Ceramic cladding of facades refers to such types of coatings that have an almost unlimited service life. The aesthetic aspect is no less important: when you combine different colors and textures of tiles, you get great design options.
Cladding with ceramic tiles of facades is carried out both with adhesive and frame methods, which makes it possible to choose the most suitable technology not only for concrete and brick, but also for wooden walls. The instructions and video in our article are to help those who decide to do their own finishing.

It is unnecessary to talk about the remarkable properties of ceramic tiles, because there is probably no such house or apartment where this material would not be used. Everyone knows about its main advantage: water resistance.
Thanks to this quality, the tile is great for outdoor work:

• Ceramic cladding of the facade to the maximum protects the building from atmospheric influences. Moreover, it serves as much as the building costs, unless, of course, there were no violations in the work production technology.
  The owner of a house lined with ceramics will never have to solve the issue of updating the outer walls - it is enough to wash them from time to time.
• Facade tiles differ from those used in interiors in terms of thickness, formats and design. Small-format tiles are mounted on glue, and most often, have the configuration of the spoon side of the brick. Ceramic tiles for facade cladding, which have a large format, are installed on the frame, which makes it possible to insulate the walls during the finishing process, as well as hide their unevenness.
• The design of exterior wall coverings most often imitates various types of brick and stone. Such decoration on the facade looks the most harmonious, but, if desired, the outer wall can be decorated with a colored panel.
  The main thing is that such decoration should be in place, and not cause dissonance in the appearance of the building.

• If we compare facade tiles with front full-length bricks, then its advantages in finishing are obvious. Having the same aesthetic effect, the cladding weighs little, which means it does not require additional support on the foundation.
  All ceramic tiles for facade cladding are produced in accordance with GOST 13996-93, which regulates its properties necessary to withstand multiple freeze-thaw cycles.

Which ceramic facade cladding materials are best suited?
To understand this issue, and make the right choice, our short review will help you:

• Facade cladding with ceramic tiles is one of those types of finishes that provide almost unlimited design possibilities. It is used with equal success in both low-rise and high-rise construction. The higher the building, the stronger the wind loads are exposed to its walls.

Therefore, in the process of designing buildings and structures, their cladding is calculated in the same way as load-bearing structures. Accordingly, the material for exterior decoration is selected according to these calculations.
Facing ceramic facade tiles are one of the few materials that can withstand almost any load.

Facade tiling technologies

As we have already said, there are two ways to mount ceramic tiles on the wall: on glue, and, according to the system of ventilated facades, on the crate. Theoretically, tiles can be glued to any surface, even wood and metal, but surface preparation, in this case, would be quite laborious.
What's the point of this:

• Moreover, today, manufacturers bring to our attention facade systems, such as Ronson, which provide for mounting even small-sized tiles on the frame. After all, it is she who so attracts homeowners with her beauty and similarity with brickwork.
• For this reason, adhesive cladding of the facade with ceramic tiles is only good for concrete or brick houses with a small number of storeys. Let's briefly consider the technology of its implementation.

Mounting tiles with glue

In order for the lined wall to look beautiful, it must first of all be even. And it is the condition of the walls that sometimes plays a decisive role when choosing a method for installing tiles.
This is especially true when the finishing is not carried out in a new building, but it is planned, for example, to update the facade of an old house.
In any case, the walls should be prepared:

• Focusing on the circumstances, you need to remove the old coating, or a layer of plaster; if it is brickwork - clean it from the influx of mortar; plaster recesses; remove dust from the surface, and impregnate it with a primer.
• Many people think that cement-sand mortar M50 (1: 5) is quite suitable for laying tiles. But this is not so: as the inter-tile grout is washed out by rains, the screed, having such low strength, gradually collapses. The tiles, at the same time, fall off one after another, or move away from the base in a layer.

• To prevent this from happening, you need to use specialized glue, which is sold dry in all construction markets. It contains special polymer additives that accelerate the setting and enhance the adhesion of the mixture, make the screed absolutely immune to moisture and resistant to temperature extremes.
• Manufacturers often offer tile adhesive complete with grout. The price of a bag of glue weighing 25 kg is at least 400 rubles.
  Its consumption depends on the thickness of the tile, but on average, it is 3.5 kg / m2. A simple calculation will show that one bag is enough for about seven squares of wall area, and facing even a small house will cost quite a lot.
• To save money, but not at the expense of quality, you can make the right solution yourself. The ratio of cement in the solution must be made not 1:5, but 1:3, and add a plasticizer there.
  These supplements are sold in cans and plastic bottles. The cost of one liter of plasticizer does not exceed 120 rubles, but it is enough for 100 kg of cement.
  This amount will be enough to finish the walls of a small house.

