High-Gloss Loft Floor
About This Project
A high-gloss polished porcelain floor in a large open-plan loft space in Downtown Long Beach. The 32"x32" format tiles were chosen for their near-seamless appearance — at 1/16" joints with rectified edges, the floor reads almost as a continuous polished surface rather than individual tiles. The high-gloss finish amplifies the available light from the floor-to-ceiling windows that face the downtown skyline, which was a deliberate design intent for the space.
High-gloss polished porcelain at this format is one of the more demanding floor installations to execute well. Any variation in substrate flatness is immediately visible in the reflected light — a deviation of more than 1/8" over 10 feet creates a visible "wave" in the reflection. We used a self-leveling compound to bring the entire slab within 1/16" per 10 feet before installation, which is tighter than the standard spec but necessary for this finish. The leveling clip system was set to zero-tolerance across all joints.
Project Details
| Service | Residential Tile Installation |
|---|---|
| Area | Downtown Long Beach |
| Materials | 32"x32" high-gloss gray marble porcelain, self-leveling underlayment, large-and-heavy mortar, unsanded grout |
| Scope | Residential — open-plan loft floor |
| Timeline | Multi-day install |
What We Did
Full slab assessment and self-leveling compound to achieve 1/16" flatness over 10 feet
Layout from room center, dry-fit to confirm balanced cuts at all perimeter walls
32"x32" tiles set with large-and-heavy mortar and full back-butter, zero-tolerance leveling clips
1/16" unsanded grout, penetrating sealer, movement joints at all perimeter walls
Interested in a similar project? Contact us or call (626) 602-3062.
