In today’s article, we will briefly introduce large format tiles and 6 key tips for their professional installation. The use of large format tiles is currently a big trend in the construction industry. Acquired knowledge and experience in tiling this format is your great advantage. Large format tiles are a solution that combines both practicality and aesthetics, suitable for both interior and exterior use.
What are large format tiles?
Large format tiles are any tiles with one side measuring more than 40 cm. Tiles of this format are increasingly used not only in new buildings but also in renovations. Currently, the most common formats are 60×60, 60×120, 30×120, 120×120 and 75×150 cm.
Advantages of large format tiles
Large format ceramic tiles provide a greater sense of spaciousness, create a sense of continuity in their pattern without joints, and allow for many different ways of using them.
On the other hand, laying each piece of tile requires more time and effort, but at the same time, each piece covers a larger area. This means that the number of tiles laid is smaller. Large format tiles optimize the time and resources used, which is one of the important factors of any construction project.
Installation of large format tiles
The installation of large-format ceramic tiles requires some adaptation to the laying technique and the tools used. For easier handling of larger and heavier tiles and a better result, follow these tips:
Tip 1: It is very important that the subfloor is stable and perfectly level. If the substrate does not meet the requirements, it is not suitable for large format ceramic tiles. Make the necessary adjustments to the substrate before proceeding.
Tip 2: Double application of adhesive is essential for large formats. This involves a thin layer of adhesive on the back of the tile and also on the substrate. We recommend using a trowel with a comb suitable for larger tile formats and also an electric vibrator to remove air bubbles from underneath a large area of tile.
Tip 3: We strongly recommend using suction cups or straight handling systems designed for handling tiles. This is not only to make it much more convenient and safer to carry the tiles and position them accurately, but also to adjust their position afterwards and check the covering ability of the adhesive. These tools will make your work much easier and more efficient, saving you not only effort but also costs.
Tip 4: To ensure a perfectly flat surface and avoid any unevenness, we recommend using a levelling system to make the job easier and prevent the tiles from moving during the setting process.
Tip 5: With large format ceramics, the joint between tiles is more important than ever. You should use spacers and nails, which increase the accuracy of the tile alignment and also make it easier to install when there are small dimensional variations in some tiles. The use of levelling systems does not preclude the use of spacer crosses, nails or other corner elements.
Tip 6: When it comes to cutting, large-format ceramic tiles can be cut with hand or electric diamond cutters. However, make sure you have a cutter model suitable for large formats. The basic parameters of the cutters that must be met include sufficient straight and diagonal cut length, a wide enough work table or side support legs for the tiles. If you do not have a sufficiently long classic hand-held cutter, you can quickly replace it with a special system for cutting large tile formats (e.g. RUBI SLAB CUTTER G3, RUBI SLIM CUTTER PLUS, BATTIPAV LAMPO Cut 2, RUBI TC-125 circular saw with slats).
As mentioned above, the growing popularity of large format ceramic tiles is mainly due to the fact that its distinct advantages outweigh the disadvantages associated with their transportation and handling. You should therefore be prepared for them both technically and knowledgeably. In our shop tiler-market.sk you can choose from a wide range of tools for large format tiles. If you need help with your choice, we will be happy to help you.
The development of large-format ceramics is constantly progressing and the market share of very large tiles or “XXL” ceramics is increasing, but we will talk about that some other time.