The Toe-Stubbing Hazard
"Lippage" is the industry term for when one edge of a tile is higher than the adjacent tile. On a polished floor like Indian Statuario, it breaks the reflection. Worse, it's a tripping hazard.
Cause 1: The Stone (Thickness Variation)
Cheap "Sawn" granite tiles can vary in thickness by +/- 3mm. If you lay a 12mm tile next to a 15mm tile, you get a lip.
The Fix: Only buy Calibrated stone. Ruvello tiles are ground on the back to a tolerance of +/- 0.5mm.
Cause 2: The Install (Floor Flatness)
Even perfect tiles will lip if the subfloor is wavy. Installers must use a Self-Leveling Compound before starting.
Cause 3: The Pattern (Offset)
Large format rectangular tiles (e.g., 12x24 inch) often have a slight natural bow in the middle. If you lay them in a "50% Brick Bond" (center of one tile aligns with the edge of the next), you are placing the highest point of the bow next to the lowest point of the edge. This guarantees lippage.
The Fix: Use a "33% Offset" or a Stack Bond pattern to minimize the height difference.
