Only a lazy person did not write about the merits of clinker tiles, it is clear that this is not surprising, the material deserves all the praise. Today we would like to talk not about the qualities of the material, but about the rules for its competent installation, because it is precisely the observance of technology that is the key to the durability of the coating. Installation of clinker tiles can be carried out in several ways, which we will consider more closely.

Wet installation of clinker tiles

Depending on what form of clinker material is used and the method of its installation depends. Thus, a single traditional tile is laid in a wet way, by gluing to the surface with the help of special mixtures. In this case, you should remember and follow a number of rules.

As you can see, there is nothing new in the technology of laying clinker tiles, therefore, if you have experience in surface cladding with ceramic materials, you should cope with this process without problems.

Dry installation of clinker tiles

This method of fastening without the use of adhesives is used for clinker tile panels. They are a set of single elements fixed on a different basis, most often they use expanded polypropylene or expanded polystyrene. This allows, together with the cladding, to insulate the building. Similar
the panels are equipped with fasteners that greatly simplify installation. Installation of facade clinker tiles using this technology is carried out as follows:

As you can see, the main points of facing facades with clinker tiles practically do not differ from the basics of installing other types of finishes, so the whole complex of work can be done independently, having the necessary general construction skills and a simple tool. This will significantly reduce the cost of finishing the building.

Clinker tiles are high-quality, durable, environmentally friendly material. The composition contains highly plastic clay, due to which, during the firing process, a rather strong, unpretentious in maintenance, dense in structure and resistant to mechanical stress material is obtained.

You can buy clinker in different colors, due to which the surface of the walls or facade of buildings will be rough or glazed during installation. Installation of tiles is not much different from tiles and can be done by hand, but some of the nuances in the work should be taken into account.

Preparatory stages

Before installing clinker facade tiles, it is first necessary to carry out preparatory work.

• Calculate the amount of material you need and.
• Decide on the installation scheme, usually the panels are placed vertically on a fireplace, wooden, concrete base.
• Make calculations, calculate the area, perimeter (length, height) of the facade.

Before starting work, it is necessary to make calculations

When preparing, special attention is required for the base (metal, cement screed, concrete, brick wall) and must be:

• durable;
• even vertically and horizontally;
• dry for perfect clinker placement;
• with high bearing capacity;
• no cracks;
• clean and it is worth removing particles of varnish, paint, lubricants, otherwise the adhesive properties of the adhesive will be underestimated;
• durable, shattering of individual areas is unacceptable.

If necessary, the base must be plastered and leveled using repair plaster. In the case of laying clinker tiles on the facade, it is advisable to first lay thermal insulation, which will contribute to the release of heat into the room, prevent fungus and bacteria from entering the walls.

On a note! There should be no loose plaster elements on the base. They must be removed so that the clinker sticks evenly and firmly for many years.

Clinker is laid on an adhesive, which can be purchased at a hardware store, taking into account the operating instructions written on the packaging during installation.

You can use traditional mortar by preparing yourself:

• sand (4 parts);
• cement grade M500 (1 part).

At the exit, a rather plastic composition should be obtained with the addition of water, so that it is applied and distributed over the surface in an even thin layer.

Using thermal panels

Thermal panels will serve as decoration and thermal insulation for the facade. Two-layer panels consisting of facing tiles and a thermal insulating polyurethane foam backing are quite light in weight, so there is no need to further strengthen the erected foundation. The load will be evenly distributed over the surface of the walls. Thanks to polyurethane, the house will always be warm in winter, and heating costs will be reduced by almost 40%. The main advantages of thermal panels:

• resistance to acids and alkalis;
• adaptation to weather conditions;
• high environmental friendliness;
• incombustibility;
• repellency from precipitation, wall infection with mold and fungus.

Clinker tiles, together with thermal panels, are attached to the load-bearing walls with self-tapping screws.

