Street tiles are one of the most universal ways to make a garden, courtyard, veranda and house adjoining territory beautiful and cozy. Thanks to modern technology, the choice of this material is currently huge. Among such a variety, it is easy to get confused. To make the right choice, you need to consider the main types of street tiles and its physical properties.

Tile requirements on the veranda

Street or paving slabs are called so for a reason, it differs from the floor in many parameters. This material is placed outdoors, it is exposed to the environment, for example, rain, snow, sunlight and various physical influences. The more open the area is covered with this material, the more durable and frost-resistant it should be.

Among other things, paving slabs must possess such qualities:

• to be non-slip;
• do not crash;
• be affordable (taking into account consumption per square meter or adjoining territory, garden paths, etc.);
• have a low level of toxic substances (you should check the quality certificate from the manufacturer);
• ideally, any paving materials purchased should comply with GOST 17608-2017.

Did you know? The first road (street) tile covering appeared in the 19th century, in Holland. In Eastern Europe, this masonry became familiar even later - in the 1970s.

Types of street tiles

There are various types of paving slabs, favorable in price and expense, with unique characteristics. You can buy it at construction markets or in large construction supermarkets and, of course, in online stores. Each type has its own properties, parameters, characteristics, sizes, weight and price.

Depending on the physical properties, tiles of high strength can be laid on the floor in the house or summer kitchen, and not just on the street. Some homeowners put it even in the garage or on the technical floor, or in the basement. This coating withstands vibration, stress, temperature and even flooding. A correctly laid tile does not deteriorate even after repeated repairs, and the only thing necessary for its preservation is a protective covering with a film or sheets of cardboard.

By material

The main difference between the tiles, of course, is the material from which it is made. You need to choose it, based on the terrain to cover, as well as the available budget for the purchase. The average thickness is 25–100 mm, depending on the expected degree of wear.

The thinnest stones are placed on garden paths, used for cladding buildings or interior decoration, and the thickest - for pavements, sidewalks, parking lots, freight highways (however this is more likely the exception). Mostly paving finishing elements are placed in shopping centers, shops, warehouses, etc., that is, where people are constantly moving, warehouse equipment travels and the floor is subjected to shock, scratches, and friction.

Brick

The clinker material is fired at a temperature of +1200 to + 1500 ° C. This method of hardening makes the raw material especially durable and very resistant to frost, wind and snow. Most often it is used for decorating facades, cladding the internal walls of the bathroom, hallway, living room.

Because of environmental safety, clinker plates can be put in any room, and they have only one minus - high fragility. Therefore, another type of stove is placed on the kitchen floor.

Porcelain

Porcelain tile is a super strong material of artificial origin. Very beneficial for those who want to make repairs or beautiful finishes for years to come. Relatively recently used in construction and repairs (less than 100 years). The main advantages: strength, the ability to choose different colors, resistance to temperature changes, color depth, non-slip surface.

Porcelain tile, although similar to real stone, is in many ways better than natural material. Unlike natural stone, it has no pores for the penetration of glue or cement, which means that it will not crack during installation.

Rubber

Appeared relatively recently (at the end of the twentieth century). It is used to cover playgrounds, entertainment areas in shopping centers and other areas that require a safe floor. It can also be used in warehousing, automobile manufacturing, car repair shops, etc. Main qualities: strength, resistance to oils, does not emit toxic substances during combustion.

Costs more than synthetic counterparts.

Ceramic

Ceramic material, fired clay, feldspars, quartz - all these are raw materials for the manufacture of this type of tile. One of the most sought-after finishing materials, relatively inexpensive and beautiful.

In construction supermarkets today there are countless ceramic tiles for walls, floors, facades or technical rooms. It absorbs water relatively well, therefore it is not placed on garden paths or in arbors. Its purpose is internal use. Facade application is allowed with proper care.

Terracotta

Colored clay with a high level of water absorption. It is steady against atmospheric influences, dries quickly, durable, inexpensive, has high heat dissipation therefore it is perfectly suitable for decoration of fireplaces or stoves.

A natural stone

Expensive material, like everything of natural origin, environmentally friendly, safe, very aesthetic. It is actively used for decorating facades, fences, hedges, is placed indoors on the floor in the bathroom, in front of the fireplace, for decorating the walls of the kitchen, etc.

Marble

The most expensive and beautiful tile, with equal success is used for external and internal works. Non-toxic, very durable, withstands vibration, stress, does not absorb water, has a very attractive surface, various textures and colors. The most popular colors: white, silver, milky, brown, dark gray, black with gold.

Marble cutting is carried out only by a disk with a diamond edge. It is highly advisable to stick a protective tape on the array before cutting.

Coping

Also known as the "terraced stone." The composition contains slate, limestone, sandstone, as well as a cement component. It has a light shade. Distinctive properties: it does not slip, it is laid like a regular tile, has a pleasant texture, retains heat. It is used for finishing pools, artificial reservoirs, arbors, terraces.

Concrete

The second name is paving stones.. It is made by casting concrete using special shapes (rectangular, square, rhombuses). Sold in various colors: red, yellow, green. Very popular for decorating the local area, garden paths, garages.

In shape

Street or paving slabs can be of such forms:

• medieval stone (imitation);
• brook (pavers form, imitation);
• brick (rectangle shape);
• rondo (round, with a ribbed surface);
• mosaic (small fragments of the same size, it is possible to use multi-colored components, their combination and different combinations);
• Merilia (curly elements similar in shape to a rhombus, but with patterned edges);
• antique (embossed squares);
• scales, rocky, lily, snake (non-standard forms, made in limited quantities, are more expensive than other forms).

Laying tiles

The process of laying tiles is not complicated, but requires compliance with certain standards, as well as careful preparation of the space. Each type, described above, is placed, in general, equally and with typical tools (rubber mallet, putty knife, trowel, level, container with liquid for fixing, for example, with glue or concrete, pegs, garden rake, sand for spilling joints).

Did you know? Mosaic coating as a type of wall and floor decoration first appeared in ancient Rome. It was there that the first workshops for the production of finishing stone were built.

Preparatory stage

The most important thing is to compact the soil on which the plates will lie. The surface should go slightly downhill, this is necessary to drain the water and the absence of puddles on the surface.

On top of the compacted layer of earth pour:

• 15 cm of medium-sized gravel;
• further - 5 cm of sand;
• below 15 cm of cement-sand mixture;
• and only then a stone, pavers or other coating.

Styling process

Tile laying stages:

• counting the number of units based on the territory;
• laying plates on a pre-prepared surface;
• then pegs are driven in at the borders of the track, a cord is pulled between them and the first row of stones is put on the cord;
• the best way is considered to be diagonal, so you can avoid too large gaps between the stones;
• with a wooden hammer each row is neatly beaten;
• after the seams are covered with sand, which is leveled with a garden mop over the entire surface.

After a few days, the freshly laid site becomes monolithic, the stone or slab shrinks and holds its shape. A beautiful garden plot or house territory is the merit of the owners of the house, and the tile helps to create the charm of comfort that everyone dreams of when returning home. The choice of textures and shapes is huge, and everyone can choose what he likes.