Large Porcelain Stoneware: Every Thing You Need To Know

While some people do not like to go with the flow and stick to the traditional things, others like to experiment and try out new things. Large format porcelain stonewear tiles are gaining popularity among the modern homeowners because of their versatility and looks. Though these tiles come in different shapes, patterns, designs, and sizes but they all have some common features which will be discussed in this article. Let’s find out more about large format porcelain stonewear tiles with this detailed blog post on it.

Large Porcelain Stoneware

Porcelain stoneware is a type of hard porcelain that’s formed with ceramic or stone clays and sometimes other materials such as feldspar, kaolin, quartz, and calcium carbonate. The terms porcelain and stoneware can be used interchangeably in many cases, but large porcelain stoneware is especially referred to as an extremely durable type of flooring made from very strong and heavy materials.

How Is It Made?

Is it made from porcelain? Well, not exactly. It’s actually a mixture of clay and other additives to make them look like porcelain. In fact, large stoneware is really a type of earthenware, which means that it’s non-porous. Earthenware ceramics are typically porous and can be used in industrial applications that demand high heat resistance. Because they’re porous, they tend to absorb liquids easily.

Characteristics:

• Porcelain stoneware is one of the most durable finishing materials. It is widely used in residential construction. The material is intended to cover commercial, industrial, public buildings, carry out exterior work, and solve specific tasks that other "ceramics" do not support. The characteristics of the materials for these purposes are different. This is due to additional consumer requirements.
• One of the main parameters of this material is its geometry. The shape and size of the stairs' porcelain and the decoration of the kitchen walls are different. According to the proportion between height and width, square and rectangular varieties of products are differentiated. They are easy to install, economical and allow a minimum of waste for pruning.
• It is providing beautiful, easy to maintain stoneware pottery at a reasonable price

How to Clean Them?

According to Murphy, all you need is warm water and vinegar to get your stoneware sparkling again. Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a quart of warm water in a bowl or sink, she explains. Let stand for five minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse well with hot water after scrubbing, and air dry. Your stoneware will be good as new!

Shapes:

• Large - suitable for finishing large installations. It is distinguished by a high installation rate, has a minimum length of seams and is therefore sustainable. Due to the large finishing area, this ceramic granite is suitable for high humidity environments, high "traffic." Large porcelain stoneware for walls and floors is very popular in technical, commercial and public buildings but can also be used in everyday life
• Small - suitable for home use, as it fits well in rooms in a remote area. Also, this option is ideal for rooms with increased loads since, in the case of a loose installation, small tiles better absorb the pressure of heavy equipment or furniture. In the case of operational cracks, it is cheaper to replace small elements, which is taken into account when decorating installations with a large visitor flow.

Sizes:

• 800x800 mm - a more massive version of the previous format, which has the same set of advantages but already allows to visually expand the interior
• 1200x1200 mm - option for finishing façades and cladding in offices and shopping centers, airports, sports facilities, large halls. It is quite simple to install, has a balanced cost and is most often produced with a wear-resistant design
• 600x1200 mm - an expensive and infrequent shape designed for non-standard work. For example, these are the required porcelain stoneware sizes for the facade or interior lining of premium class objects
• 2400x24000 mm - finishing material for technical purposes (laboratories, warehouses, other installations with mobile equipment activated). The strength of such tiles is provided by the size of the sides and their thickness (1.2 cm).

Thickness Of Large Porcelain Stoneware:

The thickness of porcelain stoneware tiles on the floor varies widely: from 3 to 40 mm. According to this indicator, the following product groups are produced:

• A thin slab of 3 mm can have dimensions of up to 400x400 mm. Due to the low consumption of material, the products stand out for their low cost but require careful preparation of the surface, extensive experience and specialized trimming tool. Due to their fragility, these standard sizes need careful transport. Main application area: rooms with medium loads, for example, kitchens, lounges, small shops, as well as cases in which it is not desirable to significantly raise the floor level
• Normal thickness plate: 8.0-14 mm depending on the size. This is the most common finishing material. It is used in the decoration of residential and public buildings with a medium level of wear. The section of the slabs is most often 400x400 mm, 450x450 mm, 600x600 mm. These are the most suitable sizes of glazed porcelain stoneware tiles for the facade. In addition, the products are made in the 600x600 mm format.
• The thick ceramic granite includes pieces from 14 mm. There are standard sizes on the market up to 40 mm thick. The plates of this format are intended for buildings with a lot of movement and increased loads and are also used in living rooms. This creates an interesting decorative effect, especially when using rectified ceramic granite, applied with seamless technology. Thick plates are suitable for outdoor installation, as they are not afraid of temperature fluctuations.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price of large porcelain slabs will vary depending on a number of factors. The material, thickness, and size are just a few elements that affect pricing. As a general rule, slabs that have more unique textures or colors tend to cost more. It’s also helpful to note that buying in bulk will usually reduce costs, though these savings may be lessened if shipping fees are factored into final price calculations.