Installation can be carried out almost in any season of the year. Facade cladding is fast and not difficult, unlike, for example, what difficulties it presents.

Laying tiles on the facade

The technology of laying clinker tiles is step-by-step. It is worth starting work with door and window openings, calculating the boundaries of the location of the panels and making the necessary markings. It is difficult to lay clinker tiles at the corners, therefore it is necessary to cover the base with tiled corners from top to bottom. The tile will serve as decoration and the tolerance of inaccuracies and mistakes during installation is undesirable.

Step-by-step instruction:

• treat the walls with glue;
• moisten the first tile with water, apply adhesive inside out, make grooves;
• evenly attach the tile, slightly pressing it into the solution;
• lay down step by step until the first horizontal row is laid;
• pull a cord along the wall so that all subsequent rows lie flat;
• glue subsequent rows, leaving vertical seams between each tile with a distance equal to its thickness;
• lay out the steps and the bottom of the facade, using, if necessary, a hacksaw for metal or a special tile cutter for cutting tiles;
• fill all the seams with a special solution, wipe;
• remove smudges with a damp brush, without wetting the seams.

Laying on the floor

The work is phased and it is worth observing the specifics.

• Prepare the base, seal up any voids and cracks.
• Achieve perfect evenness by checking the level of indicators.
• Prepare the tiles, if desired, mix colors, taking into account the future design of the building as a whole.
• Prepare a mortar consisting of cement or glue mixture.
• Treat the base with a solution 3-4 cm thick.
• Lay the water-dampened tiles in parallel rows or staggered, starting in the middle of the room and leaving seams up to 12 mm wide.
• Lay out the corners of the room using tiled corners.
• Fill the joints with a trowel or a compound (sand + cement).
• Moisten lightly laid tiles, cover with plastic.
• Leave until the adhesive is fully set.
• Clean the surface after all seams are completely dry.

It is more profitable and faster to lay out the floor with such panels, in contrast, for example, to parquet, where it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of laying a parquet board.

It is quite possible to install clinker with your own hands, but for the durability of such a coating, it is important not to neglect the advice, building codes and laying rules.

• For finishing the facade, you should choose dry and calm weather with a temperature of - + 5 + 30 degrees.
• You need to start the design with windows and doors, marking the boundaries of the location with a pencil.
• It is advisable to divide the walls into squares with a side of 1 m so that the tiles look natural and emphasize the walls favorably.
• As a rule, darker colored tiles are laid out at the bottom of the facade - up to 6 m from ground level.
• The tiles should be uniform in texture and shade, although slight variations in color are acceptable.
• A dark color contributes to overheating of the building, therefore it should not exceed 20% when laying out, taking into account the total area of ​​the facade.
• To fill the joints, it is recommended to use a trowel mixture, and you can buy it in different colors, taking into account the shades of the tiles.
• Before laying, the surface must be flat and clean, without chips and cracks, which must first be covered, then apply a layer of primer.
• After embedding, it is additionally recommended to prime the walls to strengthen the base, to increase its adhesion to the mortar.
• It is necessary to mount the clinker after the reinforcing mixture has completely dried.
• Clinker is laid in rows, and start work from the corner of the room, moving from bottom to top.
• When gluing the insulation to the walls, it is advisable to cover it on top with a reinforcing compound or a layer of fiberglass.

Fiberglass will help insulate the room

Using additional materials and tools

For even laying of clinker tiles on the wall, you can use the starting corner, remembering to leave seams between the tiles up to 8–12 mm.

For the steps of the facade, you can use another non-slip material, finish with parquet.

When finishing the facade, work should be started from the second row, the first basement should be put last and after the terrace tiles have been laid. In structure, it is harder and does not cut well, and with such a trick it will be possible to hide all its unevenly cut edges.

It is good to use spaced crosses to achieve uniform seams.

Spacer crosses will help you make symmetrical seams

If the mortar dries quickly on the wall and the tiles are not glued, the adhesive must be applied with a new layer before laying.

