Agglomerate for finishing the bathroom. The best materials for your bathroom walls. Use of wood in decoration

For a long time natural stone was a favorite among building materials. However, with the advent of new technologies, a competitor appeared - a polymer analogue - agglomerate, which very quickly gained great popularity among designers.

Successful alternative

Probably no natural material has as many skillful imitations as a natural stone. Stone finishing has always been a symbol of strength and durability, a sign good taste, a kind of indicator of prestige. At the same time, its use is often associated with certain inconveniences. In addition, natural stone is quite expensive, and not all rocks, with their amazing texture and beauty, are practical to use. Porosity and fragility are the main enemies of natural stone. Allowed to get away from these shortcomings modern technologies. In particular, a material such as agglomerate was created, products and decorations from which today are ready to decorate any bathroom and more.

Manufacturers of agglomerates

Technologically, agglomerates are created by bonding particles of natural stone or mineral fillers using various resins. There are not as many manufacturers that have entered the market with similar products as there are factories producing ceramic tiles. Agglomerates based on marble, quartzite and granite are produced by the companies ROVER, QUARELLA, SANTA MARGHERITA (Italy), COSENTINO (Silestone trademark), MARMOL SOMRAS (Spain), TECHNISTONE (Czech Republic). Decorative composites based on acrylic compounds and mineral filler (metal oxide) are known under several names. trademarks: Corian from DUPONT (European Union), Gibraltar from WILSONART (USA), Hi-Macs from LG, Staron from SAMSUNG (South Korea). And finally, amazingly expressive coatings, related in origin to agglomerates, are made famous manufacturers glass mosaic BISAZZA and TREND (Italy).

This year's trend is the solid Staron stones in the Solid series. The combination of a white countertop in the bathroom or kitchen with the use of inlay allows you to combine colors, as well as install sinks in the color of the stone. One of the undoubted advantages in operation is the seamless connection of Staron stone. Thus, traces of products and objects that we use in everyday life do not remain on the stone. The acrylic resin in the composition allows you to create any radius elements and use stone in 3D space. Staron can be restored without leaving any traces.

Radianz quartz stone is perfect for those who love strict Empire or classic styles and appreciate the beauty of natural stones. The Tempest series is love at first sight. Gems, included in the structure of the material, imitate volcanic rocks. When choosing artificial stone The main thing is to pay attention first of all to the composition of the material. Many manufacturers, mastering the technology, began to reduce the cost of the process by replacing the main component acrylic resin to cheaper and lower quality polyester and polyester, which are not recommended for use in contact with food and everyday hygiene. When choosing an artificial stone, it is recommended to rely on its composition, the availability of international quality certificates, the warranty period for both the product and the stone itself, and, of course, do not forget about the price.

Agglomerate manufacturing technology

Agglomerate (from the Latin agglomero - “I add”) as a variety building material was known back in Ancient Rome. Traditional agglomerated coatings are probably the closest relatives of natural stone in terms of origin. They consist of 95-96% crumbs or pieces natural material(marble, quartzite or granite), polyester resin(4-5%), calcium carbonate (for better bonding) and colored organic dyes. The range of factories producing agglomerates includes several types of artificial stone: from large fragments and from small marble chips; the same with glass inclusions; from a mixture of marble and granite; homogeneous quartz compositions, as well as combinations of quartz and glass or mother-of-pearl pieces. The elasticity of the resin makes the agglomerate less brittle than natural stone. In addition, during the production process, all the air is pumped out of the initial mixture, the bubbles of which can weaken the strength of the mass, after which the material is subjected to vibration compaction.

The aesthetic properties of "agglomerated stones" depend on the type of granulation (crushing) of marble, quartz or granite, as well as on the inorganic dyes added to the binder to give the stone its appearance. various shades. Agglomerates are produced in a wide range color scheme, and all slabs from one batch have the same shade, and therefore there is no need to select them according to the pattern. Accordingly, a problem has been solved that can be very difficult to deal with when decorating the interior. natural materials, when you need to look for stones that are similar in tone.

