We choose materials for finishing the bathroom
Technological progress does not stand still, the construction industry also does not lag behind in its development. Every year, more and more new types of building and finishing materials appear, allowing not only to facilitate the work of builders, but also to achieve the best quality and design in the decor of the premises.
In our article, we will tell you: what materials are most popular for a bathroom, in which rooms it is better to use them, and what novelties have appeared recently in this area.
The content of the article
What you need for screed
Almost all types of finishes, except for plastic wall cladding and suspended ceilings, require that the surface be carefully leveled. This is the guarantee of the quality of the subsequent finishing work.
And the first thing you will need after cleaning the surfaces is a primer, or as it is also called - “concrete contact”.
Primers
Without this composition, it is impossible to perform a surface screed qualitatively. The soil provides adhesion of the base surface to the coating applied to it.
If you have hired workers to carry out repairs, make sure that each layer of the surface is primed. Otherwise, not even a year will pass before the plaster begins to crumble, the paint peels off, and the wallpaper sags.
And this applies not only to the bathroom, but to any other room:
- The composition of soil mixtures includes resins, bitumen, oils, adhesive components, as well as substances that accelerate drying. The basis and composition depends on what surfaces they are intended for.
- Mineral-based primers are suitable for processing various types of concrete and bricks. The main link in these formulations is cement.
- Particularly popular are water-soluble primers based on acrylic copolymers. This primer can be called universal.
In addition to brick and concrete, it can also process plaster and painted surfaces. Moreover, the type of paint does not matter. - Alkyd based primer is an indispensable material for finishing a bathroom in a wooden house. It dries instantly, and is used for any wooden surfaces: natural wood, fiberboard, particleboard.
- There are also specialized types of soil: for flooring, for ceilings, waterproofing. The latter type contains antifungal additives, therefore it is recommended for use in rooms with high humidity, which includes a typical bathroom.
Leveling layer
Long gone are the days when plaster mortars were kneaded “by eye”. In two different batches, there could be a different ratio of cement and sand, which immediately affected the quality of the screed.
Modern plaster mortars are sold in dry form, balanced in components, to which only water remains.
So:
- The binder component in such compositions can be both gypsum and cement. Dry gypsum plasters are used for interior decoration of residential premises.
Gypsum easily absorbs moisture, so it is better to use cement-based plaster to align the walls in the bathroom.
- You can align the walls in another way - sheathe the walls with cement-bonded tiles. They are easy to cut, mounted on a wooden crate and are an excellent base for any finishing material.
- This material is waterproof, resistant to fungal damage, does not rot and has a good sound absorption coefficient. Cement slabs are quite durable and do not stratify along the cut line.
Decorative wall decoration
There are several options for such finishes that are different.
Ceramic tile
Whatever you say, tile, despite the complexity of laying it, has been and remains a leader in the decoration of bathrooms for many years. And all because in standard bathrooms from four to six square meters, which have the vast majority of our citizens, a very high level of humidity.
After all, there is no way to ventilate such rooms due to the lack of windows. Ventilation holes in the wall can not cope with their task.
If several people live in the apartment, the bathroom almost does not have time to dry out - hence dampness, fungus. A bathroom material such as tile or glass mosaic, in this case, is a panacea.
So:
- The advantages of ceramic tiles are undeniable: water resistance and tightness of the connection to the wall, long service life, a huge range of textures and colors.
- The quality of tiles in recent years has changed a lot for the better. The technology of its production is based on high-temperature firing, up to 1000 degrees Celsius, and higher.
The raw materials used are very different: sand, clay, feldspar, glass chips and various pigments. - To make a tile body, carefully ground raw materials are mixed into a homogeneous mass, and then molded. The molding operation is carried out by two methods: pressing and extrusion.
- A pressed product is obtained from a highly compacted powder solution, which is fed under a high pressure press. After drying and firing, the tiles are decorated by staining, pigmentation, glazing.
- Extrusion ceramic tiles are obtained by passing the raw material through holes of a certain shape to give it a configuration. If you are interested in this process, you can watch the video.
- The tile acquires all physical and chemical properties during the firing process, which can be single or double. Unglazed products are fired once - they usually have a simple geometric shape, and do not have patterns on the surface.
This is the cheapest option, the price of which contributes to its popularity. - Glazed tiles can be fired once or twice. Before the first firing, glaze is applied, which is a glassy coating. After this procedure, they can apply enamel and burn products a second time.
- As a result of using different variations of raw materials (clay can be of different colors), and a combination of technologies in different versions, manufacturers get completely different types of ceramic and mosaic tiles.
- It can have a structure of different densities - porous or almost glass. For tiles, this is important, the absorption coefficient of moisture and, therefore, the scope of application depend on this characteristic.
