Watford showroom, by appointment
Large format porcelain tiles, planned before they are laid.
We supply large format porcelain from 600x600mm up to 1200x1200mm for floors, walls and wet rooms, and help you choose the right size and plan the layout before anything is ordered.
Sizes and where they work
Bigger is not automatically better.
The right size depends on the room, not the trend. A 1200x1200mm tile can make an open-plan kitchen and dining space feel calm and continuous, with only a handful of joints from one end to the other.
Large format suits smaller rooms too, but there the setting-out matters more. Where the cuts fall decides whether a bathroom looks planned or squeezed, so we look at the room before we recommend a size.
Before you order
Large tiles show every flaw in the floor underneath.
A small tile flexes over a dip. A 1200mm tile bridges it, and one edge ends up sitting proud of the next. Fitters call it lippage, and on a tile this size it is impossible to miss. In a project consultation we work through four things before you commit to a size.
Flatness
Floors usually need to be flat to within about 3mm over 2 metres, which often means levelling first.
Setting-out
Where the first tile starts decides where every cut lands, at doorways, thresholds and the edges of the room.
Heating
Underfloor heating changes the primer, adhesive and movement joints the floor needs.
Handling
Large tiles are heavier and harder to cut, so they need an experienced installer and a written plan.
How we can help
Choose the level of help your project needs.
If price per square metre is all that matters, a tile warehouse will beat us. If the finished room matters more, this is where we help.
Showroom appointment
See large format pieces at full size, compare finishes in real light, and receive a quotation from the square metres you provide.
Project consultation
We review your drawings, calculate quantities, lay a tile grid over your floor plan to compare sizes, and advise on setting-out. The fee is credited against your order if you proceed within 60 days.
Bathroom design
A complete bathroom designed around your tiles: layout, mood, products and detail, so every large format piece sits where it should.
Indoors and out
One floor, from the kitchen to the terrace.
Choose the indoor and outdoor tiles together.
Many of our large format collections include a matching outdoor porcelain, so the kitchen floor and the patio can read as one surface through the glass.
Ask which ranges have an outdoor match before you settle on the indoor tile. It is much easier to choose both at the start than to find a partner for a tile you have already ordered.
International recognition
A standard of service recognised beyond the showroom.
DDL Tiles has been recognised for the care, product knowledge and design guidance behind its appointment-only showroom experience.
Questions we are asked most
Large format porcelain, answered.
What counts as a large format tile?
Any tile with at least one edge of 600mm or more. The popular sizes are 600x1200mm and 1200x1200mm; porcelain slabs go larger still.
Do large format tiles work in a small bathroom?
Yes. Fewer grout lines make a small room feel larger and calmer. The catch is planning: in a small space every cut is visible, so the setting-out needs to be worked out before tiling starts.
Do large format tiles need a specialist fitter?
They need an experienced one. Large tiles are heavier, harder to cut and need a floor flat to within about 3mm over 2 metres. A project consultation ends with a written specification your installer can work from.
Can I use large format tiles with underfloor heating?
Yes, and porcelain is well suited to it. Movement joints, primer and adhesive choice matter more over heated floors, and we cover them in a project consultation.
Where is your showroom?
In Watford (WD18 0GS), by appointment. It is an easy drive from Bushey, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Radlett, Northwood, Moor Park, St Albans and Harpenden.
Want the detail first? Read our complete guide to large format tiles and slabs. Designers and developers can see our trade and specification support.
See it at full size
Scale is hard to judge on a screen.
In the showroom you can see large format porcelain at full size, compare finishes side by side and bring your floor plans. We will tell you honestly which size suits the room.