The stereotype that only Spaniards make high-quality porcelain tiles has long been debunked. The Russian brand Estima produces decent products that are in no way inferior to European ones. The use of Italian equipment and modern production technologies allows us to create porcelain tiles with decent characteristics.
Features of Estima porcelain stoneware
Ceramic granite (gres tile) is a relatively young material that appeared at the end of the 20th century. The unique properties of the tile have made it popular among consumers.
Before this, they made do with ordinary ceramics, which were not without drawbacks and had certain limitations in operation.
The new product is recommended for use in rooms with high levels of moisture. The following materials are used for production:
- clay,
- regular sand,
- kaolin,
- various additives.
The raw materials are pressed under strong pressure and then fired. The use of Italian production technologies and a press with a force of 500 kg/cm2 makes the adhesion of materials as strong as possible.
For additional rectification (leveling), automated diamond knives are used. The finished material is used to create flooring with almost invisible seams.
Due to the absence of pores, the finished material is not afraid of adverse factors. In an aggressive environment, its reliability and strength are maintained.
Estima porcelain tiles are characterized by minimal moisture absorption and excellent frost resistance. Withstands high loads, demonstrating impressive hardness and inflexibility.
Even contact with chemical reagents does not pose a threat to the appearance of the tiles.
Quality above all
According to reviews, Ural porcelain tiles in terms of characteristics and aesthetic perception correspond to the best world analogues. Today, the production and quality control of ceramic products is carried out using modern equipment from Italian companies: Sacmi, BMR, System, ICF, which is confirmed by certificates. In addition, there is a constantly functioning laboratory, which is equipped with the latest European technology. These are multifunctional complexes: GABBRIELLI, Ceramic Instruments, ASSO Print.
Advantages of Estima products
Porcelain tiles from a Russian manufacturer have proven themselves well in surface finishing in apartments, private homes, cafes and restaurants. It can also be seen on the facades of buildings. The demand is explained by quite obvious advantages:
Long-term operation. Estima brand porcelain tiles serve the consumer for years and do not lose their attractive appearance. This effect can be achieved due to the high strength and wear resistance of the product. Therefore, it is often used even in production.
Does not deform. Even with sudden temperature changes, porcelain stoneware retains its performance properties without deforming or becoming cracked. It is common to see such tiles in baths and saunas or, conversely, in cold and unheated rooms.
Not afraid of chemical reagents. Anything can happen in factories and laboratories. Even if an Estima porcelain tile floor gets exposed to acid or other chemicals, nothing will happen to it.
Has excellent moisture resistance. This effect is achieved due to the non-porous surface structure.
Rich assortment. Attractive appearance and a large selection allow you to choose the best option for various style trends and use it in any interior solution.
Imitation of wood, stone. In the range of products of the domestic brand you can find tiles that imitate natural materials. With prolonged use, it will not lose its shape or fade in the sun.
Ideal value for money. Compared to European analogues, Estima is much more affordable, as it is produced in Russia. At the same time, the quality of the products fully complies with international standards.
Stone cladding
Wonder – porcelain wall and floor tiles with imitation fine-grained sandstone. The collection includes matte basic monocolor products and decorative inserts in the form of a mosaic. The samples are decorated in deep shades of coffee, gray and brown.
Wonder
Charme - ceramics for walls and porcelain tiles for floors, repeating the texture of marble with characteristic veins of stone. Products are available with three types of surface: glossy, polished and embossed. The color palette includes five basic tones: white-gray, cream, beige, bronze and black. There are three types of samples in the collection:
- basic – monocolor;
- decorative - with geometric floral patterns;
- mosaic with square and rectangular elements.
Travertino is a porcelain stoneware floor and ceramic wall cladding that reproduces the look of travertine. Coatings can be patinated, polished and matte. The tiles are designed in soft shades of grey, dark beige and brown. Background tiles are monocolor, and decorative tiles have floral prints or contrasting stripes.
Travertino
Reviews:
- Tatiana. Charme. I chose glossy cream tiles from this series for the living room because the price suited me and the design pleasantly surprised me. The coating conveys the veining of marble very naturally. But after 3 months the gloss began to fade - they clearly saved on the quality of the top layer.
- Yana. Travertino. The kitchen floor has matte beige Travertino tiles. In its pure form it looks perfect and effectively conveys the look of natural marble. But there are a lot of problems with cleaning the floor: all the coloring liquids are absorbed into the material. To get rid of stains, you have to use a lot of cleaning products.
Two varieties
There are two main types of Estima porcelain tiles:
Matte
Homogeneous material with a large selection of textures. Due to the fact that the tiles are not polished, they have good anti-slip properties. Recommended for finishing floors in bathrooms.
