Quartz vinyl floor tiles. Quartz vinyl floor tiles: the pros and cons of a practical coating White quartz vinyl

The prototype of the usual vinyl coating is quartz-vinyl tile , which is similar in appearance and aesthetic features to its counterpart, but has distinctive features in structure and characteristics. It is these differences that made the material a sales leader.

Similar in structure to conventional vinyl flooring quartz-vinyl differs, first of all, in the presence of an intermediate layer between the upper decorative and lower, which is responsible for durability and strength. The middle layer is made of quartz of a very fine fraction (sandy quartz), thanks to which the following parameters are achieved:

increased wear resistance due to increased strength and hardness;
characteristics meet the requirements of class 43 flooring (for heavy loads, intensive use: trading floors, offices);
no deformation when laying on a surface with small defects (for a laminate with a lock installation).

If you want your floor to last more than 30 years without affecting the elegance of your interior, then you need quartz-vinyl tile, buy which can be in the Vinyl Paul Group of Companies.

Manufacturing process of quartz vinyl

The production technology is more complex than in the manufacture of vinyl tiles, therefore, on quartz vinyl tile price higher than the analog without a quartz layer. To create an extra strong floor, the composition contains quartz sand, which is subjected to a hot pressing process. Vinyl remains the carrier layer in the material. With this method, all layers are tightly connected to each other, forming one whole panel in appearance.

The innovative floor is produced in a variety of decors. Behind aesthetic appearance corresponds to a photo layer that imitates wood species, a natural stone and other invoices. From above, the material is covered with a protective polyurethane layer, thanks to which the ability of the coating to be resistant to scratches, mechanical damage, water, oily spots, other aggressive factors.

Types of quartz-vinyl coatings

PVC flooring is produced in four versions:

1. Mechanical - Click connection like a laminate;

2. Adhesive - Smart lock, the planks are glued together;

3. Free-lying - the planks lie close to each other;

4. Glue - planks are glued directly to the floor.

Quartz-vinyl flooring is divided into wear resistance classes, has various quality and technical characteristics.

Wear classes

43rd class for wear resistance ( protective layer 3 mm). Laminate for rooms with an intensive flow through, heavy loads on the floor. It is used, as a rule, in gyms, production shops, warehouses, etc. Features of the coating of the 43rd class - anti-slip and antistatic properties of the top layer, increased elasticity. The service life is about 20 years.

32nd - 42nd class in terms of wear resistance (protective layer 2.5 mm). Covering for public spaces. The service life is about 12-15 years.

23rd - 31st class for wear resistance (protective layer 2 mm). Coating for domestic premises with low traffic intensity. The service life is about 7 years.

Composition of quartz vinyl laminate

The composition of the vinyl floor contains quartz sand, it makes the coating durable, the vinyl itself gives plasticity to the laminate planks. High fire resistance and wear resistance are achieved by manufacturers due to the polyurethane layer, thanks to which the floor withstands all mechanical influences. In addition, vinyl flooring is 100% water resistant and can be used for swimming pool or bathroom lining.

Advantages

Thanks to the development of an innovative technology for the manufacture of quartz-vinyl flooring, the material has acquired operational advantages:

water resistance. spilled water or frequent washing will not cause swelling of the edges or expansion of the tiles in volume, as a result of which warping of the floor may occur;
resistance to temperature changes. The laid quartz-vinyl laminate can retain its original characteristics in an unheated room or periodically heated (country house or cottage). It is ideal for laying a covering on a "warm floor" system;
environmental friendliness. The outer layer has an antibacterial composition, so the floor does not affect the change in the favorable microclimate and does not cause health problems for people and animals;
ease of maintenance. Walking on the floor in dirty or wet shoes can leave your mark forever without risk. Laminate flooring is easy to clean, can be brushed, and treated with detergent soap solutions to maintain sanitary cleanliness.

All modern quartz-vinyl coating floor has quality certificates, meets high European safety standards.