Types of agglomerates

Agglomeramor. The most popular are pale pink varieties of agglomerates imitating marble and dark green ones imitating malachite. For them there is no concept of rare shades, since color and tone depend only on the pigments added to the material. Factories even produce slabs in shades that are unusual for natural marble, such as bright blue and light blue. If such marble were mined in a quarry, it would cost an order of magnitude more than any other. In the case of agglomerates, the difference in price is only a few percent. In general, these materials provide a wonderful opportunity to play with color. On the one hand, they preserve the texture of the natural filler material, and on the other hand, they leave the choice of palette up to you. Often natural colors are dull and inexpressive, but here you can order the shade you need - turquoise, purple, blue or any other.

Agloquartz. Quartz composites differ from agglomerate somewhat artificial look. Quartz is colorless by nature transparent stone, the color of the tile is given only by the color of the polymer, against which the crumb itself looks like a transparent inclusion. However, this combination provides the texture with the necessary depth. As a rule, a single-color quartz agglomerate can be decorated with pieces of semi-precious stones, opaque glass, mother-of-pearl or small mirror fragments added to the original mass, sparkling under the surface of an artificial stone in sunlight or spotlight rays, like distant stars, as demonstrated by the Mirrorstone collection from SANTA MARGHERITA.

Aggloranite. It has excellent hygienic, physical and mechanical properties and chemical neutrality. These qualities make it possible to use agglomerated granites for wall cladding in bathrooms, as well as for making steps for stairs, window sills and kitchen countertops. Granites are most often used in public places and institutions with high traffic: in concert halls, airports, train stations. The advantage of both granite and quartzite agglomerates is increased resistance to scratches, the disadvantage is that they are difficult to repair, since the material can only be lightly, superficially ground.

Mosaic agglomerates. To produce the most expensive decorative mosaic agglomerates, glass chips, aventurine and, naturally, mosaic are used. The base consists of marble powder or small marble fragments. Mosaic agglomerates are most often used to cover walls in bathrooms; they are much less often used to decorate countertop surfaces. Calibrated tiles have a three-layer structure: an upper front layer, a rough layer and an intermediate reinforcing layer, which includes a fiberglass mesh. The most important property mosaic agglomerates - the ability to become plastic at a temperature of 650°C. It makes them ideal material for cladding curved walls, ramps, bathtubs and other surfaces with complex terrain. This characteristic It also allows the use of mosaic agglomerate in new buildings where shrinkage is possible.

Application of agglomerates

The agglomerate is used to cover walls and floors. Thanks to this revolutionary material, flight is no longer limited. designer's imagination. It opens up enormous opportunities for non-standard solutions when decorating a bathroom. And the variety of colors offered by manufacturers contributes to the choice of unexpected color combinations. In addition to the finishing material, agglomerate is also a stand under the sink or a shelf to match the color of the walls, a figured facade of the bathtub, a countertop under the sink and even furniture! Among the advantages of agglomerates are heat resistance and ease of repair of products made from it. Thus, we can say with confidence that this material is the most best option for the manufacture of sinks and other bathroom furniture. In addition, if you care about your hygiene, then the agglomerate is perfect for the bathroom. It, unlike other materials, is not subject to rotting and deformation, which has a positive effect on health.

A specific and probably the most difficult part of the apartment to renovate is the bathroom. This room has its own climate; standard finishing materials and regular wallpaper, but every day the list of means that can be used to decorate and protect the surfaces of this room is growing, making our task easier. How and what is the best way to decorate the walls of this room? Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of different materials.

When choosing a material for walls, take note of its moisture resistance, safety, hygiene, ease of care and resistance to acids and alkalis. When traveling through hardware stores, be sure to take a closer look at ceramic tiles, mosaics, plastic panels and agglomerate.

This is the most common method of decorating bathroom walls. Among its advantages:

  • durability;
  • absence of voids under the coating;
  • resistance to mechanical damage;
  • biological and chemical resistance.

Surprisingly, it is the impressive service life of tiles (about a hundred years) that plunges the consumer into the greatest confusion. Each subsequent generation of residents makes renovations, so it turns out that about once every 20 years the bathroom is refinished. But even if you are determined to live in your current apartment for as long as possible, you are unlikely to want to admire the same tiles for a whole century.

