How to choose a tile on the floor to the balcony

Tiles on the floor to the balcony - one of the best flooring options for such a hostile environment, especially if your balcony is unheated or unglazed in general.

Tile - quite durable finishing material. She is not afraid of any moisture, or strong temperature drops, which are not uncommon even on glazed balconies. Therefore, this material is so often used on the balcony.

• Tiled flooring is not afraid of water, that is, snow and rain will not destroy it, but the right type of tile will not allow you to slip.
• This coating is easy to clean, it is easy to wash, and dirt from the balcony will not reach into the apartment.
• A great variety of ornaments and colors will help you choose it according to your desires and under any interior.
• The tile can be easily mounted on the "warm floor".

There are several options for floor tiles, but are they all suitable for laying on a balcony?

• Ceramic tile. It consists of clay, sand and water.This type has several types, but the material with single roasting is suitable for the floor. It is more reliable. Ceramic tiles are made in a huge variety of colors and patterns. But the glossy finish here is hardly suitable. It is slippery and with accumulated condensate, which often happens on cold balconies, you can fall on it. Therefore, it is better to choose a rough surface.

• Porcelain tiles. This type of flooring is very strong and durable, can withstand heavy loads. Excellent even for unglazed balconies, as porcelain stoneware tiles are frost-resistant. But still, if your bay window is open, it is better to lay a coating with anti-slip effect on it.

• Clinker tiles. It copes well with changes in temperature and humidity. Its properties are not inferior to porcelain. It has a different shape that will help create an original covering on the floor of your balcony. But the colors are mainly in beige and burgundy. You will rarely find clinker with an interesting pattern, if at all you can find one like that.

• Cotto tile. In its appearance and parameters it is very similar to the previous one.But it has a greater variety of forms and textures, with the help of which you can create a very original floor on your balcony.

Types of styling is also a great choice. And the way in which the tiled flooring is laid can give the floor and the balcony as a whole a very non-standard look.

1. Classical. All floor elements are laid parallel to the wall. In this way it is not difficult to lay the cover yourself. The main thing is to comply with clear lines of interfacial seams and their width, and this is not difficult to do with the help of special beacons.
2. Diagonal. This will require additional consumption of tiles, since the extreme elements will have to be cut. This type is difficult to install, requires some skill. But this coating will visually help to increase the area of ​​the balcony.
3. In the run.According to this method, the flooring is laid in the form of brickwork - a very original way. It is better to use a rectangular tile, although the squares will look good. You can place it on the floor both horizontally and diagonally.
4. Herringbone. This type of laying imitates parquet, looks good if the tile has a wood pattern.
5. Chess. Used tiles in two colors. It is laid out in the likeness of a chessboard. Usually the method of laying here choose the first or second.
6. Kaleidoscope. Here you can create different patterns on the floor using a different shade of coating. The main thing is to correctly combine colors and texture to create a single composition.

The tile on the floor can be laid with your own hands, especially if you are not going to make panels on the floor.

For the classic styling method you will need:

• pencil;
• roulette;
• building level;
• mallet (rubber hammer);
• tile cutter;
• notched and ordinary spatulas;
• a clean sponge and a small rubber trowel for grouting;
• beacons for laying tiles;
• tile adhesive;
• primer.

Initially, you need to clean the floor from dust and debris.This is best done with a vacuum cleaner. If you are going to install a warm floor, then it is imperative to warm it and put a layer of waterproofing so that it does not close the wiring from moisture.

Then make laying electrical heating, level and ground the surface. Leave to dry completely. It takes about 72 hours.

To prepare the glue you need to use the instructions on the package. Glue is better to add to the water, and not vice versa. This is due to the fact that it will be easier to mix and the dry, unmixed mixture will not remain at the bottom, and there will be more moisture in the lower layers, which will extend the drying time of the glue in the container. After the first batch, wait 10 minutes and mix the glue again. So he will get more grip.

Laying starts from the far corner. Apply the glue on the floor and on the tile itself. Glue one sample on the floor and make the markup. We draw two perpendicular lines on the sides of the tile. In this way, you align the rows clearly. Next, lay the tiles in order. At the same time, check the level of laying with the building level and, if necessary, tap the mallet.Glue during laying on the floor should be applied, grabbing the area, a larger tile size. After the coating is fully laid, it is necessary to wait for the glue to dry.

The final stage is grouting. The mixture can be chosen either in the color of the floor covering, or to create a contrast. The second option will help to visually expand the space of the balcony.

We produce a grout with a rubber trowel, it will help fill all the grooves in the tile joints. Wet sponge removes all unnecessary. It is necessary to wait for the solution to dry well, then clean the flooring.