• The order of facing is as follows: along the lower perimeter of the walls, a starting profile is mounted, on which the first row of tiles will rest, and they begin to glue it from the corners. All types of ceramic facade materials are completed with additional and corner elements.
  When working with a plasticized mixture, it is most likely not necessary to moisten the tile. Read the manufacturer's recommendations carefully.

To make the joints beautiful, of the same thickness, plastic crosses are inserted between the tiles. After the glue has hardened, they are removed and the joints are grouted. As a result, it should turn out as neat as in the picture above!

Assembly of a ceramic ventilated facade

The success of the installation of ceramic tiles on the system of ventilated facades depends on the correct installation of the frame, because it will bear the load from the weight of the cladding. You can, of course, choose the profiles of the right size on your own, and you may be able to reduce costs a little, but this is the case when it is better not to save money, but to purchase all the details of the frame from one manufacturer.
So:

• In a set, as a rule, three types of a profile, with Z; L and T-section, brackets, clamps or screws. If the facade is not planned to be insulated, you will only have to buy separately waterproofing (roll or coating).
  An insulated structure will require thermal insulation material and a windproof membrane.

• At the initial stage of installation work, the lines of the starting profile and the points of location of the brackets are marked. If a roll membrane is used as a waterproofing material, it is glued after the brackets are installed, carefully making cuts under them.
  It is easier to pre-treat a brick or concrete wall with a deep penetration primer.
• Next, vertical racks are installed, and between them, if necessary, heat-insulating plates are laid. The first row of insulation must be supported by a metal profile. During the installation process, it should be put on glue along the edges and in the center, and then firmly fixed with dish-shaped dowels.

• After that, a wind protection is mounted, and on top of it - a transverse bearing profile that will hold the cladding and provide a ventilation gap. It remains only to hang ceramic tiles on the frame. How to do this will depend on which tile you purchased.

Some manufacturers provide for mounting tiles on special system mounts. In some cases, the cladding elements have technological holes and are mounted using decorative screws.
Porcelain stoneware (see Porcelain stoneware cladding: estimate for finishing), for example, is held on the frame with metal clamps that have special protrusions. In any case, the facade, lined with ceramic tiles or panels, will look respectable and solid, delighting with its practicality and beauty.

Ceramic products for exterior and interior cladding have not lost their popularity for many decades. On the contrary, manufacturers bring to our attention more and more new types of clay finishing materials: from small-format tiles to a three-meter ceramic panel.
About the types and properties of these products, as well as how to install them, our instructions will tell, as well as the video in this article.

Everyone knows about ceramic tiles, and many do not even know about the existence of decorative ceramic facade panels. Nevertheless, they exist, and the range of these products is so wide that it allows you to clad a building of any configuration, even a round one.
For this, there are curved ceramic products for exterior cladding:

• Ceramics for ventilated facades is always offered to the consumer as a set. It includes the main and additional panels, as well as perforated elements. The perforation on the panels is necessary for the flow of air into the ventilated space. They are usually mounted along the lower perimeter of the walls, which we see in the photo above.

• In addition, the facade ceramic system kit includes frame elements and fasteners, because all panels are different in shape, size, and weight. Systems are calculated for certain loads, designs of fasteners and interlocks are individually developed.
• At the same time, all parts fit perfectly, which is difficult to achieve by independently selecting profiles and brackets, and even from different manufacturers. Cladding of external walls with ceramic tiles or panels mounted on a system of ventilated facades is often an integral part of the building design.

• In such cases, the design of the coating is developed taking into account its design features. And these are not only non-standard color solutions that you can see in the examples we have proposed, but also an individual configuration of elements.
  In such a project, various decors for cornices, gables, columns, parapets - and even facade blinds can be provided.
• An order for ceramic cladding can be placed with the manufacturer and for a building already in operation. For finishing facades of a large area, large-format panels are more often used.
  They, in general, are not intended for finishing private houses. It is impossible to install them alone; usually a team of three or four people works at such facilities.