Disadvantages of tiling walls:

  • the need to level the walls before installation (often this operation turns out to be more labor-intensive and costly than the rest of the bathroom renovation);
  • high cost of the product itself and its installation;
  • unsuitability of tiles for restoration;
  • quick change of collections of ceramic tiles in stores (in just a few months you will no longer find tiles of exactly the same shade);
  • discomfort when touching cold tiles.

The weak point of the tiles is the seams between the tiles, which are associated with some disadvantages of finishing: rough surface mortar, the inevitable absorption of dirt, darkening of the seams and the proliferation of entire colonies of microorganisms in them. Only treatment with high-quality mastic will help here.

Some reduction in prices for this material has made it amazingly popular. The fact is that previously smalt and marble were used to make mosaics, but today skilled Chinese manufacturers are turning to glass of artificial origin, sometimes adding mica to it. Yes, such products are slightly inferior to the “original” in terms of effectiveness and surface cleanliness, but the ratio of their cost and quality can be called impeccable.

Advantages of mosaic tiles for bathroom walls:

  • it goes well with plain ceramic tiles;
  • it can be used for luxurious wall panels, cladding of volumetric elements and borders, individual accents;
  • it is stronger and more durable than standard ceramic tiles.

Disadvantages of mosaic:

  • not everyone is satisfied with Chinese quality, and Italian products are very expensive;
  • Only a professional can handle the installation of this material, although decorating small flat areas of the wall or creating small panel maybe a neat, patient amateur.

When laying the mosaic, take into account its thickness and use only special scissors and special glue for cutting, which is applied only to a thoroughly cleaned surface.

If you are most interested economical options, refer to plastic panels. Finishing with this material will not look as noble and luxurious as in the case of tiles and mosaics, but you have a chance to make this room truly fashionable and relevant.

Advantages plastic panels:

  • these products cost half as much as ceramic tiles;
  • attaching them to the walls of the bathroom is easier than tiles or mosaics;
  • in the market and in specialized stores you will find a wide selection of plastic panels of any texture and color;
  • the absence of pores in the structure of plastic tiles will protect the room from attacks of mold and mildew;

In addition, plastic panels are easy to wet cleaning, are not afraid of rotting and rust, and are distinguished by reliability, durability, environmental safety and fire resistance.

Disadvantages of plastic panels:

  • look cheaper than tiles and mosaics;
  • weakly resist mechanical damage;
  • When burned, they release toxic gas.

Plastic panels must be installed correctly, using not wooden, but metallic profile, since over time the tree will inevitably move and the panels will come apart.

Manufacturers of finishing materials are ready to delight us with something new almost every day. One of the achievements of modern technology is artificial stone agglomerate, which contains:

  • natural compounds of stone chips;
  • binding materials (cement);
  • coloring matter.

Different production technologies make it possible to create agglomerates of any color and with any texture. Granite and marble, glass and mirror, shell rock and quartz can be used as additives.

Experts believe that agglomerate is better suited for finishing bathroom walls than natural stone, since This material is different:

  • resistance to temperature changes;
  • elasticity;
  • strength;
  • waterproof;
  • wear resistance.

The agglomerate also has disadvantages:

  • the need to create special conditions for storage, since the material can deform under its own weight;
  • high price.

Externally, the decoration of walls with agglomerate resembles ordinary ceramics, but the properties of this material are much higher. The surfaces do not require any additional treatment before installation. The main thing is a flat surface.

So what do we have? Proven and reliable tiles, comfortable and original mosaic, simple and cheap plastic panels and expensive and modern agglomerate. All of them deserve to decorate your bathroom, so there is no need to hesitate in choosing. Check the price and buy!


4 new trends in flooring

Wall decoration

Ceramic tile

Decorating the walls in the bathroom with ceramic tiles will always be classic. The tile has certain qualities that explain its popularity:

  • even with the most high humidity premises tiled walls in the bathroom can last for several decades;
  • the tiles are easy to clean;
  • a variety of decorative solutions, bathroom wall tiles can be used different color, size and texture.

Bathroom wall cladding can be done in several ways:

  • the tiles cover the walls completely;
  • the tiles are glued halfway;
  • tiling only some areas of the room.

Bathroom wall cladding small size can be carried out using the first and second methods. For a large one, all three are allowed. The bathroom floor should also match the tiles on the walls.

