09/25/2026
Floor Talk Friday: Do Large Tiles Crack Easier?
Welcome back to Floor Talk Friday!
Shown here: Daltile Luminique
Color: Juniper
One question we hear pretty often when customers are looking at larger tile is, “Won't the bigger tiles crack easier?”
Not necessarily.
Large tile doesn't crack simply because it's large. If the surface underneath isn't right, a small tile can crack too. Making the tile smaller doesn't fix the problem underneath.
What is underneath the tile is a really important part of the installation. Tile is hard and durable, but it can be affected by movement in the structure or substrate. Uneven surfaces, deflection, moisture conditions, movement, or improper preparation can all create challenges for a tile installation.
This is why proper preparation is such an important part of the job. Before tile is installed, the surface needs to be evaluated and prepared appropriately for the tile and the conditions of the space. Depending on the installation, there are also products and installation systems that can help accommodate certain types of movement and provide the appropriate support for the tile.
These considerations aren't unique to large format tile, either. Proper substrate preparation, moisture conditions, movement, appropriate materials, and installation methods can affect the performance of almost any flooring installation. Large format tile simply has some additional considerations because of its size and the way it interacts with the surface underneath it.
Large format tile can be less forgiving of an improperly prepared surface because of the amount of surface area it covers. That makes proper substrate preparation, appropriate setting materials, proper coverage, movement considerations, and following the tile manufacturer's installation requirements especially important.
And proper installation is about more than just what happens underneath the tile. The tile itself needs to be appropriate for the application, the substrate needs to be suitable, and the installation needs to follow the applicable manufacturer and industry requirements.
None of this means that a properly installed tile floor can never experience a problem. Homes move, materials expand and contract, and unexpected conditions can happen. The goal of proper preparation and installation with any flooring is to give the flooring the best possible foundation and to account for the conditions we can reasonably anticipate.
So, the next time you see a large tile and think, “That looks like it would crack easily,” remember that size isn't the whole story.
What is underneath it matters.
At Stellar Tile & Flooring, we look at more than just the flooring you see. The product, the space, the substrate, and the installation all matter when determining what is appropriate for a project.
Have a flooring question you'd like us to cover for a future Floor Talk Friday? Let us know!
Stellar Tile & Flooring Inc.
5000 S. Croatan Hwy, Unit 10, Nags Head, NC 27959
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Appointments are available outside of regular showroom hours.
252-715-0557
www.stellartileobx.com