Typical Mistakes When Installing Large-Format Tile and How to Avoid Them: M-STONE’s Experience (Kyiv)

Even the most expensive and highest-quality tile can lose its look within a few months of laying if technological mistakes were made during installation. Large-format tile and porcelain stoneware are especially demanding of the craftsmen’s professionalism.

M-STONE (Kyiv, Ukraine) regularly comes across sites where mistakes made by unqualified installers have to be corrected. In this article we look in detail at the most common problems and explain how to avoid them.

Mistake no. 1: an uneven or unstable substrate

The substrate under large-format tile must be:

• perfectly flat;
• free of cracks and voids;
• stable, without movement.

Even minimal differences cause internal stresses in the slab, which over time leads to cracks.

👉 The M-STONE solution: mandatory flatness checks with a laser level and, if necessary, additional levelling.

Mistake no. 2: the wrong adhesive or saving on materials

Porcelain stoneware has low water absorption, so standard adhesives do not provide proper adhesion.

❗ Using a poor-quality adhesive is a direct cause of tile coming loose.

👉 M-STONE uses only certified adhesives of class C2TES1 / C2TES2.

Mistake no. 3: no double application of adhesive

When installing large format, the adhesive must be applied:

• to the substrate;
• to the back of the tile.

Without this, voids remain under the tile and become points of failure.

Mistake no. 4: installation without a tile levelling system

Without a levelling system it is impossible to achieve a perfect plane with minimal joints.

👉 M-STONE uses professional levelling systems on every site.

Mistake no. 5: ignoring temperature and expansion joints

Especially critical for facades and underfloor heating.

Why it is important to entrust installation to professionals

Correcting mistakes costs much more than correct installation the first time. That is why clients in Kyiv increasingly turn to M-STONE for rework.

📞 Consultation: +38 068 100 27 96 +38 050 914 18 99