Seams can be repaired starting approximately 1 day after laying the tiles.

It is reasonable to remove excess putty with a hard sponge only after a matte layer appears on the tile, which means sufficient drying of the adhesive.

Clinker is becoming more and more popular in the construction market. Laying clinker tiles with your own hands is a fairly simple job and it is enough to take into account some of the subtleties and nuances.

The tile will perform protective functions for the building and will give a respectable appearance. But it is important to understand how to lay clinker tiles correctly, taking into account the technology, step-by-step steps, manufacturer's recommendations and weather conditions during work.

Facade clinker tiles have the highest physical performance among all types of building materials. The main advantages are:

But there is also limitations... The first is the high cost. The price of clinker tiles, depending on the brand, may be several times higher than the cost of ceramic tiles. The second drawback is fragility. In terms of its physical characteristics, clinker resembles glass, and its fragility is the same. It is difficult to cut, the place where the cut is often chipped. In addition, the material cracks as a result of sharp impacts.

Excellent performance characteristics are obtained due to a special production technology, unlike other clay building materials, clinker is fired at very high temperatures (at least + 1300 ° C). Under these conditions, clay and brick melt and turn into a glassy mass. The mineral dyes used give color, and special molds change the structure of the front surfaces. During production, the technology should be strictly observed, otherwise the tile is deformed, the linear dimensions are violated, and the quality is significantly reduced. Production can only be carried out by reputable companies that have not only the most modern mechanisms and equipment, but also responsible highly qualified specialists of various specialties.

Before buying a tile, you should decide on its characteristics. What to look for?

Choose glue and grout at the same time as the tiles. The glue must be frost-resistant and withstand at least 50 freeze / thaw cycles. Clinker tiles are a very expensive material, you should not allow unpleasant situations due to poor-quality glue, which subsequently cause the need for repairs.

As for the grout. All of them must necessarily compensate for the thermal expansion of the tile. The clinker is very fragile; with increasing loads, it can crack. There are no universal recommendations for color; grout in each case should emphasize the beauty of the finish.

Laying clinker tiles

Exact adherence to existing technologies guarantees the quality and long-term operation of the finish. Do not try to speed up work by skipping individual operations, such actions will have bad consequences.

Step 1. Surface preparation. They must be flat, dry and clean. It should be leveled carefully, do not allow large differences in height. The fact is that the glue under the tiles must be applied with a comb spatula, this is the only way to ensure reliable gluing. And the comb trowel works only on flat surfaces. The best option for laying tiles on plastered surfaces.

Step 2. Determination of the number of tiles.

The work algorithm depends on the type of tile. If there are special corner elements in the kit, then their number is calculated separately. Next, determine the area of ​​the wall and give a small margin. For ordinary ceramic tiles, the stock is made within 10%, the clinker stock is reduced due to the high cost. You will have to work very carefully, to minimize the amount of waste of expensive material.

Step 3. Preparation of materials and tools. To work, you need special glue and grout. From tools a spatula, tape measure, level, rope with blue (chopping thread), electric mixer. We have already mentioned above that all materials must be of high quality, in terms of performance they correspond to the weight and size of the clinker tiles and the climatic zone of residence.

Step 4. Markup. A very important point, the consumption of tiles, the speed and quality of the facing work depends on the thoroughness of the marking. How to markup?

