Metlakh tiles: application in interior design. What are Metlakh tiles, what are their pros and cons? stage - Grouting

Every year at least a dozen new varieties of finishing materials appear on the finishing materials market. Some of them are successfully replacing the old ones with better technical characteristics and performance indicators.

But this is not always the case. For example, Mettlach tiles appeared more than a century ago in the German city of Mettlach (hence its name) and still remains one of the most popular types of tiles.

It was made from multi-colored porcelain and was used mainly in the decoration of palaces, for which it received its second name - “Victorian”.

What is this article about?

Metlakh tiles - manufacturing features

Refractory clay is used as a raw material for tiles. In Russia, the main place of its production is the Dmitrovsky quarry. The main factories producing the product are located in its district.

Tiles are formed from this clay, different forms and standard sizes, then glaze is applied to it and sent to ovens, where it is baked in a temperature range from 1100 to 1300 degrees.

Due to the powerful compaction, the resulting product becomes wear-resistant and can withstand a large number of freezing cycles, which allows its installation not only in residential premises, but also in various administrative and public buildings.

Technical parameters and advantages

Those who already know what metlakh tiles are in use note their high strength, color fastness, and ease of maintenance.

Even heavy objects installed on its surface and regularly moved do not cause cracks or scratches on the material. Many experts recommend it for use in those places where significant operating load is regularly practiced.

Also, the material is practically non-porous, so Metlakh floor tiles are used not only for tiling indoors, but also outdoors. The same quality makes it possible to install it in rooms with strict hygiene requirements.

If we talk in more detail about its technical coefficients, the following parameters should be highlighted:

On the Mohs coating hardness scale - 7 units out of 10 possible for tiles;
Hydrophobicity from 0.1 to 0.5%;
The bending strength is also high - 250 kgf/sq.m. cm;
Water absorption is 0.1-0.5%. These indicators allow installation even in places with extremely high humidity and temperature fluctuations - in swimming pools, baths, saunas;
Thermal stability meets existing standards - this is the ability of a tile to withstand a certain stress during dimensional deformation as a result of a sharp change in the temperature range;
Strength to deep scratches- 2.4 cm;
Pressure endurance - 3200-5550 kg/cm2;
Frost resistance - 150 cycles at temperatures from −15 to +25 according to research results. Lower temperatures have not been formally tested in laboratory tests;
Acid resistance is higher than standard values - 97.71;
Compressive strength - 90.8 MPa kg/cm2;
High void wear resistance;
Coloring elements penetrate almost the entire depth of porcelain tiles, which suggests high resistance to UV rays.

All these technical indicators have been tested in practical application. For example, Metlakh ceramic tiles in historical interiors are in excellent condition. ancient buildings capital and St. Petersburg, in the palace premises of the Victorian era, century-old factories and factories.

Sizes and shapes

Metlakh tiles can be patterned, glossy, grooved and even grainy. It can be plain or with a pattern.

Its shapes are also varied - rectangular, triangular, cross-shaped, square, octagonal.

Size range - 6.5-15 cm.

Its thickness is 6-8 mm.

Areas of use

As mentioned above, the possibilities of application of this product, are practically unlimited.

Floors in residential premises, administrative, industrial, public buildings;
Swimming pools, baths, saunas, bathrooms;
Facades;
Arrangement of garden paths, terraces, porches.

Step-by-step installation

Metlakh floor tiles are no more difficult to install than regular ones, except for the fact that even in one pack, the products may differ slightly in size from each other. It also freely allows you to combine prints, shapes and sizes, thereby achieving the effect of an incredibly beautiful, exotic tiled carpet.

Stage 1 - Preparing the base

It is very important to prepare the surface thoroughly, since you have chosen such an expensive type of tile, it must lie perfectly. Therefore, the surface must be carefully leveled, excluding differences, cleaned and primed.

Stage 2 - Layout

At this stage, you need to lay out the tiles on the floor from the central point of the plane, and also, if the pattern is complex and was selected independently, create a preliminary drawing of the arrangement of the elements.

Please note that the seam gap to achieve the greatest effect should be no more than 2 mm. These steps will allow you not to spoil the specified floor print and simplify the work of creating a specific layout.

