only realized the lack of polishing, but also managed to eliminate the opportunity, retaining all the advantages of the old in a new form.

Satin (otherwise - polished) porcelain stoneware, like almost all other types, has a solid structure. It is characterized by uniformity - the tile is painted over the entire thickness. In this case, the material has a shiny surface. It was not easy to achieve shine without resorting to post-processing of the canvas, but Italian technologists did it. What is the focus?

The raw mass, ready for firing, is superficially treated with transparent mineral salts, which are characterized by different melting points. During heat treatment, salts penetrate into the body of porcelain stoneware to different depths. The process does not violate the functional parameters of the tile at all, the material retains its strength. In this case, the surface acquires original properties.

Unlike polished tiles, satin porcelain stoneware has a subdued sheen. The canvas of polished material looks and feels velvety and somewhat soft. The interior, lined with "satin", acquires a unique style and visual high cost.

Scope of application of satin porcelain stoneware

The most durable and unpretentious in operation ceramic granite is matte. It owes its functional leadership to the absence of post-thermal treatment. Relatively speaking, after the oven - on the counter. In this respect, satin tiles are similar to matte tiles. It is not subjected to subsequent mechanical manipulations, which means that it retains almost all of its impressive properties.

However, chemical treatment with mineral salts adversely affects the ability of the top layer of the tile to resist loading. Therefore, satin porcelain tiles are not recommended to be laid on the floor in places with high traffic. Otherwise, a pleasant unobtrusive shine, for which everything was started, will remain on the soles of numerous passers-by. But not on tiles.

At the same time, polished ceramic granite can be used where it is impossible to lay polished. The semi-gloss surface has significant anti-slip properties. Plus, despite the relative abrasion, the canvas "satin" is quite difficult to scratch. But if small chips and scratches happen, it's not scary - the uniformity of the tile makes the flaws hardly noticeable.

It makes sense to clean satin porcelain tiles more often than matte ones. Abrasive (most often in the form of sand) adversely affects the condition of the tile surface. However, the care of the material is very simple - a small dry and wet cleaning is enough.

The nuances of smalted porcelain stoneware

Smalted ceramic granite stands apart from other types of artificial stone. The remaining types are monolithic and homogeneous, which, in particular, differ from ordinary ceramic tiles. Smalted material, on the contrary, has a nature similar to tiles - it consists of two layers: the body and the glaze. Hence the second name of this tile is glazed porcelain stoneware.

The production technology of "smalt" resembles double pressing. Vitreous waterproof enamel is pressed onto the body of the future porcelain stoneware tile before firing. Refractory glaze can be transparent and colored, which explains the expediency and popularity of smalted porcelain stoneware - it is characterized by a huge variety, in theory no less than that of ordinary ceramics. Thanks to the smalting technology, an endless illustrative palette is open to manufacturers.

One of the varieties of smalted porcelain stoneware is distinguished by the use of special mastics, which partially treat the surface. As a result, spectacular compositions are achieved, the essence of which is the alternation of enameled and untreated areas.

Where is smaltized porcelain stoneware appropriate?

However, decorative advantages smoothly flow into a disadvantage. Despite the strong union of the body and glaze of the tile, in terms of strength, it is inferior to monolithic kramogranite. Of course, the strength of smaltized porcelain stoneware cannot be compared with the strength of tiles - nevertheless, “smalt” has a very powerful base. But it is also impossible to recommend using it in passage places, an intense human flow, as well as mechanical stress of other types, destroys the enamel. Both smalted and satin porcelain stoneware are classified as classes II-IV of the PEI scale. This is a five-point scale that determines the ability of a tile to resist abrasion. The first class corresponds to wall tiles, and the latter, for example, matte porcelain stoneware.

However, each has his own, and glazed porcelain stoneware has a place in worthy interiors. And here his small shortcomings do not matter. In addition, the smalted material is very resistant to aggressive chemicals. This allows it to adequately respond to cleaning agents - the quality of the glaze does not deteriorate.

Glazed ceramic granite is often subjected to rectification - the processing of tile edges in order to obtain ideal right angles. Thus, at the output we have (albeit not always, but often) the potential for seamless installation. The absence of seams is not appropriate in all cases, but there is still a plus - you don’t have to worry about sizing the tiles.

It was not in vain that we described satin and smalt porcelain tiles in one article. Along with structured, these are the most decorative types of artificial stone. Using them in interior decoration - individually or together - you can get an excellent result without any special costs.

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Porcelain stoneware is a building material used for finishing floors and walls. For its production, selected natural materials are used, the special processing of which allows to give it properties that surpass the aesthetic and technical characteristics of natural stone.

A special place among the types of porcelain stoneware is occupied by satin porcelain stoneware, which is distinguished by its shiny surface with a noble sheen and excellent performance. Tiles with a satin surface are among the elite materials, but thanks to the development of technology and the emergence of domestic and Chinese brands, it has become available to a wider population.

Description and benefits of satin tiles

Uniqueness satin tiles due to the deposition on its surface in the final stage of production before annealing of crystals of various mineral salts. Thanks to this, the surface without mechanical processing acquires a natural shine and a velvety heterogeneous texture. This gives the tile a unique style and impressiveness. Many of the benefits of this material are related to the surface performance of satin porcelain stoneware tiles. These include:

• low water absorption;
• wear resistance;
• the surface is not slippery;
• exhibits resistance to chemicals;
• not affected by microorganisms;
• does not emit harmful substances, environmentally friendly;
• easy to clean;
• does not contain foreign inclusions and cracks;
• no static electricity.

Choosing the Right Satin Porcelain Tiles

Thanks to its qualities, satin porcelain stoneware tiles can be used to decorate the bathroom, kitchen, pool. Factors to consider when choosing it are the following:

• The size. The choice of tiles should be linked to the size of the room. In small rooms, large tiles will visually further reduce it. For large rooms, any size options are possible, including their combination.
• Geometry retention. Dimensional errors will distort the pattern and break the symmetry of the tiles, so the correctness of the geometry must be evaluated.
• Quality. In addition to the presence of specks, notches and bruises, the number of which should not exceed an acceptable level, an important indicator of quality is the ratio of weight and thickness of the tile. The weight of a square meter of porcelain stoneware tiles with a thickness of 8-8.5 mm should not be less than 18-19 kg, otherwise the product should be considered as substandard.
• Colour. The choice of color solution is a matter of personal preferences, however, it should be borne in mind that any dirt and dust are more noticeable on a dark surface. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the observance of the same tone of the purchased material.

If you have opted for satin porcelain stoneware, you can use