What was your vision for the space? Do you have any inspiration photos?

24 x 24 tiles will line up if you selected a rectified edge tile. However, you DO NOT want wood framing around the tile.

Take the porcelain back, get a real stone. I did the same, picked out a dark porcelain looked like slate, hated it. I returned that and got real slate. I am so much happier.

I just got a quote to install porcelain slabs on a 20 ft fireplace wall. Why is installation 3x more expensive than the material?
What did you end up doing on your wall after all?

Why? for a 20foot height?? seriously? do you realize how much work that entails?

I didn't go up. Just a standard 4.5 x 6 ft fireplace with wood frame and marble 3 x 6 tiles. I didn't like the look of caulk but it's growing on me.

D Lucas it looks great! Smart & stylish choice of tile!
I think we may go with 30x30 tiles ..... it's about 1/3 of the price of porcelain slabs!

Beth, in your professional opinion, what would be your estimate of labor only? 245 sq ft?
Porcelain slabs

Lisa, you mean those 4' slabs? honestly, I couldn't answer. depends on area, the skill level of the works, and how many people are required for install. The estimate you got doesn't surprise me though!

I think your idea of the porcelain tiles is a good one. it would be cheaper.

Tilebar has some XL size tiles that are similar to a slab. 48 or 60" some even 120"

The 30x30 tiles sound nice. those should be a bit cheaper for install. Just make sure the tile setter does NOT do the spot bonding w/the thinset. Those large tiles require at least 95% coverage on the back of the tile

this is spot bonding. they trowel on the wall, but on the tile they do these 5 blobs. NO-NO.

the wall gets troweled AND the back of the tile should also look like this

this is full coverage on both.

Oh, and no cheap mastic either. not for large tiles. knock on the tiles after they're up. you should not get any 'hollow' sounds

How is this tile? 1 big piece???

Jay Ely, this post is 3 yrs old. I'm sure it's done. And that picture you posted is probably a porcelain or marble slab, not a tile

I'm just asking how you get get a piece of tile that big, or what am I missing? I like how it's all 1 piece and would like something similar.

Jay:

The one-piece look is popular, however, your fabricator, no matter the material, must get the detailing right and coordinated with the appliance manufacturer's instructions or you could suffer an unrepairable crack at a corner. This cannot be overemphasized.

they normally measure the fireplace surface and cut 1-2 pieces from a solid slab. a lot of times it's porcelain, but could be quartz or natural stone.

This is not cheap.

example, this is two slabs, bookmatched

fabrication and installation of this size requires an expert. The material itself isn't' bad, it the labor surrounding it.

quartz

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5841760/quartz-fireplace-facing-cracked-suddenly