Large-Format Tile Installation on Long Island

Yes. Properly laid out, large-format tile can actually make a small room feel bigger because there are fewer grout lines.

Yes. It requires flatter substrate, careful back-buttering, and more setup. We plan for that in the schedule and quote.

Industry standard is any tile with one side longer than 15 inches. The most popular sizes we install on Long Island are 12x24, 24x24, and 24x48. Slab-look tile can be 30x60 or larger.

A bigger tile spans more substrate, so any high or low spot creates visible lippage at the edges. We measure substrate flatness with a 10-foot straightedge before bidding — and we self-level when needed. Skipping this step is the #1 reason large-format installs fail.

Industry guidance is a minimum 1/8" joint for rectified large-format tile. We never go to "no grout joint" — even rectified tile needs a joint for movement and color variation. Most of our installs use 1/16"–3/16" depending on the tile spec.

Yes, in most cases. Large tiles require near-100% mortar coverage to prevent hollow spots that can crack under impact. We back-butter every large-format tile and use a 1/2" notched trowel sized to the tile. It’s slower; it’s also why the install lasts.