Murati Development installs 24×24 through 48×96 rectified porcelain tile for Brandon homeowners who want clean, low-maintenance floors and walls done without shortcuts. Every project starts with the substrate — because that's where most large format installations fail.
Large format tile — anything 24×24 and up — is one of the most requested formats in new construction around Brandon right now, and for good reason. The long grout lines, the minimal visual breaks, the way 48×48 porcelain makes a room read as a single continuous surface. It works. But the installation tolerance for these formats is essentially zero.
A standard 12×12 tile installation allows some forgiveness. A 24×48 rectified plank does not. Lippage — where one tile edge sits higher than its neighbor — is immediately visible at this scale. A 1/32" deviation that disappears under a 12-inch tile becomes a tripping hazard and an eyesore on a 48-inch slab. That means the floor under the tile has to be mechanically flat before the first piece is set. We measure for flatness per TCNA F180 standards and correct the substrate where needed, not after.
Full mortar coverage is equally non-negotiable at this scale. Large format tile won't tolerate the void spots that sometimes go unnoticed in smaller installations. We back-butter every piece and use medium-bed mortar systems designed for the weight and size of the material. It takes more time. That's what correct looks like.
Substrate preparation is the foundation, not an afterthought. Brandon's newer construction stock tends to use wood-frame subfloors and concrete slab on grade — both of which can present flatness and deflection issues that get amplified when you're setting 48-inch tile. A subfloor that deflects more than the TCNA-recommended L/360 will crack large format tile, usually within the first year. Before any tile goes down, we assess the substrate, check for deflection, and install uncoupling membrane or self-leveling compound where the situation calls for it. Skipping this step is the number one reason large format floors crack.
Mortar coverage requirements are stricter for large tile. Industry standards require 95% mortar contact for wet area applications — and that same standard is good practice for any large format floor installation. Hollow spots under a large tile allow flex, which leads to cracks at the corners and along the longest edges. Achieving 95% coverage on a 24×48 piece requires back-buttering the tile, using the right trowel geometry for the format, and pressing the tile in with enough force to collapse the ridges. We don't skip back-buttering because it's tedious. It's what makes the installation hold.
Leveling systems are essential, not optional. We use mechanical clip-and-wedge leveling systems on every large format installation. These aren't a workaround — they're the professional standard for keeping tile edges aligned during the float period before the mortar sets. A 48-inch piece of rectified porcelain is heavy, and it moves during setting if it's not mechanically held in plane with its neighbors. The system gets pulled after the mortar cures, leaving a flat, lippage-free surface. This is the difference between an installation that photographs beautifully and one that catches light at the wrong angle and shows every misalignment.
The TCNA standard for large format tile — anything over 15 inches on any side — is F180, which means no more than 1/8" variation across a 10-foot span. Most existing subfloors in Brandon homes don't hit that spec without correction. We check flatness before we quote the project, not after demo. When a slab or subfloor is out of tolerance, we use self-leveling compound or an uncoupling membrane to bring it into spec before any tile is set. This adds time and material cost, but installing a 24×48 plank over an uneven substrate is guaranteed to produce cracks — usually within 12 months.
Several factors drive the difference. Larger pieces require more mortar per square foot, more precise layout planning, and mechanical leveling systems that smaller tile doesn't need. Back-buttering — applying mortar to the back face of the tile in addition to the substrate — is mandatory for full coverage at this scale and adds labor time. Large format tile also has tighter handling requirements: a 48×48 porcelain slab can weigh 80–100 lbs and requires two-person placement. Finally, the margin for layout error is much smaller. Setting a 24-foot run of 48-inch planks with a 1/16" shift in one piece creates a visible offset across the entire installation. That kind of precision takes time.
No — and this is a common issue with builder-direct timelines. Large format porcelain tile and the mortars used to set it have specific temperature and humidity requirements for proper cure. Installing tile in a non-climate-controlled environment — typical of a Brandon new build before the HVAC is commissioned — risks incomplete mortar hydration, which weakens the bond and can cause tiles to hollow over time. We require that the structure be enclosed, climate-controlled, and at stable temperature before we begin. If your builder is pushing for tile before mechanical systems are operational, that's worth a direct conversation. We're happy to discuss sequencing with contractors.
We review every inquiry and respond within one business day. No obligation, no pressure — just a straight conversation about your scope.
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