It is curious and paradoxical, but even a professional environment can give rise to “segmented” laymen. Most tilers (and even good ones!) are confident not only in their own skill, but also in their theoretical knowledge, which includes, among other things, an understanding of ceramic classification. Ask any craftsman if he knows about Metlakh tiles. The answer, most likely, will be a puzzled look: “Who do you take me for?”

Meanwhile, by provoking you to go deeper into details, you can run into the exposure of a blatant gap in this area. In fact, even many experts know quite little about Metlakh tiles. Perhaps this is forgivable. Today, “metlah” is an alternative to popular solutions: the usual tiles and relatively young porcelain stoneware. True connoisseurs are increasingly giving preference to the brightest representative of more than one era. But there were times when factories and palaces were “paved” with Metlakh tiles...

However, the story is rounded. The example of Metlakh tiles is very clear in this sense. The technology of its production has been developed and lost over the centuries, restored and again faded into oblivion. Today there are many manufacturers specializing in tiles that have survived more than one mass “sclerosis.” It is quite possible to expect another similar mass reincarnation of the “broom” in the minds and abodes of Russians. Therefore, both tilers and consumers would do well to familiarize themselves with the history and technological nuances a wonderful example of ceramic art and craft.

A little history

Roots of the name

Why exactly “metlakh”? The history of the origin of the name is akin to the history of copier naming - Russian-language historical version. Similar to the case with the copy machine, the name of which migrated from the name of the company that first launched it on the market, Mettlach tiles received their name thanks to the German city of Mettlach, in which the Villeroy & Boch factory established tile production.

In fact, Russia also had its own production facilities that produced “brooms.” But at that time, the attitude towards foreign products was reminiscent of the attitude towards those in the USSR in the Brezhnev and post-Brezhnev era. And since imported Metlakh tiles were supplied to Russia mainly by the indicated company, the name turned out to be appropriate.

If you think that only our ancestors “suffered” from confusion in this regard, you are very mistaken. Today, “broom” is the name given to anything that resembles the “carpet” original. Here we will digress a little from history and remind you that visual distinctive feature Metlakh tiles are small-format and variegated - countless compositions are built from small-sized ceramics of completely different formats and shades, achieving similarity with the best examples of carpet products.

So, it was precisely this visual nuance that became the reason for not bothering oneself and calling any tile of a similar design “metlakh”. Very often, cement tiles are included in this category. Indeed, this material is very similar to the original, but its origin is due to the desire of European manufacturers in the fifties of the 19th century to reduce the cost of Metlakh ceramics, which was gaining popularity.

Sometimes clinker suddenly becomes a “broom”. It happens that they “call” any large mosaic made from colored clays. Less often, but it also happens - ceramics with color printing applied to the canvas also become the object of tile “mythology”. Here it is appropriate to clarify what falls under the definition of “metlakh tiles”:

• ceramic tile;
• plate not covered with glaze;
• has a very low water absorption coefficient;
• made using high temperature firing;
• tonally homogeneous - the tile is completely, to the entire depth, painted with one color.

In order for ceramics to be classified as “metlakh”, all the described characteristics must be present. Therefore, if in houses built during the Soviet period, someone shows you glazed ornamental tiles in the 20x20 format, which were very common in that period, calling it Metlakh, know that this is another victim of myths.

With a shovel of research we will turn up the layers of history

We doubt that you will be interested in a dissertation on the topic, because the roots of “broom” go back to the ancient Roman and Greek eras. Already there you can find a prototype of what has become a successful find in tile stores today.

As for the period closer to modern times, here the history of Metlakh tiles branches out. In Great Britain, both in the mid-19th century and today, the industry leader is the Minton company. America today can no longer boast of manufacturers (the Great Depression “killed” all the tile manufacturers of that time), but 150 years ago the leading company had about 20 thousand employees! This is three times more than that of the already familiar German company Villeroy & Boch. The latter, by the way, is still doing well.

And again a small digression. We are not the only ones who have become victims of naming nonsense. Our Western “colleagues”-consumers are no less mistaken than we are - they call Metlakh tiles “encaustic tile”. This is because “encaustic” literally means “scorched”, and in the Victorian era - another period of restoration of lost technologies - the ancestors of our foreign brothers decided that even more ancient craftsmen burned the image onto the tiles.