• On the other hand, facing the outer walls with ceramic tiles of a small size, which can also be mounted on a crate, is quite within the power of everyone - there would be a desire. Thanks to the decorative ceramic coating of the facade, even the most modest house will seem like a royal dwelling.
• Many manufacturers offer universal options for decorative coatings. That is, ceramic products for exterior and interior cladding look equally good both on the facade and in the interior.
  Due to non-standard shapes and high aesthetics of the front surface, they can show off not only on the walls of the bathroom, but also decorate, for example, a lobby or a living room.

• In the production of facade ceramics, high-quality clays and mixtures are used, which give them the necessary properties: fire resistance, frost resistance, strength. As for the decorative qualities of such products, they can be such that at first glance you don’t even understand what the wall is lined with: stone, brick or wood.
• There are plates with a metallic sheen, and with a craquelure effect, semi-antique. The price of such products is quite high, but beauty, as you know, requires sacrifice. By the way, ceramic panels imitating a brushed parquet board look great as floor coverings in living quarters, even bedrooms.

• In the manufacture of ceramic facing products, there are no specific standards for standard sizes. For example, the French manufacturer TERREAL offers the consumer more than 300 variations for finishing facades and interiors. These are single-layer and double-layer panels with different types of surface, and more than 20 types of decor for them.
• In addition to decorative ceramics, there are products for special purposes: soundproofing boards and bricks, entire acoustic systems. There are also sun protection systems: baguettes and blinds with the functions of protective grilles on the windows.
• For low-rise and cottage construction, the consumer is offered hand-molded clinker tiles, brick-like tiles, decors, shaped elements for window and door openings.

A house finished with ceramics acquires a respectable appearance without requiring major repairs for many years. It automatically upgrades to a higher price category in the event of a sale. The reasons for choosing this particular option for finishing the exterior walls, as they say, are obvious. It remains to choose the material suitable for a particular building, and understand the technology of its installation.

Ventilated ceramic facade

Whatever material is used to equip the ventilated facade, its basic concept always remains the same: the decorative surface must be at a certain distance from the base wall. In this case, the cladding elements are fixed to the carrier profile, which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to the consoles.
They are designed to provide the necessary clearance.
So:

• Depending on the climatic conditions of the area, and in accordance with the heat engineering calculation, a layer of insulation can be placed in the space between the wall and the cladding. In this case, the volume of the internal space of the structure must also take into account the thickness of the heat-insulating plates.

• Facade systems may include open seams, which, in theory, should contribute to good ventilation inside the structure. But, despite this, the air gap between the decorative wall and the base must still be provided - for the simple reason that not only condensate can accumulate inside.
• When it rains obliquely, moisture can get behind the lining even with closed joints, and the gap will ensure its unhindered outflow. Usually its size is determined based on the height of the wall: the minimum is 4 mm, for buildings of one or two floors. Maximum - 6 cm, with a wall height of more than 10 meters.
• A ventilated façade, as such, can also be built on wooden sheathing, but ceramic panels are rather heavy. Therefore, they are mounted only on a metal frame - made of aluminum or stainless steel. Only brackets and fasteners can be made of galvanized steel.

The sequence of work during the installation of the cladding is as follows:

Note! It is important to remember that it is forbidden to hide gas pipes behind the facade cladding. Pipes can pass through the ceramic surface perpendicularly, and even then, they must be protected by a sleeve.

• There are various mounting options for ceramic cladding elements. They can be mounted on the frame using special clamps (kleimers); fixed through a drilled hole with a dowel; fasten with a clip.
• And yet, clamps are most often used as fasteners for ceramic tiles. They provide the most even gaps, and make it easy to adjust the position of an element. During installation, the kleimer is first put on glue, and then fixed with a rivet or screw.
• The gap formed between the fastener and the tile is also filled with glue or silicone sealant. It is applied with a mounting gun, along a horizontal seam.

This allows the clamps to be more rigidly fixed, preventing them from moving under wind load, while producing noise. This installation method is the most reliable, but if necessary, it is quite difficult to replace one element of the decorative surface.

