How busy are you?

It's challenging to work with these larger tiles, they can break, the saw blades and tables / support to cut them have to be huge, usually there are certificate requirements to handle specific brands, etc. It's not the job for a standard tiler where you can grab a box of tiles and a wet saw and have at it (I've tiled floors and backspashes - there's NO WAY I would tackle this). Can you imagine setting a huge tile, plumb, and without trapping any air for a good bond? oh - and it should be straight too. :-)

Also- we don't know if you are in a high cost of living or lower cost of living area of the country which can make a huge difference.

THAT being said - Just had a quote for back painted glass in a similar sized shower for $10K installed and I expect that to be on par with the large format porcelain tile.

The skilled tile setters that can work with those tiles, are few and far between and honestly unless I was in Italy I would not do those tiles . Backpainted glass not even close . To really understand this you need to take ahuge piece of cardboard even 1/2 the size you are planning and see how unstable it is .You are going with a 5’ x10’ piece of thin material that can actually bend, now you want it to fit into a shower on the ceiling give your head a shake, the chances of this breaking are huge of course it will cost tons of money.

Maybe I am missing something. Is it one tile that is five feet (5') by ten feet (10') and 1/4" thick?? I find that hard to believe. Could it be 60cm x 120cm (approximately 24" x 48")?

I am wondering if maybe these are 60 x120 cms instead of inches jst as you mentioned. The only place I know that does huge tile is Porcelanosa and can’t find 60 x120” even there. If the tile is cms. that makes sense and still requires a very good experienced tile setter who has worked with these tiles before and has pictures and references. BTW that is a lot of tiling and you better hope every wall is pretty close to perfect too

I believe you are referring to "extra large porcelain tile slabs" (Daltile offers 63 inches x 127 inches). The labor cost quoted for installation of this product seems fair. One teeny, tiny bump can cause the slab to shatter, special training and equipment are required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54r55_gZBq4

Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts. Yes the tile is 60” x 120 “ x 6 mm for total of 50 square feet per tile. Sounds like what everyone is saying is that the quote $17,500 is accurate to handle that type of special material. I thought a large slab would save me money. This is for my mom’s bathroom since when she moved in with me in Texas from NYC she told me I’m a fancy doctor and I put her in a slum so I guess I am now making a palace for her. My bathroom is no where as nice.

There are a lot of super large format tiles making it into residential from the commercial cladding world. The skills haven’t trickled down, and there’s a lot of broken tile happening from unqualified installers. The materials handling and setting risks are huge for super large format tile. One false move, and it’s not 2 square feet of tile that’s ruined, it’s 50 square feet. Getting the substrate flat enough, and supported enough? You have no idea how hard that is in standard wavy wood construction. Steel framing is usually better for those situations, like the commercial world from which it originated. Which your GC should have known, and suggested. And you’d have balked at paying for too.

The costs charged to assume the risks are proportionate. Your idiot contractor knows nothing, or he wouldn’t have ever purchased the tile before finding the certified fabricator for the tile, and having a cost clue on the front end. It’s like buying flour for the cake before you find someone who even has the skills to make a tasty cake. Just dumb. The materials are the cheapest part. It’s the skill and knowledge needed that is what you are paying for in any install.

Slab sized tile arrived in showrooms recently. Needs special saws & training.

Haven't found a fabricator yet.

Installing large tiles has to be easier than medical school.

@live_wire_oak...One gazillion up-votes for your comment.

@doofy323... GC has purchased material, and is alsobound by contract to install? If this is the case I'd let him "have at it". (Labor cost to be paid at end of install.) Unless stringent requirements are met, odds are the material will meet with an unfortunate mishap before job completion. He will then owe you a credit against the cost of the material. In the event the product is successfully installed, I'd spend some time (16 oz rubber mallet in hand) going over the surface to check for hidden "voids". Precise steel framing, or an expert mud-job, are required for this material.

@chiflipper Hit the slab with a mallet? A sure way to "void" warranties.

Builder would likely offer to install a slab quartz or granite material for less as an alternate.

It is not difficult to make more than an architect.

Not intending a personal attack, just emphasizing the importance of performing your own basic research. Three Pros have commented, none of whom have shown any depth of knowledge regarding the material or the install requirements.

It’s not difficult to make more than a designer either. 😐 Everyone thinks they are internet experts and don’t need professional help. As you know well by the many hand scribbled paper scraps of house “floorplans” that have made it into forum posts.

Of course I have depth of knowledge regarding the material and the install requirements; just lick the back and stick it to the wall.

Thank you everyone. As a follow-up, I met with the installer and he said he would take full responsibility of the slabs and if any breaks occur he will replace them at his cost. He will take them into possession, inspect and photograph. When installing, he will ensure there are no voids, will digitally produce a layout of all the tiles to have approval of the veining pattern, will miter cut the slabs, create an appropriate slope on the ceiling as it is in a steam shower, will ensure walls are plumb, and extended his warranty to 3 years for any cracks or issues. If you guys want, I can send pictures as the installation takes place as you were so helpful. Thanks again. Expensive but he sounded like he knew what he was doing and I had little to worry about.

It is worth it for a fancy doctor's mother.

It is required for any installation of Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels that the installers are trained and certified. This is not should be trained but required TCNA. I took a training / certification course at Ardex this past summer. Just for the knowledge. I have no wish to move those around. They did a great job. You are cutting and installing wall & floor panels. The tools , time & manpower involved with GPTP's is very in depth. A vibrator is used across the entire panel to remove air. Just shipping them to distributor and then to jobsite has extreme risk. Panels are book matched and numbered for veining. You break #3 you need to order a new #3 and wait to get it. The guys were charging $60 s/f labor only. Add $$$ for specific jobsite variables to that amount.

Please post in progress photo's. Start from framing to required vapor proofing for a steam application. Good luck with your project.

I am going to wait until they perfect the method of spreading clay on the walls and then bringing the room temperature up to 2,000 F. Sounds easier.

Wet wallpaper is whats easier. Not making it up. Still not cheap.