$1.00 per Sq. Ft. to lay ceramic floor tile >

[Turbota]

As some of you folks may have read ... I am planning on installing ceramic floor tile in my 3 car garage which is 610 Sq. Ft.

Well, I can buy the tile for about $1.00 a Sq. Ft. So that's about $610 + tax.

I am thinking that the mortar and grout might cost about $250

Now for the labor ... I have no idea how to find a good tile layer, so I checked on Craigslist for tile installers in the area that I live in Florida. I was suprised to find so many licensed guys that are charging between $1.00 - $1.50 per Sq. Ft. for labor!

At $1.50 per Sq. Ft. for labor cost, that would cost $ 915.

So, the whole 'out the door' project cost for 610 Sq Ft. would be about $1,805 including tax.

I am really leary about a guy that lays tile at the $1.00 - $1.50 per Sq. rate, but I am thinking ... why pay more if there are guys with 10-15 years experience willing to work for that price ... That's the price they posted on Craigslist.

What would you do?

Thank's
___________________________

BTW .. Check out all these ads on my local Craigslist for $1.00 per Sq Ft. tile installs:

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/search/sks?query=Tile&srchType=T

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[Syndicate]

Laying tile is not that hard. Not a pro, but I have laid all my own tile for the past 10 yrs. I will post a pic or 2 to show what I did.

With that said, 1$ a sq ft is cheap. Factor in on a job your size the guy has to come 3 different times, let alone if he is a one man show, it will take him 3 days just to lay it if he is good. He has to prep it, measure it all out, find the center and get to it. Laying thinset after mixing it. Then start the process of laying the tile, all the time leveling it out and spacing it just right. Then he has to come and grout it and clean that up, then he has to come and either glaze it or put a sealer over it. That 3 step process has to wait anywhere from 24-48 hrs between the next step. So 1.00 a ft is pretty darn good considering.
Now for what I did. I took a section of wood flooring out, then put tile underneath wood stove. Remodeled the kitchen with tile back walls and back splashes.

 

[Turbota]

That tile looks really nice under that stove ... nice touch!

 

[Syndicate]

I can't take any credit there as my wife picked it out. But I will take credit for the shiny glaze, that was my idea. And thank you.

 

[Dakota00]

I can't believe how cheap the rate for labor is down in the States.

 

[Turbota]

Cheap ... Want to know whats really cheap ... I have a house in the Philippines. When we had the house built, my architect payed the tile installer 500 pesos ($11.60) per day to lay tile. He did a fantastic job too:

 

[mobiledynamics]

heh...I recall hearing reading about the 59 cents sq ft specials in Florida......

Out here, a tile mechanic worth it's weight in gold starts at $8 +.
Quality may be subjective....but there are things I look for in a tile mechanic. Methods, process, layout, cleanliness, etc, etc.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Like a lot of skilled jobs, I'd say that 85% of the guys you hire can glide through 85% of the jobs put in front of them. The catch comes when there's a particular challenge that comes up -- then the guys with real skills will see you through and the ones who are just getting by will often let you down.

As a point of reference, I had never set tile in my life before I Googled 'how to install tiles' and got to work. That was over four years ago, and my floor came out fine. Part of that was (no doubt) luck, and part of it was that I'm very forgiving of my own work. But I think the answer to your question is: unemployment in the trades is high right now, so there are bargains all over the place. At the same time, you run the risk of someone with a limited skill set overselling themselves. You should do some due diligence, probably, and have a few different guys come in and talk you through the way they'd do it. I'd get some references, too. Increase your chances of it going well.

 

[bdamico]

What would I do?

I did the exact same thing you are contemplating. I'm paying a little over a dollar a foot for labor. Now, people here are questioning that decision, and I understand the concern. My thought process is that the going rate here is pretty cheap and I have no basis for believing that the guy who charges twice as much is going to do a better job. If I had to pay $8 a foot to install the tile, I wouldn't be installing tile--or I would have done it myself. I guess we'll find out if my decision bites me in the *** down the road.

 

[Turbota]

bdamico ... I agree with your thinking on this

Thank's everyone for all your comments. And Jack, that tile job you did on your garage floor looks very good to me. And you saved yourself quite a bit by doing it yourself.

You know, after reading all the various posts about people that have had problems with a DIY epoxy finish, I have ruled that option out as to the floor job for my new garage.

I could have a pro do the epoxy finish, but the prices ain't cheap by any stretch.

Well, those snap-together modular floor tiles like Racedeck and Swisstrax will cost me between $2,200 - $2,400 for 600 Sq. Ft. However, I do like the finished look of some of the modular floors that some forum members have posted here.