Glossy
It differs from the first type in its characteristic texture and amazing shine. A room in which the floor or walls have been finished with glossy porcelain tiles takes on a spectacular, solemn look. The optimal solution for small rooms, which makes them much more spacious.
Ural porcelain stoneware: reviews
Many consumers decide to use porcelain stoneware rather than another material precisely because of its resistance to negative external influences. The tile does not emit any harmful fumes even with strong heating.
Thanks to the wide range, buyers can choose the most suitable color shade. This opens up the possibility of widely varying design solutions when constructing new or repairing old premises, structures, and paths. An affordable price completes the popularity of products produced by ZKS.
Where is it used?
Estima ceramics are recommended for finishing work indoors and outdoors. It is the one that is preferred when it is necessary to create a durable coating in a shopping center or in production. The products of the Russian enterprise will be a good choice for offices and train stations.
Hygiene and ease of maintenance are good reasons to use porcelain tiles in hotels. An impressive assortment allows you to purchase a good option for decorating bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms and even balconies. When it is necessary to create a floor covering with a “warm floor” system, gres also comes to the rescue.
Collection "Standard"
Ural porcelain tiles of the “Standard” series are presented in the most popular color schemes. It is also called the “salt-pepper” collection because of its external resemblance to the mixture of the same name. These products can be called almost eternal: long-term use will not irreversibly damage the surface, since it will not lead to damage to the design.
Products from this collection are used primarily for:
- organization of floor coverings for interior finishing of objects;
- design of retail spaces, airports, train stations;
- finishing of industrial premises;
- devices of staircases;
- wall cladding.
The manufacturer chose products with a matte surface as the main standard for tiles in this series.
Available sizes
The sizes are quite varied: from 30 x 30 cm (square) to 120 x 60 cm (rectangle). It is worth considering that during manufacturing there is always a risk of deformation, so the actual size of porcelain tiles may vary slightly. For example, elements with a stated size of 60 x 60 cm may have sides 59.2 x 60.6 cm long.
To minimize inaccuracies, the manufacturer packages tiles that are as close to each other in size as possible. And it indicates the calibration from 0 to 7. For example, 0 corresponds to sizes 59.2 - 59.4 cm, caliber 7 to sizes 60.4 - 60.6 cm.
Mixed imitations
Surface – floor and wall matte porcelain tiles imitating natural stones, with a pronounced metallized surface. The products are decorated in rich shades of brown, bronze and black.
Surface
Element Silk is an Italon ceramic wall tile with an imitation of textile wallpaper with a silky effect. The samples have a matte surface and are painted in delicate shades of pink, beige, coffee and blue.
Basic – porcelain floor tiles imitating marble, with a muted metallic finish. All products in the line are monocolor with a matte, polished or structured surface. They are painted in pale shades of grey, beige, orange, green, turquoise, bronze, copper and black.
Basic
Reviews:
- Natalia. Basic. I chose gray tiles with a matte surface for the hallway. Among the main advantages are an affordable price, practical non-staining color, and non-slip coating. But after a year of using the cladding, the top layer was a little worn, and noticeable black dots appeared.
- Ivan. Surface. The main advantages of the finish are a noble appearance and an affordable price, both for the Russian market. But the quality leaves much to be desired! Already during installation we noticed that the edges of some tiles were uneven. In addition, when cutting, two elements crumbled.
As you can see, the Italon tile catalog is ready to satisfy the request of any consumer: floor and wall, porcelain stoneware and ceramic, with imitation stone, wood, cement and even mixed materials. But when choosing a finish, don't let the richness of the design fool you. Before you settle on a particular cladding, read reviews about it and evaluate photos in the interior to understand what the material is like in practice, and not just in theory.
Main collections and styles of Estima porcelain tiles
A huge selection of collections allows you to bring any interior ideas to life. According to consumer reviews, the following series are the most popular:
Estima Standard
Represented by elements with an unpolished, semi-polished surface. Recommended for creating a floor that can withstand heavy loads. Both plain models and designer options with original prints are available.
Estima Antika
It is presented in glossy, matte products, the texture of which resembles natural stone. A very good solution for finishing. Aged tiles can be used in a classic interior; the colors available are sand, yellow, peach, etc.
Rainbow
The Rainbow collection is a bright polished tile with a glossy surface. Conveys the structure of marble and onyx.
Do you want to create a country interior? A smart choice would be Bugnot, Tiburtone tiles. Interested in hi-tech? Giaietto will come in handy.
In a traditional interior, it is better to use Hard Rock Scuro; fans of retro style will appreciate Montalcino Cotto.
The Newport collection will help bring to life solutions in the minimalist style, while Natural will fit perfectly into the Scandinavian style.