Wet tiling

Mounting ceramic tiles with adhesive does not hide surface irregularities. Therefore, work begins with hanging it with a plumb line.
In principle, this must be done in advance, even before buying the material and deciding on the method of its installation.

• In order to carry out adhesive lining, the surface must be leveled. For this, the bulges are cut down, the recesses are plastered.
  It should only be remembered that the layer of plaster under the tile cannot be thicker than 2 cm. Yes, and not every wall can be cut down, and if it is not possible to make high-quality alignment, it is better to mount the tile on the frame.
• You should not think that the wall can be leveled due to the thickness of the adhesive layer - after all, this is not the floor in the house, but a vertical surface that is constantly exposed to the weather. If everything is not so bad, the wall is primed and leveled with cement-based plaster, without smoothing and grouting the screed.

• If the wall is even, and there is no need to plaster, notches are made on it, or a reinforcing mesh is mounted. To work with tiles, you need a certain set of tools. In addition to a plumb line and a rule, this is a scraper, a notched trowel, a rubber hammer, a tile spatula, a squeegee (for grouting), a tile cutter or a diamond glass cutter.
• If you don't have a grinder, you can use an abrasive wheel to edge the cut tiles. Sometimes the tiles have to be sorted, if not by size, then by color - this is done in advance.
• As for the adhesive composition, then the choice is quite large. These are ready-made: casein-cement, polyvinyl acetate, or lime-bitumen mastics; dry mixes that just need to be diluted with water - as well as do-it-yourself plasticized cement mortar.

• If you mix the solution yourself, then you need to keep in mind that its grade should not be higher than M50, therefore, you should not use Portland cement for this. The problem is that they shrink when setting, and the screed, decreasing in volume, will contribute to the violation of adhesion.
• For facing works with tiles and stone, it is necessary to use non-shrinking or expanding cements (VBC and VRC). In addition, plasticizing additives must be present in the solution. This can be either lime paste or a liquid modifying compound that can be bought at any hardware store.

• By making the solution yourself, you will not save so much, but there is enough trouble: look for all the ingredients for it separately, and also make sure that there are the same amount of them in each batch. It is much easier to use ready-made dry composition. The manufacturer has already taken care of everything - you add water, as indicated in the instructions, and you work.
• Glue mastic does not need to be prepared at all, just open the package. Its use by thirty percent reduces the complexity of the work, and the adhesion strength is much higher.
  But in order to use mastic, the surface to be lined must be not only flat, but also smooth. In this case, the best foundation is concrete wall panels.

• It is not necessary to soak the tiles in water before laying, it is enough to moisten the wall with cement milk if it has not been previously primed. The solution is applied to the tile with a thin layer, and a relief is made with a notched trowel.
  Tiles are laid from the bottom up, in horizontal rows, the first of which should rest on the starting bar.

To ensure that the seams are the same, plastic wedges or brackets are inserted between the tiles. The thickness of horizontal joints usually does not exceed 2 mm, and vertical joints should be wider, up to 1 cm - so the lined wall will breathe.
After the mortar has hardened, the wedges are removed, the joints are filled with grout, removing excess and cleaning the surface of the tiles. That, in fact, is the whole science.

Examples of facades made of ceramic panels

Facade made of ceramic panels

Alucom company designs, manufactures and supplies hinged ventilated facades for a wide variety of objects, including business centers, shopping and entertainment, sports and industrial complexes without height restrictions, office buildings, houses and cottages, townhouses, government buildings and other objects.

Aluminum systems for facades are made for a certain type of cladding material, therefore, for the installation of ceramic panels, a façade system was developed and produced that takes into account the weight and dimensions of this type of cladding - Alucom KN, made of A 6060 T66 alloy.

The aluminum substructure Alucom KN provides a range of adjustment from the wall from 40 mm to 320 mm. Fastening is carried out in an open way using a rotary clamp made of stainless steel 12X18H10T.

Finishing and cladding the facade with ceramic facing panels, ceramic wall slabs will turn the building, house and multi-storey complex into a majestic and unique structure. Ceramic hinged ventilated facades are in demand. Their durability, despite the apparent fragility, is due to the high strength and water resistance of the panels themselves.

Front ceramic panels are not afraid of frosts and are fire-resistant. Our company offers to buy facade systems for facing and finishing facades with wall panels for ceramic tiles, brick, as well as terracotta panels and other types of volumetric ceramics at a bargain price.