It’s not for nothing that we made it short historical excursion. It will help get rid of misconceptions regarding Metlakh tiles. Next, let's talk about the characteristics of this ceramics.

Characteristics of Metlakh tiles

Despite a certain oblivion, Metlakh tiles are famous and are still in high demand in some circles. Of course, this would not have happened if this ceramics had not had excellent technical characteristics. Indeed, “metlah” is in many ways similar to ceramic granite, which has earned popularity due to its performance qualities. Below you can familiarize yourself with the advantages of good old ceramics from one of the companies in an organized format.

• Water absorption – 0.1-0.5%. Despite the fact that European standards allow for such tiles a coefficient of up to 0.6%.
• Hardness. The parameter is determined on a ten-point Mohs scale. “Metlah” takes seventh position (and, again, the norm is 6). Note that the highest hardness is given to the tenth line, and we are talking about assessing materials in general, and not strictly ceramics. By the way, there is a diamond at the very top, so seventh place is impressive.
• Frost resistance. The tiles can withstand up to fifty cycles of transition from sub-zero to positive temperatures (-15 – +20). This indicator corresponds to European standards. Such a high figure was made possible due to the density of the tiles and its, as a consequence, low water absorption.
• Chemical resistance. According to the standards, the reaction with active substances should not cause a change in the weight of the product by more than 1%. In the case of Metlakh tiles, we observe weight fluctuations within 0.2%.
• Flexural strength. Standards require the ability to withstand loads of up to 250 kgf per cm². The plates can withstand from 380 to 450 kgf per cm².
• Pressure resistance. The norm is more than 1500 kgf per cm². Fact – 3200 to 5500 kgf per cm².

In addition, or rather, precisely thanks to the described characteristics, Metlakh tiles are a heat-resistant material that is resistant to potholes and scratches. Let us remember the homogeneity of the product - this quality determines its immunity to abrasion. Crowds of human feet are not able to wear ceramics down to a state of unusability over a reasonable period of use.

It is curious that the Metlakh tiles, which were laid in churches in the Middle Ages (and then, mainly, religious institutions were decorated with ceramics of this type) in many places have still retained acceptable quality. True, the “brooms”, which were produced in the 19th century, no longer had such parameters - the production technology was deliberately simplified (and the tiles, accordingly, became cheaper), and along with this came a decrease in the properties of the ceramics. But even so, the tiles were able to last for many decades. Modern tiles are not inferior to their predecessors.

Metlakh tiles owe their impressive characteristics to the high-quality refractory clays from which they are produced and the high firing temperature (about 1200 degrees). Summarizing the properties of the slabs, we note that for the consumer they result in the opportunity to use the facing material for both internal and external external cladding, both for laying on walls and for decorating floors. Most often, Metlakh tiles are used as flooring.

The sizes of the slabs vary from 3 to 20 cm. In this range you can find a variety of formats and shades, allowing you to create intricate compositional illustrations. The range of Metlakh tiles includes not only banal rectangular ceramics, but also polygons. All this serves a wealth of possibilities for laying colorful ornamental “carpets”. These “brooms” conquered many generations. For registration non-standard places exist additional elements: corners, sides, baseboards...

Calculation and installation

We will not touch general principles cladding. Let’s touch on the nuances of laying Metlakh tiles directly.

• This type of ceramic is not characterized by ideal uniformity of tones and sizes, so before cladding it is recommended to “shuffle” the slabs to avoid spotting of the final coating.
• Facing with Metlakh tiles is not an easy process and requires high qualifications. The problem is caused by the very essence of the tile, which, from a decorative point of view, must form mosaic panel. Of course, you can get by with monocolor, but in this case, only the technical part remains of the tile. In order for the installation to correspond to the idea, you must first make a “dry” layout of the tiles. An accurate calculation will help to avoid discrepancies with the project.
• If the floor contour does not have right angles, it is advisable (and if there is a significant departure from 90 degrees, it is mandatory) to “walk” along the perimeter of the floor rectangular tiles. Usually this is a tile 15x15 or 10x10 cm.
• The calculation should take into account seams, the width of which varies between 1-7 mm. The size of the joints is determined based on the size of the tile.
• The usual situation is a combination of large and small tiles. It is correct to start laying with larger tiles.
• Metlakh tiles– not an option that can be worked with on an unprepared basis. The surface must be leveled; without this, preliminary layout is impossible and the laying of small items is very inconvenient.
• Fugue is better suited for grouting neutral shades. Not all putties are suitable for wide joints, so if the composition involves voluminous joints, check this point with the seller.
• The presence of a range of auxiliary elements in the assortment of broom manufacturers expands the possibilities, but complicates the cladding. It must be remembered that each of these components must be in its place. So, for example, corner borders, of course, must be in the corners. However, the dimensions of the room are fixed, which forces you to more accurately calculate the layout - you should be happy with the result, and not regret the resulting miniature trim or overly stretched seams.

