Curlit - modular home furnishings of the future: an overview

Curlit is the modular finishing of the future for the home. Curlit coverings are presented in a general line of ceramic tiles and are available for purchase in several different formats. The largest is 3 * 1 meter. In addition to extra-large slabs, the choice, depending on the collection, has slabs 1 * 1 meter, 0.5 * 0.

5 meters, 0.5 * 1. 5 meters, 0.5 * 1 meter, and 0.4 * 1 meter.

The series of Kerlit porcelain tiles with a wood grain texture suggests several additional sizes - 0.33 * 3 meters, 0.2 * 1.8 meters.

General information

If we talk about porcelain stoneware in 3 * 1 meter format, it is available in all types of thickness:

• 0.

  3 cm - pure porcelain stoneware for wall cladding (this only applies to the collection called Vuhu).

• 3+ - slabs that are reinforced with fiberglass with a thickness of 0.35 cm for flooring.
• 5+ - porcelain stoneware, which is reinforced with fiberglass with a thickness of 0.55 cm for the floor, but already in public places.

Small thickness helps to expand the scope of porcelain stoneware, since thin slabs are suitable not only for decorating walls and floors, but also for decorating interior items and countertops. Curlit's use even extends to building facades. The mass of one slab, taking into account the size of 1 * 1 meter and with a material thickness of 0.3 cm, is only 7.4 kg, and with the same parameters, but a thickness of 0.

35 cm, only 7. 8 kg. The low weight helps not only to facilitate installation, but also to reduce the cost of shipping costs.

It is worth noting that the material is able to withstand the same load at a thickness that is almost half that of standard porcelain stoneware, and this indicates incredible strength. The secret is that the production technology is special.

Exceptional strength is possible through molding under pressure of 15,000 tons and further firing in a special temperature regime. In addition, manufacturers are so confident in the quality of their products that they give a factory guarantee for 20 years that the material will be resistant to wear and tear and frost cracking. And what is the ease of installation! Finishing with Kerlit porcelain stoneware is not difficult, because due to its low thickness, the material is easy to drill and cut, and the use of large-format material helps to reduce the time for laying and grouting.

Also, the material has an excellent, non-toxic antibacterial Mikroban coating, which was created in order to prevent bacterial growth on the surface. Agree, this is extremely important for floor tiles in a private house / apartment and for medical institutions.

A separate plus is the production technology, since water will be required by 70%, and gas by 50% less than to create the same material using standard technology. Thus, each buyer of the material helps to contribute to the conservation of natural resources.

Recommendations for the selection of material

When choosing Curlit, start from where you will lay the material.Slabs 0.3 cm thick are ideal for installation work on ceiling and wall surfaces, while thicker slabs are suitable for floors.

The most resistant types for finishing the floor, which in the future will be subject to intense stress (shopping center, airport, commercial premises) are considered sheets with a thickness of 0.7 cm, and 0.3-0 is enough for living space. 5 cm thick. Also pay attention to the parameters.

Elements that are larger than the standard size, for example, 1 * 3 meters, will be ideal for cladding, and sizes 1 * 1 and 0.5 * 0. 5 meters are perfect for wall, ceiling and floor decoration. Smaller elements are perfect for decorating curbs, steps and slopes.

Like any material, curlite has certain characteristics, the main of which is strength, which is second only to size in terms of selection.

The optimal value of the indicator is the limit between 2200 kg / m ³ and 2600 kg / m ³ . If the label indicates a lower strength, this should at least alert or even lead to a refusal from a dubious purchase. An equally important property is water absorption, which should be less than 0.05% by certain standards. Ideally, you should buy the product only in trusted stores so that there is no risk of being faked.

In order for you to be sure of the resistance to wear, it will be advisable to clarify the indicators of resistance to deep abrasion, which, according to the regulations, should be at least 145 mm ³ .

Ease of use

Due to the fact that there is no internal stress in the material, it can be easily machined even with conventional drilling and using a glass cutter. Using waterjet cutting will give you the opportunity to get the smallest holes in diameter, which cannot be drilled even on CNC machines. All Kerlit slabs can be chamfered and other types of edge finishing along the edge (using curly discs). Easy and quick installation is quite an important factor for non-professional craftsmen.

Compared to standard counterparts, Kerlit elements can be laid almost 2 times faster. As a base, you can use an old coating made of porcelain stoneware or any other material.