Facade cladding options with ceramic panels

Advantages of a facade made of ceramic panels

The advantages of facades made of ceramic panels include:

• fire resistance and no toxicity
• frost resistance and moisture resistance
• environmental friendliness of materials
• high heat and energy saving characteristics
• sun fading resistance
• the presence of panels of natural colors.

A ventilated facade made of ceramic panels is quickly assembled at any time of the year, and in case of damage, any ceramic built-in panel can be easily replaced with a new one.

Terracotta panels are a natural non-combustible material made from clay without any synthetic additives. Clay firing is carried out at a temperature of about 12,000 ° C for ten hours. This production technology provides the tiles with excellent strength parameters and an attractive natural texture. Terracotta panels have a fairly long service life, however, in terms of stability characteristics, they are inferior to products made from clinker and composite materials. To improve the parameters of such products and increase resistance to environmental influences, various protective hydrophobic coatings can be used, which also give the products antibacterial properties and simplify the cleaning process.

Clinker products for facade finishing have better technical parameters than traditional ceramic products, and they are characterized by better sound and heat insulation. Another advantage of this finish is durability. Clinker cladding can withstand even a fairly strong mechanical impact and is not damaged due to various natural phenomena. An additional advantage of clinker panels is their low cost, due to which such ceramic products are most often used for finishing the facades of various houses.

The decorative appearance of the panels has not changed for decades, and the hinged ventilated facade will properly perform the functions of protecting and decorating the building.

Completed objects with a facade of ceramic panels

Alucom façade systems for fixing ceramic panels

Order facade system for ceramic panels

A ventilated facade is a structure consisting of a rigid frame lathing, insulation and facing material. All elements of ventilated facades are mounted using a special technology that allows you to maintain a gap between the wall and the cladding. Thanks to the gap, natural air circulation is ensured, the facades do not accumulate moisture. This is the most practical and reliable way to finish the facade of buildings for any purpose, which makes it possible to improve the performance of the wall surface.

A wide variety of materials are used for exterior decoration of facades.

Ceramic tiles for ventilated facades: advantages and disadvantages

Ceramic tiles are considered one of the most attractive and durable finishing materials. In comparison with other methods of finishing, the cost of its installation is an order of magnitude higher. However, such costs are fully justified by the excellent parameters and characteristics of the tile. The use of facing elements of this type allows you to solve both operational and design issues.

Ceramic tiles for ventilated facades have a number of advantages:

• high strength;
• moisture resistance;
• the ability to withstand severe temperature changes;
• fire resistance;
• durability

There are no microcracks on the surface of the ceramic tile, which are the main cause of the destruction of the material. This is achieved through the heat treatment of facing products for the facade. Facade tiles perfectly tolerate the effects of atmospheric phenomena, while its parameters and structure remain unchanged. The material can have a different color version, which allows you to give any facade an original look. The color of the material does not fade for a long time.

Ceramic tiles for facade decoration are mounted using a special technology, the main element of which is a supporting profile. This profile is universal and suitable for installation of facing elements of various lengths. Fastening to the facade is carried out on metal substructures of open or closed type.

Unfortunately, ceramic tiles for ventilated facades also have their drawbacks:

• fragility;
• great weight.

The use of this material makes the facade heavier, which must be taken into account when installing load-bearing structures.

The company "Fast" sells all types of facing materials. In addition, we carry out any installation and repair work. Our specialists will develop an individual project, on the basis of which they will quickly and efficiently erect a ventilated facade.

In the usual common sense, it is not used for facade decoration. But ceramic tile is not only a glazed version, which is actually called a tile, but also many other materials, some of which are made just for external work.

And this article will just tell you about the dimensions, properties, price, production of ceramic facade tiles for exterior wall cladding.

Ceramic tiles are famous for their combination of high strength and water resistance, these are its most outstanding qualities. However, for facade cladding, another property is also important - the lightness of the material. Relative, of course, but compared to or stone tiles, the difference is very significant.

The same system is used for labeling products. However, when choosing, you need to pay attention to other indicators. After all, the material intended for external work must have well-defined properties.

