The use of slab ceramics has become very common in both large and small luxurious projects for quite some time now. Surely, the reason for this is the striking beauty of these types of ceramics. However, for slab ceramics to showcase their special appearance, they require proper installation. Unfortunately, limited information is available on this subject, which is why we have decided to delve into the details of slab ceramic installation in this article; so stay with us until the end.
Various Methods for Installing Slab Ceramic
The installation of slab ceramics can be done in various ways, which is why we have decided to familiarize you with these various methods before mentioning the details. Generally, depending on the location where you intend to install slab ceramics, you can use different execution methods. These methods are usually divided into four categories, which we will discuss below:
- Installing slab ceramic on the floor
- Installing slab ceramic on a cement wall using adhesive
- Installing slab ceramic on a wall with a metal frame
- Installing slab ceramic on a plaster wall
Installing Slab Ceramic on the Floor
Considering the conditions of the floor in our desired location, we must decide how to install slab ceramics on the floor. For example, the floor of the building can be covered with mosaic, ceramic, or stone; in all these conditions, if our surface is level, the ceramic installation will be easy, and it is enough to roughen the surface using a primer to remove its polished state slightly; then, we prepare some adhesive on the rough surfaces and stick the ceramics together following specific principles. In fact, the most important point in this regard is the use of suitable adhesive.
- Type of Slab Ceramic It is worth remembering that slab ceramics are made of porcelain; therefore, when buying porcelain ceramics, you must also consider using porcelain ceramic adhesive to bond them. In fact, using mortar and cement for installing porcelain ceramics is a mistake and will yield unsatisfactory results.
- Installing Slab Ceramic with Cement Flooring Generally, in newly constructed buildings where floor cementing is done for the first time, cementing the floor is the best option. In this stage, the building's floor must be completely level and uniform to be ready for slab ceramic installation. In this case, the stage of leveling holds special importance and is the most crucial step to ensure that the cementing done in the substructure is level and uniform.
- Importance of Proper Cementing for Slab If the floor cementing is done improperly and with numerous defects, after a while, the installed ceramics may face problems such as cracking, breaking, and becoming misshapen and uneven.
It should be noted that cementing, whether on the floor or on the wall, is a completely specialized job that must be done by professional and expert individuals.
After this, it is necessary to use a primer and then high-quality adhesive for porcelain ceramics to ensure that the ceramics are placed firmly and securely without any flaws.
Installing Slab Ceramic on the Wall
The method of installing slab ceramics on the wall can be done in two ways, which are installing slab ceramics on the wall using cement substructure and installing slab ceramics on a metal frame.
Of course, it is also possible to do substructure with drywall for installing slab ceramics; in this way, by using a double-layer drywall, they create a sturdy substructure and install ceramics on it, although this method is not recommended.
Installing Slab Ceramic on a Cement Wall Using Adhesive
If you intend to use slabs on the walls of newly constructed buildings or those undergoing renovation, the best option is cementing the walls with mortar; because, as we mentioned earlier, one of the requirements for excellent and flawless installation is having a smooth, uniform, and level surface. Leveling is one of the most important stages of cementing that can only be handled by professional and expert individuals.
How to stick and shoulder ceramic tile mortar
The next step is to stick the ceramic tile mortar on the wall. In this step, if you want a clean and excellent job, regardless of the higher price of porcelain ceramic adhesive, use the highest quality of these materials because the ceramic tile is heavy and must be installed using a adhesive with acceptable quality. Otherwise, the weight of the ceramic over time and environmental changes inside and outside the building should not affect the adhesion of the ceramic adhesive; otherwise, we may witness irreparable problems such as the fall of heavy stone ceramic tiles, in which case, the least damage is heavy material damage.
Scoping ceramic tile
One of the old methods that still has fans is scoping glossy ceramics. It should be noted that although this method is effective, with the existence of new methods of installing tiles that are more efficient, there is no need to use old methods. This method, which is mostly used for installing red soil stones and ceramics, creates a cut in the ceramic to increase the adhesion of the grout and absorb it into the ceramic texture, and then connects special metal pieces to the ceramics with a special adhesive.
The disadvantage of using mortar with concrete glue for installing glossy ceramics Usually, mortar reinforced with concrete glue will leak after placing stones or ceramics on the wall and will not have the expected adhesion. Unfortunately, in many cases, even professional installers use this type of mortar for porcelain ceramics, which is a mistake.
