https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer?hsCtaTracking=a225d16e-c8b5-4bcb-85ee-3db5944d7e26%7C975a0ee8-c1b2-4a20-a5a0-c2b01471a8f4

I need to ask questions about how to achieve the look pictured. Are you that person?

For examples what grout spacing is recommended?

It’s going on walls not floor.

Do you already have the tiles? You say you've sourced already. The experienced installer will know what to do. You just have to ask the best tile shops in your area who they recommend and then get on their schedule. Had a client that insisted on LFT 24x48, I tried asking all the right questions on the installer's capabilities. Was assured "he's done this for 20 plus year, best there is!" Imagine my surprise when said installer stopped in to ask about working with the material; his 20 year experience was working on tract builder baths where the largest size was 10x13.

You had asked about grout spacing - that is on the installation instructions of the tile. The manufacturer will determine the proper grout line for their tiles. We do a lot of the large format tiles. I personally do not install so I cannot comment on the step by step process but I do know that every good brand adhesive company has a mastic for large format tiles. The trowel notch size is important as well. Leveling is critical too.

As always nothing beats a good installer!

Good luck!

Yikes, are those dark vertical lines just lines or actually grooves in the tile? Did the tile manufacture approve that tile for shower wall use? Shower wall grout is hard enough to keep clean of mold, mildew, and soap/body wash residue and if those lines are grooves have you included the time cost of daily wiping down those grooves after every shower?

I found the inspo photo online at Home Depot with a product description, here is a close up and it is porcelain that looks like beadboard with grooves. Description says it is OK for walls, and the marketing people decided to show it with a tub and it makes for a great photo. BUT I advise if using it in a shower, ensure those are not real soap-collecting grooves.

Sometimes things look great in pictures but are completely impractical in real life. This would look great in an entry hall of a MCM home. Not appropriate in a bathroom regardless of what is shown in what is probably marketing material.

We put 24x48 tiles in our shower and the bathroom floor. i watched a lot of the work the tiler did. all i can say is get a goid tiler, it was a lot of work. But it looks great .

@mamclawh Read the link from Verbo carefully. You want someone who is familiar with and adheres to the standards in the TCNA handbook. Specifically for large format tile, ask about how they will prep the substrate (they should talk about flatness; I have never met a wall or floor that was flat enough without a lot of prep work). Ask about mortar coverage behind the tile (needs to be 95% in a wet area). These should be things they are *intimately* familiar with - if you get a vague answer or a blank stare, that will tell you a lot.

Not a pro, but for those commenting about cleaning the grooves in a shower. I just got a sample of this tile and it is actually fairly flat in real life. It looks dimensional, but in real life it is as flat as any other tile with a slightly depressed grout line. It looks really cool though! I can’t comment on the installation process.

Glad to hear those are not grooves!

24x48 tile has come on strong over the past 2 years.

Installs are more as labor typically doubles. Usually takes two people to cut each. Allow for more materials, especially in small spaces where there is more waste with large formats. Several resellers have problems repackaging & shipping large format tile on pallets as big as the tile leading to a lot of breakage during shipping.

Gotta install per factory recommendations for min grout joints (usu 1/8"), offsets (none), and floor vs wall.