The specialist in this video will tell about the properties of clinker and other types of ceramic tiles for finishing the facade of a building:

Frost resistance and water absorption

• Frost resistance- the main indicator for finishing the facade. Essentially, the ability of a material to withstand some amount of freezing and thawing determines its durability. Of course, laboratory tests differ from the effect of weather factors, but the degree of resistance is indicated quite accurately.

The parameter is indicated by a conditional image of a snowflake. The further north the region is located, the higher the indicator should be for the selected material

• Frost resistance is in some way related to water absorption coefficient. Even a material as low-porous as ceramic absorbs moisture to some extent. The latter, when frozen, increases in volume and destroys the tile. It is clear that the lower this indicator, and, in fact, the lower the porosity, the better. The norm for facade tiles is considered to be water absorption of 3%. However, for materials such as or it is even lower.

Facing facade ceramic tiles "under the tree"

Other important indicators

• Abrasion resistance in this case, it does not matter and is not regulated. However, the strength of the facade tiles must be high: there is a risk of mechanical damage. Such an indicator cannot be found on the marking, however, it is known that the denser the material, the stronger it is.

However, another approach is also possible. Some manufacturers offer highly porous - relatively, of course, facade tiles in order to improve thermal insulation properties. You can use it, but taking into account the fact that this material is easier to damage.

• Chemical resistance is important for facilities being built near industrial enterprises or for the buildings of factories and plants themselves. Otherwise, the parameter can be ignored.
• Tile thickness indirectly determines its strength. But here something else must be taken into account: the thicker the tile, the more difficult the cladding will be. In addition, high strength can be achieved in another way by choosing a dense tile - for example.
• The method of installation of products depends on dimensions and weight.
  • A small tile is a “boar”, clinker can be laid out on glue.
  • Large facing sheets are mounted on the frame. The latter method allows you to arrange additional ventilation of the wall and effectively insulate the building.

Excluded. High-density ceramics, especially porcelain tiles, have low adhesion, so that they are held on the surface only by the adhesive. Accordingly, the latter should have an excellent gripping effect and not be afraid of water. You can't say the same about cement.

Types, design and colors

Ceramic tiles are very diverse, and due to, and due to texture, and due to size. The facade finishing group allows you to choose the design for any kind of building.

The most common type of ceramic cladding is. from kaolin by single firing and not glazed. Before firing, the material is passed through an extruder, which makes the final product more dense and suitable for external work. The color scheme of "terracotta" is determined by the composition of the initial mixture, coloring pigments are not added here.

• Terracotta available smooth and structured. The latter is more popular, as in combination with the natural range of colors it creates a complete impression of natural stone finishing. They produce not only tiles, but also fairly large facade panels up to 60 cm wide and up to 180 cm long. Installation of the latter is easier, but the aesthetics of the tiles are higher.
• Clinker- as a rule, it repeats the dimensions of the spoon side of the brick, and the color scheme has the appropriate one. Clinker tiles are made from slate clay, carefully selected. Most often, single-fired material is produced without glaze and in natural red-ocher tones. However, dyes are used here very willingly, so that the clinker can imitate any stone surface. Actually, both structured, and polished, and even glazed tiles are produced, although the latter is rarely used for facades. The sizes can be very different.
• "Boar"- to highlight the type of tile in a separate category makes it not quite the usual structure. In composition, it is not much different from terracotta, but it is made by firing twice and covered with glaze. The tile repeats the shape, but includes two through longitudinal holes. Before laying, the product is hit on the end with a hammer to break it into 2 halves with beveled edges and a structured wrong side. Since the product is covered with enamel, its color can be anything. Considering that this development was intended for the Art Nouveau style, the shade can really be both very bright and very unexpected.
• Porcelain stoneware- a unique type of KP, characterized by extremely high density, strength and water resistance: the water absorption of porcelain stoneware does not exceed 0.05%. This material is exceptionally resistant to all factors, as a rule. However, if desired, porcelain stoneware can be given a resemblance to wood. The finish is heavy compared to terracotta, for example, but the thickness of the facing sheets can also be less, since porcelain stoneware is much stronger. Water resistance and the ability not to worry about the wear resistance of products allows almost any processing of tiles. .
• Matte- remains smooth, but does not have shine. This is a very popular option for or brick, whose smooth surface also does not have a shine. In addition, the matte surface is the most non-marking.
• polished or glossy- it is obtained either by direct polishing of the material, or by applying a vitreous transparent glaze. Such a product has a wonderful luster, emphasizing the similarity of the finish with real polished marble, granite or basalt. Since slipperiness does not matter for facade decoration, this option is very popular, especially when facing office buildings, emphasizing the status of the company.
• Rustic or structured- an extensive category of tiles that imitates a very wide range of unpolished stone and even. The strength of the material and low porosity make it possible not to care about the smoothness of the surface, so as not to accumulate water - ceramics do not absorb it anyway. A variety of effects are used: chipped stone, wild, aged brick, rubble stone, and so on.
• A modern and rather exotic method of processing CP - photo printing, forces to classify the "victims" of this technology in a separate category. The smooth and durable surface of high-density ceramic is an excellent basis for photo printing, and has recently been actively introduced to the market using various technologies.
  • For interior decoration, the method of sublimated printing and hot decal is used. Both involve drawing an image on specially treated paper, which is then glued to the tile and varnished. These technologies are cheaper, but they are not suitable for facade cladding.
  • The firing method involves applying an image to a tile using special substances. The pottery is then glazed and fired. This option is extremely resistant to weather factors, and the image, accordingly, simply cannot be damaged.
• Actually photo printing- here the pattern is applied over the glaze and fixed with ultraviolet irradiation. The image is even brighter, but not as durable and strong as when firing. This kind of facade decoration is very expensive. However, the effect of the building, lined with panels with the image, produces an incredible.

