LARGE FORMAT PORCELAIN WALL TILE INSTALLATION GUIDE

Required Equipment & Material

Professional wall tile installation is the key to making your space look stunning, and your wall tile lasts for years. This is about using the correct installation tools, material, right size tiles, suitable grout, and cleaning tiles properly after initial tile installation.

Here are the tools and materials required for your large-format wall tile installation project!

10 Steps To Install Large-Format Porcelain Wall Tiles:

In this article, we aim to provide the necessary information for trouble-free wall tile installation. So follow the instructions and tips below to ensure the beauty of your wall tiles for years to come.

01. Surface Preparation

Whether it's floor or walls, to fit the tile perfectly, you require a flat surface. The wall surface you are tiling on should be appropriately prepared before laying the large format porcelain tile. It should be clean, suitably level, dry, and dust-free.

You won't be able to lay off extra large tiles on walls if your surface isn't flat enough or has deflection.

So, how to create a flat wall surface?

Before tiling or levelling, the surface should be treated to reduce the porosity or minimise chemical reactions with cement-based adhesive.

Plastering walls is one of the best ways to ensure a flat surface. Despite its simplicity, plastering a wall can be challenging at first. We recommend getting professional help, or you can watch youtube tutorials to learn.

02. Determine The Layout

Large format porcelain tiles available in varied sizes, colours, designs and patterns can be used anywhere. Since large-format wall tiles are heavier and harder than standard wall tiles, a proper layout plan is required for your “forever home tiles.”

Take your time creating the right layout plan. Start from the centre and draw your layout line to install tiles.

How to create the most effective wall layout?

• Begin with choosing the most visible wall in the room.
• Use a tape measure to confirm the centre point on the wall. (measuring horizontally & vertically)
• Extend the level from the centre point using a laser level and create vertical and horizontal lines from ceiling to floor and from side to side.
• Use a pencil to mark the layout lines of large format tiles, indicating the appropriate placement of each tile and grout thickness.

03. Mixing Adhesive

Once you are done with planning the layout, it's time to prepare adhesive for your wall installation project. Remember, there are different types of mortar and adhesive, so choose the right one for your project!

The mortar mix for large format tiles has a strong bond, resistant to sagging and reduces the chances for lippage.

Reminder:
Please read the instructions carefully while using mortar mix and mixing paddle.

04. Cutting Tiles

Handling the large format tile requires two people. We recommend using a powerful suction cup to lift and place tile on the workspace for cutting or drilling.

Cutting the large format tiles have a few options:

• Manual tile cutters are widely used for cutting tiles, straight or angle cutting for various tiles.
• A Wet saw is used for cutting tiles in straight lines.
• Diamond tile blade provides accurate cutting tiles with minimal chipped.

Reminder:
The most important thing is to take safety measures. Wear protective glasses and safety headphones to protect your eyes and ears when cutting or drilling tiles.

05. Troweling The Adhesive On Walls

When installing large format tile, there are two types of trowels ½” * ½” square notch trowel & ¾” * ¾” round notch trowel. They will provide 80% or more coverage to prevent the motor from collapsing while settling the tiles.

How to apply adhesive on the wall?

• Start applying adhesive from the centre point and covering one quadrant at a time.
• Start spreading the adhesive on the wall using the flat side of the trowel.
• Use the notched side of the trowel to create ridges patterns. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle and cover the entire area so you can comfortably work for 30 minutes.

06. Back Buttering Tiles

Before settling tiles, we recommend you back butter the tiles for better grip on the wall. The adhesive application on the back side of large format tiles must have the same parallel direction of the adhesive on the wall.

07. Laying Tiles

With the help of the suction tool, lift the large-format tile and settle it into the adhesive. Press the tile against the wall and slide them down a little to ensure all the ridges entirely collapse.

08. Placing Tile Spacer

Even having a perfectly flat surface, lippage is still a concern for large-format porcelain wall tile installation. Lippage occurs when the adjacent edges of two tiles are not the same level (which means one tile edge is higher or lower than the other tile). The tile spacer is recommended to prevent lippage in large-size tiles.

Another tool to prevent lippage is a levelling system, which professionals mostly use and recommend. These systems are easy-to-use and help in creating a lippage-free installation.

09. Ensuring The Wall Tiles Level

Make the final inspection of all the tiles. Remove all space and clean excess adhesive from the grout line. Use the suction tool to adjust any joint difference between tiles. Let the adhesive dry for a day before applying grout to it.

10. Grouting And Sealing

Several types of grout can be used:-

• Sanded grout:- mostly used for joint gaps between ⅛” - ¾”.
• Unsanded grout:- has a joint gap ⅛”.
• Pre-mixed grout:- this is used for small works.

For large-format porcelain tile installation, most professional tile installers recommend sanded grout.

Grouting might seem simple and easy, but it’s quite a messy process. So after grouting, cleaning is so difficult.

Don’t forget to remove extra grout and let them dry for a couple of days. After the grout becomes harder and cures, apply the sealing (if it's mentioned in the grout package).

As you know, different types of porcelain tiles are available in the market. Most porcelain tiles don’t require sealing, therefore, require no effort to maintain a sleek appearance, but if you’re using polished porcelain, you might require sealing.

Reminder:-
Please read the instructions carefully, and while applying grout, wear gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals.

Extra Tips To Install Porcelain Wall Tile Like A Pro!

• Measure your wall into the square footage.
• Calculate the number of tiles required for your project.
• Buy an extra 10% more tiles in case of breakage and damage.
• If you plan to create unique wall patterns, buy 20-30% more tiles.
• Tiling walls can be messy, so it is wise to protect the floor by covering them with large paper or securing it with a painter’s tap.
• Once you finish grouting the tiles, don't let the excess grout dry because It will be harder to scrape off once it dries up.

Check Out An Exclusive Collection Of Large-Format Porcelain Wall Tiles - Lioli Ceramica

Large-format 1600 * 1600mm porcelain tiles are popular for aesthetic appeal and multi-use areas since fewer tiles mean fewer grout lines and reduced installation time. You can consider stone-effect porcelain tiles with lustrous and rustic matt finish adding luxury to your home. Hallways, dining areas, outdoor living rooms, kitchen and many more create seamless continuity.

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