Large Tile Installation Tips

Dos don ts large format tile installation requires particular attention to proper substrate preparation grout joint sizing trowel selection and mortar coverage.

Large tile installation tips.

Ensure a flat surface. Substrate preparation for walls and floors that will be tiled with large format materials must be perfectly flat. Preventing large format tile from sagging or slipping during installation can be accomplished in several ways. As you near cabinets doorways walls and other flooring stops trim tiles as needed for installation.

Learn all the tricks to a beautiful tile floor that will never crack. When installing large format tile there must be at least 90 mortar contact and a minimum grout joint of 3 16. Use a tile cutter for small straight cuts. A common solution involves use of a special non sag thinset mortar that is designed to stone tile weighing up to 6 pounds per square foot.

Put the first test tile onto the thin set bed. Thin set mortar is the best bedding adhesive for most tile. At the beginning of your tile floor installation always do a test to ensure the consistency of the mortar is appropriate. Lay the tile flat and then with mild pressure slide the tile 1 4 inch back against the thin set ridges then slide it back into place.

Large format tile must be installed on a level substrate. But if you re setting tiles larger than 12 x 12 in look for terms like medium bed large tile or large format on the bag label. When installing large format tiles and planks it is vital to adhere to the recommended grout line widths recommended patterns and all installation guidelines. Plus all the tips to avoid ending up with ugly cuts in the doorways.

Below are three tips to maximize the advantages of large format tile. Holding a bubble level to a straight six or eight foot board make sure that both walls and the floor are plumb vertical and level. Use a tile saw or wet saw both rentable if necessary for cutting numerous or thick tiles. Thus they need to be installed in a square space.