Stage 3 - Installation

Laying begins with large elements if different-sized products are used.

Adjustment of the thickness gauge occurs by increasing or decreasing the adhesive layer.

Do not forget to regularly check the evenness of the coating with a level.

Stage 4 - Curbs

Borders are laid from the corner to the center. If trimming is required, this must be done with a special machine and a disc for cutting porcelain stoneware.

Stage 5 - Grouting

If you are laying out a colorful carpet, the grout for the seams should be plain and dim.

First, clean the joints from dust and degrease them. Then use a brush or spray to wet the seams.

The mastic is applied with a rubber spatula, compacting it into the surface so that there are no gaps left.

When the grout is dry, moisten it slightly with water to prevent cracking.

Caring for Metlakh tiles

Caring for such tiles is easy. Especially if Metlakh tiles are of high quality and laid correctly, there will be no need to repair or replace parts for a long time, at least 50 years.

To ensure long-lasting paint, wash the coating with warm water and add vinegar (a glass to a bucket of liquid) or use specialized household chemicals.

Market building materials today offers buyers all sorts of housing design options: from the unimaginable color shades to new products with unusual structures. However, many to this day are admirers of proven building materials, so to speak, classic ones. Metlakh tiles can be called classics, which has been a worthy decoration of floors and walls for decades different rooms. And if in distant Soviet years this ceramic tile could not boast of rich color scheme, then today the imagination of manufacturers has no limits.

What it is?

Small ceramic tiles of various shapes appeared on the construction market more than 100 years ago and became an indispensable element of interior decor in those days. The tile contains porcelain, so after painting and firing at a temperature of 1200 degrees, it acquires a surprisingly durable structure comparable to porcelain stoneware. Pigment is added to the mixture from which the tiles are made, resulting in an almost natural, natural color. Then manufacturers apply a decorative design to the resulting material - lower the model into a container of paint or use a method reminiscent of silk-screen printing.

As a result, when the tile is completely laid, its pattern becomes similar to a carpet. Thanks to the capabilities of Metlakh tiles, they can be used in any style, but an interior with an oriental motif is an ideal “environment” for this type of design. It will ideally fit into a design with a predominance of geometric patterns - zigzag, Christmas tree, diamonds or squares, and in different rooms - in the corridor, bathroom, kitchen and even living room.

History of creation

Small-sized ceramic tiles appeared more than 100 years ago in Germany, in the city of Mettlach, receiving the appropriate name. It was produced at the Villeroy & Boch factory. Having appeared on the banks of the Rhine, it was actively used in Great Britain, and the most famous plant for its production is located in France - Winckelmans. At one time, the style when high-quality tiles were used in rooms was called Victorian. Metlakh tiles were especially popular during the era of Queen Victoria.

What sets it apart from its competitors is its small size and high strength., which allows designers to achieve amazing designs with rich colors.

To this day, French manufacturers use hundred-year-old traditions in the production of broomstick, which is apparently why the number of fans of such tiles is not decreasing. There is a factory producing Metlakh tiles in Portugal, but in Russia Portuguese tiles can be found very rarely.

Metlakh tiles came to Russia only in the 19th century and firmly gained popularity among lovers of beauty and durability. Palaces, apartments, and government institutions were decorated with it.

In an era of total shortage, durable Metlakh tiles were almost the only decoration of government institutions: they were used in hospitals and schools. The only drawback of the decor was its dull color - it was believed that stains and stains of dirt would stand out on it.

Today we can enjoy Russian-made tiles. The EuroCeramics plant that produces it was built in Pechora back in Soviet times. In quality it is not inferior to its Western counterparts, but in price - Russian tiles, the size of which is 300x300x20 mm, are much cheaper - about 200 rubles per meter.

For comparison, Western-made tiles reach 20 euros per square meter. Moreover, few of the imported manufacturers can boast of century-old technology.