1. Start marking the facade walls with window and door openings, in these places problems most often appear. Using a level and a pencil or felt-tip pen, mark the position of the start of the row above the jumpers. Check the level of the position of the windows, if they are not on the same line, then the lower edge of the first row of one of them will have to be cut a little. Hit the line above the windows.
2. Measure the distance from the windows to the first row of tiles, taking into account the thickness of the joints. Take accurate measurements, do not allow errors of more than a few millimeters.
3. Beat off the lowest line on the wall of the house, taking into account the previously made markings above the openings. Check its position again. To measure horizontality, it is better to use a water or laser level, an ordinary building one on a long wall can make significant mistakes.
4. If you have special elements for finishing corners, check their location and count how many tiles will fit in length from one corner to the second. This is necessary in order to make the cut along the length of the tile invisible. The longer the length of the facade wall, the more carefully make the markings, take into account the number of corners and bends of the surface. Facade walls of prestigious buildings have original architectural elements; it is rather difficult to tile them.
5. For constant control of the position of the tile on the wall, beat off parallel lines at a distance of three to four rows, taking into account the thickness of the seam. Such lines greatly facilitate the finishing process and exclude the appearance of defects. Remember that correcting mistakes is always much more difficult than avoiding them.

Step 5. Along the edge of the bottom line of the first row of tiles, fasten the installation strip, it will keep the material from slipping until the glue firmly sets. The rail can be fixed to the wall with special fixtures or ordinary dowels. The holes from the fixation points are then sealed.

Step 6. Prepare an adhesive solution. Be sure to first pour water into the container, and only then pour dry glue. Read the instructions carefully, pour in only the required amount of water. We have already discussed this topic above.

Practical advice. At first, inexperienced craftsmen may think that the solution is very thick. Do not pour water immediately! Keep stirring it, after a few minutes it will become thinner.

After the first stirring, leave the solution for 4-6 minutes to infuse. During this time, the remaining dry lumps of powder will absorb water and break easily with repeated stirring.

Step 7. Laying begins at the corners of the bottommost row. Prepare the workplace, remove debris and items that interfere with work. If in the future you need scaffolding, but you need to check their completeness and prepare for installation. When installing the scaffolding, the safety regulations must be observed.

Apply glue to the wall and press down firmly.

To eliminate gaps, pass the comb-type spatula with glue along one place at least twice in perpendicular directions, gradually decreasing its angle of inclination.

Very important. The amount of glue applied should be appropriate for your productivity. First, process small areas, over time, experience will appear, work will go faster.

There are two ways of laying clinker tiles: one row along the entire length of the facade wall or three to four rows in small areas. The first method reduces the likelihood of errors, but increases the time. If you work slowly, you will only have to apply glue across the width of one tile, which is very inconvenient and time-consuming. In addition, there is a possibility that the glue has already hardened before the second row is laid, it will have to be removed with a flat spatula, and this is a loss of material. Another problem is that it is difficult to apply glue with a spatula at the edge of the tile, this technology is much more time-consuming. And the last thing - during such an application, a solution will surely get on the surface, it will have to be removed - even more time is lost. But we cannot give final advice on how to lay the tiles, it all depends on your practical skills. How much time there is in stock is written on the glue package, and how much during this period you can glue the tiles - only from you.

Step 8. To improve adhesion, be sure to coat the back of the tiles with glue. The thickness of the glue is within a millimeter. The fact is that clinker almost does not absorb moisture, and this significantly reduces the adhesion coefficient. Smearing the back side minimizes the negative effect of low water absorption.

Step 9. Use crosses between the tiles. The recommended width of the crosses is 10–14 mm, which is much more than when laying ordinary tiles.

Continue laying the tiles over the entire surface of the facade wall, periodically remove the crosses from the lower rows and use them for the upper ones.

Prices for clinker facade tiles

Clinker facade tiles

Processing of window and door openings

Proceed to them only after the experience of laying tiles on smooth facade walls has appeared.

Step 1. Place the tiles on the windowsill. The rows must match exactly with those laid on the wall. The surface of the windowsills should be flat and sloped to drain water.

Step 2. Protect the finished horizontal parts of the window sills from dirt. You can simply tape a newspaper or a piece of plastic wrap with construction tape.

Step 3. Try on the tiles to the side surfaces of the windowsill. As a rule, they have different widths at the top and bottom, this discrepancy should be eliminated only at the expense of the top and bottom tiles. They will have to be cut at an angle.

