Tiling tips for installing large format porcelain & ceramic tiles

By rough definition, a large format tile is a tile with the length of at least  one edge greater than 600mm (nominal) or a facial area greater than  3500cm² (nominal).  A nominal 600 x 600mm tile would be considered to  be large format.

The actual dimension of a tile nominally 600 x 600mm  is likely to be 597 x 597mm. Because of modern manufacturing techniques, porcelain and ceramic  tiles can be manufactured in sizes previously only used in the natural  stone sector.

Large format tiles are now readily available and special  consideration should be given to fixing these tiles.

• There are permissible manufacturing tolerances for ceramic and porcelain tiles, and large format tiles may have permissible surface flatness irregularities, ie the tile surface may be ‘curved’ or ‘bowed’. Back buttering with a thin coat of adhesive may therefore be required to ensure full contact and a solid bed of adhesive behind each tile.
• Lipping of tiles is inevitable on ‘curved’ tiles. Laying of tiles in a brick bond pattern should therefore be carefully considered because of potential lipping caused by the curvature of large format tiles.
• The joint width for fixing large format porcelain tiles (including rectified tiles) should be no less than 3mm wide, and no less than 5mm wide for ceramic tiles.

Please also refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for specific details pertaining to the handling, cutting, cleaning and maintenance of these tiles.