Properties

Many floor coverings have excellent characteristics in terms of wear resistance, but Metlakh tiles have no equal. According to experts, main reason This means complete sintering of the material. Therefore, such a coating is not afraid of moisture; you can place heavy things on it, as well as move large objects along it. Metlah is absolutely resistant to chemicals and shows no signs of corrosion. The tiles are not afraid of temperature changes and are frost-resistant.

True, many people call any small tile “broom”, often even cement tiles, sometimes large mosaics, however Real ceramics, made in the best traditions of a hundred years ago, have the following characteristics:

The composition includes clay and water.
It is not covered with glaze.
Made from refractory clay at high firing temperatures.
It has a very low water absorption coefficient - 0.1-0.5%, whereas in Europe these standards are about 0.6%.
The color of the tiles is uniform; they are usually painted one color.

To this day, during archaeological research, church buildings are found whose walls were laid with these tiles, and they have retained fairly decent quality. Such characteristics allow the tiles to be used as a facing material for floors and walls both inside and outside the building.

Advantages and disadvantages

The following advantages of Metlakh tiles can be highlighted:

Amazing strength and color fastness. This statement is supported by the fact that a considerable number of hundred-year-old European buildings are still decorated with Metlakh tiles to this day.
Ideal frost resistance - after repeated experiments it was proven that ceramic tiles can withstand about 300 cycles of freezing at low temperatures and the reverse process - thawing.
The moisture resistance of broom allows it to be used not only for buildings, but also for rooms with high humidity - bathrooms, swimming pools and even baths.

This facing material can be used to cover both fireplaces and stoves, since the broom does not contain synthetic materials and when heated, the tiles do not emit fumes harmful to human health.
The tiles can withstand a weight of 380 to 450 kg per cm².
This material is not susceptible to scratches and does not wear out over time.
The price of tiles is quite affordable and affordable for everyone.

The most significant drawback of this tile is its coldness. The floor covered with it is very unpleasant to the touch, and walking on it barefoot is uncomfortable.

Another point is that tiles are quite inconvenient to cut using a tile cutter. Some ordinary people believe that material such as brooms is outdated and is being replaced by more sophisticated analogues.

Kinds

The Russian plant "EuroCeramics" is practically the only one in our country that produces high-quality acid-resistant ceramic tiles. It is very inexpensive and is used in almost all technical premises.

The material used is resistant to all kinds of chemical solutions and in various auto repair shops, sanitary facilities, lobbies, restrooms. Many facing materials, which are exposed to technical oil or alkali, inevitably lose their presentable appearance, unlike a broom.

The tiles were tested in a solution of 70% sulfuric acid, where the tile samples were kept for more than twenty days, after which the experts were able to verify that none of its technical characteristics “lost” their positions: neither the color nor the shape changed.

Today, many manufacturers produce tiles that look very similar to Metlakh, the so-called imitation. Not every factory can afford to use the technology of century-old German masters, so ceramics, which have some qualities similar to real brooms, are quite often found on the shelves of hardware stores.

Eg, Italian manufacturers We are ready to offer customers an interior design option that imitates Metlakh tiles - from plain ones to those decorated with various geometric patterns.

There are several types of Metlakh cladding. Thin - when the cut surface at the fracture line is smooth and uniform. In the production of rough tiles, the surface consists of large, granular inclusions.

Today, manufacturers create ceramics in various ways:

Casting. Tiles obtained through the process of pouring the alloy into special molds and then drying and firing it have a drawback - they are obtained of different thicknesses, and the manufacturer has to reject a considerable amount of products.
Pressing. Clay, water and special additives are pressed under strong pressure, then tiles of the required size are cut from the resulting raw materials. As a result, it turns out to be porous and is often laid on the floor.
Extrusion. The raw material in this production process is obtained using a so-called mouthpiece and has the shape of a ribbon. Then it is cut and sent for firing. Special equipment allows you to adjust the thickness and size of the tiles.

Dimensions

Despite the usual small-format shape of the broom, its sizes do not always repeat each other. Externally, the tile resembles a mosaic.

Today, manufacturers are ready to offer us ceramics in sizes from 3.5 to 15 cm. The sides of a rectangle, for example, can be 48 mm and 23 mm. As for thickness, it can be 200, 300 and 350 mm. The width according to GOST ranges from 200 to 300 mm.