Step 4. Using a level, draw a horizontal line on the side windowsills, take the dimensions of the remaining triangles. The extreme tiles are cut along them.

Step 5. The aesthetics of the facade is greatly influenced by the alignment of the joint lines over the entire surface, pay due attention to this factor. After you have laid the first two corner tiles on opposite vertical slopes of the window opening, check their position with a level. They should lie on one strictly horizontal line.

Step 6. In turn, glue all the tiles on the slopes, periodically check their position.

Step 7. After completing work on vertical slopes, proceed to laying tiles on the upper horizontal one. Marking and sizing of corner tiles is performed according to the same algorithm as for side vertical tiles. The styling technology requires special attention. Check the condition of the glue, it must firmly hold the tile until it is completely hardened.

Features of cutting clinker tiles

The best option is to cut the clinker tiles with a professional water-cooled diamond blade saw. This way you can get a perfectly flat cut surface and almost completely eliminate the risk of cracking or chips. But such equipment is quite expensive, it is profitable to purchase it only for professional craftsmen, for whom laying tiles is the main income, and not a pastime. If you do not have a machine, then you will have to cut the tiles with a cylindrical grinder and a diamond disc.

Important. Diamond blades are of two types: for cutting concrete and ceramics. Disks are not interchangeable, use them for other purposes is prohibited. What are the differences between the disks? For cutting concrete, the plane of the discs has through slots to remove a large amount of dust; discs for tiles do not have such holes. They have only small indentations in the places where the diamond chips are applied. Slotted discs hit the tiles hard and cause chipping. Always keep these differences in mind.

Prices for angle grinders (grinders)

Angle grinders (grinders)

How to cut clinker tiles with a grinder?

1. Prepare a level and stable stand and ruler. Draw a cutting line on the tile, be sure to exactly on both sides.
2. Cut the tile along a line no more than half the thickness in one pass. Never try to cut at once in one pass of the disc, it will crack.
3. Turn the tile over to its side and cut it in the same way, only reduce the cutting depth even further.
4. Place the cut piece on a flat edge of the table and with a sharp pressure on the edge of the tile break it off along the cutting line. The more confident your movements are, the less risks of getting a marriage as a result.
5. Very carefully trim the edge of the cut with a grinder. Tilt the disc at the maximum possible angle, do not press it too hard, remove the unevenness gradually.

Keep in mind that it is very difficult to cut a strip less than one centimeter wide from the clinker tile. To do this, you must have experience with electric tools and clinker. If the technology requires gluing such pieces, then be prepared for a large number of rejects.

Video - Workshop on cutting clinker terrace slabs

Video - How to quickly cut clinker tiles

Grouting

Has its own characteristics. After slight hardening of the glue, remove from the seams and clean the surfaces from glue residues with a special thin spatula. Start grouting no earlier than three days after installation, otherwise the tile may erode and will have to be re-glued. Prepare the grout solution taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations, which brand to choose we told above. It should be semi-dry in consistency.

Place some mortar on a trowel or any level surface, using a long, narrow tool, just the width of the seams, to seal.

Lean the trowel against the wall, pick up small amounts of thick mortar with the tool and carefully seal the joints. Level their surfaces at the same time.

Practical advice. It is much faster to first seal several rows of vertical joints, and then horizontal ones. Remove the difference in height between them at the same time.

Prices for construction grout Ceresit Super

Construction grout Ceresit Super

This method of semi-dry grouting significantly reduces contamination of the face of the clinker tile. Final cleaning is done with an ordinary brush.

Sweeping a seam with a brush gives it
appropriate structure

If you have sufficient skills, then you will not have to use a damp sponge, the work will be done neatly and beautifully. If not, then the problem areas will have to be wiped. But remember that the surface of clinker tiles is easy to get dirty, but difficult to clean. After drying, the spots will reappear, the procedure will have to be repeated several times.