You can lay tiles in different ways:

  • uniform laying of seam to seam vertically and horizontally;
  • laying diagonally;
  • laying in the form of a chessboard;
  • modular installation method (tiles of different sizes);
  • decoration of bathroom walls with tiles in the form of an ornament (tiles are used different colors or tiles with a printed pattern);
  • patchwork (tiles with a pattern that is not united by a common theme).

Ceramic tiles get their name from Ancient Greece. The word "keramos" is translated as "to burn." This name is explained by the method of obtaining this finishing material.

Mosaic finishing

How to finish a bath other than tiles, but of the same quality? Using mosaics, you can achieve a similar effect, but at the same time create unique design your bathroom.

In order for the mosaic wall covering in the bathroom to hold firmly, you need to choose the right adhesive for it. It must be moisture resistant, viscous and have high adhesion qualities. You need to take mosaic glue white. This will allow the transparent mosaic pieces to look most impressive.

How to cover the walls of any surface in the bathroom? A mosaic will do just fine. This material can be used to decorate walls:

  • concrete;
  • metal;
  • wooden;
  • plastered.

Agglomerate finishing

Comes into fashion modern finishing agglomerate bathroom walls. This is a new finishing material that looks like ceramic tiles. Finishing with agglomerate significantly benefits installation. Securing it in place is much easier than tiling your bathroom walls.

Its main advantage is considered to be flexibility when heating, which allows you to finish not only perfectly flat surfaces. Covering bathroom walls with agglomerate is recommended in new buildings. Its plasticity will prevent the appearance of cracks on the walls.

Finishing with plastic panels

Plastic is a modern finishing material with many advantages. It is resistant to moisture and steam. This finishing material for bathroom walls is quite durable. Plastic is also environmentally friendly, very easy to install, and has low cost. And the biggest advantage is low cost.

To ensure that the design of the walls in the bathroom creates a pleasant atmosphere, you should pay attention to several factors when purchasing. Plastic panels should not be deformed and should have the same shade.

Installation of plastic panels on walls can be done in two ways. Before covering the walls in the bathroom with plastic, sheathing is attached to the walls themselves. In the second case, the panels are fixed with glue, for example, “liquid nails”.

The first mounting method is not suitable for a small room, since it will additionally take up some of the space. The second method requires repairing the bathroom walls to align them.

Thus, plastic finishing is much more advantageous in many respects. Many people prefer to use this material rather than tiling the bathroom walls with tiles or mosaics. Plastic is also used for finishing the ceiling.

Finishing with self-adhesive film

This is the most cheap finishing bathroom The film is a thin layer of PVC on an adhesive paper based. Upper layer film covered protective material protecting it from dust, moisture and damage.

Options for finishing bathroom walls with film have their advantages:

  • low cost;
  • ease of use;
  • ease of care;
  • variety of colors and patterns offered;
  • Possibility to cover any surface.

Before covering the bathroom walls with film, you should degrease them. If the surface of the walls is porous, then several layers of primer must be applied to it.

This finishing option can be called cosmetic. Doing this kind of work is much easier than covering the walls in the bathroom, for example, with wallpaper. To make the film stick better and stay on the surface, you need to use an acrylic-based primer.

Wallpaper finishing

Another cheap option for finishing a bathroom is wallpaper. You can use liquid wallpaper, but pasting the walls in the bathroom is recommended vinyl wallpaper. They are not afraid of moisture.

There is no need to look for cheaper material than covering the walls in the bathroom. Because when temperature changes, inexpensive wallpaper can release harmful substances.

Finishing using paint

Today's paints are much better quality and not as toxic as before, which allows them to be used as a modern finishing material. In addition, this is a fairly cheap bathroom decoration.

When choosing paint for the bathroom, you should consider its moisture resistance. They have this quality the following colors and enamels:

  • alkyd;
  • latex;
  • acrylic;
  • oil

The latter are used less and less in finishing.

Materials for bathroom walls need to be selected correctly. No matter how moisture-resistant the paint is, you need to use something else in the area of ​​the bathtub and sink, since the paint will quickly deteriorate from constant moisture.

The paint color should be light shades. For example, blue walls they'll do it in the bathroom small room even less visually.

Before applying paint, you need to prepare the walls:

  • remove remnants of previous materials;
  • plaster the surface;
  • the surface must be treated with a primer to make the walls in the bathroom protected from bacteria.