The shape of the broom can be hexagons, triangles, squares and rectangles, as well as crosses.

True, some manufacturers do not always adhere to GOST standards and offer us tiles of different sizes - from 65x65 to 150x150 mm. The thickness of such tiles is from 6 to 11 mm.

Colors and design

When choosing brooms, think not only about fashionable design trends, but also about the practical aspects of its use:

Light colors will visually expand the room. In addition to white, these can be blue and pink tones, beige and light yellow.
Any stains will be less noticeable on dark tiles, which also have a grainy structure.
When choosing a color, keep in mind the lighting in the room and harmonious combination colors.
If you lay the elements at right angles, each of them will appear to be a different shade.
If your room is illuminated by several lamps, then different tones of the cladding can take on completely different tones.
Burgundy and burgundy go well beige colors, like the classic ones - black and white.

Metlakh tiles will surprise all lovers of sophistication and style. Indescribable patterns on the walls and floor will create a unique atmosphere. If you want to place a panel on the floor in your cozy kitchen, then honeycomb-shaped hexagons covering part of the floor will create a unique sophisticated style modern This arrangement will make it possible to zone the open space in a very original way.

The black and white checkerboard pattern in the living room is a classic of the genre. Decorative floor finishing with Metlakh tiles is an opportunity to choose as a single color high-quality coating, and patterns of unique shapes. Bright geometric figures on the floor, greeting you in the corridor or lobby, will create a festive mood.

Brooms are also perfect for decorating the so-called apron on modern kitchen. Bright hexagons with intricate patterns printed on them will certainly decorate the interior of the room.

Due to its wear resistance, this cladding is also suitable for open veranda, as a result of which you can “revive” the space in front of the entrance.

A ceramic “carpet” made from Metlakh tiles will become perfect coverage in your bathroom - thanks to its qualities and color stability, you will not have to worry about water getting on the floor. By the way, if you really liked floor tiles, and you need to line the walls, you can safely use a broomstick: it is much stronger and will perfectly complement the interior of the premises.

Editorial Radmi.ru

In contact with

Metlakh tiles have gained wide popularity and fame due to their unique beauty, amazing durability and impeccable functionality. The first examples of this decorative material appeared about 125 years ago and since then, it remains one of the most popular options for facing tiles. So, why are products of such “ancient” technology still able to compete on equal terms with cutting-edge building materials? Let's move on to a detailed consideration of this issue.

History of creation

The peak demand and prevalence of Metlakh tiles occurred during the era of early industrialization (mid-19th century). She even became one of distinctive features, which arose a little later than eclectic retrospectivism in the Victorian style. Possessing an exceptional combination of wear resistance and picturesqueness, Metlakh tiles were actively used for decorating both luxury apartments and small areas, palaces, train stations, theaters and factories.

Nowadays, fragments of ancient decoration created from extravagant Mettlah tiles can be seen in many popular historical places, for example, in the Bolshoi Theater, the Hamburg metro, the Cologne Cathedral, etc. In addition, it was used in the design of cabins and reception halls at the famous "Titanic". During recent deep-sea explorations, numerous fragments of this particular finishing material were recovered from the sunken liner.

Curious! The tile got its name in honor of the German city of Mettlach, where the first large-scale production of ceramic products was established in the middle of the last century. Today, the classic production, which has preserved all the original manufacturing stages unchanged, can be visited in the south of France!

Application

The main area where Metlakh tiles are actively used is the decorative finishing of public places and large private houses. By operational characteristics the tile is almost identical to durable porcelain stoneware, but in terms of decorative parameters, it significantly surpasses it. It can easily boast of a variety of colors, patterns and shapes. Thanks to these advantages, Metlakh tiles transform the floor into a real work of art, which retains its original beauty for three to four decades.

Of all the options, the most popular is Metlakh tiles for flooring, which have extraordinary properties that ensure its long service life without noticeable damage.