Advantages of PVC floor

Huge wear resistance of vinyl (a quartz-vinyl floor will serve you for very many years).
100% Water resistance (can be used in any room with high humidity).
Environmental friendliness (possesses 100% environmental friendliness, which is confirmed by world certificates).
Possibility of laying PVC vinyl coverings on any old floor.
The flexibility of vinyl allows it to be laid on less than ideal floors.
.Possibility of laying on warm floors.
Quartz vinyl flooring is easy to maintain.

Application

Manufacturers have created quartz-vinyl floor tiles that are able to maintain their beauty and strength under the feet of a large flow of visitors or workers, under the paws of animals in the house, under heels of any size and thickness. The new coating is able to meet the stringent requirements for resistance to such loads, so it is suitable for:

commercial establishments (cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels);
office premises (conference rooms, reception rooms, assembly halls, workrooms);
public buildings (libraries, temples, railway stations);
household, residential objects (apartments, houses, cottages).

A dry or freshly washed quartz-vinyl floor remains safe to walk on as it is completely non-slippery.

Another nice advantage is the simple, quick installation with your own hands. You can save money both on the installation and on the repair of one or more tiles. All this is possible thanks to the installation method according to the Click system.

Quartz vinyl floor has the following options settings: lock, adhesive, Smart lock, "free-lying". The first type has a collapsible Cliсk type lock, with the help of which two floor elements are tightly connected to each other, one of them, if necessary, can be dismantled and replaced with a new one. The adhesive version is less common, it has difficulties both during installation and dismantling. But the applied glue on the surface of the cleaned floor allows you to achieve 100% waterproofing in case of flooding of the room. If a Smart lock is provided, then the planks are glued together. But with the free-lying method of mounting, the strips lie close to each other.

Overview of floor coverings on the NTV channel

Quartz vinyl flooring is a durable and resistant floor covering, which until recently was mainly used for finishing industrial premises. Today, quartz vinyl floor tiles are often used for arranging apartments. Consider what this material is, what advantages and disadvantages it has, as well as possible options finishes.

Quartz sand is the main component that makes up most of the tiles (depending on the features of the model, from 60 to 80%). The rest is various impurities that are added in order to obtain certain additional characteristics and properties of the resulting product.

So, the main characteristics of tiles ─ strength, resistance to fire and water, are present precisely due to quartz sand, while all sorts of plasticizers, stabilizers and pigments, in combination with vinyl, serve only as an addition. Plasticizers provide a certain flexibility of the material, which makes it easier to install.

Stabilizers provide protection from exposure to light and elevated temperatures, but all kinds of colors are available by adding pigments. At the same time, the use of special additives even allows you to create imitations of any textures.

Features of preparation various types surfaces. How to grout seams on tiles. Criteria for choosing floor tiles.

But if homeowners decide to resort to the first method, then you will need to purchase a high-quality adhesive composition, which can be made on the basis of rubber or acrylic.

Useful advice! In order to avoid any problems associated with the quality of fixing the elements, it is recommended to purchase the adhesive composition that the tile manufacturer recommends for use.

The laying procedure is carried out according to the following algorithm:

Preparatory work, including the dismantling of the old coating and leveling the base. It is also necessary to putty all cracks and crevices, or you can simply make a new screed.
After that, they go directly to laying the tiles, which begins with the markup. Initially, you need to mark the starting point and the laying lines of the elements.
Then it remains only to apply the adhesive composition to the floor surface and lay the tile elements, carefully going over the top several times with a roller to smooth the coating. Trimming of corner and edge elements is carried out immediately before laying them to avoid discrepancies.

Important! All excess adhesive must be removed before the composition dries. Otherwise appearance floor may be damaged.

In addition, experts recommend observing as much as possible comfortable conditions for laying this material, including the dryness of the base (no more than 5-6% humidity). It is not worth laying tiles on a surface with an adhesive composition immediately, but only after waiting a few minutes. It is also worth paying attention to the recommendations that the manufacturer himself provides, since the instructions usually offered for the material contain all the nuances necessary for high-quality installation and further operation.