Perhaps you will never become involved in the “Metlakh” issue. Maybe, on the contrary, you are purposefully looking for your encaustic tile. Be that as it may, in the end I would like to recommend combining the tiles beloved by our ancestors with technologically advanced ceramic products of our time. Porcelain stoneware and clinker are especially good for interior or exterior companionship. The first resembles “broomsticks” in terms of technical characteristics, the second - not only in operational properties, but also visually. The combination of heritage from different eras, with a trained eye and skillful hands, leads to excellent design results.

Having studied the history of Metlakh tiles, people will come to a disappointing conclusion: in pursuit of quality, you can only buy Metlakh tiles by ordering from Europe. We hasten to please you - Metlakh tiles Russian production is not inferior to the quality of foreign products.

Metlakh tiles are a durable material, technical aspects comparable to porcelain stoneware. The secret of strength lies in technology: high-temperature firing gives resistance to frost, acids and shocks, which is why it is often used as a facing material on city streets and in public buildings. Although metlakh tiles are similar to porcelain tiles in terms of technical characteristics, they are by far the leader in the variety of design solutions.

Metlakh tiles - where to buy a unique ceramic carpet in St. Petersburg

The Keramo-Evrika company not only knows how to make Metlakh tiles, but also preserves the original German technology, combining established traditions with advanced modern equipment. From us you can buy metlakh tiles designed for completely different purposes! We can:

• Create a Metlakh carpet of any color, area and purpose;
• Make metlakh tiles for wall cladding;
• Reproduce Metlakh decor, including restoring damaged areas of Metlakh tiles on cultural sites built at the beginning of the last century.

The list of works can be continued for a long time - we work with each customer individually, taking into account each wish.

Metlakh tiles – service price

It is easy to buy Russian-made Metlakh tiles. Besides traditional methods And German quality, we offer reasonable prices. If you are interested in Metlakh tiles for the bathroom floor, or you are interested in adding Victorian nobility to your home design by covering the floors and walls with durable tiles with unique decor, then contact us - affordable prices will allow you to realize any idea.

A dozen new items appear on the building materials market every year. Among the thousands of finishing materials, there are also those that do not lose their relevance even hundreds of years after the development of production. These, of course, include Metlakh tiles. An amazingly durable and unique finishing material is used very widely, however, not every owner owns complete information about him.

Metlakh tiles, what is it?

The secret of making Mettlach tiles was found more than a hundred years ago in Germany, in the city of Mettlach, from where it began to spread throughout different countries. From Germany, the subtleties of obtaining a special material migrated to Italy, Portugal and France, and in our country Metlakh tiles made in Russia are becoming increasingly popular.

There are only a few factories in the Russian Federation that can produce competitive tiles according to those recipes. One of such enterprises is the EuroCeramics plant, which was built in the city of Pechory during the USSR. The product matches everything international standards and current GOST standards, and its price is an order of magnitude lower than Italian and German tiles. Price square meter Metlakh tiles (dimensions - 300x300x20 mm) produced in the Russian Federation do not exceed 200 rubles. The technical characteristics of the material are given in the table, and the photo shows samples of ornaments made from it.

There are not too many branded tiles made using old technology on sale. There are only a few factories left abroad that produce such material, and the French factory Winckelmans is considered the most famous in the world. The enterprise, despite complete replacement equipment, has been operating since 1886 and produces ceramics according to ancient technological maps. There is another factory in Portugal, but its tiles are not so well known, especially here. The price of imported tiles starts from 0.3 to 17 euros per square.