Clinker tiles absorb no more than 4% moisture. Such properties put forward special requirements for the consistency of the glue - it should not be liquid. Ceramic tiles absorb a lot of moisture, liquid glue is not a problem for them. At the same time, the glue should not be very thick. Why? First, its adhesion to both supporting surfaces and tiles is significantly reduced. Secondly, the mixture quickly hardens, the laying process becomes much more complicated.

Any glue on the tile surface must be removed immediately. Pay particular attention to clinker with an uneven face. Don't wait for the glue to dry. The fact is that high-quality glue is then difficult to clean, it adheres very firmly to the texture. Use a clean, damp sponge or cloth for cleaning.

The production technology allows a slight difference in color shades in one batch of clinker tiles. To exclude the appearance on the facade of large areas with different colors, periodically take tiles from several packages. The facade will look beautiful, and some difference in shades will serve as an additional decoration. When buying, pay attention to the batch number, it is indicated on the package. If you need to purchase additional tiles in a few months, then there is a high probability that this batch will no longer be available.

It is not recommended to install clinker tiles in very hot and windy weather. If it is not possible to wait for suitable conditions, then you can slightly sprinkle the surface of the clinker tile from the back side with water. This will improve the adhesion, and the fixing reliability will increase.

Video - Clinker tile laying technology

Concerning the issue of facing steps, one cannot ignore the use of clinker tiles. It is an innovative finishing material that combines excellent performance with a high decorative function. Laying clinker steps has its own characteristics, which will be discussed below.

Characteristics of clinker tiles

At the heart of the production of finishing material with the prefix "clinker" is a special extrusion method for processing shale clay. Thanks to this, clinker tiles have all the necessary properties for laying on steps.

Frost resistance

Immunity to moisture (water absorption at the level of 2%) ensures a stable response of clinker tiles to temperature fluctuations. For seasonal fluctuations, the zero line is especially dangerous, when water is converted to ice and vice versa. When laying steps using clinker material, the structure is able to withstand about 300 critical cycles. This is possible due to the capillary structure of the product, which promotes the release of excess moisture, which is one of the key factors influencing the choice in favor of clinker cladding on external surfaces.

This is especially true for stairs, since the area between the risers and steps is subject to maximum stress, and slight delamination can provoke a quick destruction of the structure. If the tiles are laid correctly, there is practically no risk of chipping and chipping.

Important! The use of modern technologies allows for facing steps with clinker material in any season.

Wear resistance and mechanical strength

The flooring material used for outdoor decoration must have increased resistance to wear and tear. These conditions are impracticable for traditional ceramics. The clinker tiles intended for laying the steps have abrasion classes 4 and 5, therefore, the durability of the cladding, subject to the work technology, is guaranteed. The level of resistance to mechanical stress also depends on the manufacturer:

• The German Stoeher coating is the most durable, even if you want to scratch the surface, only sparks will fly from it.
• Spanish products are less stable, but their cost is lower.
• The situation is worse with Polish manufacturers, who periodically offer ordinary ceramics instead of clinker tiles for laying steps.

An important indicator is the resistance of the material under bending loads. The clinker cladding chosen for laying the steps is characterized by indicators of 20 MPa. Since the load during operation of the steps is more distributed to the edge of the structure, the value of the mechanical strength plays a decisive role.

Anti-skid properties

When laying tiles on the steps, you should remember about the increased level of injury during the operation of the stairs. Therefore, care should be taken when choosing a non-slip material surface. There is no standard by which the degree of sliding of a cladding product is determined in Russia. In addition to visual inspection and their own feelings, consumers can be guided by European regulations.

Remark! Veneering ceramics are divided into five levels of anti-slip properties: from R9 to R13. Installation of clinker steps is best done with tiles with a class from R11 to R13.