Options for painting bathroom walls include applying paint in several layers. Before applying the next layer of paint, you need to give the previous one time to dry.

When decorating a bathroom great attention should be given to plumbing. Read about this in this article. Well-designed lighting in detail can give a room a special look.

Other solutions

There are others unusual materials for bathroom walls:

  1. Drywall. It is convenient for installation, quite light and has a low cost.
  2. Marble. Durable, natural and breathable material. This is quite an expensive material.
  3. Mirror tiles. This finishing material visually expands the space. But the material is fragile and requires constant care.
  4. Wood. Methods for finishing walls in the bathroom include treating the finishing material with an antiseptic and a water-repellent substance.
  5. Linoleum. The material is produced only to order. It is very durable, practical and elastic. Its cost is very high.
  6. Photos of the walls in the bathroom will look unusual. To decorate the walls, you can use regular or 3D washable photo wallpaper. It is possible to do individual order based on your photo. In this case, a photo of a 3D wall in the bathroom with your favorite landscape will help you relax in the warm water.

Combined walls in the bathroom are also common. In this case, not only are they used different types finishing of one material, but also different materials.

IN large room you can build a wall in the bathroom or a small partition, where it will somewhat delimit the space. The material for it should be chosen light and moisture resistant. The partition should not darken the room too much, but a transparent wall in the bathroom would most likely be inappropriate.

What kind of walls to make in the bathroom is up to everyone to decide for themselves. The main thing is that they last as long as possible and retain their freshness.

The video shows more details about decorating bathroom walls with plastic:

This is the question that often plagues people who have begun renovations in their apartment. What material to choose for wall cladding in the bathroom? It’s clear that the decoration and design of a bedroom or living room is more important, because that’s where we spend most of our time. But the time comes, and people pay attention to the decoration of the bathroom. After all, this is also an important room in the house, and the choice of material for decorating the walls will determine what impression this area will leave in the future.

So let's look at the options available. The bathroom is visited by everyone without exception, both owners and guests, and therefore we can call it one of the most important premises in the house. Based on this, it is necessary to provide sufficient comfort for hygiene and relaxation. Another important factor is status. You shouldn't be ashamed in front of your neighbors and guests for a deplorable design. You need to make sure that even your children don’t want to change anything here.

When choosing the materials that you are going to use for finishing, it is important to remember - a bathroom is a room with high humidity! Therefore, the requirements for finishing materials must be the highest. These are strength, moisture resistance, easy care, hygiene and environmental friendliness. All that remains is to choose the materials. And now, thanks to the progress of technology, there are plenty of them. Let's start with the main thing.

Ceramic tile

The first thing that comes to mind. The most popular and practical material for finishing walls in bathrooms today has been known since ancient times. Also in ancient Egypt the facades of palaces and even the pyramids of the pharaohs were laid with ceramic tiles. Many years have passed, but tiles have not lost their position in the building materials market, improving their design and variety of types. It is easy to clean, relatively simple to install, and can visually expand the room. Tiles have a wide range of types, colors and prices. At minor repairs It is easy to remove damaged tiles and replace them with another one.

Bathroom finishing option - ceramic tiles (photo)

The main disadvantage of tiling is the labor-intensive and expensive preparation of walls. Before installation, the walls are usually leveled cement plaster using metal mesh, and this, as they say, is a whole job.

Drywall sheets

Very multifunctional material. Suitable not only for living rooms, but also finds the widest application in bathrooms. For this purpose, special waterproof and cement-containing plasterboard sheets are used. They can be used not only instead of plaster to prepare walls for facing with ceramic tiles, but they are also suitable for painting. Easy and quick to install due to the large sheet area. Provide high thermal insulation, waterproofing, and sound insulation. Between the rough walls and the back side of the sheet you can lay a layer mineral wool or foam, which will further enhance the above effects. It is light in weight and has a low price.

However, there are also disadvantages. This is the need to purchase components for installing the frame (profiles, brackets, screws), as well as putty, wallpaper or paint for finishing. Towel racks, soap dishes and other household items are mounted on plasterboard walls, with special care, because this material has a low load-bearing capacity and sometimes it is necessary to use special types fastenings

Drywall for finishing a bathroom (PHOTO)

In general, plasterboard walls need additional processing, and sometimes it is necessary to hide their low aesthetic characteristics with the help of various decorations. This is the main disadvantage of this type of finishing.