Production technologies

The second name for Metlakh tiles is Victorian tiles, since they were actively used for decoration internal surfaces palace premises. At that time, tiles differed from other types of tiles not only in their small size, shape and high strength, but also in the ability to create absolutely fantastic patterns thanks to deep colors. All this made it possible to use it as a working tool, corresponding to the style of many artists of that time.

The main material for making such tiles remains refractory clay. It is in the places of its extraction that factories are located. For the Russian Federation, this is mainly the Dmitrovsky quarry. Clay is used to form tiles different sizes and forms, glaze is applied, and then baked in an oven at a temperature of about 1100-1300 degrees. Thanks to the high degree of compaction, the tiles become very wear-resistant and frost-resistant, which makes it possible to use them not only for furnishing residential premises, but also for finishing administrative and public buildings.

Advantages and properties of tiles

Thanks to the characteristics of clay and special production technology, it is possible to achieve excellent performance properties of the material:

Physical strength and color fastness. The results of strength tests are shown in the table, but the strength properties of the tile can be evidenced by the fact that many historical buildings in Europe are decorated with it and look like new for hundreds of years. The tile can withstand pressure from an average car and practically does not lose color saturation over time. In addition, ceramic tiles can withstand more than 300 freeze-thaw cycles. Rare material can show such frost resistance.

Metlakh tiles - universal material. It is equally successfully used for both interior work and exterior finishing facades, platforms, paving paths and finishing entrance areas.

The high firing temperature provided the tiles with extreme moisture resistance, so such tiles can be used to decorate not only the approaches to the building, but also wet rooms - swimming pools, baths, bathrooms.

Fire resistance and environmental friendliness. The tile does not lose properties and does not crack, does not fade when high temperatures. This makes it possible to use it for finishing fireplaces and stoves; it also does not contain synthetics and when heated, the tiles do not emit harmful fumes.

Laying metlakh floor tiles

In fact, laying Metlakh tiles is not much different from finishing other types of tiles, but has some minor features. Experts recommend laying it only on a prepared and planned surface. Before directly laying it on the adhesive composition, the ceramics are laid out in the form of a planned ornament, taking into account the seams between the tiles. The tiles are soaked in water for about two hours, after which they can be laid along the marked plane.

First, large tiles are laid, and the adhesive is applied to reverse side material. After laying smaller fragments, the seams are grouted either with a special grout that meets the operating conditions, or cement mortar to the entire depth of the seam.

Caring for tiles is no different from caring for any other ceramic tile. Choose the finishing material you like and good luck to everyone!

Every year on the market finishing materials At least a dozen new varieties of finishing materials appear. Some of them are successfully replacing the old ones with better technical characteristics and performance indicators.

But this is not always the case. For example, Metlakh tiles appeared more than a century ago in German city Metlach (hence its name) still remains one of the most popular types of tiles.

It was made from multi-colored porcelain and was used mainly in the decoration of palaces, for which it received its second name - “Victorian”.

What is this article about?

Metlakh tiles - manufacturing features

Refractory clay is used as a raw material for tiles. In Russia, the main place of its production is the Dmitrovsky quarry. The main factories producing the product are located in its district.

Tiles are formed from this clay, different forms and standard sizes, then glaze is applied to it and sent to the oven, where it is baked in temperature range from 1100 to 1300 degrees.

Due to the powerful compaction, the resulting product becomes wear-resistant and can withstand a large number of freezing cycles, which allows its installation not only in residential premises, but also in various administrative and public buildings.

Technical parameters and advantages

Those who already know what metlakh tiles are in use note their high strength, color fastness, and ease of maintenance.

Even heavy objects installed on its surface and regularly moved do not cause cracks or scratches on the material. Many experts recommend it for use in those places where significant operating load is regularly practiced.

Also, the material is practically non-porous, so Metlakh floor tiles are used not only for tiling indoors, but also outdoors. The same quality makes it possible to install it in rooms with strict hygiene requirements.