- For the installation of indoor floors, low-porous tiles are used: during firing, they undergo increased shrinkage, gaining additional strength.
- Products with increased water absorption are made from a special raw material mixture that does not shrink during firing, which is performed once. This type of tile is the cheapest material for wall decoration in the bathroom or kitchen.
Double-fired ceramic tiles, of course, are more expensive, but the quality of its surface is incomparably better. Enamel over the glaze fills the smallest bubbles and cracks that form during the first firing. Thus, surface quality is improved and product strength is increased.
Tile adhesive
Whatever the quality of the tile you buy, it must be glued so that you can not think about re-repairing for many years.
And this requires good glue, and you should not save on it:
- According to the consistency, the adhesive is divided into two categories: paste-like and dry. Mastic or paste is an aqueous mixture of polymers, resins, fillers and plasticizers.
They are ready for use right away - grab and lay the tiles.Sell mastic in buckets from 1 to 25 kg.
- The principle of hardening of the adhesive paste is the same as for any solution - evaporation of water from the composition. The use of such glue allows you to align the wall along the masonry tiles.
But in this case, its consumption increases, and it is very expensive. Especially if you finish a large area. - Therefore, most builders prefer to use dry adhesives. They are sold in bags of 25 kg.
This is a balanced composition of components, to which you just need to add water in the ratio indicated on the package.
- If you make repairs in the bathroom with your own hands, for the preparation of glue you will need a bucket and a construction mixer. Tile must be laid on a carefully leveled surface.
Affordable cost and versatility of dry adhesives, contributed to their widespread use. Each manufacturer has its own mixture recipe, with a different amount of modifying and binding additives, depending on the conditions of use and the type of surfaces to be bonded.
Grout for joints
Having finished the work of laying the tiles, the seams between them need to be wiped with a special compound. This is necessary not only for aesthetic perception of the surface, grout prevents water from entering the adhesive.
Like glue, it can be dry and pasty.
- Epoxy joint mastics sold in cans contain epoxy and hardener. This grout has high strength, has a high cost and is used mainly in industrial premises.
- At home, dry grouts on a cement basis have found the best application, the color of which can be matched to any shade of the tile. They are simply diluted with water, and a rubber spatula is applied to the joints between the tiles.
About how to dilute the grout with water, the instructions on its packaging will tell.
Painted walls
If your bathroom goes beyond the concept of "typical", and has sufficient area and good ventilation, its design options are expanding significantly.
In this case, materials for wall decoration in the bathroom, you can choose almost any:
- The walls leveled and covered with waterproof soil composition can be simply painted beautifully, as in the photo. Naturally, the paint should not be oil, but water-dispersible, providing a high-quality waterproof coating.
- There are several varieties of such paints, and the most applicable at home are acrylic, latex and silicone. Each of them has a lot of advantages: they dry quickly, are not afraid of moisture and steam.
- Waterborne paints can be almost any color, as well as matte or glossy. The surfaces painted by them are easy to clean: they do not form mold, they can be washed even with detergents.
It is worth noting that in most cases, when the walls of the bathroom are painted, sheathed with wood or pasted with wallpaper, the working area around the bathroom and washbasins is decorated with ceramic tiles. Still, water is water, especially hot.
If it does not destroy the material itself, then it can weaken its connection with the wall. And the bathroom design options, in this case, are increasing.
Other materials
It is possible to apply other materials that are worth knowing about.
Plastic
The second most popular after ceramic tiles can be considered plastic. This is the cheapest waterproof material.
They finish walls and ceilings - a fairly wide range of colors allows you to create a good interior. But with a variety of ceramic tiles, the assortment of plastic panels is certainly not comparable.
This is a budget option.
Wall linoleum
Most of our citizens have never heard of such material. Outwardly, it is very similar to the floor version, but it is a thin synthetic panel without a fabric base.
Naturally, he is not afraid of moisture and therefore does not rot. For its installation, special glue is required, and the gluing process is impossible without heating.
The work is quite laborious, and the material is expensive. In this regard, this novelty has not gained much popularity in the vastness of our country.
Pasting the walls
The walls of a spacious bathroom can be decorated by gluing wallpaper or self-adhesive film. There are many varieties of wallpapers for which humidity is not afraid - these are non-woven, vinyl wallpapers, silk-screen printing.
In particular, fiberglass wallpaper is in this regard.
Some materials for the decoration of bathrooms are used only as an additional decor, in order to avoid the monotony of the interior. In addition to those options that we have already told you about here, you can also include a tree.
For decor, mosaic panels, plates made of natural stone, even ordinary sea pebbles are also used. The choice of material is made based on the preferences of the customer and his financial capabilities.
The main thing is that everything should be done with high quality, then you will not have to regret the money and time spent.
