It is a beautiful product but it is far above an average tile budget in material and labor costs. Five figures not four.... I was able to get material quotes from tile America and labor costs by a fabricator provided by my GC. It was out of budget for my project.

you can get a nice look with porcelain LFT laid out before hand to properly connect the veins and use a matching grout color and thinner grout joints with a lippage system. Plans2remodel did that it looked like a large slab.

There is a horrifying Neolith thread I can’t find to link to, it’s worth looking up. I *think* corian can be used for walls, etc. and it does have a few that look like concrete. Good luck!

Hi roarah,

Thanks for the reply. Is it possible for you to share the quotes you have received (are they in charge of the labor or do they refer you to a contractor)? I will appreciate that a lot.

We really fell in love with this concept, and maybe it can still be possible by stretching the budget.

By the way, tile America was the only place you were able to find this product at?

My gc found the fabricator, in Boston , I live in Connecticut so that was a huge up grade. I do not have the actual quotes anymore, my project was finished over a year ago. I will tell you the quote was over 10k more than I ended up spending on my tile and install. I paid over 16k for my floor and shower tile, shower water proofing labor for shower and heated tile floor install so it was over 26k for just that part of the project but we were unable to find a local installer which added to the cost significantly. It may be used more now.

Tile America had it and the Gallaria in middletown, ct. had the product available. I crossed it off my list after learning about the expense and did not search that much for shopping prices because it was more than 20% over my budget for that part of the project.

hopefully Joseph, GW's resident fabricator, can weigh in. Going to the product's websites and look through the menu for product suppliers in your area might give you a local place to look.

Wow.. sounds really expensive. Maybe prices also went little bit down since then :)

Well, i hope that eventually you remodeled a beautiful bathroom, without these huge slabs.

And thanks a lot for sharing all the details

I researched it after seeing internet quotes that it cost between 10 and $30 per sq ft. This lead me to believe it was an affordable option compared to tile. This price was just for the material. It was the lack of pros in my area to install on walls that drove the cost well above $60 per sq ft.

If it is indeed out of your budget you can still get a nice similar look with LFT concrete look porcelain tiles. Just have a tile setter who knows how to offset lippage. These are porcelain tiles

http://oregontileandmarble.com/products/subcategories/234

You might check out stone peak ceramics for the large porcelain panels. They do have a "find a contractor" link as well. http://www.stonepeakceramics.com/products-collections-detail.php?coll=PLANE

As you know, the larger format tile requires a very skilled tile contractor. We actually install full slabs of stone on walls, but it requires specific equipment and skill. As roarah mentioned, large format porcelain, but not full wall size, can also offer a sleek look. Here's a shower we did with 24x24" Century Keramos Lindos, honed. That product comes in different shades. For our design the 24x4 was perfect but it also comes in 36x36.

Here's the thread HB referred to: [Do you want to see pix of CRACKED NEOLITH?[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/do-you-want-to-see-pix-of-cracked-neolith-dsvw-vd~5121488)

Good luck with your remodel!

Thanks Sophie,

So as i understand, for my 2 mid size baths it will cost me additional $30-40k just the upgrade to the large slabs? By the way, from what i see in the various tile stores, the 24x24 tiles will cost significantly less, am i right?

Does anyone know, if these cracking problems are with all brands, including Dekton and Laminam, or is it something that Neolith is suffer mostly?

Looks like finding local pros is still an issue after reading that thread. I still do not understand why the poster was only upset at the product not the installers...

yes LFT is less per sq ft, i.e. Under $30 for material and tons less to install as well. My hefty quote was more about install than material cost. I think this is still true.

Ok so, we'll weigh in again with our take. While we install plenty of large format porcelain, these thin porcelain panels we will not install. Real stone, sure. When asked by a supplier if we were interested in the certification, the guru here said "no thanks, want nothing to do with it." It also feels like kind of a fad to us that may not last. And frankly, from an aesthetic perspective, we think it looks cheap. Can see it more in commercial applications. None of our clients have ever asked for it. Just our opinion.

Dragonfly, can you elaborate on why you feel it looks cheap. Is it the pattern, the thickness or something else? I thought it looked nice in the show room but it was on an opposit side of the real thing so on its own it looked nice but I suppose next to real stone maybe not so much.

