30 September 2020
Bathrooms have become a haven where we can take care of ourselves and switch off for a while, and how they are decorated affects our mood. For a stylish and organised space, PORCELANOSA Group has selected some of its most iconic collections and offers you some advice on how to use its pieces correctly.
Refurbishing a bathroom could cause some headaches if you fail to establish your decorative priorities or outline the main concepts for the work. Cleanliness and organisation are two key elements in this type of space, and they form the starting blocks for redesigning your bathroom with longer-lasting and more hygienic materials, such as PORCELANOSA Group's ceramic collections.
The multinational's eight firms offer technical pieces and solutions that allow for limitless and luminous bathrooms that are connected with the rest of the property. This is the case for all the collections within the HIGHKER range, the large format Premium ceramic by Porcelanosa; XTONE, the sintered mineral compact from Urbatek; and the ceramic tiles from L'Antic Colonial.
Below, we have selected some of those stylish spaces that make use of the PORCELANOSA Group series, and we explain the steps you need to follow to install them.
The first thing you should do is to draw a plan of the areas you are going to tile and ensure the safety of the areas that tend to get wet. We recommend you opt for non-slip floor tiles and use Butech ceramic adhesive.
For years, PORCELANOSA Group has been researching new solutions and fixing materials that allow its collections to be fitted faster and more safely. The efforts undertaken by companies like Butech in terms of R&D&I and new technologies has resulted in advances towards better and more eco-friendly fitting systems.
To tile a floor correctly, you should always follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the adhesive mix, which should not be too wet nor too dry. This compound is applied along the chalk line. A uniform layer is then applied on the edge of the tile and the excess is removed, leaving a light grooved layer.
The first thing you should do is to place the tiles in the centre and measure each of the areas to be tiled using a tape measure. Using chalk or a pencil, mark the edge of each piece and put them in order using a gauge rod.
When you are ready to lay the first tile, move it slowly sideways until it is placed correctly. Don't forget to place the self-levelling spacers next to each ceramic piece to ensure they are level by using a spirit level. Repeat this process until you finish the first row.
When you have completed this first stage, remove the excess adhesive between the tiles with a screwdriver or spacer.
If a tile needs to be cut, it is best to keep it on the perimeter wall. A tile cutter or a wet saw will be essential for a clean and sharp cut. When laying the flooring, it is advisable to work in areas measuring one square metre.
Work on the bathroom floor until all the tiles are in place. To cut the pieces to fit around the toilet and sink, first place the other tiles and then measure between the straight edge of the closest tile and the object.
Wait until the adhesive has set and make a paper template using these measurements. Use the tile nippers to shape the tile as required.
The adhesive must be left to harden for between 24 and 48 hours before removing the spacers, depending on the type of tiles and the adhesive. After this time, remove the spacers and excess adhesive and use a grout spreader to fill the space between the tiles.
If you have opted for the HIGHKER® ceramic collections from Porcelanosa, consult this guide in which we explain how to lay large format tiles.
For Urbatek large format ceramic pieces, you can follow this tutorial:
The first thing you should do to tile the walls of your home is to organize your tools and the pieces you are going to lay. The material of the support must be waterproof, dry, able to withstand the weight of the tile and be dust-free.
Light plasterboard walls can hold 32 kg/m², while gypsum can hold up to 20 kg/m² safely. If you have any doubts, always check with the manufacturer.
Buonarroti Fiume Pulido + Set Column Structure Neve di Carrara Negro White from L’Antic Colonial
We recommend that you mark out the width of the tiles to be used, not forgetting to include the spaces between them. Do the same for the height of the tiles with the other batten and use a pencil to carefully draw a perfect horizontal line that matches the height of the first row of tiles with the help of the spirit level.
When everything is ready, draw a vertical line with the help of the spirit level and sketch out the pattern of the wall tiles across the entire wall.
Remember that fitting the first row of tiles will be essential to successfully complete the rest of the wall tiles. Mix the adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions and apply a uniform layer to the wall using the straight side of the notched spreader.
Rhombus Navy tile, Patagonia Home slate and Navona Persian White washbasin from L’Antic Colonial
Concentrate on completing one row of tiles at a time. With the notched side of the spreader, make a row of vertical ridges and place the first tile against the wall, leaving a spacer below and at the side of the tile. Continue doing this up to the corner, laying all the full tiles.
Mark out the dimensions of the edge tiles, cut them with the tile cutter and lay them in place. Once the bottom row is complete, start the next row.
When 24 hours have passed since you laid the first row, you can finish the job by grouting the perfectly even spaces between the tiles. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the grouting mix. The ideal consistency looks like toothpaste.
Remember that an antibacterial waterproof grout will ensure a much better final result in the bathroom. Using the grout spreader, force the grout between the tiles and remove any excess with a damp cloth.
Concentrate on a small area of tiles at a time. After 15 minutes, wipe the wall area with a sponge.
To finish the fitting process, smooth out the grout with the finishing tool to achieve a perfectly clean, uniform and concave join. Using tile moulding for the corners of windows or edges of tiles will result in a more professional finish.
Washbasin Set Column + Column Structure Neve Di Carrara Black Nogal Americano + Deep Sea Pulido + Parque Lampione 1L Light
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