In the interior of any room, Metlakh tiles will create a unique exclusivity that creates a creative ambiance. For example, in the bathroom it will successfully resist water splashes from the sink, shower or tap, in the kitchen it will easily withstand regular temperature changes and fluctuations in humidity levels, and in the entrance area it will prevent the spread of street dirt. This finishing material will also be appropriate in a restaurant, small office or boutique, where it will create a unique atmosphere.

Concerning country houses, then verandas, terraces and porches are covered with Metlakh tiles. The material is not afraid of heavy loads, rain, heat, snow and frost. If you decorate with metlakh tiles local area(paths, paths, barbecue area), then it will turn into a spectacular place for relaxation and entertainment.

Thanks to a fairly wide variety of colors and shapes, Metlakh tiles can be used advantageously not only to create decorative cladding walls and unique floor coverings, but even for the purpose of decorating furniture.

Manufacturing technology

Despite industrial progress and ample opportunities modern manufacturers manufacturing technology remains unchanged. The main component for the production of Metlakh tiles is special high-strength clay.

After molding, the clay blanks are covered with a layer of glaze and placed in an oven, where they are fired at a temperature of 125-140°C. During implementation heat treatment glaze and clay are sintered so tightly that the product acquires amazing wear resistance, durability, and resistance to the destructive effects of aggressive chemical compounds. These qualities also allow the tiles to be used on streets, factories and public places.

It seems unrealistic that throughout its one and a half century history no modifications have been made to the production process other than an increase in ornamentation options and an expansion of the color range. Simply put, the tiles have become richer and better quality without losing their advantages, while losing almost all of their disadvantages.

Some enthusiastic craftsmen are trying in various ways to learn all the secrets of the original recipe in order to create primary tile samples. Their products are absolutely identical to the options used during the reign of Queen Victoria. As a rule, most of it is used during restoration work in archaic buildings.

Classification

It was noted above that Metlakh tiles are very similar to porcelain tiles in their performance qualities. But it has a more diverse (shape, colors) and extensive model range. The sizes of the tiles vary from 3.0 to 14.5 cm, and the shape is always classic - square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, and sometimes octagon.

A large assortment of shapes and sizes of Metlakh tiles gives the opportunity to lay out patterns of the rarest beauty, as well as transform the floor into a unique work of art.

According to the production method, there are cast, pressed and extruded tiles.

There is also a division into coarse or fine ceramics. The difference is clearly visible on the fault: coarse - has a fine-grained surface, and fine - the structure is smooth, homogeneous.

The main classification is based on the technical characteristics of the tile and is a wear resistance coefficient on the four-stage Mohs scale.

It helps to decide on the choice of specific tiles for the room, when the approximate daily load on the floor is known.

Modern industrial enterprises produce four classes of products that differ in wear resistance:

1st strength class - this option is the most “gentle”. Such Metlakh tiles can be laid exclusively in residential premises in the most remote areas from front door premises. It is better to walk on floors with such a covering in slippers with soft soles.

Wear resistance class 2 - more durable than the previous version. It is used in places with average daily traffic, where direct contact with the tiled surface when entering from the street is excluded. This best option for hospital wards, kindergartens, bathrooms and other similar premises.

Tiles of the 3rd strength class are suitable for installation in corridors, kitchens, and hallways. This option has a high strength coefficient and is capable of safely removing sand, clay, soil and other contaminants. The surface of the material does not crack, is resistant to scratches and retains its original appearance for a long time.

Strength class 4 is the most stable option that can withstand damaging factors long time. It is used in public buildings and structures with significant traffic, for example, theaters, supermarkets, shopping centers, large banks, etc. In addition, fourth class tiles are often laid on the terraces of townhouses, country cottages and in garages.

Properties and Features

Metlakh tiles, thanks to the optimal formulation of the composition and competent technology production, has a number of exceptional features and unique properties:

Color stability - achieved thanks to uniform distribution coloring pigment throughout the entire volume of the tile and subsequent sintering with clay during firing;

Durability - high stability to destructive influences;

Endurance - the finishing material is not afraid of hail, rain, frost, snow, etc. It has amazing resistance to alkalis, saline solutions and acids;

Strength - the tiles have amazing hardness, which determines the ability to withstand enormous pressure;

Versatility - Metlakh flooring is used not only indoors, but also outdoors.