If we talk in more detail about its technical coefficients, the following parameters should be highlighted:

• On the Mohs coating hardness scale - 7 units out of 10 possible for tiles;
• Hydrophobicity from 0.1 to 0.5%;
• The bending strength is also high - 250 kgf/sq.m. cm;
• Water absorption is 0.1-0.5%. These indicators allow installation even in places with extreme high humidity and temperature fluctuations - in swimming pools, baths, saunas;
• Thermal stability meets existing standards - this is the ability of a tile to withstand a certain stress during dimensional deformation as a result of a sharp change in the temperature range;
• Strength to deep scratches- 2.4 cm;
• Pressure endurance - 3200-5550 kg/cm2;
• Frost resistance - 150 cycles at temperatures from −15 to +25 according to research results. More low temperatures not officially tested in laboratory tests;
• Acid resistance is higher than standard values ​​- 97.71;
• Compressive strength - 90.8 MPa kg/cm2;
• High void wear resistance;
• Coloring elements penetrate almost the entire depth of porcelain tiles, which suggests high resistance to UV rays.

All these technical indicators have been tested and practical application. For example, Metlakh ceramic tiles are perfectly preserved in the historical interiors of ancient buildings in the capital and St. Petersburg, in palace premises of the Victorian era, hundred-year-old plants and factories.

Sizes and shapes

Metlakh tiles can be patterned, glossy, grooved and even grainy. It can be plain or with a pattern.

Its shapes are also varied - rectangular, triangular, cross-shaped, square, octagonal.

Size range - 6.5-15 cm.

Its thickness is 6-8 mm.

Areas of use

As mentioned above, the possibilities of application of this product, are practically unlimited.

• Floors in residential premises, administrative, industrial, public buildings;
• Swimming pools, baths, saunas, bathrooms;
• Facades;
• Arrangement garden paths, terraces, porches.

Step-by-step installation

Metlakh floor tiles are no more difficult to install than regular ones, except for the fact that even in one pack, the products may differ slightly in size from each other. It also freely allows you to combine prints, shapes and sizes, thereby achieving the effect of an incredibly beautiful, exotic tiled carpet.

Stage 1 - Preparing the base

It is very important to prepare the surface thoroughly, since you have chosen such an expensive type of tile, it must lie perfectly. Therefore, the surface must be carefully leveled, excluding differences, cleaned and primed.

Stage 2 - Layout

At this stage, you need to lay out the tiles on the floor from the central point of the plane, and also, if the pattern is complex and was selected independently, create a preliminary drawing of the arrangement of the elements.

Please note that the seam gap to achieve the greatest effect should be no more than 2 mm. These steps will allow you not to spoil the specified floor print and simplify the work of creating a specific layout.

Stage 3 - Installation

Laying begins with large elements if different-sized products are used.

Adjustment of the thickness gauge occurs by increasing or decreasing the adhesive layer.

Do not forget to regularly check the evenness of the coating with a level.

Stage 4 - Curbs

Borders are laid from the corner to the center. If trimming is required, this must be done with a special machine and a disc for cutting porcelain stoneware.

Stage 5 - Grouting

If you are laying out a colorful carpet, the grout for the seams should be plain and dim.

First, clean the joints from dust and degrease them. Then use a brush or spray to wet the seams.

The mastic is applied with a rubber spatula, compacting it into the surface so that there are no gaps left.

When the grout is dry, moisten it lightly with water to prevent cracking.

Caring for Metlakh tiles

Caring for such tiles is easy. Especially if Metlakh tiles are of high quality and laid correctly, you won’t have to repair or replace parts for a long time, at least 50 years.

To ensure long-lasting paint, the coating is washed warm water adding vinegar (a glass to a bucket of liquid) or using specialized household chemicals.

Collections of ceramic coatings from Italy and Spain are considered prestigious products in terms of consumer properties and technical indicators, which is confirmed by the stability of demand. And only a few buyers know that construction market Russia has long had a full-fledged competitor to these products - Metlakh tiles. Cladding material due to technological features and original artistic design have been used in construction for a century and a half.

Metlakh tiles - a piece in the history of Europe

In the middle of the 19th century, the first batch of tiles was produced in the workshops of the Villeroy & Boch joint venture in the German town of Mettlach. And by the end of the century, the demand for products increased so much that expansion of production was required, and a number of factories for the production of ceramic products were opened in Germany.