Features of the material

The wear resistance of the material is comparable to porcelain stoneware, but unlike the latter, Curlite is plastic and can be fixed on surfaces with various configurations. With its help, it is possible to create even a rounded structure and to make the facing of parts with intricate shapes. In terms of hardness, Kerlit porcelain stoneware can be an excellent competitor to porcelain stoneware, stone and aluminum.

Yes, the surface of the material is inert to the effects of chemical compounds and does not contain organic components in the composition, which became the reason for the non-susceptibility to fungi and bacteria. In addition, the material is fire resistant and virtually immune to mechanical influences.Its appearance has remained virtually unchanged over time, even after intense and prolonged use.

The material is environmentally friendly, natural, as it is made of feldspar, quartz sand, clay and kaolin. It does not contain a single toxic element and organic dyes.

In addition, it is frost resistant and has zero hygroscopicity, so it is perfect for use in all climates.

Due to the variety of designs and rich colors, Kerlite slabs can be used in finishing works and interiors with different styles. Any surface will look amazing after creating the veneer with curlite. Installation can be done in several ways - on adhesives, self-tapping screws and using double-sided tape, and further this will be discussed in detail. Curlite is often used for floor, ceiling, walls, facade and roof cladding, door, staircase decoration, and furniture.

One of the amazing properties is that the material is ideal for renewing outdated surfaces, so new slabs can be laid on marble, stone, tile and ceramic surfaces, and in addition, the surface will eventually have no visible seams. ...

Note, that curlite without embellishment can be called revolutionary breakthroughs in building materials.

Its incredible aesthetics and unique properties have been appreciated by designers, builders, and owners of houses / apartments with curlite finishing.

Manufacturers

Due to the enormous popularity and wide scope of application of porcelain stoneware in large format, most manufacturers began to introduce the collection of material into their lines. Factories that have chosen the production of thin porcelain stoneware (curlite) as their main specialization are mostly located in Spain and Italy, but even the domestic segment is trying to keep its finger on the pulse of new construction technologies, so a plant was opened in Balabanovo. Among the world-class manufacturers who have taken up the modern initiative, there are such eminent brands as:

• Each collection of the Kerlite factory (Sotto Deste).
• Each collection of the Laminam factory.

• The Levantina brand - the collections of Levantina Vasis, Levantina Wellra, Levantina Vulcano.
• Аtlаs Сonсоре manufacturer - collection Аtlаs Сosоrdе Marvel XL.
• The Flоr Grеs brand is a collection called Flоr Grеs Industriаl.
• Ariostea is a collection called Ariostea Ultra Onise.
• FMG - collections of FMG Chromomode 3D, FMG Marmi Maxfine, FMG Limestone, FMG Travetino Maxfine, FMG Iron Maxfine, FMG Roads, FMG Citystone.

• AVA - collections AVA Marmi Crema Marfil, AVA Contemporanei District, AVA Marmi Lasa, AVA Contemporanei Absolute, AVA I Marmi, AVA Marmi Azul Macauba, AVA Marmi Bianco Bernini, AVA Marmi Calacatta, AVA Marmi Statuario, AVA Marmi Statuario Splendente, AVA Marmi Bardiglio Cenere.
• Grespania - collection Grespania Coverlam
• ABK - collection

Now let's take a closer look at several options for using the material.

1. Creating flooring - this is the main purpose for thin granite from ceramics. Curlit boards for finishing can be used on any prepared surface, both indoors and even outdoors. A large selection of textures and patterns helps to make successful combinations with other materials.

2. Wall surface finishing - due to its unique characteristics, this material is perfect for using it in heated rooms, and for laying on walls outside or in an unheated room. Note that the material is suitable even for use in rooms with high humidity levels.
3. Finish for countertops - is also one of the new and evolving formats for using thin materials. The fact is that the surface of such a tile is not capable of absorbing liquid, but visually does not differ at all from natural stone. As a pleasant bonus, take into account the fact that installation is not difficult even for beginners (this applies to both dismantling and transportation), then we get an extremely profitable solution in financial terms for the client.

4. Finishing the facade of the building - in Russia and Ukraine this trend is not very common and is only gaining momentum, but in America and Europe it is often possible to notice that they use the material for finishing the ventilated facade with the help of a beautiful and so far innovative material. Recently, large-format slabs have become more common in construction estimates. Manufacturers of subsystems for attaching a ventilated facade also began to pay attention to slabs and similar systems have already been certified in the Russian Federation.
5. Furniture fronts - most furniture manufacturers have adopted the possibility of using thin panels and began to make furniture fronts out of them. Due to the low thickness and ease of cutting the material, it became possible to create beautiful furniture fronts and low weight.

