When it comes to tile installations, designers depend on their installers to bring their visions to life. And when it comes to creative designs that incorporate our gauged porcelain tile panels, installers need to know the technical differences when working with these large format pieces. From the material handling aspects to the specialized tools required, big tile panels require a different way of thinking.
Crossville has partnered with the tile industry, thin set manufacturers, tool manufacturers, and tile installers to tackle some of the challenges associated with large panel installation. At Coverings, we met with Dan Lambert, president of Lambert Tile & Stone in Colorado, and Crossville’s David Gillespie to discuss some of these technical issues.
Because the panels are very often being installed in places where traditional tile wouldn’t work, the installer must have a trained team and use specialized tools that prevent the tiles from breaking. Dan notes that handling is crucial because these “tile panels are not tempered and if broken, they become sharp shards on the work site.” Special “score and snap” tools make it very easy to work with the panels and make the design possibilities limitless.
In addition to the technical aspects of the large tile panels, Dan noted an increased working relationship between the designer, contractor, and installer as each brings specific technical knowledge and awareness to the project. He specifically recommends pre-planning meetings when specifying the gauged porcelain tile panels to help coordinate delivery, staging, and handling.
Crossville’s technical and installation manager David Gillespie commented about the difference in the designer/installer relationship: “We’ve seen a change in scheduling of when tile is being installed. For example, it is easier to install the large format panels as a kitchen floor before the cabinets are installed.” Additionally, the designers and installers are discussing design more because of the ordering process for the panels – installers can’t order the panels with a certain percentage of overage, it must be calculated differently.
If you’re designing a panel project, Dan recommends vetting your tile installer and asking for job references and certifications. He noted, “Be skeptical about a sole proprietor wanting to do a panel install as you really need a team.” David also noted that Crossville has trained almost 2,000 installers on gauged porcelain tile installation.
Watch the video to learn more about the technical side of our gauged porcelain tile panels:
