Laying large format tiles - this is what you should pay attention to

Megatrend XXL tiles:  

Laying large-format tiles - here's what you should pay attention to

Depending on preference and trend, tiles skilfully set the scene for every conceivable style in terms of shape, material and surface structure. The size of the tiles plays a major role in determining the future look of the room. One development has been on the rise for years: The tile large format enjoys worldwide popularity! There are now even XXL tiles with impressive dimensions of up to four square meters on the market. The format variations of large format tiles are as diverse as their design and they are frequently used both indoors and outdoors. XXL tiles are modern, functional and practical and have a special effect on the room. In the past, large-format tiles were almost exclusively found outdoors - mostly on house facades - but today mega-format tiles are in vogue as both wall and floor coverings.

For the installation of XXL tiles, the following rule has proven itself among tilers: The larger the tile, the more accurate the installation must be. This creates a uniform tile appearance that radiates calm and harmony. It is important to ensure that the substrate is as flat as possible, especially when tiles are laid outdoors. This is where a significant disadvantage of large format tiles becomes apparent: The thickness of the material. Large-format tiles are often produced in particularly thin material thicknesses of only 3 to 4 mm in order to keep the weight as low as possible.

This low material thickness not only makes large-format tiles susceptible to breakage during transport and installation, for terraces, for example, even so-called stilt supports are necessary for installation. XXL tiles therefore definitely belong in professional hands, who achieve excellent laying results with precision, experience and knowledge of the material.

Nevertheless, XXL tiles are a challenge even for experienced tilers and small businesses. Manual handling of the thin large-format tiles is very time-consuming and power-intensive. Often, standard hand-held vacuum cleaners or inflexible aluminum constructions with vacuum cups are used for laying. Tiles of this size can only be handled with a lot of manpower and strength. Not to forget that these large formats must also be coated with tile adhesive on the back. Safe setting down and effective work are therefore hardly possible with conventional means. The market currently offers almost no suitable equipment that enables tiling in accordance with current occupational health and safety regulations and without high personnel costs.

That's where Uplifter comes in! The Bavarian company has made a name for itself with lifting equipment for safe glass handling and easy glass installation, and has been established in the market of window manufacturers and glass installers for over 20 years. Glass is a very delicate material that is prone to breakage - so Uplifter knows very well how to handle thin and difficult-to-handle materials, and what the lifting equipment must be able to do. When installing glass panels, efficiency and precision - just as with tiling - are the demands of the installers. In order to be able to safely transport, lift, move, align, tilt or rotate large format tiles and even natural stone, Uplifter uses special suction plates with suction lips made of sponge rubber in all of its installation aids. Uplifter assembly devices lift 150 kg to 1,125 kg, depending on the model, and reach working heights of over four meters. Even the small installation aids are equipped with tilting adapters to ensure safe floor laying of tiles or natural stone.

By the way, the most popular installation aid for one-man operations is the UPT250. With a load capacity of up to 250 kg, tilt adapter and powerful GRABO suction cups, tiles can be installed both on the wall and on the floor. The highlight: this works with only one person and completely without additional helpers. With the Uplifter UPT250 installation helper, lifting, spreading with tile adhesive and laying of the large format tiles is possible in one operation. The UPT250 is characterized by its compact, modular design and can be easily disassembled for transport in a car or over floors. The tile installation device impresses with additional features, such as a clever swivel function that ensures large-format tiles can be moved through narrow spaces and even through doors. To ensure that the tile is always in the right position, the vacuum cross can be rotated continuously through 360°. The installers' favorite function and technical highlight is definitely the side shift, which enables the tile to be placed with millimeter precision without any unnecessary maneuvering.

For large format tiles weighing more than 400 kg, Uplifter has developed devices with electric drive, which - depending on the weight class - are operated hydraulically or electrically. Particularly practical is the control of the installation equipment via a radio remote control. This way, the installer always has the best view of the elements to be installed and can move freely around the construction site.

With over 20 years of experience in the glass industry, Uplifter has a large and significant head start in safely handling XXL elements. The best foundation for a successful cooperation with the tile industry is laid. With Uplifter mounting equipment, thin XXL tiles or exquisite custom-made products can be installed in no time without breaking.

The Uplifter company stands for durable and efficient equipment made in Germany. By the way, the manufacturer develops, designs and produces its laying aids completely in Germany, at the production site in Nabburg/Upper Palatinate. Specific special solutions can be implemented quickly and customer requests of all kinds are incorporated into the product development.

Immerse yourself in the world of Uplifter and benefit from service locations throughout Germany and a large rental park. You are welcome to book a demonstration and test different Uplifter machines to find exactly the right assembly aid to make your daily work easier.