Large format tiles offer design & function

Thursday, December 8, 2022 from Floor Covering Weekly

By Caroline Alkire

MSI Kaya Onda porcelain tile

Consumers and designers alike gravitate toward the sleek, clean aesthetic of an expansive slab of tile. Understandably so. An incredible alternative to natural stone, large format tile products shine from the surfaces of residential bathrooms, kitchens, entryways and more — boasting functionality, beauty and sustainability.

How Large is Large?

These tiles come in all shapes and sizes including extra-long plank-like tiles that emulate the look of wood, panoramic porcelain slabs and more.

“Many define large format as any tile with an edge over 18 inches,” explained Suzanne Zurfluh, director of design and trend at Emser Tile. “However, large format has [more recently] come to refer to tile slabs measuring more than 24 inches.”

Lindsey Ann Waldrep, Crossville’s vice president of marketing, put the sheer size of these tiles into perspective. “Our porcelain tile panels are huge, with a single 39˝× 118˝ panel covering more than 32 square feet,” she explained.

And it doesn’t stop there — large-format tile is only getting larger. For instance, MSI’s Stile Porcelain Slab covers approximately 50 square feet per slab, while Emser’s Expanse line offers panels up to 63˝× 126˝.

Emser Tile’s Parkview Collection features dramatic gold veining.

Breaking Down Benefits

Perhaps the most appealing attribute of large format tile, both functionally and aesthetically, lies in the absence of groutlines. A never-ending expanse of sleek, shiny marble is undeniably enticing. When it comes to practicality, fewer grout lines make for an easier installation to clean and maintain. “Homeowners are often concerned with maintenance and although many grout options are available that are stain resistant, minimizing grout joints can be appealing,” Zurfluh said.

What’s more, large format tile is easier to install. “No mechanical systems are needed, and we aren’t cutting huge areas out of mountains,” said Crossville’s Waldrep, adding that the budget-friendly price point of large format tile is also enticing to consumers. Combine these benefits with tile’s superior technical advantages — stain resistance, UV stability and durability rivaling natural stone — “and you have a win-win for all parties,” said Waldrep.

Large formats can also make for a faster install. “Large tile covers a bigger surface area per tile,” explained MSI’s senior merchant Paulo Pereira. “For a tile installer, this means a quicker turnaround when doing floor, wall and bathroom installation.”

Another major benefit for homeowners is that large porcelain tile panels can be installed over existing installations. “Providing seamless installations on walls and floors, porcelain tile panels over existing materials are ideal for commercial and residential applications,” added Waldrep.

Daltile’s One Quartz makes for chic marble-look countertops.

Large & Long Design

Offering elegance in almost any space, big or small, the design opportunities large format products offer are arguably unmatched.

When large format tile is used in bigger spaces, “the result is beautifully proportioned,” Zurfluh said.

Daltile’s director of product design Laura Grilli agreed. “Bigger and longer planks stretch the eye making a room appear bigger, more spacious, airy and less busy,” she said.

Conversely, “from an aesthetic standpoint, large format tile … can make small rooms seem larger,” said  Zurfluh. Though, she warned consumers looking to install tile in a tighter space to consider both layout and tile pattern to avoid a chaotic aesthetic.

And when it comes to tile patterns, “With newer graphics and high-definition technology, they’re more realistic now than ever before,” said Pereira.

In fact, Daltile’s Grilli touts large-format tile’s “superior realism” as one of its greatest benefits. “Brands like Daltile feature realistic visuals and textures on their products, which make long wood-look plank tiles or extra-large porcelain or quartz-look stone slabs hard to distinguish from the natural material they’re emulating,” she said.

MSI’s Regallo Collection provides the desired look of marble
with the performance and easy maintenance of porcelain,
making it well-suited for high traffic spaces.

Finding the Perfect Spot

In today’s market, consumers reportedly crave an “open-concept” lifestyle — which effectively solidifies large format tile’s prevalent role in home design. As well, industry experts agreed it can be used in almost any residential room.

When scoping out a spot for a large format tile installation, the shape as well as the size of the tile matters, too. MSI’s Pereira recommended long and narrow tiles for floors, entryways, fireplaces and countertops. “These sizes have endless possibilities that provide solutions associated with large square tile [issues],” he said.

Daltile’s Grilli touted extra-large slabs as the perfect product for creating “wrap-around luxury in bathrooms.” On shower walls, the tile slabs are often so big that only one or two are needed for an entire project. As for entryways and living rooms, “It’s great on the floor, serving as a beautiful, cohesive canvas on which to build the rest of the room’s aesthetics,” Grilli said.

In kitchens, Zurfluh cited large format tile (porcelain, not quartz) as a desirable conduit for creating an indoor-outdoor space.

“Extra-large porcelain slabs perform really well as outside walls,” Grilli agreed. “So using them as an outdoor design element moves the high style typically found indoors to the exterior of a home, via an outdoor kitchen or an outdoor shower, for example.”

The size of these panels also makes for functional and stylish outdoor structures guests can gather around. “I love the stunning multi-story fireplace surrounds I’ve been seeing,” said Crossville’s Waldrep. “The panels are used to construct the hearth for one complete visual. And don’t forget firepits. Custom fire pits are a great way to get creative with porcelain.”

Many brands make large format tile for outdoor use. “MSI’s Traktion 24˝× 48˝ porcelain collection is designed to be exceptionally slip resistant when wet,” said Pereira. “MSI’s proprietary ZeroSlip is recommended for indoor and outdoor use.”

All in all, large format is only getting bigger — both in size and in popularity. According to Crossville’s Waldrep, “Large and long can go anywhere! We love to see it.”