GRES
Ural porcelain tiles of the GRES class are rapidly gaining popularity in the region. The abbreviation comes from the Italian Gres porsellanayo, which translates as “stone-ceramic porcelain product”. The composition of the material is similar to porcelain. The manufacturing technology used at ZKS is one of the most modern in Russian ceramic production. The properties and aesthetics of the products are indistinguishable from natural stone. At the same time, they not only look like granite or marble, but also correspond to natural stone in strength. GRES slabs from the Ural manufacturer are resistant to mildly aggressive environments, and in some operational and consumer characteristics they are superior to natural stone.
What the experts say
Estima products are in high demand, satisfied consumers leave many positive reviews. But what do experts think about domestic porcelain tiles? The opinion of tilers who have to work with such material every day will be especially valuable.
Experts note the unsurpassed quality of Estima wood, pointing to its high wear resistance and impressive durability. A serious advantage is its resistance to adverse environments.
Buyers themselves note a large selection of textures and colors. And since the products are inexpensive, they are quite affordable for an average budget.
The only disadvantage of porcelain tiles is their inconsistency in size. This may negatively affect the quality of styling. But if you take into account the calibration and turn to professionals for installation, the result will definitely please you.
Rectification
Rectification is a process of additional mechanical processing of already manufactured tiles. At the finishing stage, the side edges are cut off on machines with an accuracy of tenths of millimeters. After such processing, the products receive precise dimensions (for example, tiles in the 600×600 format have a deviation tolerance of only 0.4 mm) and can already be fully used for laying flooring or cladding facades.
Ural porcelain tile of the 600×600 mm series is the most popular size among consumers, as it is universal. Specialists of the ZKS LLC plant have developed a new collection of slabs with dimensions 600×600, promoted under the Ural Facades brand. This series is rectified and therefore has very precise dimensions. The collection is complemented by the most common color schemes used for suspended ventilated facades, as well as for laying on the floor.
Tips for choosing
If you are not chasing newfangled novelties, then purchase tiles from old VitrA collections. Typically, these samples are sold at a discounted price, and you can save a lot. But those who want to be in trend should remember that tiles that imitate natural stone are always in fashion. But the cost of such samples is quite high, so the tiles are suitable for wealthy people.
It is noteworthy that none of the VitrA collections contain specimens with designs depicting plants and animals. That is why this tile is now very relevant: simple and complex geometric patterns are found in many collections.
Some VitrA collections include several shades and decor options. If you want to get an original design, you can safely combine several sample options in one room. Manufacturers took care in advance about the combination of colors and patterns between tiles of the same series.
About the manufacturer
The VitrA company has been operating since 1950 and creates ceramic tiles, furniture, sanitary ware and accessories. All products have long won the trust of customers around the world, thanks to their high quality, functionality and original design.
The company is part of a holding consisting of 15 enterprises located in different countries of the world (9 in Germany, England, France, 6 in Turkey). These factories produce sanitary ware, ceramic tiles, and bathroom products. Given the global scale of production, it is not surprising that the quality of the products is high.
The rich range of VitrA ceramic tiles is the result of many years of production experience and the use of innovative technologies. Vitra factories are now located in Russia and offer tiles for all areas:
- glazed and unglazed porcelain stoneware;
- glazed wall tiles;
- floor tiles;
- mosaic
Features of Vitra tiles
Turkish ceramic tiles have become widely in demand, largely due to the optimal combination of high quality and reasonable cost. The VitrA catalog presents a wide range of different tile collections, which allows customers to choose models in accordance with aesthetic preferences, as well as quality and performance requirements.
The brand's affiliation with Eastern countries was noticeably reflected in the colors and patterns of the background tiles, borders and inserts of VitrA tiles. The traditional colors of Turkish porcelain tiles are blue and white, complemented by decorated patterns.
Today, ceramic tiles produced in Turkey are represented by a bright variety of colors, characteristic of the characteristic features of this country.
Another feature of the VitrA tile decor is the absence of images of plants and animals. But the tile collections surprise with their contrasting lines, unusual patterns and rich colors. Turkish tiles will be an excellent solution for tiling baths, saunas, swimming pools and bathrooms if the buyer is a fan of oriental exoticism.
The main advantages of VitrA tiles:
- high quality samples;
- strength, wear resistance, frost resistance;
- acceptable prices;
- the latest production technologies;
- environmental friendliness and safety of the material;
- possibility of application in the exterior;
- a huge range of shades, shapes and sizes.
Pricing policy and purchasing methods
VitrA tiles are very diverse not only in terms of shades, formats and designs, but also in price categories. Manufacturers took care of creating budget collections, costing about 350 rubles per sq. m. m. You can purchase products in the middle price category (700-800 rubles per sq. m), as well as exclusive collections at high prices.
Sample catalogs are posted on the websites of the company and distributors. Products can be ordered here with home delivery, as well as in construction stores.