Agglomerate

Relatively new material. Outwardly similar to ceramic tiles, but consists of both natural minerals and synthetic components (resin, plastic). Known as artificial granite. Thanks to special and improved production technology, it is possible to use colors and textures not found in nature. According to its characteristics, agglomerate is an order of magnitude higher than ceramics, and using it for wall decoration dramatically increases your chances in the competition for the uniqueness of the bathroom. It is characterized by high strength and wear resistance. You can choose your own finishing design, vary the combination of glass mosaics, fillers and various inclusions.

PVC panels for finishing the bathroom (photo)

There are few advantages, but they are there: low cost, hygiene, simple installation, unpretentiousness to sudden temperature changes.
Disadvantages: high cost, fragility, synthetic structure of the composition and tendency to deform.
The disadvantages include the low strength and dangerous flammability of this material.

Not all are described in the article possible materials, for finishing walls and some other surfaces in the bathroom. But if you want, you can combine. Tiles with plastic, for example. Or use something exotic, such as bamboo wallpaper. In general, do what you want. There is no limit to imagination!

For a long time, natural stone has been a favorite among building materials. However, with the advent of new technologies, a competitor appeared - a polymer analogue - agglomerate, which very quickly gained great popularity among designers.

Successful alternative

Probably no other natural material has as many skillful imitations as natural stone. Stone finishing has always been a symbol of strength and durability, a sign of good taste, and a kind of indicator of prestige. At the same time, its use is often associated with certain inconveniences. In addition, natural stone is quite expensive, and not all rocks, with their amazing texture and beauty, are practical to use. Porosity and fragility are the main enemies of natural stone. Modern technologies have allowed us to get rid of these shortcomings. In particular, a material such as agglomerate was created, products and decorations from which today are ready to decorate any bathroom and more.

Manufacturers of agglomerates

Technologically, agglomerates are created by bonding particles of natural stone or mineral fillers using various resins. There are not as many manufacturers entering the market with similar products as there are factories producing ceramic tiles. Agglomerates based on marble, quartzite and granite are produced by the companies ROVER, QUARELLA, SANTA MARGHERITA (Italy), COSENTINO (Silestone trademark), MARMOL SOMRAS (Spain), TECHNISTONE (Czech Republic). Decorative composites based on acrylic compounds and mineral filler (metal oxide) are known under several trademarks: Corian from DUPONT (European Union), Gibraltar from WILSONART (USA), Hi-Macs from LG, Staron from SAMSUNG (South Korea). And finally, amazingly expressive coatings, related in origin to agglomerates, are produced by well-known glass mosaic manufacturers BISAZZA and TREND (Italy).

This year's trend is the solid Staron stones in the Solid series. The combination of a white countertop in the bathroom or kitchen with the use of inlay allows you to combine colors, as well as install sinks in the color of the stone. One of the undoubted advantages in operation is the seamless connection of Staron stone. Thus, traces of products and objects that we use in everyday life do not remain on the stone. The acrylic resin in the composition allows you to create any radius elements and use stone in 3D space. Staron can be restored without leaving any traces.

Radianz quartz stone is perfect for those who love strict Empire or classic styles and appreciate the beauty of natural stones. The Tempest series is love at first sight. The precious stones included in the structure of the material imitate volcanic rocks. When choosing an artificial stone, the main thing is to pay attention first of all to the composition of the material. Many manufacturers, mastering the technology, began to reduce the cost of the process by replacing the main component of acrylic resin with cheaper and lower quality polyester and polyester, which are not recommended for use in contact with food and everyday hygiene. When choosing an artificial stone, it is recommended to rely on its composition, the availability of international quality certificates, the warranty period for both the product and the stone itself, and, of course, do not forget about the price.