As you know, glossy ceramics are usually porcelain, especially books that have the most resemblance to natural stone and almost zero water absorption in appearance, so grout with any composition is not a suitable option for porcelain ceramics.
Therefore, the best option for installing glossy ceramics is to use powder or paste glue. In fact, with the use of high-quality powder adhesive, there is no need to scope glossy porcelain and ceramics.
Installation of glossy ceramics on gypsum walls
Generally, installing ceramics on gypsum walls is technically inappropriate and risky. This can cause various issues depending on the type and quality of the plastering. In these conditions, the best option is to plaster the gypsum wall and recement it. However, if you insist on installing glossy ceramics on gypsum walls, the best thing to do is to prime the plaster for strength and use stone dust to roughen the outer surface of the wall; then you can use powder ceramic adhesive to install them.
How to install glossy ceramics on ceramic
Installing glossy ceramics on previously tiled walls is slightly different from other types of installations, in that for this, you must first gently strike the ceramics with a small peck to ensure their strength.
Indeed, attention to the substrate is the main stage of installing glossy ceramics. Then, you must create small cracks in the underlying ceramics with a chisel to make their surface uneven and defective, and then spread the ceramic adhesive evenly on the surfaces of the ceramics.
It should be noted that with appropriate chiseling, there will be no need for primer; however, primer is often used to avoid chiseling and the resulting noise. Therefore, if the substrate chiseling is not sufficient, a rough surface primer must be used.
Installation of glossy ceramics behind the TV
Today, a variety of glossy ceramics are used abundantly for decorating different parts of homes; one of these parts is the wall behind the TV.
Installation of glossy ceramics with a metal frame on the wall
Installing ceramic slabs on the wall with a metal frame is done by first installing an iron frame on the wall and after leveling it, using epoxy adhesive to stick the ceramics. Epoxy adhesive has high adhesion power and becomes stone-like after use.
Keep in mind that before using the adhesive, you must definitely grind the surface of the frame and the wall with a grinder, and then prepare the epoxy adhesive according to the instructions on its packaging and place it in pieces on the surface of the frame.
It goes without saying that the cleanliness of both ceramic surfaces is crucial for the adhesives to be more robust. Therefore, clean the back of the glossy ceramic to be free of any dust and dirt; otherwise, the epoxy adhesive will not provide the necessary adhesion, and the chance of the glossy ceramic falling off will increase.
History of glossy ceramic production
You might find it interesting how glossy ceramics were first made and with what motivation. The first time, in 2006, glossy ceramics were produced by Italian tile, ceramic, and stone factories. As you know, Italy is the cradle of architecture and fashion in the world, and this creative idea that later influenced the whole world was actually the taste and taste of Italians.
The initial slabs were made of thin and fragile porcelain ceramics in dimensions of three by one meter, but today you can get the best glossy ceramics made from porcelain ceramics using new technologies.
Also, the price of installing ceramic slabs is higher compared to other types of ceramics; however, buying and using it considering its special appearance and suitable application is cost-effective and economical.
Important points about installing ceramic slabs
Below are the points that should be observed during the installation of ceramic slabs:
- For installing ceramic slabs on walls, the levelness and uniformity of wall cement work are of great importance to the extent that if it is not level, ceramic work should not be done under any circumstances; this is also true for floor tiling.
- Despite all the new guidelines for installing ceramic slabs, some old and even experienced installers still use mortar and concrete adhesive, which is completely outdated and wrong because ceramic slabs are made of porcelain and must be installed using special adhesives.
- When installing ceramic slabs, be sure to apply tile adhesive to both the ceramic surface and the sub-surface and spread it well on each surface with a notched trowel so that no empty space is left. Also, the ceramic adhesive must be applied in parallel lines directly and in line with the smaller edge of the ceramic slab.
- In general, ceramic slabs have polished and refined edges, which is why they can be installed in a way that creates a continuous and borderless surface. It is worth mentioning that a continuous and borderless surface does not mean installing ceramics without joints because tiles should not be implemented with a joint width of less than two millimeters.
- Using grout powder adds a better finish to the final work, and since grout powders are produced in various colors, you can match them with the tile colors.