It is worth noting such an indicator as adhesion to glue. The advantages of clinker are especially evident when compared to porcelain stoneware. Despite its popularity, the seamy side of porcelain stoneware has a smooth texture, so it sticks to the glue much worse when laid. The structured surface of the mounting base of the clinker product promotes high adhesion to the adhesive. And finally, considering the characteristics of clinker facing material, its environmental safety should be emphasized.

Types of formats

The range of clinker products for laying steps in terms of the choice of texture or color palette is small. But the sophisticated appearance of the stairs is provided by a perfect structural base and a variety of formats, among which are:

• Steps: ordinary, notched, angular, with a Florentine profile.
• Plinth: ordinary, angular, curly, under the steps.
• There are also balcony claddings and profiled skirting boards with an angle.

All parts are produced in various versions, both tonal and geometric. Therefore, the task of tiling stairs, even with a complex structure, becomes feasible. Individual elements of clinker products do not have significant functional value, but they are highly decorative and allow you to show creative inclinations in the design of steps.

Technological process

The technology of laying clinker tiles on the steps assumes the presence of a reliable surface of concrete, stone or brick.

Surface preparation

Due to the rigid base of clinker products, the surface of the steps under the cladding should not undergo deformation under mechanical stress, fluctuations in humidity or temperature extremes. Therefore, it is possible to correctly lay it only on a solid foundation. In the first place in terms of reliability, reinforced concrete is in the lead. You can start the laying process after the following conditions are met:

• The surface of the steps will be cleaned of foreign deposits, debris and dirt using a drill with a special nozzle or a metal brush.
• All existing irregularities were corrected with a cement-sand mortar.
• Before laying, it is necessary to waterproof the surface of the steps.

Markup

The stair tiling technology contains many facets, including:

• compliance with the horizontal plane;
• the formation of even seams;
• exposure of the same step height.

The last condition is not always feasible due to the initially irregular shape of the rough structure. In this case, the task of the master is to visually achieve the same size of steps after laying the clinker tiles. When marking, it is necessary to strive for the integrity of the slabs in width and length. Trimming along the edges often does not look aesthetically pleasing, so they resort to slight shortening of the central elements to ensure the integrity of the poles. Outdoor steps often have sidewalls, so vertical stacking will be inevitable.

Important ! According to the laying technology, when marking the steps, the direction of the lines on the mounting surface of the clinker parts should be monitored.

They should not be perpendicular to each other. This will prevent the formation of cracks in the seam areas.

Styling

Before you start laying, you should decide what composition will be used for the fixation. In addition to glue, you can use a mortar of cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 4. For these purposes, sand is selected, the fraction of which does not exceed 7 mm, otherwise insufficient adhesion will provoke the risk of detachment of clinker tiles from the steps. The mixture of ready-made glue is more reliable; Ceresit CM12 is excellent for these purposes. The proposed glue is made specifically for clinker products, but is also suitable for ceramics with porcelain stoneware. The only exception is marble. Dilute the glue in the proportions indicated on the manufacturer's packaging.

The laying technology has different options: some tilers start from the top step, others from the bottom level. Regardless of the method chosen, the process includes the following steps:

• The first step is to start correctly with the lighthouse laying of the horizontal row. This will set the plane and determine the thickness of the seams.
• Further, the steps are laid exclusively with horizontal tiles.
• After the glue has hardened, they proceed to facing the risers.

Attention ! When decorating steps on the street, the protruding part of the tile does not stick. This will protect the clinker cladding from damage when the base surface is deformed.

Decorating outdoor stairs requires the use of special frost-resistant glue.

Grout

The width of the joints varies depending on the type of clinker material. From the point of view of technical characteristics and aesthetic appearance, correctly form the thickness of 4-5 mm, however, the allowable size is 10 mm.

A rubber or metal spatula is suitable for grouting the seams on the steps. The metal tool should be selected narrow, according to the width of the gaps after laying the tiles. It is necessary to work with a semi-dry mixture, you can check the desired consistency by squeezing in the palm of your hand - the grout should not crumble.