Secrets of installation and further care of the coating: expert advice

In addition to the basic laying rules that must be observed during the work process, professionals recommend paying attention to some not so obvious, but no less important aspects:

perfect time to dry adhesive composition on the surface before laying tiles - 30-40 minutes;
if flooring assumes the presence of a pattern, you always need to start laying from the center of the room. If the tile is plain, then you can start from the door;
if during the laying process there are any obstacles on the way that need to be bypassed, for example, a staircase or a column, then cut the tile to right size you can use a regular knife;

all figured holes in quartz vinyl tiles are made using a special pattern, which must be prepared in advance;
it is not recommended to proceed with laying tiles immediately after purchasing them. It is better to wait at least 48 hours so that the material can adapt to the conditions that exist in this room. In this case, the tiles should not be removed from the package;
if planned self-laying, then it is best to prepare in advance all the tools necessary for work, including: a sharp knife, a simple pencil, a notched trowel for applying glue, a square and a special roller that will eliminate air bubbles from under the tile;
It is believed that concrete base- a poor base for laying quartz vinyl tiles. This is due to possible difficulties in the future, if dismantling or replacement of individual elements is required;
since the material does not tend to expand as a result of rising humidity, there is no need to leave gaps between elements or indents from the wall.

Important! Particular attention is required when laying the coating in the event that a floor heating system is provided. In this case, it must be turned on at least 10 days in advance to allow the floor to warm up. In the process of working with glue, it is worth keeping the temperature around 18 degrees. It must also be preserved for at least three more days after laying. After that, the heating can be turned off until a real need arises.

Quartz vinyl tiles: reviews. The whole truth about the use of material

In the process of considering information about what quartz vinyl tile is and what are the advantages of its operation, one has to deal with an abundance of conflicting opinions regarding this material. Someone enthusiastically praises the simplicity and ease of use of this coating, while someone points out the shortcomings. Consider what opinions exist, and what you should pay attention to before making a choice.

“The tile was laid about a year ago, so we managed to evaluate it throughout all seasons: both in summer and in winter. In the summer, of course, there were no problems at all, but when the cold came, I definitely didn’t want to walk barefoot. But in principle, this is quite solvable by the presence of warm socks or slippers.

Margarita Tyumentseva, Moscow

Due to the fact that quartz-vinyl tiles have moisture-resistant properties, an additional waterproofing layer is created under the coating.

“When I was renovating, I bought PVC tiles for the walls of the bathroom, and vinyl for the floor, because I read that it resists water best of all. And this is true, because several years have passed and there is no damage.”

Oleg Lazanov, Yaroslavl

“For a long time, only the installation technology stopped me from such an acquisition, since locking joints are rarely of high quality, and if possible I try to refuse them, and I was reluctant to mess with glue. Therefore, he pulled the change of flooring as best he could. As a result, laziness won, and yet he put quartz vinyl tiles on the locks. No problems so far, but it's only been 8 months, so we'll see."

Vadim Satsky, Voronezh

“For the first time I got acquainted with this material from friends. They had self-adhesive vinyl wall tiles in their bathroom. We liked the price they gave us. But my wife read on some forum that quartz vinyl floor tiles are unhealthy. Of course, there is no real evidence for this, but just in case, we still decided to abandon the idea. ”

Ruslan Chervorukov, Belgorod

As can be seen from the reviews, quartz vinyl tiles are not to the taste of every owner. Someone considers it not warm enough and cozy for use in an apartment. Well, someone is attracted by its stability and long service life. In any case, the decision remains with the owner, and having considered all the technical aspects of such a solution, as well as reading reviews about quartz vinyl laminate, one can come to one or another conclusion about the appropriateness of its use.

How to care for quartz vinyl tiles

Ease of care is one of the main advantages of this material, so you can use any available funds: broom, vacuum cleaner, water, any household chemicals. Moreover, serious soiling can be easily removed with a hard sponge, which will not damage the integrity of the coating, but will remove any difficult stains.

After getting acquainted with all the characteristics and reviews, quartz vinyl floor tiles can leave an ambiguous impression of how successful such a solution can be called. But practice shows that this option is worthy of consideration on an equal basis with others, especially if it is necessary to finish rooms with high traffic and serious loads on the floor.

Today, manufacturers offer all new solutions for the repair and design of premises. An excellent option for finishing the floor or wall cladding is quartz vinyl tiles. Let's figure out what kind of tile it is, consider its features and benefits, as well as options in the interior.

What's happened?