Since then, coatings made from unique Metlakh tiles have faithfully served people and retained their original appearance and beauty for decades. And the head office of Villeroy & Boch, which has already become transnational and has representative offices in 125 countries, is still located in Mettlach.

Due to its amazing wear resistance, variety of shapes and colors, Metlakh tiles have become famous as a universal facing material. German ceramics were widely used in England for the interior and exterior decoration of palaces, church buildings, museums, theaters and even squares, for which they are recognized as one of the symbols of the Victorian style. Tiles from Mettlach have been decorating the Cologne Cathedral and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Darmstadt, the Hamburg metro in Germany, as well as numerous ancient and modern buildings V European countries and Russia.

Metlakh tiles retain their original name and have been produced for the second hundred years. During this time, factories producing amazing ceramics both opened and stopped in Europe. Today ancient traditions production of metlakh tiles, mastery of developing and restoring shape and color range in the Victorian style were preserved only at the Winckelmans plant in France. The factory's professionals have revived many ancient shapes and colors of ceramic products that meet the requirements of the English Architectural Society. Winckelmans workshops produce metlakh tiles, both for the restoration of landmarks and to satisfy the demand of numerous customers.

Metlakh tiles have long been supplied to Russia. A specialized store “Villeroy & Boch” opened in St. Petersburg, on Nevsky Prospekt. German ceramics were used to decorate city buildings, including an apartment building on Bolshoy Prospekt, the floor and walls in the building of the Orthopedic Clinical Institute, and in the premises of the Russian National Library. In Moscow, hand-pressed Metlakh tiles were even ordered twice for the Bolshoi Theater - more than 100 years ago and during reconstruction in 2005 - 2011.

In Russia ceramic products According to Metlakh technology, they were manufactured at many factories. The quality of local tiles, of course, differed from the products of Western manufacturers, but this did not affect demand. In the cities and towns of the country, finishing with Metlakh tiles is found both in numerous public buildings and in residential buildings- on the facades of buildings, on staircases in the front doors.

Raw materials and manufacturing technology of Metlakh ceramics

In Germany, in the town of Mettlach, refractory clay from a nearby deposit became the raw material base for the production of tiles at the Villeroy & Boch enterprises. Technological process contained the following steps:

Read also: Septic tank Microbe: design, principle of operation, advantages, types, installation features

Preparation of a mixture of clay, water and dyes;

Formation of blanks;

Drying products;

Applying glaze;

Firing in a kiln at a temperature not lower than 1200.

For one and a half hundred years, the technology for making Metlakh tiles has not changed. But in modern enterprises the process of producing products has been automated, the number of designs and ornaments has also increased, and the color range has expanded.

There are not many factories in Europe that produce Metlakh ceramics and it is produced in only three ways.

1. Casting tiles. Raw clay and other components are poured into special matrices, dried and then fired. As a rule, many defective products are produced.

2. Pressing. The raw material contains pre-ground clay and specified additives. The water content in the mixture is allowed up to 6%. The raw material is pressed and cut. The tiles obtained in this way have minimal porosity and are suitable for flooring.

3. Extrusion. This is a modern method that is used in leading enterprises. Tiles are obtained by cutting a tape, which is formed by squeezing the raw material mass through the forming hole of the extruder, the dimensions of which determine the thickness and width of the products.

Review of the advantages and disadvantages of Metlakh tiles. Use Cases

The cladding made of Metlakh ceramics has stood the test of time and looks flawless even after a century and a half. This type of tile is much superior to ordinary tiles in terms of quality. High-temperature firing of refractory clay products provided unique properties final products.

1. Durability of the tiles. There are no ceramics in the world with a long service life. According to the Mohs mineralogical scale, the hardness of the products is 7 units out of 10. During the operation of the coating, the tiles do not crack from strong impacts, are not scratched, and do not wear off.

2. Heat resistance - stability of the technical indicators of the tile under temperature changes. Manufacturers guarantee their stability during 150 repetitions of freezing and thawing within the temperature range from 15C to +25C.

3. Resistance of Metlakh tiles to chemically active substances. Acidic, alkaline, salt and other solutions do not damage ceramics.

4. Resistance to mechanical loads. The covering made of Metlakh tiles can withstand pressure up to 5550 kg/cm2, and the bending strength of the tile is 250 kgf/cm2.