Ceramic facade tiles "brick-like"

Product dimensions

Formally, GOST regulates the dimensions of the product, but in most cases, the dimensional parameters are at the mercy of the TU. In principle, facade ceramics of any kind can have practically any technically possible dimensions. But in fact, they are limited by the aesthetic factor.

• in the form of medium-sized tiles: 240*71*11 mm, 302*148*12 mm. Ceramics are laid on the glue. It is also possible to manufacture facade panels up to 180 cm long and 14 to 40 mm thick. The panels, however, do not reproduce the facing stone.
• "Boar" has typical brick dimensions - 285 * 85 * 9 mm, 250 * 100 * 8 mm, 120 * 60 * 8 mm, since it imitates brick.
• Clinker, despite its primary purpose - the reproduction of brickwork, in addition to parameters of 285 * 85 * 9 mm, 250 * 100 * 8 mm, can also have other dimensions: 250 * 65 * 10 mm, 302 * 148 * 12 mm and more, especially when imitating stone.
• vary over the widest range. Small tiles are also produced - 30 * 30 cm and 45 * 45 cm for laying on glue, and large panels for the construction of ventilated facades - 30 * 60, 60 * 60, 30 * 120 and 120 * 180 cm. Thickness rarely exceeds 14 mm, since porcelain stoneware is 4 times stronger than natural granite, and facing from it does not need a large thickness.

In most cases, small tiles are chosen when finishing low-rise buildings. Installation of tiles, of course, is somewhat simpler than bricks, but it takes almost the same amount of time.

Large tiles are preferred for finishing high-rise office buildings and industrial facilities. Both the style of the building and the form of decoration matter: it is clear that if the ventilated facade imitates polished basalt, then large facing sheets are preferable even on a small building.

Laying

Laying facing ceramic tiles for facades on glue is fundamentally not much different from laying inside the building. The evenness of the surface is also important here, so the walls are prepared very carefully.

It is also necessary to carefully choose glue: it is not suitable because of the relatively low water resistance. Moreover, the adhesive for external work must also have good frost resistance. The only difference is, perhaps, the beginning of the installation: only from the corners.

Ventilated facades are a much more efficient and practical system, although their installation is associated with many difficulties.

What you need

The arrangement of a ventilated facade is a difficult job, which in all cases is best left to specialists. For its construction you will need the following materials:

• ceramic tiles - any facade finish will do. But as a rule, tiles specially designed for a ventilated facade have additional technical holes for fastening;
• Z; L and T-profile. In principle, you can build a frame for the facade with your own hands, but it is much easier and faster to use the finished system;
• brackets, clamps and screws or other fastening methods suggested by the type of frame and tile;
• waterproofing - roll or liquid;
• if the building is supposed to be insulated, then you will need a heat-insulating material - mineral wool or polyurethane foam, and also a windproof membrane. It is impossible to use a conventional polymer film as such, since it does not allow moisture to pass through;
• drilling tools and drills according to the load-bearing wall material.