   In addition, it is possible to use the material for the kitchen apron, on the kitchen facade and even on the countertop, which will add additional charm to the entire composition.

Installation work

Cutting

A distinctive feature of Kerlite with a thickness of 0.3 cm - high ease of processing ...

You can cut, drill and shape the material using automatic machines, as well as machines for processing porcelain stoneware and glass. First, you need to prepare the work surface, and for this it will be reasonable to use a 3 * 1 meter Curlit pan cover.

glass cutters can only be used for slabs with a thickness of 0.3 and 0.35 cm.

To obtain high-quality, shaped and straight cuts with a glass cutter, use a tool called Silberschnitt 2000 .

This roller type glass cutter has a plastic handle for a comfortable grip. When performing cutting on materials, it is important not to disconnect the glass cutter from the notch axis during the process. To get an even cut, use aluminum slats that are intended for construction. When the cut is made, force should be applied to detach the two pieces.

Diamond blades can be used to cut all types of Kerlite material. They should be of the "solid edged cut" type and can be used for both hand-held and electric sanders. In both the first and second cases, it is required to work at a high speed of rotation (more than 2500 rpm) and set a low speed of advance (less than 1 meter per minute). Depending on the blade type and length of cut, the blade may need to be water cooled, and thinner blades for porcelain stoneware are the most suitable. The advantage of this type of cutting is that it can be done manually and even during installation.

By the way, you can buy discs that can run dry.

Straight and contoured waterjet cutting involves the use of a special water jet cutting machine. For this type of processing, it is better to spend money and seek help from special organizations. Drilling can be manual, then you will use tungsten drills for glass with a diameter of up to 0.8 cm, and maybe automatic, if the same drills are installed in a screwdriver or electric drill.

When working with such tools, do the following:

1. Cool the drilling point with water.
2. Start drilling at low speed.
3. Do not press hard on the tool and material, as the resistance of the plate must be taken into account.

Holes with a diameter greater than 0.8 cm can be made using cup cutters (drills), which will be installed on an electric drill or battery-powered screwdrivers.

Important! When using a drill, never use the hammer mode!

For the edge finishing of Kerlite boards, you can use sandpaper or diamond sponge (by hand). They should be lightly carried along the edge of the slab, and then a blunt effect will be obtained. If you perform the action a little longer, you will get the chamfering effect. Similar results are available when attaching the sanding discs to a sander.

Substrate preparation and installation

To prepare the substrate and glue the boards, follow the same steps as for any porcelain stoneware tiles.

As a rule, it is required to make sure that the cement base is free of oil, grease and dust, be dry and free from moisture, and not have entangled and thin parts such as cement, paint or lime residues. The base must be solid, free from cracks, and the difference in planes must be eliminated with leveling agents.

For installation on walls on external plaster, the substrate must be able to withstand mechanical stress, board weight, thermal expansion and atmospheric stress. In this case, the plaster should have an average adhesion to the masonry not less than 1N / mm ² (approximately 10 kg / cm ² ). If a gypsum-based plaster has been used that absorbs moisture well and flakes off, a concentrate of an insulating agent should be applied to the surface with a water base (primer mortar) in advance to help reduce water absorption.

Let's move on to the main thing - apply the glue to the base using a notched trowel. Make sure that the adhesive is applied and spread evenly over small areas of the walls in a specific sequence. Make the tile joints using special distribution crosses, which are not less than 0.1 cm. To get the correct gluing of the boards, tap each of them with a rubber spatula.

Laying the slab 3 * 1 meter

This format will be suitable only for laying on vertical surfaces (i.e. on walls).

For the correct installation of boards of this size, two rules must be followed:

1. Check the flatness of the substrate in order to level the surface if necessary, possibly locally.
2. When conditions have been verified, prepare marks for optimal leveling and calibration of the slabs against the wall surface.

3. Apply a continuous layer of adhesive to the substrate with a trowel with inclined teeth, and then bring the plate on an aluminum frame with suction cups, which will ensure rigidity and safety during movement.
4. Apply material to the wall, level and tap all over with a rubber trowel.

As you can see, the installation is quite simple. If you do everything slowly and carefully, even without work experience you will quickly cope.

( 1 grade, average 5 of 5 )