5. Water resistance of ceramics. As a result of high-temperature firing, the tiles retain appearance and primary characteristics with prolonged exposure to water, hydrophobicity in the range of 0.1 - 0.5%.

6. Durability of the coating. The products retain their structure for a long time and do not lose their original color. Color fastness is due to the uniform distribution of the dye throughout the entire volume of the workpiece and subsequent firing.

7. Environmental safety of Metlakh tiles. The manufacturing technology involves a composition made only of organic ingredients - clay, coloring pigments and other additives. When heated, fumes harmful to human health are not released.

8. Fire resistance - products do not deform, crack, or melt when exposed to high temperatures.

9. The versatility of Metlakh ceramics is used both for finishing surfaces inside buildings and for exterior work.

This type of tile has three disadvantages:

1. Cold coating. Lovers of a comfortable floor will spend money on heating.

2. Metlakh tiles are hard and difficult to cut.

3. Difficulty in installation. To create an intricate ornament you will need the help of a designer.

Just like a century and a half ago, despite the extensive choice facing materials, Metlakh tiles are in demand among buyers due to their consumer properties. Today this type of tile is used:
- V country houses, as for interior decoration premises and for external coverings: facades, verandas and terraces, garages, as well as paths and platforms on the site;
- as a covering for the floors and walls of auxiliary rooms of apartments: kitchens and dining rooms, hallways, bathrooms and toilets, balconies;
- for finishing, both facades and interior spaces all kinds of public buildings: airports and train stations, hotels and restaurants, shops and offices, swimming pools, baths and saunas;
- for cladding the floors and walls of technical premises: gas stations, laboratories and even factories.

Read also: Choose entrance doors for a country house

How to choose the right Metlakh tiles?

When choosing ceramic tiles, including Metlakh, take into account several criteria. Tile is chosen depending on the place of application - for decorating rooms inside a building or facade, covering paths, garage floors, etc. The purpose of the products is taken into account - for covering the surface of walls or floors.

The consumer should familiarize themselves with the technical characteristics, special markings, which determine the degree of wear resistance, strength and other indicators of product quality. When choosing tiles, the climatic features of the region are taken into account. If external work is planned, the degree of frost resistance of the ceramics must be clarified.

According to the strength of the products, Metlakh tiles are divided into four classes:

1. First class ceramics are thin, suitable only for decorating walls indoors - kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, toilets. The products are not used for flooring or outdoor work.
2. Tiles of the second class are stronger than the first, but are only suitable for interior work- as wall cladding in public and technical buildings.
3. Third class tiles are used as flooring:
- in medical institutions, educational and preschool institutions, small offices and shops;
- in the premises of houses and apartments - hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.;
- for some external works - cladding of verandas, terraces.

4. Products of the fourth class are characterized by extraordinary strength and are used for cladding surfaces that are subject to intense loads.

Such objects include:
- buildings in which many people are constantly present: train stations and subways, restaurants and hotels, shopping centers and banks, concert halls and theaters;
- rooms where the tile covering is exposed to moisture, chemical substances, strong heating: technical facilities and laboratories, garages, swimming pools and saunas;
- external surfaces that experience temperature changes: house facades, terraces, park paths.

The peculiarities of Metlakh ceramics include the shape of the products. Tiles are made in the form geometric shapes: triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons and octagons.

Collections of Metlakh tiles are distinguished by a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors and patterns, and numerous options for creating patterned carpets. At presentations of product samples, modern enterprises often demonstrate ready-made sets, as well as layout diagrams for them. But if you plan to make an expensive and complex carpet, then when choosing Metlakh tiles it is recommended to use the services of a designer.

When laying tiles, the features of the products are certainly taken into account - the small size and variety of shapes of the elements, although small, there is a difference in their thickness. Since high-quality Metlakh ceramics are not cheap, and it is difficult to work with, it is better to use experienced craftsman- tiler.

If you decide to lay the tiles yourself, you will need more than one consultation before starting work. Recommendations for installation are received, first of all, from the sales consultant, thoroughly study the instructions and characteristics that were stocked up upon purchase, and use the tips of an experienced craftsman. So that during work there is fewer questions It is useful to familiarize yourself with the general installation rules in advance.