How to glue ceramic slabs
As mentioned earlier, when installing ceramic slabs, spread the tile adhesive on the surface and the back of the slab with a notched trowel and make sure no air is trapped in the adhesive. However, after placing the slab, you can use a tile vibrator to release trapped air. Then use tile spacers. It is best to allow the spacers to remain in place for a full day to let the adhesive dry completely. The final step is cleaning the surfaces. Also, the ceramic adhesive must be applied in parallel lines directly and in line with the smaller edge of the ceramic slab.
Using a vibration hammer instead of a plastic hammer
If you use a vibration hammer for leveling the tile adhesive behind the tiles instead of a plastic hammer, you can prevent the ceramic slabs from breaking. Ceramic slabs are often produced with a thickness of 9 millimeters. The reason these slabs are made with this thickness is to reduce their weight and consequently reduce the risk of their falling after installation. In the past, most ceramic slabs were produced with a thickness of 12 millimeters, but technological advancements in this area have made it possible to produce slabs with less thickness.
Suitable conditions for installing large-sized ceramic slabs
Before starting the installation of large-sized ceramic slabs, it is essential to prepare all the necessary tools and equipment such as suction cups, clips, wedges, ceramic slab cutting tools, etc. Installing ceramic slabs with special adhesive is easy. For this purpose, you should prepare the ceramic adhesive according to the instructions on its packaging and then use it.
The typical thickness of ceramic slabs
An 11-millimeter ceramic slab weighs about 60 kilograms, so it must be transported by several people using special carriers and then moved to the desired location with a suction cup or a trolley. To install ceramic slabs, prepare the desired location and then, after selecting the installation pattern, cut the ceramic slabs to the required sizes. You can do this using a tile cutter, an angle grinder, or a wet saw; you can also use a glass drill with different diameters to create circular holes for plumbing.
What is the difference between regular ceramic and ceramic slabs?
- Dimensions of ceramic slabs The most important difference between ceramic slabs and regular ceramics is their size and dimensions. You have surely seen that the largest size of regular ceramics is 40 to 60 centimeters, but if you need larger-sized ceramics, you should go for different types of slabs.
- Waste of ceramic slabs In most cases, during the installation process of ceramic slabs, less waste and debris are produced; in fact, the large dimensions of ceramic slabs make it necessary to make fewer cuts, so the amount of waste and debris from the ceramics significantly decreases.
- Faster installation of ceramic slabs It is obvious that larger ceramic slabs require more skill and expertise for installation. Of course, small-sized ceramic slabs also have special installation principles; however, if you want to install ceramic slabs, you must seek help from a professional installer.
- Less grouting for ceramic slabs Since ceramic slabs have large dimensions, when installed side by side, they require less grouting and jointing, and therefore, the final surface will appear more uniform, making cleaning of this surface easier. Moreover, when the grouting decreases, the space appears larger.
- Longer Durability of Ceramic Slabs Ceramic slabs, among various types of ceramics, are of high quality because they are produced using high-quality clay. In fact, it is said that ceramic slabs are grade 1, although grade 1 ceramics can also be found among ordinary ceramics. It is said that by installing ceramic slabs in high-traffic areas, one should not worry about the breakage, cracking, abrasion, etc., of the ceramics.
Price of Installing Ceramic Slabs
In this article, we have discussed various details about ceramic slabs; however, the price of this type of ceramics and also the price of installing ceramic slabs are among the most important concerns of customers who want to beautify their desired places using these ceramics. In general, since you need to use experienced and professional installers for installing ceramic slabs and also if the ceramic slabs are large-sized, then their installation will have a relatively high price.
Price of Installing Small Ceramic Slabs
As mentioned, in general, the price of installing ceramic slabs is higher compared to installing ordinary ceramics; now, if the dimensions of ceramic slabs are also large, due to the fact that their installation is more difficult, this price will increase significantly; however, the price of installing small-sized ceramic slabs will be less compared to large-sized ones.
Final Words
In this article, we have detailed information about ceramic slabs, their quality, production type, and also the differences between this type of ceramics and ordinary ceramics. We also mentioned that although theoretically, installing ceramic slabs may seem easy, professional and experienced installers must be used for their installation. Also, these ceramics, due to their usually large dimensions, must be transported with care. In general, the mortar used for installing ceramic slabs is high-quality adhesives designed for this purpose. Ceramic slabs are made of porcelain and have much lower water absorption compared to ordinary ceramics.