Beautiful and high-quality countertop helps create a special atmosphere in any interior. She makes it more comfortable, homely, gives a feeling of completeness and harmony. This is a very practical and functional decorative element. It can be solid, but more original and unusually looks a tabletop, drawn by ceramic tiles on even rectangles or squares of different sizes.
Pros and cons
Like any material, ceramics has certain advantages and disadvantages (compared to the analogues):
- Affordable price. Not every person can afford to order a worktop from natural stone or marble, and the tile can become an excellent alternative to these materials.
- Universality. Ceramic tile looks great in the interiors weathered in all sorts of style: from the classics to modern. Not all materials have such a property.
- Practicality . The tile has high waterproof, durability, durability, resistance to mechanical load, the action of abrasive cleaning substances and temperature drops. It is unpretentious in care, it is easy to clean and washes.
- Range. Not every finishing material is presented today in such a huge assortment as ceramics. The manifold of forms, sizes, textures, color solutions and prints allows you to create truly unique interiors.
A type
The tile can be divided into different groups - depending on the material, size, form and other parameters used for its manufacture.
Most often for the design of the countertop, a tile of different sizes, a glass or ceramic mosaic, pebble and porcelain tiles are used.
It is the most durable, durable and practical options with beautiful decorative properties.
The choice of a suitable design option depends on the interior of the bathroom itself, the combination of finishing with the main material, taste and financial capabilities of the hosts.
Ceramic tile is one of the most popular and favorite finishing materials. The optimal "price-quality" ratio allows the family budget without prejudice to the family budget and modernize the interior of any room.
Porcelain stoneware is more expensive, but its operational characteristics is noticeably higher than that of ordinary ceramics. By resistance to abrasion and mechanical effects, it is close to natural stone. The material is characterized by a high degree of water resistance and resistance to temperature drops.
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Mosaic is the most original of the proposed options, but also the least practical. Mosaic requires some care so that its decorative attractiveness is preserved for many years. In addition, the process of laying a mosaic is more time-consuming and energy-efficient.
The tabletop may have different types of coating (depending on the material selected):
- Relief, textured surface. It looks like this table top is very original and interesting, but also the care of it is more complicated. Dirt and dust are clogged into the pores, and it is not so easy to clean them from there.
- Smooth surface (polished or semi-polished). A classic version of design, easy to maintain and perfectly combined with any stylistic solution of the interior.
Dimensions
Selecting the size of the material depends on several parameters. First, from the size of the bathroom itself. If it is spacious enough, then the tile can have large dimensions: 30 × 30 cm - 60 × 60 cm. Such plates and stack easier, and care for them is easier.
Most often, a small-sized tile is used for cladding (10 × 10 cm, 15 × 15 cm, 20 × 20 cm) or mosaic. The fine tile allows you to visually increase the size of the room itself. Yes, and it looks in a small room more appropriate than large blocks of ceramics.
Color solution
Color range of ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware and mosaic for the design of the countertop does not know the boundaries. The variety of shades and prints allows you to easily choose the appropriate option for your interior.
Very popular colors for many years are white, blue and all its shades. Marine theme has always been and remains one of the most sought-after bathroom interior design. This includes shades of turquoise, lazuries, sea waves and other gentle or saturated colors. The countertop can be performed in the tone with the main interior, to be a few tones darker or completely contrast.
More practical and neutral options are considered to be different shades of beige, sandy, gray and black color. Such a gamma is perfectly harmonized with other colors and is appropriate for any stylistic room solution.
The tabletop can be performed in a monochrome version or in combination of several close-colored or contrasting colors. It looks great for the combination of black and white, white and blue, red and black and other colors.
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Table tops of bright shades are usually drawn up into the tone of the interior itself. If the room is decorated in combination of white and lilac flowers, then the tabletop can have a saturated purple shade.
As for the choice of pattern or print to decorate the table top, one of the most popular options is the mosaic cloth, made in two or more contrast tones. Multicolored squares form a beautiful and very original canvas.
Another popular option is a vegetable pattern. Typically, the tabletop is drawn up into the tone of the decorative tile, which is used to add the interior.
How to make a facing?
It is quite interesting to decorate your bathroom with an interesting and functional countertop yourself, without the help of professional builders. Depending on the material from which the framework and decorative design are performed, the following materials and tools may be needed for work: plywood, special glue, moisture-proof drywall sheets, sulfur and self-tapping screws. Procedure Next:
- At the first stage of manufacturing table tops, it is necessary to carefully measure the size of the room and think over the design of the future element (taking into account its design features). The base table top must be very strong, so moisture-resistant plywood is usually used as a material for it.
- The next step: two blanks are cut out of plywood, which will be the next base table top. They can have a classic rectangular shape or more complex. The height of the table top depends on the size of the room, the size of the shell and the convenience of use. The optimal option is 0.9 m.
- The billets are glued together and are additionally fixed by self-drawing, forming a hard frame.
- Tile glue is applied to the surface of the base and plasterboard is applied. For a more reliable fixation, the sheet is additionally fastened with self-drawing. The edges of the countertops are made up with narrow plasterboard strips.
- Places of connecting plasterboard sheets are sickled with sickle ribbon.
- Tile glitter is applied to the surface of the drywall and the tile glue and the tile, a mosaic canvas or porcelain stoneware is applied.
- After laying the tile sheets, intercutric seams are neatly rubbed.
- Then the excess adhesive is removed, and the surface is wiping to the appearance of shine.
- The tabletop is attached to corners.
- The sink is installed. To achieve the maximum tightness of the place of connection of the countertop, with sink is treated with a sealant.
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Look more in the video below.
If the countertop is a multi-level construction, and a clamping is used for clamping, it is best to entrust the workfire to professional finishing, since the incorrectly chopped or laid stove will crack, crumble, and the final result will be far from the intended.
Laying mosaic
With placing mosaics, certain difficulties may arise for a person who has no experience with her. So that the finished surface does not disappoint, it is quite carefully adhered to the cladding technology. To work, a special adhesive on a waterproof basis and a toothed spatula will be required.
For laying mosaic, it is best to use the "seam in seam" technology. Facing starts from the wall and continues to the edge of the surface. Mosaic is smoothly and tightly stacked on the surface previously treated with glue. For typing a narrow edge, you can use either cropping of the main coating, or special borders. The protective layer, which covers the mosaic, is removed after drying the glue. Then grout seams, as well as cleaning the surface.
Examples in the interior of the bathroom
The original form of a multi-level countertop requires a lot of work in the manufacture and design, but the result is worth it! The bunk base is used as a shelves for the necessary trifles, and as a supporting countertop for a sink. For lining, a rectangular ceramic tile of a beautiful gray color is selected, which greatly harmonizes with the interior of the bathroom.
Modern antique style room. The interior is descended in golden-beige tones. For the design of the room, several different materials are used immediately on the texture of materials - including mosaic. Classic shape rectangular countertop is a continuation of the wall (its protruding part). A competently thought out design allows you to use this surface as a shelf for shower accessories.
A pretty mosaic, made in different shades of green, looks great and as decorating tabletop, and as a protective screen clamp for a bath, and as a decorative element on the walls. Such a color solution is perfectly combined with a dairy color with a cafeter and green outdoor porcelain.