However, if I can get something "permanent" such as ceramic tiles for an installed cost of no more than $2,000 ... I think that is my best bet.

I am very happy with the ceramic tile carport and driveway I had installed in the Philippines, and it has held up very well with no cracks or damage to any of the tiles ... So, this job should be no different.

Ron,

 

[Pat Mickelson]

If you're set on hiring someone to do the work, check out www.servicemagic.com. Their service standards are the absolute highest I've seen for this type of work. I've used the site for carpet and something else I'm forgetting, and both companies that did the work were outstanding. Certainly much better than most people you'll find on CL.

 

[1949 caddyman]

You might want to use porcelin tiles, they hold up better in wet areas and have same color through tile. ( when they chip)

 

[fury9]

your grout and thinset should be less than a hundred bucks

 

[Turbota]

Well, the job is completed. I did use 20" x 20" porcelain tiles I bought at Lowes.

Remeasuring the interior space of the 3-car garage, the actual size was 30' W x 19.5' D

Here is the price breakdown:
____________________________

Tile Brand:
Tilecrest 'Illusion'

Lowes Model #:
353779

Color:
Novona Z3013

Material:
Glazed Porcelain

Edge:
Rectified

Size:
20" x 20"

Thickness:
3/8" (9.55 mm)

PEI Rating:
Class 4

Box Quantity:
6 Tiles

Coverage per Box:
16.66 Sq. Ft.

Total Floor Area:
585 Sq. Ft.
______________________________

Tiles:
$ 20.55 per box
37 Boxes
$ 760

Thinset Dry Mortar (Ultraflex 1):
$ 11.31 per 50 lb. Bag
11 Bags
$ 124

Sanded Grout (Keracolor):
$ 11.95 per 25 lb. Bag
2 Bags
$ 24

Delivery Charge:
$ 29

Tax:
$ 56

Installation Labor:
$ 1.50 per Sq. Ft.
585 Sq. Ft.
$ 878

(Prices above includes a 10% Military Discount on all Materials)

Total Cost: $ 1,871 ($ 3.20 per Sq. Ft. Installed)

_______________________________

I will have photos in a couple of days ... The flooring project really did turn out great!

Ron,

.

 

[1949 caddyman]

Watch out for liquids on the porcelian tiles. From experiance they are very slippery when wet. I came in from the pool, on the way out I slipped and fell on water from bathing suit dripping on floor. But I did not spill a drop of my beer!

 

[bdamico]

I can't see sh*t captain

 

[slickgt1]

This thread is worthless without pics.

Oh and for that price, you are lucky. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[k-dawg]

Bump for pics...

 

[Turbota]

I am just moving into the house, and the garage is full of stuff, but will get some photos in about a week or less when everything is cleared out.

I did take this photo of a small section of the porcelain tile installed in my garage:

 

[JimVonBaden]

Watch out for liquids on the porcelian tiles. From experiance they are very slippery when wet. I came in from the pool, on the way out I slipped and fell on water from bathing suit dripping on floor. But I did not spill a drop of my beer!

Like all tiles, it really depends on the actual tiles you lay. Some are slick, and some are not. Looks like the OP has some not slick tiles.

Jim

 

[Turbota]

I took a few more photos of my garage floor today:

 

[MHORTON79]

Now that is nice. I've never about laying tile in a garage until I joined this site.

 

[Stee6043]

Palm trees and tile floors. Very nice!

 

[AndrewnTX]

Wow it looks fantastic!

 

[01ssreda4]

Looks awesome, nice car choice as well.

 

[CT2012]

umm, that's better looking than my house floor.

very nice!

 

[mge_1]

You are right about the palm trees and tiles. Wow!!!

 

[kamib]

Are your tiles procelain?

 

[mtwaterguy]

Maybe you should read the line just above your post?

 

[mge_1]

maybe you should read the line just above your post?

Hehehe... ok let me be quiet lol

 

[gatchel]

Palm trees and tile floors. Very nice!

Palm trees, tile floor,.....oh yeah the Vette doesn't hurt either.

 

[tc-cad]

I just went to HOBO flooring outlet. They have 24" x 24" gray colored Porcelian tile $1.29 per square foot. My garage is 628 square feet. With all material needed to do the job the price came to around $1500. So almost twice the price of the tile alone. This would be a DIY by me. Right now looking for Tiling classes so I don't go into it blind.

 

[Camper]

You may want to check this forum out...
http://www.johnbridge.com