Tiled showers have been around for a long time. The styles and colors that a tiled shower can provide to a space are endless. However, it’s no secret that the worst part of a tile is the grout that comes along with it. But what if there were an option for a shower that provided the beauty and endurance of a porcelain tile with minimal to no grout?
Certainly, it sounds too good to be true. However, over the years, tile has been coming out in larger and larger formats. We used to put 4×4 tiles on nearly every shower wall; then it was 3x6s. Then 12x12s came on scene and shook the design world. After that it was the 12×24 and finding any other size was very limited. Now, we can get slabs as big as 5’x10′ in a tile, and the color options seem to be unending.
Wow! Putting up a single tile rather than multiple ones on a wall must really save on labor, right? Well, yes and no. While we don’t have to keep running to the saw for every cut, larger tiles do create installation challenges. For instance, what happens if a single tile breaks on site? Not a big deal for a 3×6 tile that we can possibly cut and still use, or toss and grab the next. But with a 5’x10′ piece, you have one shot to get it right. Precision is key. Teamwork to measure, cut, back butter and install is absolutely necessary. Not every tile installer would be up for the challenge. A one-man team would have a hard time putting a work of art like this together.
The cost of the materials is significantly less than putting up a slab of marble or quartz. However, the cost of the slabs do tend to be more than a 12×24 tile. But the end result is hard to contend with. Plus, less need to take care of the grout on your wall is a huge bonus. There are also many large-scale tiles that have been a great option for those who want to cut costs. A lot of tiles are coming in 18×30, 24×48, and even 48×48. Because, again, grout is the absolute worst thing about a tile.
When it’s time to update your shower or build a new one, it’s important to know all of your options. We would encourage you to be bold and consider using larger format tiles or even porcelain panels. These options are gaining popularity and tend to eliminate most grout issues. In addition, these options almost always allow you to focus on the beautiful tile…and not the grout.
