wackman

I'm thinking of using these new 18"x 26" granite tiles on the vanities in the baths and maybe on our less expensive homes kitchen counters.

Has anyone worked with these yet? Have any observations or concerns you'd like to share?

The only problems I can think of is how would they look on an island, probably have a strange pattern of grout lines unless the island top is 52", or less, wide.

Wack

wackman

Has anyone else heard about these. They're 18"x26" so they're perfect for counters. The 18" ends are already polished so you don't need to do any polishing on the fronts, except for if the cabinet ends and you have an exposed side.

Plus for bath cabinets you can cut off 4", have the 22" for the counter and then use the 4" cut off for the splash. That edge is polished too.

Someone finally made a tile that's meant for the sizing of the counters.

Mike Finley

I've seen them only in pictures from other tile setters and from what I have seen they are an awesome alternative for something between (ugh, that looks dated) 12x12 granite tiles and (wow, that's expensive) granite slabs.

I say go for it. I was considering them in my own kitchen remodel but could not find a local source, everybody I ever asked just looked at me funny, nobody had any idea what I was talking about.

The best versions I've seen have used some creative cutting, like 45ing them where a peninsula and a counter top meet in the corner, they used the grout lines to their advantage, kind of ended up making a diamond pattern in the corner, hard to explain you would have to see it. I would do the same thing on an island, try to get away from a grid as much as possible.

I tried to find some pictures but I can't even find them.

I don't see any problems other than the normal ones that come with larger tiles, and that's the thinset taking a long time to dry and the issues of lippage being more dramatic, which is the case of any large tile.

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wackman

They're hard to find here as well. The few suppliers who have them told me that only one place here gets them and that's where all the suppliers buy them so I figured out who this sole supplier was and got my prices from them. About $35. a tile for a good assortment of granite. If you put them tight together with a minium of space for unsanded same color grout they almost look like slab (except for the edge).

With that low cost plus cutting down on labor for install time and polishing I can do these cheaper than the ceramic and 12" granite one's we've been doing and it looks a whole lot nicer (expensive).

The reason I'm asking about cons is two of my installers don't want to work with them and can't really give me a reason why. They say they've heard bad things and they make for weird corners and layouts.

I'd thought "just do a herring bone or mitered corner" Seems that it'd work fine but I definitely saw that they weren't comfortable with them so I thought it deserved some research.

Wack

williamoss

Yesterday I was pulling out of a Home Depot parking lot Near Portland Oregon where I now live. I have been a remodeling contractor for over 27 years, and always like high quality goods at low prices. Leaving the parking lot I saw building advertising granite tiles and cabinets. With time on my hands I went into the store and met, John Mathia, of NW Cabinet Source. I was thrilled to learn they have 30 different Granite Tiles in 18 x 26 inch. The retail prices are $32-$60 per piece (less for contractors) and no Sales Tax in Oregon. So all you have to pay would be shipping. Their phone number is 503-520-1111 Fax is 503-520-1119.

My customer was thrilled with the selection and prices. The advantage of a 26 inch tile is a standard kitchen counter is 25 inches deep while a bath counter is 22 inch. Using a 18 x 26 tile gives you less seams and less seams look better and less chance of leaks. I always make my counter using exterior grade MDF, because this material does not absorb water and will never swell unlike using a particle board to attach a cement board to. Also less seams means less grout lines.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

These sound very interesting. Do any of you have any pics of your completions?

__________________
Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com

angus242

That smells of oxymoron.

Awfully spam-like for a first post....

tj3

Has anyone found these in the St. Louis, MO area? Or for sale online?