Floor tiling with large tiles

Solution datasheet

Common issues and queries you can face

Technical constraints

Large tiles are widely used nowadays mostly in showrooms and hallways. This trendy solution needs special application methods and special care (two persons to lay the tiles, back-buttering method mandatory, use of special equipment such as suction pads etc.).

Substrates movement

When the substrate slightly expands or contracts due to changes in temperature or water content such as;

• Shrinkage in the screed as it dries.

• Thermal expansion in hot weather.

• Moisture-induced expansions caused by entrapped water.

• Thermal cycling of under-floor/under-tile warming systems.

Tiles of different materials behave each differently.

Large tiles suffer more strain levels

The increase in strain is cumulative across the width of the tile. The further a contact point is from the center of a tile, the more adjacent points in the tile and substrate will be stretched away from each other.

For a given set of circumstances, a smaller tile will be less likely to delaminate than a larger one.

Large tiles are placed under more stress

When non-rigid substrate deflects, the rigid tile cannot behave in the same manner. For a given deflection in the substrate, the chord height that the tiles try to bridge will be higher for larger tiles.

This may result in higher stresses; therefore it requires to use an adhesive with greater flexibility to prevent delaminating or breakage failures.

Step by step solution

weber solution

Method of application

The substrate must be clean and sound with enough resistance.

The concrete needs to be cured for a minimum of 28 days.

The flatness of the substrate is very important. A maximum tolerance of 3 mm difference every 2 meters is allowed.

Tile adhesive

It is important to select an adhesive with the proper level of flexibility to accommodate the expected strains from either differential settlement, thermal exposure, deflections or moisture variations of the substrate under load.

For large size tiles bigger than 3600 cm², use the appropriate flexible tile adhesive such as webercol flex, webercol fast or webercol F1. The back buttering method is mandatory to ensure a better transfer of adhesive on the back of the tile.

Using an appropriate notched trowel, apply the tile adhesive evenly on the substrate to have a uniform thickness.

Ask for technical advice in case of special applications.
Tile grouting

Grouting should be done at least 24 hours after fixing tiles, using weberjoint perfect or weberepoxy easy. (only 3 hours after using webercol fastor webercol F1)

To compensate for the low quantity of joints induced by the large size of tiles, and to absorb dimensional changes, joint width should be at least 4 mm.

Necessary products for this solution

webercol flex

Two components high performance cementitious flexible tile adhesive (latex modified)

webercol fast

Fast-setting high performance tile adhesive with low dust technology

weberepox easy

Two components high performance epoxy tile grout and adhesive

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Tile Fixing & Tile Grouting