Talking Tiles

Tile size and thickness play a major role in both the aesthetic and practicality of a bathroom. Smaller tiles, starting from 600 × 300mm – 600 × 600mm are easier to handle, require less specialist equipment, and pose less risk of breakage or installation issues. These are ideal for premium bathrooms where style and efficiency are key.

However, when moving to large-format tiles like 1200 × 600mm, 900 × 900mm, or even 1200 × 1200mm, the installation becomes significantly more labour-intensive and complex. These tiles require larger tools, suction lifters, and precision levelling systems to ensure a seamless fit. Fewer grout lines create a sleek, high-end look, but the handling and installation risks increase—especially with thicker tiles.

Tile thickness also impacts the weight and complexity of fitting. A 1200 × 1200mm tile at 12mm thick is nearly double the weight of a 6mm version of the same size, requiring additional manpower and more precise handling.

Choosing the right tile size and thickness is not just about looks—it directly affects installation costs, time, and the level of expertise required to achieve a flawless finish in a high-end or luxury bathroom.

Extra Large Format Slabs (insert photo)

Some projects also use porcelain slabs, which can be as large as around 3200 × 1600mm. These slabs dramatically reduce grout lines and create a very clean, architectural look that many designers favour. However, installing slabs of this size is significantly more demanding. Even at 6mm thickness, a slab this large is extremely heavy and fragile, meaning it must be transported, cut and installed with specialist equipment and often multiple installers. Large-format slabs typically require specialist cutting tables, rail cutters, suction frames and levelling systems to handle them safely. Preparation of the walls and floors also becomes far more critical, as even small imperfections in the substrate can cause lippage or cracking when working with slabs of this scale. While the finished result can be stunning, the size, weight and precision required make slab installations considerably more labour-intensive than standard tiles, which is why they often carry higher installation costs.