Quartz vinyl floor tiles: tips, feedback and recommendations for choosing

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

Quartz vinyl floor tiles: production technology

Quartz sand is the main component that makes up most of the tiles (depending on the model's features, 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 the tile - strength, resistance to fire and water, are present precisely due to quartz sand, while all kinds of plasticizers, stabilizers and pigments, in combination with vinyl, serve only as an addition. Plasticizers provide a certain flexibility to the material, which makes the installation process easier.

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

For the top layer tiles manufacturers use various formulation options, for example, a polyurethane layer or a metallized varnish, in order to simultaneously obtain an aesthetic appearance and high resistance of the coating to all kinds of influences.

Quartz vinyl tile is composed of 6 layers. Let's take a look at each of them, starting with the bottom one:

• a layer of PVC, which serves as a base, and, on the one hand, serves to increase the resistance of the tile to impacts, and on the other hand, makes it possible for the material to adhere to the floor so that the fixation on the glue is effective;
• fiberglass, which acts as a reinforcement;
• quartz vinyl, which is the main layer and gives the product the necessary strength;
• a layer of decorative material that determines the texture and color of the tile;
• a thin transparent layer that protects the design from fading as a result of exposure to direct sunlight;
• a polyurethane layer that resists chemicals and extends the life of the coating.

Such a rather complex technology for the production of vinyl quartz tiles allows you to end up with a durable and reliable material that is resistant to all kinds of influences.

Advantages and disadvantages of quartz vinyl flooring in an apartment

The special characteristics of this material have made the advantages and disadvantages of this solution quite unusual as well. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons before purchasing a tile.

First of all, it should be noted that domestic use is practically incapable of leading to wear of the tiles. Moreover, this material is able to withstand huge cross-country ability, including not only people, but also cars. So in an ordinary room there will be no demolition at all, and if, nevertheless, one of the elements is damaged, it is easy to replace it. This does not require dismantling the entire floor, engaging specialists or purchasing any special tools.

Another important advantage is resistance to high air humidity and direct exposure to moisture. Experts estimate this material as 100% water-resistant, which is important in the case of installation in the kitchen or bathroom. But as for fire safety, quartz sand, which is the main component of the tile, does not support combustion and does not emit any substances hazardous to health.

Another advantage that residents of apartment buildings will appreciate is the level of sound insulation that quartz vinyl flooring provides. Its ability to absorb sounds with a power of up to 19 dB allows you to create the most comfortable living conditions.

The choice of quartz vinyl covering will also delight buyers with an abundance of colors and textures. Using catalogs and photos, the color of quartz vinyl tiles can be selected based on the interior design of your particular apartment. In addition, the installation is quite simple, and the cost of the material is low, despite a lot of positive aspects and a long service life.

Quartz vinyl also has disadvantages, which are best known in advance. So, laying such a coating requires careful preparation of the surface, and taking all the necessary measures to level the base. It is imperative that layers of waterproofing and thermal insulation materials be laid so that the floor is warm and absorbs even more noise.

Helpful advice! The best option for leveling the floor is to pour the screed. This takes a lot of time, since the complete drying of the composition occurs within several weeks, however, such a procedure will significantly extend the life of the coating.

How to choose and buy high quality quartz vinyl tiles

The choice of quartz vinyl floor tiles should be carried out taking into account several basic parameters: size, thickness, manufacturer's firm, level of wear resistance and color design. At the same time, the dimensions of the tiles can vary significantly, and the thickness can be from 1.6 to 3.2 mm.

Of course, there are a huge number of firms that offer their products on the modern market. But some of them are more popular than others. For example, manufacturers such as Art Tile, Armstrong, Polyfloor and Upofloor are well known.

The most popular size of quartz tiles is squares with sides of 30 or 60 cm. These elements are the easiest to work with, but the coating turns out to be quite simple, without any complex patterns and patterns. For those who want to create an unusual interior using this material, manufacturers offer rectangular or triangular tiles, with which you can create much more interesting patterns.

Interesting!If desired, you can cut the tiles into curved elements. This process should only be carried out in the factory as it requires the use of the water cutting method. Of course, the cost of such a coating will be significantly higher, but in the photo of a quartz vinyl coating you can see how beautiful an exclusive coating made by this method can look.

How to choose a quartz vinyl tile for an apartment of suitable thickness

Quartz vinyl flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses, usually less than 3.2 mm. In this case, the material is ranked as the highest class of wear resistance - 43rd. For ordinary apartments, this is usually too much, since in residential premises the material is not subjected to the loads for which it is designed. It will be quite enough to use a material of 23-43 wear resistance class, which is typical for tiles, the thickness of which ranges from 2-2.5 mm.

Important! The thickness of each element determines the total weight of the entire coating, which is usually considerable anyway. So laying elements of excessively thick thickness also creates an additional load on the surface.

It is permissible to use thinner tiles, however, in this case, you must make sure in advance that there will be low traffic in the room, and the floor covering will not be exposed to impacts and other influences that could damage it.

There is also a classification designed to indicate the susceptibility of tiles to abrasion as a result of constant exposure. In this case, there are several categories, the best of which is "T". It is this type of tile that can be most often found on the domestic market. Among the characteristics of this species, it is worth noting high resistance not only to mechanical stress, but also to chemically active substances - acids and alkalis.