Quartz vinyl coating is a new word in repair. It is made of dense, elastic material and is an improved PVC coating. Basically, it is used when finishing the floor and walls of external and interior spaces with a large crowd of people (trading and office space, cafes, restaurants, bars). But she will also have a place in the interior of a house or apartment.

The material has a huge number of advantages, among them environmental friendliness, safety, moisture resistance. However, there are also disadvantages.

Characteristics

Quartzvinyl is a sandwich coating that contains the following components:

1 layer: polyvinyl chloride. This base layer, providing a durable setting of the tile to the surface.

2 layer: glass fiber. Performs the function of reinforcement, i.e. increase in bearing capacity.

3 layer: quartz and vinyl. Thanks to them, the product has good durability.

4 layer: decorative. Gives surface texture. It is on this layer that a drawing is applied by photo printing.

5 layer: polyurethane. This is extreme upper layer tiles to protect it from damage.

Also in the composition of quartz vinyl tiles there are such environmentally friendly materials as: high molecular weight plasticizer, natural coloring pigment, stabilizer and lubricant. Moreover, about 80% of the material is natural quartz, and only 20% is vinyl and other additives.

All substances in the composition are sintered and pressed, so the thickness finished material does not exceed 4 mm, which determines the high wear resistance of the material.

Advantages and disadvantages

Quartz vinyl is a safe and environmentally friendly material. Choosing it, you can be sure of a long service life, and manufacturers give a guarantee for more than 20 years of use. The high quality of the product is confirmed by international certificates.

In addition, the following advantages of quartz vinyl tiles are distinguished:

any damaged area can be easily repaired;
the material has good antistatic properties, which allows it to be combined with an electric underfloor heating;
not amenable to chemical and abrasive effects, non-flammable;
has good soundproofing properties;
thanks to the impregnation of polyurethane, which protects the surface of the finished product from the occurrence of fungus, this type of tile can be used in rooms with high humidity. Moreover, thanks to the surface with good grip, you can not be afraid to slip;
can be replaced during use individual parts without affecting the integrity of the rest of the cladding;
the composition of the coating gives a feeling of warmth, softness and comfort (it will be pleasant to walk on it barefoot);
the gap between the tiles will not appear even with the sharpest temperature changes;
tiles can be successfully combined at any angle, and the variety of designs and textures creates the basis for creative ideas in the interior.

Quartz vinyl tiles have many advantages, but when buying it, you should also pay attention to the disadvantages:

despite the fact that tiles of this type do not highlight harmful substances and is safe for health, it is in more artificial material;
to prevent the appearance of bumps and cracks, the laying technology must not be violated.

Which is better: quartz vinyl tiles, laminate, linoleum or PVC tiles?

All of these coatings combine such important properties as moisture resistance. But there are also certain differences. We have already described the composition of the quartz-vinyl coating, which consists of solid elements, due to which the coating is the most durable, in contrast to all of the above options.

PVC tiles are softer and more elastic to the touch, because they do not contain solid elements.

Linoleum is similar in structure to PVC - coating, but the main component in it are resins and polymers, which give elasticity and softness to the finished product.

The number of layers in a laminate depends on its strength class: high classes 31-33 include five layers, and classes 21-23 - only three.

Another important difference between all of the above materials is the laying technique. The easiest way to lay linoleum, which is sold in ordinary rolls and spreads freely. In order for the coating to look perfect, the base for linoleum is easy enough to level.

It will be necessary to clean the surface well before laying quartz vinyl and PVC tiles, because even dust can reduce adhesion. In addition, manufacturers offer easy-to-install self-adhesive PVC panels made in the form of a square or rectangle with any applied ornament.

The greatest difficulty is the laying of the laminate, because in this case it is impossible to ignore the substrate that isolates the material from the floor surface.

The price category between all materials also differs. Most a budget option Definitely linoleum. PVC tiles will cost a little more. And the price of quartz vinyl coating and laminate will vary depending on the selected strength class.

Kinds

Based on the installation method, the following types of quartz vinyl tiles are distinguished:

adhesive (coating, for fixing with the surface of which glue is needed);
with lock connection;
self-adhesive (the underside of such a coating is impregnated with glue, covered with a special film).