Besides, wide choose colors allows you to lay out almost any ornament or pattern on the floor.

Exquisite selection

When the need arises for sophisticated design, noble interior and floors with excellent performance parameters, you should choose flooring from metlakh tiles. With its help, you can create non-standard, eccentric colored carpets that decorate the floor and form a single harmony in the overall interior of the room.

Metlakh tiles are intended for decorative design floor or walls. Such tiles were produced back in ancient times. We’ll talk about it today.

Thanks to its excellent performance, today it is also used in some enterprises of the country. For a long time, Metlakh tiles have not lost any of their popularity.

Nowadays, not only apartments and houses are decorated with it, but also painted carpets are made in museums and other important institutions.

This video will tell you about the pros and cons, as well as the use of Metlakh tiles:

Advantages and disadvantages

Why is this product so in demand? The secret lies in his positive qualities. So, Metlakh tiles:

Universal. Tiles are used everywhere: indoors, on buildings, for... Fresh air and precipitation will not be able to harm the metlakh coating. Multiple options for shapes and colors of tiles allow you to create original and never-before-seen designs.
Natural. The composition of the tiles includes water and natural high-strength.
Durable. Thanks to special technology, Metlakh tiles are very hard. Even the heaviest object falling will not be able to damage it. It turns out that the heaviest loads are not terrible for the Metlakh carpet.
Durable. The initially laid coating will retain its appearance and color for a very long time. This property is achieved through deep impregnation with color pigments. With their help, after firing, the product turns into a single whole that is not capable of losing its qualities.
Multitasking. The tile is good for both interior decoration, and for outdoor. Metlakh tiles will help you create various and bold patterns on the surface.
Hardy. The tile is well suited for exterior finishing. Snow, hail, rain, and wind are not scary for her. If we take others for comparison, then Metlakh tiles resist acid and alkali best of all.
Reliable. Metlakh tiles are reliable in terms of operation. It can be easily used in rooms with a large concentration of devices and people.
Availability. The building material is accessible to absolutely all segments of the population in terms of price.

This, in every sense positive coverage, has several disadvantages:

Difficulty in installation. Create an interesting design drawing from such tiles to an ordinary person will be problematic.
Difficult to cut with a tile cutter.
Old fashioned style. Many people don’t like the antique look of the tiles.

Metlakh tiles in the interiors of different rooms (photo)

Bar Bath Living room Kitchen Hallway Hall

Kinds

Metlakh tiles have several types, which depend on the production method.

First view: cast tiles. This tile has a significant drawback: the resulting products have different thicknesses, as a result, when laying the coating, the lion's share of the products is sent to waste. It's all about production technology. The raw materials are poured into special molds, then dried and sent to the kiln for firing.
Second type: pressed tiles. The products are made from powdered clay, water (no more than 6%) and special additives. During the manufacturing process, the mixture is pressed under pressure and then cut into shapes of the required size. Pressed tiles have a porous structure. These tiles are often used for flooring.
Third type: extruded tiles. This is the most best view tiles It is obtained using a mouthpiece through which the raw material passes, forming a ribbon. After this, the tape is cut into pieces and fired in a kiln. The thickness and size of the tiles can be adjusted using the settings.

Appearance

Describing appearance tiles, we can say that they look like mosaics. The tile can be in the shape of a square or rectangle.

The sides of the tile can be 48 mm and 23 mm.
The thickness of Metlakh tiles can be from 6 to 8 mm.
And it can also be multifaceted. The number of edges can be 3, 5, 6 and 8. The length of the edges is usually from 50 to 150 mm, thickness 10-13 mm.

The front part of the tile can be smooth, embossed or embossed. The color of the tiles can be a single color (for example, gray, red or yellow), or they can have several shades with patterns.

Role in the interior

Metlakh tiles allow you to bring to life quite bold and original design solutions. Its shape allows architects to create various stylistic compositions on the floor or walls.

Metlakh tiles are successfully used for finishing baths, corridors and kitchens. Because of its practicality and durability, Metlakh carpet is used to lay hospital corridors, hotel halls, reception areas of administrative buildings and other crowded places.