The indicators of flammability and smoke-generating ability of the material also play a significant role. In this case, it is best to give preference to products that have the following markings - G2 (refractory index) and D2 (smoke generation level). For domestic conditions, this is an ideal option, since the acquisition of material with lower rates is simply considered inappropriate.

As for the appearance, everything here depends solely on the individual preferences of the owners, as well as the interior of the room. You can give preference to a material that imitates natural textures, or you can choose an option with a pattern.

Features of mounting quartz vinyl laminate

There are two ways to install quartz vinyl flooring: adhesive and lockable. In the first case, the elements are fixed using a special adhesive, and in the second, a lock connection is used. Many users claim that the second method is preferable, since it not only greatly simplifies the installation procedure, but also allows you to painlessly dismantle quartz vinyl tiles with a lock connection if necessary.

Related article:

How to lay tiles on the floor: installation methods and technology features

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

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

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

1. Preparatory work, including dismantling 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.
2. After that, they proceed directly to laying the tiles, which begins with the marking. Initially, you need to mark the starting point and the lines for laying the elements.
3. Then it remains only to apply the adhesive composition to the floor surface and lay the tiles, carefully several times walking over the top with a roller to smooth the coating. Corner and edge pieces are trimmed immediately prior to installation to avoid inconsistencies.

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

In addition, experts recommend observing the most comfortable conditions for laying this material, including the dryness of the base (no more than 5-6% moisture). It is not worth laying tiles on a surface with an adhesive immediately, but only after waiting a few minutes. It is also worth paying attention to the recommendations provided by the manufacturer himself, since the instruction usually offered to the material contains 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 rules for laying, which must be followed in the process of work, professionals recommend paying attention to some not so obvious, but no less important aspects:

• the ideal time for the adhesive to dry on the surface before laying the tiles is 30-40 minutes;
• if the flooring suggests a pattern, you always need to start laying from the center of the room. If the tile is monochromatic, then you can start from the door;
• if in the process of laying on the way there are any obstacles that need to be bypassed, for example, a staircase or a column, then you can cut the tiles to the desired size using an ordinary knife;

• all shaped holes in quartz vinyl tiles are made using a special template, which must be prepared in advance;
• it is not recommended to proceed to laying the tiles immediately after purchasing it. It is better to wait at least 48 hours so that the material can adapt to the conditions in this room.In this case, you should not remove the tiles from the packaging;
• if you plan to lay on your own, then it is best to prepare in advance all the tools necessary for work, including: a sharp knife, a simple pencil, a notched spatula for applying glue, a square and a special roller that will eliminate air bubbles from under the tiles;
• it is believed that a concrete base is 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 is not prone to expanding as a result of increased moisture, there is no need to leave gaps between elements or space from the wall.

Important! Special attention should be paid to the laying of the coating if 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 at about 18 degrees. It must be kept for at least three more days after laying. After that, heating can be turned off until there is a real need for it.

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

In the process of considering information about what quartz vinyl tiles are and what are the advantages of its operation, one has to face an abundance of conflicting opinions regarding this material. Someone enthusiastically praises the simplicity and usability of this coating, while others point out the shortcomings. Consider what opinions exist, and what you should pay attention to before making a choice.

“The tiles were laid about a year ago, so we managed to evaluate them throughout all seasons: both summer and winter. In the summer, of course, there were no problems at all, but when the cold came, I didn't want to go barefoot. But in principle it can be completely solved by the presence of warm socks or slippers. "

Margarita Tyumentseva, Moscow

“When I was doing the renovation, I bought PVC tiles for the bathroom walls, and quartz vinyl for the floor, as I read that it is the best resistant to water. 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 the lock joints are rarely of high quality, and whenever possible I try to refuse them, and I was reluctant to mess with glue. Therefore, he pulled the change of floor covering as best he could. In the end, laziness won out, and still put the quartz vinyl tiles on the locks. So far there are no problems, but only 8 months have passed, so we'll see. "

Vadim Satsky, Voronezh

“We first got acquainted with this material from friends. They had self-adhesive vinyl wall tiles in their bathroom. We liked the price that was announced to us. Here are just a wife on some forum subtracted that quartz vinyl floor tiles are unhealthy. Of course, there is no real evidence of this, but just in case we decided to abandon the idea. "

Ruslan Chervorukov, Belgorod

As you can see from the reviews, quartz vinyl tiles are not to every owner's taste. Someone thinks it is not warm and cozy enough 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 after considering all the technical aspects of such a solution, as well as after reading reviews about quartz vinyl laminate, you can come to one or another conclusion about the appropriateness of its use.

How to care for quartz vinyl tiles

Ease of maintenance is one of the main advantages of this material, so you can use any available means for cleaning: a broom, vacuum cleaner, water, any household chemicals.What's more, tough stains can be easily removed with a hard sponge that won't damage the coating's integrity but will remove any tough stains.

After familiarizing yourself with all the characteristics and reviews, quartz vinyl floor tiles can leave an ambiguous impression about how successful such a solution can be called. But practice shows that this option is worth considering on an equal basis with others, especially if the finishing of premises with high traffic and serious loads on the floor is to be done.