General Tile Installation Practices

1. Surface Preparation

Substrate must be flat, clean, and sound.

Flatness tolerance: 1/4" in 10 ft for smaller tile, 1/8" in 10 ft for large-format tile.

Remove contaminants like dust, paint, or grease.

Use underlayments (cement board, uncoupling membranes, or crack isolation) when required.

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2. Layout & Planning

Dry lay tiles to check layout, cuts, and joint alignment.

Avoid small slivers of tile at edges.

Keep consistent grout joints — minimum 1/16"–1/8", depending on tile and environment.

Plan for movement joints every 8–12 ft indoors and at perimeters.

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3. Mortar & Setting

Use the correct thinset mortar type for the application (standard, polymer-modified, or LFT for large tile).

Apply mortar with a notched trowel appropriate to tile size.

Always back-butter tiles 12"x12" and larger for full coverage.

Set tile into mortar with a slight back-and-forth motion to collapse ridges.

Aim for 80% coverage indoors and 95% coverage outdoors or wet areas.

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4. Tile Placement

Use spacers or a leveling system to maintain alignment and reduce lippage.

Continuously check for flatness with a straightedge.

Clean thinset from joints and tile faces before it cures.

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5. Grouting & Finishing

Allow mortar to cure (usually 24 hrs).

Apply grout evenly, pressing fully into joints.

Wipe clean with a damp sponge; avoid dragging grout from joints.

Seal grout if required.

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Special Rule for Large-Format Tile (e.g., 24"x48")

Offset Staggering: Do not exceed 1/3 offset (max 16" on a 48" tile). Reason: Large tiles often have a slight bow; at 50% offset, high and low points align, causing lippage. At 1/3 offset, high/low points do not line up, producing a flatter installation. Always use an LFT mortar and a leveling system for best results.