Is installing real stone on a shower wall and bath floor application as pricey labor wise as the porcelain slab installation?

Thanks.

We are using x-light porcelain “lush white polished” slabs for our bathroom floor and 3 walls (accent wall on the 4th) from Porcelanosa. Sample looks great, will see how final look is. Looks like a real nice marble copy but more durable. Material is about $20 psf.

Hi roarah. I can't speak to the cost for installing porcelain slabs, because, as I mentioned, we don't do it because we just are not interested. As for the "look" I'm sure it's progressed in recent years, as many "look alikes" have, and of course, quality of many products can vary by manufacturer. As a rule, stone is more expensive to install, then, say porcelain tile or ceramic. Our clientele can be a bit discriminating and none have ever selected the thin porcelain slabs. It's a matter of personal preference and what YOU like. I have seen some installs that do look nice. We have been installing tile for over 30 years, and have seen a lot come and go. There are installers that have become certified to install these and best to shop carefully if you go that direction. Here's an older thread that includes some comments from consumers. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/anyone-use-thin-porcelain-large-format-slabs-on-walls-dsvw-vd~2669734  And then, there's other perspectives in the thread that javiwa referenced above. Good luck!

Thanks, it is intresting , I have notices faux porcelain tile is always miles away from real marble in show rooms maybe this is to make it look less fake. I have both real and faux marble in my house the each have pluses and minuses and each has it's place it seems...

And it is regional as well. Greater interest in faux and new in some areas. Traditional and tried and true in others (always with some exceptions).

Porcelain slabs such as Neolith have been used for sometime in Europe, usually in large commercial spaces (think lobbies of hotels, businesses). They are stunning and the gorgeous patterns show best in this type of setting - residential installs are so much smaller.

The problem is the fabricators. Most have little or no training, and this stuff is not easy to install. It also comes in various thicknesses, and finishes, each having its own specific issues. Most fabricators, and virtually no home owners are aware of these distinctions.

I looked into using this quite thorough about 2 years ago as I thought it looked wonderful. I was going to use it for just a backsplash. I quickly realized that no one locally knew much about it - place that got the license didn't even have samples yet and knew less than I had already discovered - and that the cost of the material was probably going to be in the $80-100 sq ft range, Uninstalled. That was the end of my pursuit.

It's simply not ready for prime time yet in the US, and is of limited suitability for use in residences, in particular, bathrooms (unless enormous).

I have used a great porcelain, matte finished Carrera look-alike in my own bathroom. It was an Italian tile and has since been discontinued, but I know there are many out there. The matte/honed finish is more real looking than the highly glazed. I have large tiles and used them in the separate shower (walls and ceilings - something small on the floor), on the bathroom floor, and all around the tub up to the ceiling (I have a handheld shower on the faucet - didn't want spray on walls). I've had it now for about 7 years, and my cleaning help is very hard to force to use the proper cleaning products (which is why I did not use real Carrera). It looks as good as when it was installed and I love it. Unfortunately, no one told me about non-staining grout, back then (maybe it didn't exist), so about twice a year, I get my yardman to get down on his hands and knees and hand-scrub the floor, paying particular attention to the grout. It looks perfect afterward.

We understand the high cost and the risks of going with the large porcelain slabs. However we believe that we willing to take a step towards it.

So i'm little confused - is that mainly addressing the commercial market, however a private home owner can also buy this product right?

Should we go to a specific tile store or does it done through contractor / fabricator?

Where can we go to see such slabs to get inspired and to be able to choose from big examples?

A designer could help you locate show rooms, i.e. Distributors and installers also websites list suppliers throughout the world. Here is neolith's distributor map link you can find this on all the manufacture websites usually. Fabricators are harder and will best be sourced through you GC, designer or architect.

https://www.neolith.com/en/contact/distributors

@Pavel Simkin, please update in this thread as to what you have found. Like you, I am interested in large format porcelain tiles for bathroom floor, wall and shower. I have seen it in many local showrooms so I am sure there are people familiar with it. BTW I am in the Bay Area so there are many competent installers here.

Pavel Simkin and Anil — Did either of you have any luck with this? I am planning to do thin slab porcelain in my shower, but can’t even find a place that uses it in my area.