Important feature: no need to dismantle old surface before laying. Such tiles can even be laid on a wooden floor or tile. In this case, the tree must be puttied with a special wood putty, and on the tile it is necessary to process the seams and cracks with grout. Among other things, quartz vinyl tiles can be successfully used on walls, and the method and features of installation and preparation will be the same as for the floor.

Manufacturers

Belgian firm FineFloor has been engaged in the production of building materials for more than 10 years and has established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality and environmentally friendly products.

Distinctive features of this tile are high strength and wear resistance, which are confirmed by special tests. At the same time, designers work out all the details of the pattern in each collection, and the combination of shades and textures is carefully controlled by the management.

Manufacturer Tarkett, which produces no less high-quality products, has established itself in the production of incredibly beautiful modular tiles that allow you to combine several colors, textures and shapes on one surface at once.

Japanese company Art Tile in its production technology, it uses the coating reinforcement method, the use of which improves the performance properties of the finished product, while most manufacturers neglect it. The only drawback of the products of this manufacturer is the high price category. But it can also be justified, because legal safe products High Quality it just can't be cheap.

Of the features of tiles from this manufacturer can be noted minimum thickness, not exceeding 3 mm and exceeding the norm by a density of more than 1.6 t / m3. The thickness of the protective layer does not exceed 0.55 mm.

Company DECORIA is not inferior to other manufacturers in terms of the quality of its products. It is famous for the use of new innovative technologies in its production. The successful combination of crushed natural quartz and heavy-duty vinyl allows you to make a high-strength product.

Thanks to the external polyurethane layer, the tiles of the manufacturer DECORIA perfectly imitate the structure of stone or wood. Thanks to the leading achievements in the field of building materials, each individual tile is able to withstand even the most severe loads.

Extraordinarily warm, soft and comfortable covering that will last for decades offers company VINILAM.

Quartz vinyl tiles from this manufacturer are distinguished by the following properties:

soundproofing 7 dB;
three-component protective layer 0.4-0.55 mm thick;
100% waterproof.

Besides, ready product has all the other quality and safety indicators that allow VINILAM to remain in the ranking of the best manufacturers.

The company from South Korea DEART CORPORATION has its representative office in our country and offers luxury tiles under trademark DEART FLOOR. The manufacturer focuses on wealthy people who are ready to offer luxurious tiles that are noticeably different from competitors' products.

The design and color solutions of each instance are developed taking into account modern trends in interior design. Moreover, the product undergoes strict quality control at each stage of production.

How to choose?

The first thing you need to pay attention to after choosing a manufacturer and design is to decide on the size and shape. As mentioned above, quartz vinyl tiles come in square and rectangular shapes. The dimensions of the square vary from 300x300mm to 600x600mm. The dimensions of the rectangle are also different, ranging from 120x148 mm to 950x184 mm.

The preferred average thickness depends on the room in which such tiles are to be laid. It is from 1.6 to 3.2 mm.

It is important to pay attention to the wear resistance class, which can be determined by the thickness of the coating. For example, strength classes 21-23 (very thin) are intended for residential premises. Coatings from 31 to 34 strength classes are laid in office premises, shops, restaurants and others, involving a large crowd of people. The thickest material of 41-43 strength classes is suitable for industrial premises.

Options in the interior

The most common place for laying quartz vinyl tiles is the bathroom. Such material can cover both the walls and the floor in the bathroom, and choose the color based on the prevailing color scheme.

Not a single apartment renovation will have a complete look without a decent floor covering. And the better it is, the more expensive your room looks. An example of this type of finish is a quartz-vinyl laminate.

It is pleasant to walk on such a coating, especially barefoot, and with today's variety of options, each of us needs to understand its quality and features.

Coating Features

Modern floor coverings give scope to the imagination of any of the consumers: linoleum, carpet, laminate, parquet, tiles. The choice of a particular one depends, of course, on the interior of your room: one material fit Only in the kitchen, as it is quite water resistant, another, more delicate one, will be suitable for your bedroom or living room.

Not very long ago, the flooring market appeared new material- quartz-vinyl laminate, which quickly gained well-deserved popularity. Quartz vinyl is used in the arrangement of both an apartment in the city and in country houses, it is often used in various offices and commercial premises.

