Among the most resistant and versatile materials that can be used for floors and coverings is the porcelain stoneware. Sold in tiles of different shapes and sizes, it offers awide possibility of customization. Furthermore, thanks to its excellent characteristics, it lends itself excellently to being used in all domestic environmentsfrom the bedroom of the little ones to the kitchen, as well as in offices, shops and so on.
The reasons for choosing this material are truly numerous. Let’s see what they are and how to identify the solutions best suited to your needs.
>> Are you interested in articles like this? Click here, it’s free
Porcelain stoneware: what type of material is it
Porcelain stoneware is a non-porous ceramic material which is obtained by cooking the clay and feldspar mixture at very high temperatures, until vitrification.
Extremely hard and compactthis material is sold in monochrome slabs or tiles, enriched with decorative patterns or imitating other materials. It is the latter in particular that have decreed the current success of this material, as it allows the creation of floorings and coverings that perfectly imitate wood, marble, stone, concrete and other materials, but which, at the same time, allow you to benefit from the characteristics unique to stoneware.
The characteristics of porcelain stoneware
But what are these characteristics? First of all, porcelain stoneware tiles have, according to UNI standards, a water absorption coefficient less than 0.5%. This makes them highly waterproof and resistant to rain, steam and humidity. Other notable characteristics of this material include:
- the excellent level of hardness;
- flexibility;
- longevity;
- high resistance to scratches, impacts and trampling;
- resistance to chemical agents;
- the high level of hygiene.
In addition to this, porcelain stoneware is fireproof And It resists frost and UV rays perfectly.
Porcelain stoneware floors and walls: the advantages
The excellent characteristics of this material allow you to immediately understand the advantages it can offer when used for flooring and coverings.
It is in fact capable of last a long time without getting damagedeven when used in humid environments subject to high levels of foot traffic or in homes where pets are present. By choosing the right tiles, it turns out a lot long-lasting even when used outdoorsfor example for the flooring of a terrace or courtyard. The absence of installation and resistance not only to humidity, but also to chemical agents, make it easy to clean and sanitizereducing the risk of mold forming; characteristics that confirm it also perfect for the little ones’ bedroom.
The high resistance to UV rays, which can neither deform nor discolour it, makes it also suitable for walls and floors placed near large windowswhile the great availability of styles and motifs guarantees maximum possibility of customize the rooms as you like.
Finally, the fact that it can be used for both floors and coverings – but also for kitchen worktops, finishes and so on – helps to make the different rooms of the house more homogeneous, elegant and hospitablestarting with the bathroom and kitchen.
How to choose porcelain stoneware tiles for your home
Specialized e-commerce sites such as Leroy Merlin have a vast assortment of porcelain stoneware tiles for floors and coverings. To identify the most suitable ones for your home it is possible, at first, to take the design into account, so as to carry out an initial screening. Depending on the style of the furnishings and the effect you want to achieve, you can focus on marble effect tiles, stone effect, metal effect or on those that they imitate parquet planks.
Of course, this is just the starting point. Although the aesthetic aspect is fundamental, it is not sufficient to identify the right tiles. For this reason, the next step will have to consist of read and carefully evaluate the characteristics of the tiles of interest in order to identify those that best adapt to different environments.
For example, for rooms that have a high level of foot traffic, it is better to focus on tiles with a high abrasion resistancewhile for humid environments and outdoor areas it is essential to take into account the slip coefficientcalculated according to the BCRA friction test or DIN 51130.
So, if you want to install this type of flooring in living room and you usually have many guests, or you have pets, it is better to choose tiles with a high level of resistance to wear and abrasion, while for the bathroom and the kitchen it is advisable to take into account, first of all, factors such as waterproofness and slip coefficient. As for the bedroomsa good solution to further increase the level of hygiene, reducing the number and width of the inevitable joints that are created between the tiles, is to choose large tiles with rectified edges.