You can look into Arquitex as well - they are larger format porcelain

I am putting the Porcelanosa Starwood flooring into our home and it is beautiful. So impressed that I went back to get the marble-like X-Light in Lush White that Anil pictured above. (Looks like a shot from the Merchandise Mart Porcelanosa store in Chicago). Found an excellent local installer and will begin covering shower walls and freestanding tub platform in it. That part of the project begins in the next few weeks. I don't think we will be disappointed ~ and Porcelanosa has been great to work with.

mariaholmes I am also looking into the XLight but in a solid white color. Have you put up yours yet? How do you like it? Do you have any pictures you can share? Thanks in advance!

Anyone who looks at porcelain slabs for wall cladding without first checking out the latest Corian colors is a fool. All the looks, seamless, sanitary, groutless, and doesn't take a genius to install or handle. And unlike porcelain, it's repairable. That's a big one when the shower door man shows up, drill in hand.

Hi Joseph, I looked up Corian’s Website but here isn’t much information about how thin it can be and where can I find slabs of it. Can you shine some light here?

This might help..

I had a Corian shower once - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

yeh_yeh:

Only some of the solid color Corian is available in 1/4" thickness. DuPont only allows 1/4" for vertical applications. All other is 1/2" thick.

A fabricator ought to be able to get you into a warehouse to view a whole sheet which is probably a good idea if the selection has lots of movement.

Could anyone who was installing this post an update if they are finished with install? Attn mariaholmes and HU 6868130

Im sorry that was not specific enough. I am referencing the Porcelanosa Xlight Lush White tile. Thanks:)

Hey Bubba68, I will be happy to post pics but install won't happen for another few months, perhaps in August. New build so at mercy of others and the usual delays, not bath only reno.

I am doing a complete renovation using 4X4 ceramic on all floors, and 8X4 wall ceramic slabs in the bathroom, 1/4in. (Just) installation is a shocker at about $30 sft. Decided on Florim, as they seemed much better quality than other manufacturers. As mentioned here, not many installers have experience with the product even in New York, so prices are very high. To be fair real marble looks different with greater depth. But ceramic is more manageable particularly for large format.

Here’s what we ended up installing. Florim magnum 1/2 inch

and sorry this should read porcelain tiles

Hi Brian really nice - I am installing florim cromatica in the bathroom walls and black marquinia rex on all floors. Do you recall installation costs per sft just to see if I am in the right ballpark?

Honestly $30 per square foot for labor sounds reasonable. I paid more but had countertops manufactured too

Closer to $60 s/f is what I would expect. Based on very recent discussions with installers.

Thank you both - I feel better now that I am getting a bargain :)

I used to fabricate and install Corian for $22.00 psf two score ago and made a nice living. No way would I fab and install unrepairable porcelain for $30.00 these days. These guys are going broke; they just don't know it yet.

This all depends on the look you’re going for. We wanted the continuous marble look (with book matching it extends to 16 feet). It definitely takes skill to install so I would pay for a good company (these guys took a full day on this project and had some cool tools - suction cups etc)

I researched going with real marble but it was the same price if not more and HEAVY without book matching. Reinforcing your joists starts becoming an issue...

Brian, is your island countertop also made with the 1/2in Florim magnum? If not, what martial is that? Did you find a good installer in the Bay Area?

So I am looking at floor and decor 48x24 large porcelain tile. My shower is smidge over 48 in wide and goes to ceiling. The depth is 36 inches. Can someone explain the difficulties. Is it cumbersome Since each piece heavy, does it crack more, issues around cutouts for faucets?. do I need to buy a lot more to allow breakage with the large tile. Seems like the back wall would need no cuts as the tile is exact size when u add in grout on each end. Why is it so much more to install? Sorry I keep reading the difficulty of install and was hoping to understand a bit more. Also didn’t understand the comments about” problem when shower guy shows up 😊

The question on finding a porcelain slab supplier it is just putting "porcelain slabs" and the name of your nearest large city in an internet search. Someone mentioned in another thread that one can search for a factory trained installer in the John Bridge Forum. Check reviews in all cases. I have an off white 17 year old porcelain kitchen floor with two tiles that have hair line cracks, not too noticeable. These cracks are from canned food falling on the floor. No chipping or scratching.

"These cracks are from canned food falling on the floor."

No, those cracks are from an improper tile installation.