The peculiarity of this material lies in its multi-layer, which determines the durability - over 20 years of use. The top layer is color solution. Depending on your interior, you can cover your floors with laminate imitating stone, wood, parquet, etc. The second layer is vinyl.

Quartz-vinyl is produced from aluminum oxide or polyurethane, and stone chips are located between the main layers for strength. The lowest layer is a vinyl backing that gives strength to the entire coating, the total thickness of which is from 1.4 to 1.5 mm.

It must be recalled that quartz-vinyl absolutely harmless for you and me, which is why this coating is used in hospitals and childcare facilities. He "kills" everything bad smell And, having an antibacterial effect and even serves as a kind of "deodorant". Such material not afraid high temperature , since its composition (quartz sand flour) does not support combustion.

An important advantage of such a coating is the absence of a characteristic conventional laminate"clatter" when walking, which is also due to the elasticity of the material.

Kinds

One of the types of laminate (43 classes) has a three-layer structure. The middle layer, which was mentioned above, consists of quartz chips. That is why such products are not the cheapest option.

The quartz-vinyl laminate, or rather, its outer layer, is disinfected, that is, subjected to silver ionization. Silver ions obtained after the electrolytic decomposition of the metal settle on the surface, which helps to reduce the number of bacteria by almost half.

Today's photo printing capabilities can make your floor irresistible and memorable. Such a coating is absolutely impermeable to moisture, which allows expanding the scope of its application. Class 43 laminate is one of the most durable, environmentally friendly and antistatic materials. In its production, only natural materials. Each plate of such a coating consists of a PVC layer, quartz chips, fiberglass, a decorative film and a top protective layer.

This coating has two mounting options:

Adhesive;
Castle.

Usually, for the first, many manufacturers offer a guarantee of up to 50 years, but for the second - two times less, but, you see, this period is quite serious.

The adhesive option is not practiced very often, since this is a rather time-consuming work - not every specialist will undertake it. This is due to the fact that special glue for such a coating is rather scarce even in our time. But such a coating will give you a 100% guarantee of water resistance and perfectly fits on concrete, linoleum and tiles.

Castle quartz vinyl is quite easy to install, it is easy to dismantle, it does not require special attachment to the base. Therefore, such an elastic coating is often called "folk", and you can modify your gender yourself. It's all about the connections of the coating: locks and latches or a collapsible lock - the so-called "thorn-groove" mechanism used when laying a conventional laminate.

In this case, quartz-vinyl tiles can be joined without the help of glue. Such a coating is easy to dismantle and assemble. Laying the castle coating guarantees you temperature stability.

There is also a type of self-adhesive coating: on the wrong side of the tile there is a self-adhesive adhesive strip or adhesive composition that makes it easy to attach to any material.

Advantages

Multi-layer flooring is in high demand in today's repair work. And this is due to the undeniable advantages, qualitatively distinguishing quartz-vinyl laminate from their "brothers":

Easy delivery to the destination - the material is not bulky, like a regular roll.
Almost one hundred percent water resistance - due to its multi-layer composition, such a coating is ideal in any room - in the bathroom, in the kitchen, that is, where there is sufficient moisture evaporation.

The care of such a floor is also simple - just wipe it with a cloth, and the surface will appear in its original form. Moreover, vinyl absolutely calmly tolerates any detergents, and stains from fruit juices are easily rubbed off and do not leave a mark on such a coating.
The material is absolutely environmentally friendly. As you know, in the production of a conventional laminate, phenol-formaldehyde resin is used, which subsequently releases substances harmful to the body. With regards to the vinyl coating, it includes only natural, natural ingredients. The material has antistatic properties.

The wear resistance of quartz-vinyl has been tested more than once: the floor is shock-resistant, and the claws of the animal are powerless on its surface. On such a floor, you can safely move furniture and even walk in heels.
The covering of your floor can be chosen according to your taste: its texture can be classic, herringbone or square, if you wish, you can imitate various stone coverings such as marble. Or create a special decorative ornament.
If, nevertheless, part of your quartz-vinyl laminate has been damaged, then thanks to the fastening mechanism, it is easy to replace it. To do this, the desired place is heated with a special building hair dryer. When the lock is warmed up, it opens and is easy to change.

disadvantages

Of course, this material also has its drawbacks, however, there are fewer of them than other floor coverings:

Before laying the vinyl laminate, it is necessary to level the entire surface of the floor, otherwise, when laying the flexible coating, all the flaws will be indicated.
Cement strainer- not perfect option for quartz-vinyl on a self-adhesive basis. In this case, it is better to choose a castle option.

With direct and constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the top transparent layer of the coating, after a certain time it may lose its original color. But this is in the case of buying inexpensive material.
Despite the declared environmental friendliness, people with allergies still do not need to rush into a choice.
When choosing a vinyl laminate, make sure that all the slabs are from the same batch - this can be recognized by the numbers, otherwise you risk getting a floor of different shades.

Comparison with tiles: which is better to choose?

According to buyers' opinions and reviews, both materials deserve consideration, but here are the arguments that will help you decide on the flooring.

First of all, we recall that quartz vinyl tile is a multilayer coating, which determines its main qualities: moisture resistance and soundproofing. The top decorative layer allows you to choose a huge number of options for your future floor.

One of the layers of quartz-vinyl also includes a fiberglass mesh, which makes the product resistant to deformation, as well as quartz chips, which give this material flexibility and elasticity, which cannot be said about PVC tiles. but PVC panel easier to move when needed.

PVC tiles can be single-layer or double-layer. For its production, polyvinyl chloride is required, which is subsequently painted in various colors. Such material is convenient in places where there is high traffic, but unlike vinyl, pvc faster"erased".

Quartz-vinyl panel, according to customer reviews, not afraid of aggressive detergents like stains. Both materials require a prepared, even base.

Modern brands

Many buyers in last years still leaning towards the option of a quartz-vinyl laminate. This was not slow to notice manufacturers of flooring. On today's market, there are a dozen companies specializing in the production of high-quality vinyl laminate.

Belgian manufacturer Quick step is one of the leaders in this niche. Tiles from this European brand are a worthy decoration of any house and apartment. Made in a natural, “wood-like” range, it impresses with its strength, solidity, and at the same time ease of installation. Quartz-vinyl laminate from this manufacturer is not the cheapest: from 1900 rubles for square meter but it's worth it.

Nowadays, there are a lot of floor coverings - beautiful and durable, but toxic. Some people think that quartz vinyl floor tiles are unhealthy, while others recommend using them in a child's room. Which of them to believe?

As paradoxical as it sounds, both statements are true. After reading this article to the end, you will understand why there are such conflicting opinions, and what is quartz vinyl tile.

Environmentally friendly or harmful?

This question is not at all rhetorical and not ambiguous, because you can buy both environmentally friendly and very unhealthy PVC tiles.

As you already understood, a lot depends on the manufacturer, but this is far from the only factor that needs to be considered when choosing such a facing material.

Whether primary or secondary raw materials are used has a great influence on the quality of the final product. In the first case, an environmentally friendly material is obtained, and in the second, a cheap fake is made, which, in addition to having an unpleasant odor, is also short-lived.

Does the tile affect the environment or not? Video of the expert

Material device

Quartz vinyl floor tile looks like a monolith, but in fact it consists of several layers:

Top decorative layer. It is made of polyurethane with the addition of aluminum oxide, and serves to protect the tiles from damage. This coating makes the surface non-slip.
decorative layer. The original drawing is applied to it by the method of photo printing.
Main layer. This part consists of quartz sand mixed with PVC. Thanks to the use of this material, the tile turned out to be very durable and plastic.
Fiberglass. It is used as a reinforcing layer, thanks to which the product does not break even with a significant bend.
base layer. This part is made of PVC and is designed to provide a secure grip to the floor.

Also, the composition of the material includes various plasticizers, stabilizers and natural dyes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Talking about some building material, you should definitely mention its characteristics, because in any case there are advantages, but there are also disadvantages.

Let's put the question a little differently - how many of them and what is the ratio? Let's consider.