Agglomerate manufacturing technology

Agglomerate (from the Latin agglomero - “I add”) as a type of building material was known back in Ancient Rome. Traditional agglomerated coatings are probably the closest relatives of natural stone in terms of origin. They consist of 95-96% of chips or pieces of natural material (marble, quartzite or granite), polyester resin (4-5%), calcium carbonate (for better bonding) and colored organic dyes. The range of factories producing agglomerates includes several types of artificial stone: from large fragments and from small marble chips; the same with glass inclusions; from a mixture of marble and granite; homogeneous quartz compositions, as well as combinations of quartz and glass or mother-of-pearl pieces. The elasticity of the resin makes the agglomerate less brittle than natural stone. In addition, during the production process, all the air is pumped out of the initial mixture, the bubbles of which can weaken the strength of the mass, after which the material is subjected to vibration compaction.

The aesthetic properties of "agglomerated stones" depend on the type of granulation (crushing) of marble, quartz or granite, as well as on the inorganic dyes added to the binder to give the stone different shades. Agglomerates are produced in a wide range of colors, and all slabs from one batch have the same shade, and therefore there is no need to select them according to the pattern. Accordingly, a problem has been solved, which can be very difficult to cope with when decorating the interior with natural materials, when it is necessary to look for stones that are similar in tone.

Types of agglomerates

Agglomeramor. The most popular are pale pink varieties of agglomerates imitating marble and dark green ones imitating malachite. For them there is no concept of rare shades, since color and tone depend only on the pigments added to the material. Factories even produce slabs in shades that are unusual for natural marble, such as bright blue and light blue. If such marble were mined in a quarry, it would cost an order of magnitude more than any other. In the case of agglomerates, the difference in price is only a few percent. In general, these materials provide a wonderful opportunity to play with color. On the one hand, they preserve the texture of the natural filler material, and on the other hand, they leave the choice of palette up to you. Often natural colors are dull and inexpressive, but here you can order the shade you need - turquoise, purple, blue or any other.

Agloquartz. Quartz composites differ from agglomerate in their somewhat artificial appearance. Quartz by its nature is a colorless transparent stone; the color of the tile is given only by the color of the polymer, against which the crumb itself looks like a transparent inclusion. However, this combination provides the texture with the necessary depth. As a rule, a single-color quartz agglomerate can be decorated with pieces of semi-precious stones, opaque glass, mother-of-pearl or small mirror fragments added to the original mass, sparkling under the surface of an artificial stone in sunlight or spotlight rays, like distant stars, as demonstrated by the Mirrorstone collection from SANTA MARGHERITA.

Aggloranite. It has excellent hygienic, physical and mechanical properties and chemical neutrality. These qualities make it possible to use agglomerated granites for wall cladding in bathrooms, as well as for making steps for stairs, window sills and kitchen countertops. Granites are most often used in public places and institutions with high traffic: concert halls, airports, train stations. The advantage of both granite and quartzite agglomerates is increased resistance to scratches, the disadvantage is that they are difficult to repair, since the material can only be lightly, superficially ground.

Mosaic agglomerates. To produce the most expensive decorative mosaic agglomerates, glass chips, aventurine and, naturally, mosaic are used. The base consists of marble powder or small marble fragments. Mosaic agglomerates are most often used to cover walls in bathrooms; they are much less often used to decorate countertop surfaces. Calibrated tiles have a three-layer structure: an upper front layer, a rough layer and an intermediate reinforcing layer, which includes a fiberglass mesh. The most important property of mosaic agglomerates is the ability to become plastic at a temperature of 650°C. This makes them an ideal material for cladding curved walls, ramps, bathtubs and other surfaces with complex terrain. This characteristic also allows the use of mosaic agglomerate in new buildings where shrinkage is possible.

Application of agglomerates

The agglomerate is used to cover walls and floors. Thanks to this revolutionary material, you can not limit the flight of designer imagination. It opens up enormous opportunities for non-standard solutions when decorating a bathroom. And the variety of colors offered by manufacturers contributes to the choice of unexpected color combinations. In addition to the finishing material, agglomerate is also a stand under the sink or a shelf to match the color of the walls, a figured facade of the bathtub, a countertop under the sink and even furniture! Among the advantages of agglomerates are heat resistance and ease of repair of products made from it. Thus, we can say with confidence that this material is the best option for making sinks and other furniture in the bathroom. In addition, if you care about your hygiene, then the agglomerate is perfect for the bathroom. It, unlike other materials, is not subject to rotting and deformation, which has a positive effect on health.