Published on Jul 10, 2026
Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.
Today's question is:
Kolten's main caution about large-format tile is that homeowners will still have to clean grout either way, large-format simply means less of it, not none. If someone truly hates dealing with grout, he again points them toward a quartz panel as the grout-free alternative. However, he sees tile as offering more flexibility, describing the options as essentially endless. From a value standpoint, tile can cost a little less than quartz while delivering more variety, making it a strong bang-for-your-buck choice. The key tradeoff he highlights is cost tied to color selection: while tile keeps options open, homeowners chasing a wide range of colors should be prepared for the price to climb significantly. In short, expect some grout upkeep, enjoy the variety, but budget carefully if color is a priority.
What should they know before committing to a large-format tile look? That they're still going to have to deal with cleaning grout either way. If you really hate it, go with the quartz panel. But with tile, you do get a little bit more options, I feel like, tiles are endless, there is so much. As far as bang for your buck, you can spend a little bit less and have a little bit more options with tile versus quartz. So the main thing to keep in mind is that even with large-format tile, there's still grout to maintain, it's just less of it. If avoiding grout entirely is your priority, the quartz panel is the way to go. But if you want choice, tile gives you almost endless options and can be a better value, letting you spend a little less while still getting the look you want. You just have to ignore the fact that it's going to get really expensive if you want to get a lot of colors, that is.