Advantages

wear-resistant and flexible;
thermostable and shockproof;
durable;
drowns out the noise from walking;
fireproof;
has self-extinguishing properties;
there are different sizes;
a large selection of colors;
unlike ceramic, quartz vinyl tiles are warmer;
can be used in rooms with high humidity;
non-slip even when wet;
no harmful emissions.

disadvantages

Of the significant shortcomings, one can be distinguished - the base must be made very even, otherwise all the pits will soon be noticeable on the surface of the tile. Therefore, the installation time increases, since you have to wait for the screed to dry.

Types of tiles

Like other floor coverings, quartz vinyl tiles are divided into wear resistance classes. So, for a residential area, a product of classes 31–33 is suitable, and in the corridor it is recommended to lay a coating of class 34, which is also used for flooring in offices and schools.

With the help of quartz vinyl products, you can create an imitation of any surface, be it plastic, stone or wood, and with great accuracy.

As for the shape, there is also plenty to choose from - the tile is square, rectangular and oblong, which makes it very similar to the laminate. Thanks to this variety, you can combine shapes, creating various patterns.

As for installation, there are also several types of tiles, the fixation of which is carried out in various ways:

by applying glue;
on lock connections;
with self-adhesive backing.

Now let's look at how quartz vinyl tiles are laid.

Coating installation

The installation of each type of tile has its own characteristics, which will be mentioned in the article, but first we will consider how to prepare the floor.

Foundation preparation

As mentioned earlier, the base must be perfectly even, for which a self-leveling mixture is poured over the screed or a plywood substrate is made.

note

If the old screed is shaky or all cracked, then it should not be left.

The first step is to remove the old flooring.
The base is then checked to see if it is suitable for further work with him.
If necessary, the old screed is dismantled and a new one is poured.
If the old screed is in good condition, then it is necessary to level the surface - remove the bulges, and close the cracks and cracks with acrylic putty.
Removes debris and dust.
Using a roller, the base is treated with a water-repellent primer.
A self-levelling mixture is poured or a plywood substrate is made.

Having carefully aligned and prepared the base, you can begin to mark it.

How to lay out the base

There is nothing complicated in the markup itself, but it is very important that it be done with 90˚ angles.

note

In the rooms of houses old building very often it is observed that the walls are not located at right angles relative to each other. If the marks are placed in the middle of each wall, and then connected with a line, then in a diamond-shaped room the lines will not converge at right angles.

First, check the room by measuring the distance along the diagonals - if there is a discrepancy, then such a room irregular shape, and although it is imperceptible to the naked eye, you can not argue with the numbers. Why is such precision needed? The fact is that with incorrect marking, when laying, the tiles will shift.

Pulling the twine diagonally, we find the center of the room, and through it we draw 2 perpendicular lines located at right angles.

Working with tiles

Although we have identified 3 ways to install tiles, they can still be divided into 2 groups:

Adhesive connection.
Glueless connection.

The first group includes 2 types of products, which (regardless of the method) are glued to the base. When installing ordinary quartz vinyl tiles, you can use:

acrylic dispersion adhesive;
rubber-based vinyl adhesive;
special adhesive produced (or recommended) by the tile manufacturer.

Now let's move on to installation.

In addition to a notched grater, you will need a construction knife and a special roller, with which air will be removed from under the coating.
A special glue is applied to the floor, after which you need to wait half an hour until it dries.
Laying tiles starts from the center of the room or from the door - it depends on the characteristics of the room. A construction knife can cut the flooring when the need arises.
The roller presses the tile to the base, and air comes out from under it.
If the glue comes out, then it is better to remove it with ethyl alcohol.

After 5 days, the floor is thoroughly washed and furniture is brought into the room.

When installing tiles with a self-adhesive base, glue is not used.

Interlocked quartz vinyl tiles are very similar to laminate, but this similarity is not only external, since installation is carried out in a similar way. Laying of castle tiles is carried out without the use of glue. If desired, such a coating can be disassembled and reassembled many times, because the locks are elastic and do not break.

Installation of a quartz vinyl tile with a lock connection on a concrete floor

Now you know how to distinguish eco-friendly quartz vinyl tiles from fake ones. We hope that the information provided will help you choose a quality coating and lay it yourself.