This video will tell you whether it is possible to attach facade ceramic tiles to foam plastic:

Mounting technologies

The process looks quite simple, but in fact, without experience and equipment, it is very difficult to cope with installation.

1. Wall preparation - comes down to removing the old finish, if any, and treating the walls with a deep penetration primer. Irregularities do not matter here, as they are completely leveled by the frame.
2. Mark the walls - determine the line of the starting profile, mark the place of the vertical fasteners and the location of the brackets.
3. If the wall is treated with liquid waterproofing, then the brackets are fixed after treatment. If a roll is used, then the brackets are first installed - the fasteners are used in accordance with the wall material, and then the waterproofing is fixed. For brackets in the material make special slots.
4. Vertical racks are fixed to the brackets. The distance between them is determined by the size and weight of the facing sheet.
5. If insulation is supposed, then the heat insulator plates are laid between the vertical posts so that the material is buried in the cell. The slab is fixed at the edges and center with glue, and after laying it is fixed with dish-shaped dowels. A windproof membrane is fixed over the heat insulator.
6. Attach the cross profile. The distance between the crossbars is determined by the size of the tile, so when installing, for example, clinker tiles, the horizontal slats are stacked very closely. A ventilation gap is formed between the wind protection and the tiles to be laid.
7. The tile is hung in accordance with the fastening provided by the manufacturer. These can be holes for decorative screws with which it is attached to the frame. Mounting on special clamps is possible, as, for example, is done when laying porcelain tiles.

There is also a simpler way of laying: on a frame, which, however, is less effective and durable. In this case, a wooden crate is erected on the wall, insulation is made, and substrate sheets are fixed to the frame -, OSB, and so on. On the resulting surface, the tiles are glued in the usual way.

After installation is completed with a suitable composition. If a seamless installation method was used, for example, marbled porcelain stoneware, then no grouting is required.

Read below about the price of ceramic tiles for the facade of a house.

Stylish stone-look ceramic facade tiles

Cost of labor and material

The price of finishing ceramic tiles for facade cladding varies as widely as tiles for interior decoration. Moreover, the quality and design of the CP are equally important.

• You can find material for 280 rubles. per sq. m, and you can pick up the finish for 2800 r. per sq. m.
• Finishing facades is considered a work of medium complexity, and, as a rule, such work costs 900–1200 rubles. per sq. m.
• The device of a ventilated facade is more complicated, so the cost of the service is somewhat higher - 1200–1500 rubles. per sq. m. However, depending on the complexity, the price may increase to 3200 rubles. per sq. m.

Popular brands

Ceramics for decoration are produced by many different companies. Among this abundance, you can find ceramic tiles with the most incredible or the most classic designs.

• Barwolf is a well-known German company producing various types of ceramic finishes. Most of the collections are designed in classical and even antique style, which gives the buildings an aura of respectable solidity.
• It is rather difficult to list famous Italian companies: Italians and Spaniards are trendsetters in the field of ceramic decoration, and are famous for the extremely diverse design of their products. In the Russian market, the most famous are Cerpa Ceramica, for example, or RHS. Attracts not only the impeccable quality of these products, but also a huge selection.
• Arcana Ceramica is a Spanish company offering ceramic tiles for both indoor and outdoor use. The collections often use the natural range of colors obtained by mixing clays of different varieties.
• TERREAL is a French company that offers both conventional finishing tiles and ventilated facades - ceramic panels with special fasteners. The collections include clinker, terracotta, and hand-molded tiles.
• Among Russian manufacturers, the Sokol enterprise is considered the leader. On Italian equipment, they produce all possible types of ceramic tiles, including clinker.
• Ceramo Marazzi is a joint venture. Particular attention is paid to product design. Of course, the decorativeness of facade tiles is somewhat lower than that of wall tiles, but the choice in this case is also huge.

Low porosity porcelain tiles are an excellent material for facade cladding. Waterproof, insensitive to cold, practical and extremely beautiful - it stands the test of time with honor. In addition, ceramic trim is much lighter than brick cladding, and it provides more opportunities.

This video tells about laying clinker ceramic tiles on the facade: