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Yes, unfortunately, it is normal for wall and floor tiles to crack, especially when you drop heavy items on tiled floors or place heavy objects on them. Tiles are also more susceptible to cracking when ceramic tiles designed for walls are installed on floors, as these are often not strong enough to handle heavy loads from foot traffic and furniture. Similarly, tiles that are installed incorrectly, lack adequate subflooring, or have other installation problems are prone to cracking. To avoid these problems and the inevitable repair and replacement costs they bring, always hire a professional for tile work and follow best practices for installation.

Technically, you can start tiling in a corner and work your way out. However, it's not traditionally how tiling is done. Instead, work from the bottom middle of the wall. Tile out the entire row with whole tiles before moving on to the next row. Once you finish installing all of the whole tiles, then you focus on tiling the corners.

Removing old tiles can be more complicated, but it can also be more manageable, depending on your circumstances. Typically, old tile is hard to remove because the adhesive had loads of time to bond with your wall, becoming a formidable foe between you and your new tile installation project. On the other hand, old tile in high-traffic areas can become loose, making it much easier to remove.

Larger tiles can be difficult to install because they’re heavier and bulkier than their smaller counterparts, which makes them harder to haul around and put in place. Plus, if you don’t install the tiles correctly, they could crack or break. For these reasons, it’s best to hire a professional for large-format tile installation.