Where Can You Use It?

This material is best for kitchen countertops, backsplashes, bathroom vanities and other structural surfaces. The benefit of using stoneware instead of porcelain tile or natural stone is that it’s stain resistant and requires less maintenance than natural stone. It’s safe to use in all major cooking areas and doesn’t require any sealants or polishes because it can be cleaned easily with a non-abrasive cleaner and damp cloth.

Things To Consider When purchasing large porcelain stoneware:

• Technical porcelain stoneware has a thickness of 10 mm. It has a low cost. The material is used for finishing in laboratories, warehouses, industrial facilities. The design of such a tile is the simplest. During production, the emphasis is on ensuring high chemical resistance and non-slip effect
• Enameled - made with an additional decorative layer, which guarantees the high aesthetics of the products. Application: renovation of residential and public buildings. They produce universal porcelain stoneware sizes imitating wood, marble, abstract patterns, etc.
• Matt - is subjected to the processing of the front surface with thick wheels. The material is cheap. It has non-slip properties. It differs in application versatility
• Polished - undergoes further processing with abrasive materials. Therefore, the material looks impressive. Due to the low surface roughness, it is not used for paving
• It has a thickness of 10 mm, is made by chemical attack or application of additional components. This variety has an original relief imitating leather, stone and other materials, but it is distinguished by the characteristics of reduced resistance, high cost
• Semi-polished - assumes an intermediate position between matte and polished
• Satin - a material with high decorative properties obtained by the additional application of mineral salts on the front surface
• Rectified - made by trimming the edge, therefore, it is placed with perfect technology.
• Regularly thick porcelain stoneware is suitable for most projects. You can choose the material depending on the price, operating conditions, decorative properties.

When choosing ultrafine porcelain stoneware, the following factors are taken into account:

• Available in sizes up to 800 × 800 mm
• The price of ultrafine ceramic granite is lower than that of analogs
• The products are indicated for residential installations with low loads
• Ultrathin porcelain stoneware is not suitable for diy installation, as it requires special skills, a professional tool.

When choosing small thickness porcelain stoneware, the following factors are taken into account:

It is necessary to focus on the laying conditions in more detail since customers often do not take this factor into account and when purchasing finishing materials they are guided only by cost. The small thickness of porcelain stoneware in combination with large dimensions imposes restrictions on installation technology:

• Capture, the transport of the dishes is carried out by means of vacuum suction cups
• Storage, marking, cutting are carried out on a flat base
• The floorboard must be perfectly flat
• Leveling the plates due to the adhesive layer is impossible
• The ultra-fine porcelain stoneware is suitable for application on the previous finish without disassembling it. The old tiles serve as a kind of prepared base. Due to the low thickness, the new finish layer will not affect the height of the floors much, and the installation option itself will reduce costs and repair time
• Large and fine porcelain stoneware cut with professional cutters for water-cooled tiles with diamond blades
• Porcelain stoneware is cut on a large foam board
• The thickness of the tile adhesive must be the same throughout the area. It is carefully leveled to remove voids that break the lining
• Do not use a rubber mallet to adjust ultrathin products
• In case of improper installation, the superfine slab is difficult to remove for reassembly, because with a little thickness and resistance of the element it is difficult to catch its edge. This is also prevented by the high adhesion of the supplied adhesive to the porcelain stoneware.

When choosing Porcelain Stoneware of regular thickness, the following nuances are taken into account:

• The slabs are 7–14 mm thick
• Style technology is simple. Even a non-professional can do it
• The material has a balanced level of performance parameters
• Produce a wide variety of products and large porcelain stoneware tiles for floors in non-standard projects
• Universal porcelain stoneware is used in residential, commercial, public and industrial installations
• The thickness of the ice-resistant porcelain stoneware is 12-14 mm
• The slabs are trimmed with a standard tile cutter

Thick porcelain stoneware has the following characteristics:

• Plate thickness of 14 mm with a wide range of sizes
• The material is capable of supporting increased loads
• The slabs are expensive
• Scope: facilities and open areas
• Placing large porcelain stoneware requires installation skills and considerable physical strength, but it can be done on its own due to simple technology
• More often, thick porcelain stoneware is laid without tile adhesive. The slabs are placed on a layer of sand (with the addition of portland cement), compacted with a vibrator
• Other professional thick tile layouts are used, for example, in the grass, gravel, or load-bearing structures for raised floors. The thickness of outdoor porcelain stoneware is 20 mm.

Article Updated:- November 16, 2020

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