Part of our kitchen remodel project was installing a new floor. We selected Heritage Cognac tiles from Porcelanosa. These large format tiles measure 32 inches by 32 inches and weigh nearly 40 pounds each. While this is not an easy tile to install, it can be DIY. When installing large format tiles, which is any tile that measures more that 12 inches in one direction, there are some additional steps you need to take. First is making sure that your sub floor is absolutely level. My plywood subfloor was out of level by over an inch between the high and low spots. I used Custom Building Products LevelQuik RS to level the floor. What I love about LevelQuik RS is that you will be able to install tile directly on this surface in four hours as long as you pour at least 1/4 inch thick and use metal lath. This saves you the time and expense of installing Hardibacker or Schluter System Kerdi or Ditra. Here is a video shows you how to set leveling gauges, seal the floor, prime, install metal lath, mix the underlayment, and pour the self leveling underlayment.
Here are some of the tools and materials that I used to install the self-leveling underlayment:
The next day I was able to get started installing my large format tiles. I installed Heritage Cognac tiles from Porcelanosa. These tiles measure 32 inches by 32 inches and have a wood look that has fooled a number of people who have come to see our kitchen. Installing large format tiles isn't easy, but can be done as a DIY project. If you are installing large tiles, you will want to use a tile leveling system to prevent lippage, which occurs when the tiles are set with their edges at different heights. Even if the tiles are perfect when first installed, they can shift as the thinset mortar cures. The best way to prevent lippage is with the Riamondi tile leveling system. Here is a video to show you how I installed large format tiles in my kitchen using the Riamondi tile leveling system:
To install the tiles I used the following tools:
I reused my hand mixer to mix the grout. For this application, I used Mapei unsanded grout because the gaps between my tiles were 1/16". Unsanded grout can be used for grout lines up to 1/8". If you have grout lines larger than 1/8", use a sanded grout. Here is a video that shows how I applied the grout:
When applying the grout, make sure to work as much as possible into the gaps between the tiles. You will then need wipe the tiles with a sponge wetted with clean water. Change your water often and repeat the wiping process until the tiles dry clear. A trick that I like is to use a rag like an old t-shirt to dry the tiles after the second round of sponge wiping. This helps to eliminate any grout haze. Here are the tools that you will need to apply grout.
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