Composition and properties

To produce Metlakh tiles, high-strength clay, water and coloring pigments are used. This raw material is mixed and sent for formation. Here it is important to control the quality of the supplied raw materials.

The produced Metlakh tiles are characterized by the following properties:

Frost resistance. The tile is easy to resist low temperatures and chemical influences.
Fire resistance. The tiles are not damaged by high temperatures.
Environmental friendliness. Metlakh tiles do not emit toxic substances when cold or hot.
Water resistance. The material perfectly resists moisture.
Resistance to aggressive influences. The material easily withstands the effects of alkali and acids.

Application and production

Good performance indicators have made it possible to use Metlakh tiles for finishing the floors and walls of restaurants, cafes, shops, and ordinary houses. It is well suited for decorating porches, garden paths and gazebos. This coating will add zest to any interior.

The tiles have earned good characteristics thanks to old and special production technology. A special glaze is applied to the formed raw material (the layer must be strong enough), after which the products are sent to the oven, where they are sintered at a very high temperature (at least 1200º). As a result, the tile receives excellent density. It provides the coating with the declared characteristics.

Read below about analogues of Metlakh tiles.

This video will tell you how Metlakh tiles are made:

Tile analogues

Metlakh tiles are made from special raw materials and using complex technology. Therefore, there are no 100% analogues of these products.

But Metlakh tiles can be replaced with Carra ceramic facing tiles (manufactured by Euroceramics) and. These materials have slightly similar properties.

Laying

Laying a complex metlakh carpet can only be done by professional craftsmen. The process is complex and painstaking. A beginner clearly cannot handle it.

Equipment and raw materials

During the work you will need:

Metlakh tiles in sufficient quantity to fully realize the conceived idea.
The base is tile adhesive or.
Special grout.
Trowel with teeth 3-6 mm.
Machine for porcelain stoneware (not in all cases).

Technology

Laying of Metlakh tiles should take place in the following sequence:

Surface preparation. The tiles must be laid on a perfectly level base. Therefore, any, even slight, difference in height must be eliminated. The durability of the coating will be extended by pre-made concrete screed and waterproofing the base. If metlakh tiles are laid outdoors, then a frost-resistant base will need to be laid underneath.
Surface measurement. It is very important to measure the entire area of the masonry with bends, protrusions and doorways. Next, you need to determine the center of the base and draw center lines from it in different directions.
Pre-layout. You need to complete one horizontal and one vertical row. Here it is necessary to leave a gap of 1 mm between the metlakh tiles. After this, you can adjust the position of each tile. Laying out is carried out without glue.
Applying glue and laying out tiles. A trowel is used for these purposes. The adhesive must be suitable for the material being fixed. If the future design of the Metlakh carpet contains large and small tiles, then laying them out should start with the large ones. In the case of a complex pattern, it is better to lay it out in advance without glue. In addition, it is worth remembering that tiles from different batches may differ from each other.
. This stage is carried out after the glue has set. Gray, white or beige grout is best suited for these purposes. During surface treatment, it must be applied to the entire depth of the seam.

It is important to immediately remove any mortar or grout that gets on the surface of the tiles.

At the end of the work, the quality of the coating can be checked using water. To do this, pour water onto the base. Drying should occur evenly, without puddles.

Price of work and materials

Now let's talk about the price per m2 for laying floor and other types of Metlakh tiles.

Prices for tiles depend on the manufacturer, shape, type and size. Average cost square meter Metlakh tiles start from 200 rubles.
The cost of work starts from 2000 rubles per square.

Can old metlakh tiles be used and is it possible to recreate floors from them? Read below.

Metlakh carpets in home decoration

What can be done with old raw materials

Metlakh carpets have been used since ancient times. Therefore, when carrying out renovations in houses and administrative buildings, you can currently find similar old coatings. What to do with him? Taking it off is quite problematic. What to do?

Many people practice laying new tiles on old ones. In this case, for better adhesion, a layer of primer and special glue must be applied. When working, you should always try to lay out only a flat surface.

To obtain a durable and perfectly smooth floor, old Metlakh tiles are usually removed. And the new coating is laid out from scratch.

This video will tell you why it’s still worth laying Metlakh tiles at home:

A dozen new items appear on the building materials market every year. Among the thousands of finishing materials, there are also those that do not lose their relevance even hundreds of years after the development of production. These, of course, include Metlakh tiles. An amazingly durable and unique finishing material is used very widely, however, not every owner owns complete information about him.

Metlakh tiles, what is it?

The secret of making Mettlach tiles was found more than a hundred years ago in Germany, in the city of Mettlach, from where it began to spread to different countries. From Germany, the subtleties of obtaining a special material migrated to Italy, Portugal and France, and in our country Metlakh tiles made in Russia are becoming increasingly popular.

There are only a few factories in the Russian Federation that can produce competitive tiles according to those recipes. One of such enterprises is the EuroCeramics plant, which was built in the city of Pechory during the USSR. The products comply with all international standards and current GOSTs, and their price is an order of magnitude lower than Italian and German tiles. The price per square meter of Metlakh tiles (dimensions - 300x300x20 mm) produced in the Russian Federation does not exceed 200 rubles. Specifications The material is shown in the table, and the photo shows samples of ornaments from it.

There are not too many branded tiles on sale, made according to old technology. There are only a few factories left abroad that produce such material, and the French factory Winckelmans is considered the most famous in the world. The company, despite the complete replacement of equipment, has been operating since 1886 and produces ceramics according to ancient technological maps. There is another factory in Portugal, but its tiles are not so well known, especially here. The price of imported tiles starts from 0.3 to 17 euros per square.

Production technologies

The second name for Metlakh tiles is Victorian tiles, since they were actively used for decoration internal surfaces palace premises. At that time, tiles differed from other types of tiles not only in their small size, shape and high strength, but also in the ability to create absolutely fantastic patterns thanks to deep colors. All this made it possible to use it as a work tool that corresponded to the style of many artists of that time.

The main material for making such tiles remains refractory clay. It is in the places of its extraction that factories are located. For the Russian Federation, this is mainly the Dmitrovsky quarry. Clay is used to form tiles different sizes and forms, glaze is applied, and then baked in an oven at a temperature of about 1100-1300 degrees. Thanks to high degree compaction, the tile becomes very wear-resistant and frost-resistant, which makes it possible to use it not only for furnishing residential premises, but also for finishing administrative and public buildings.

Advantages and properties of tiles

Thanks to the characteristics of clay and special production technology, it is possible to achieve excellent operational properties material:

Physical strength and color fastness. The results of strength tests are shown in the table, but the strength properties of the tile can be evidenced by the fact that many historical buildings in Europe are decorated with it and look like new for hundreds of years. The tile can withstand pressure from an average car and practically does not lose color saturation over time. In addition, ceramic tiles can withstand more than 300 freeze-thaw cycles. Rare material can show such frost resistance.

Metlakh tiles are a universal material. It is equally successfully used for both interior work and exterior finishing facades, platforms, paving paths and finishing entrance groups.

The high firing temperature provided the tiles with extreme moisture resistance, so such tiles can be used to decorate not only the approaches to the building, but also wet rooms - swimming pools, baths, bathrooms.

Fire resistance and environmental friendliness. The tile does not lose its properties, does not crack, and does not fade at high temperatures. This makes it possible to use it for finishing fireplaces and stoves; it also does not contain synthetics and when heated, the tiles do not emit harmful fumes.

Laying metlakh floor tiles

In fact, laying Metlakh tiles is not much different from finishing other types of tiles, but has some minor features. Experts recommend laying it only on a prepared and planned surface. Before directly laying it on the adhesive composition, the ceramics are laid out in the form of a planned ornament, taking into account the seams between the tiles. The tiles are soaked in water for about two hours, after which they can be laid along the marked plane.

First lay the tiles large size, and the adhesive composition is applied to reverse side material. After laying smaller fragments, the seams are grouted either with a special grout that meets the operating conditions, or cement mortar to the entire depth of the seam.

Caring for tiles is no different from caring for any other ceramic tiles. Choose finishing material to your liking and good luck to everyone!