My 2-Car Porcelain Tile Install....
- Thread starter Dakota00
- Start date
JakeKohl
Well-known member
So the wife knows when to stop the car, otherwise she'll drive through the house.
Ahah! OK...I see the string now. I thought maybe you were doing some ninja tile installer trick with a bouncing tennis ball to ensure flatness....or something.
84944Redline
Well-known member
The floor looks amazing!!! I imagine I'm not the only one out there who's now even more motivated to pull the trigger on putting down porcelain!
Quick question about the patching the low spots...what product did you use for that?
And I can't clearly tell in the picture what was used on the edge of the tiles at the threshold - can you tell us?
Quick question about the patching the low spots...what product did you use for that?
And I can't clearly tell in the picture what was used on the edge of the tiles at the threshold - can you tell us?
I'd like to know more about that process too. How do you identify the slope/topography so you know where it needs to be patched?
Post 18, you see that long *** straight stick. That is how you identify the low spots.
Not sure what he used, but most likely tile edge by the threshold. It is a straight piece of steel or aluminum. I used SS. But I also have a door threshold in front of the tile.
Good job - looks really good! The more I see porcelain tile, the more I want it. I have 864 sq ft so the labor is scaring me. I've gutted my bathroom and tiled it with ceramic so I know how much work it is. The good part, there isn't as much cutting since my garage is rectangle. Just the corners. How many sq ft is yours? How many hours you go in it?
The garage is just over 400 sq.ft
As for hours, seeing as I was doing a lot of it after work. I might have about 40-45hrs in the project so far. If I were able to work solid days on this floor, I would have had it done in about half the time.
I'm not going to start a flooring war, as to which flooring product is best. If you're are looking for a floor that will last a very loooong time, that will look amazing for years to come and take an *** kicking and beg for more. My opinion porcelain is the only option to go with.
After about 5 days of laying the tiles on the first half of the garage I'm already parking one of my cars inside the garage.
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For filling in the low spots I used the Kerabond and Keralastic thinset. I wasn't going to mess around with some crappy floor level.
For the threshold I used a "Reno U" edge protector from Schluter. I'll take a better pic tomorrow.
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e-tek
Well-known member
A fine looking space! If you're a clean-freak like me, you'll cover it all with huge parking mats to contain the dirt, slush and water coming off your car!
84944Redline
Well-known member
Thanks for the details about what you used for the low spots and the threshold. I've seen the Schluter product mentioned before and it looks really nice.
Someone here mentioned to wet down the floor and look for where the water puddles and dries up last to find low spots.
Someone here mentioned to wet down the floor and look for where the water puddles and dries up last to find low spots.
Lol. No dude. Get a straight edge. Get on your knees and get dirty. You really can't beat a nice straight edge, and by the looks of it, Dakotas is twice as long as mine. Lol.
Thats what the squeegee is for. Honestly I didnt bother cleaning my floor all winter. It left this slurry dried **** all where the car was. Winter ended, i took out a hose, and ended that misery in about 10 min.
JakeKohl
Well-known member
looks great.
Scottishross
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2012
- Messages
- 621
Looks stunning mate
In the beginning when I brought up the idea of tiling the floor she thought I was joking. In the end, she got involved to see the pattern I was doing and color of the tiles I was using. Now that she sees the floor completed, she loves it. Her main concern was if the floor was going to be slippery, but not with these tiles.
All my neighbors around me knew I've been working in the garage, I kept the garage doors closed most of the time so nobody would see what I was doing and come break my balls. Once the floor was completed on the weekend I opened the garage doors to clean up the mess, that's when the neighbors like a flock of seagulls came over. They were all stunned when they saw the floor.
As for grout I'm using Mapei UltraColor Plus in grey.
Here's a pic of the Reno U edge protector. Once the grout is completed I'll finish up the exposed lip in front of the edge protector. I would have loved to tile right to the edge of the concrete but the edge protector was 4" short from brick to brick. When I do the driveway I'll figure something out for a nice transition.
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pima67
Well-known member
Did you also use a grout sealer even though the grout has "DropEffect technology" (what ever that is )
)SapesOfIndia
Well-known member
Looks really Awesome!!!
Great job creating a pattern.
Looks like a showroom.
Great job creating a pattern.
Looks like a showroom.
Stunning is the right word. But that's also exactly what I expected. The pattern looks great. Thanks for documenting it.
Here's a pic of the Reno U edge protector. Once the grout is completed I'll finish up the exposed lip in front of the edge protector. I would have loved to tile right to the edge of the concrete but the edge protector was 4" short from brick to brick. When I do the driveway I'll figure something out for a nice transition.
That contractor has no idea what he's doing. We pour our garage floors flush to the inside of the drywall and then pour our drive way up to the garage.
Munich77
Well-known member
That sure looks stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Well guys the floor is completed!! All that's left to do, is give the floor a good cleaning to remove any film and to put back the garage door weather stripping and do some caulking.
I would have taken some during shots between grouting, but couldn't. The grout I used is fast setting.
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I would have taken some during shots between grouting, but couldn't. The grout I used is fast setting.
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JakeKohl
Well-known member
Looks great. This makes me really want to tear into mine!
duneslider
Well-known member
This is tile guy code for "I want to do it but it ain't gonna happen any time soon."
Looks great. The hardest part about doing your own work is having to set up and take down cause you need all your tools at work. Its hard to set up knowing you are only gonna get a couple of hours in before you have to clean up again. I have so much unfinished work at my house because I hate to set up for just a couple hours.
At one point I had several saws and that made it easier cause I could just leave it set up and not worry about needing it on the job.
I also saw a Sigma in there. That's not an amateurs tool! I've never been a fan of the pull cutters though, I am a pusher.
How do you like that "new" mapei grout (I guess its been out a couple years now)? I kind of transitioned over to laticrete so I haven't used much mapei stuff the last 3-4 years.
ScaldedDog
Well-known member
Dakota, what specific tile did you use? I can't seem to find any sort of deal on grey tile. Yours looks great.
Mark
Mark
Requin6
Well-known member
I'm in the same boat. I will tile my garage tomorrow if I could find tiles in those colors locally.
Do tell!
Requin6
Well-known member
Oh and by the way...great job on the floor Dakota! It makes a huge difference visually and is super functional still. This is exactly what I need out of my floor.
Hey dude, where have you been hiding??
Yeah, you know how much time is wasted to set up and take down just to squeeze in a couple of hours of work. Thankfully most of the tools I was using were my spare, so they could stay on site.
That little Sigma does a great job, especially for these kind of tiles.
The "new" Mapei grout I've been using it for about 3yrs now, it's fantastic. It's easy to use, a little pain in the *** because it's a fast setting grout but so much better than using Epoxy.
Hey Mark,
The tiles I used are from Olympia Tiles, but can be found in the States through distributors. The tiles are from the Omnia Collection.
http://www.olympiatile.com/products/porcelain/unglazed_porcelain/omnia_collection.html
The border tiles are Cardosa Grey, the field is Iron (Charcoal) and the threshold is Charcoal. All in structured finish for anti-slip.
BTW, Thanks everyone for the compliments!! I started this thread to show how tiles are a great option for a "hard working garage floor"
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duneslider
Well-known member
Been really busy at work and haven't been able to get on here too much.
Floor looks spectacular, really like the tile and the pattern. Someday I may decide it is worth putting something down. I just don't know that tile is right for me.
It was nice to see that big long straight edge, I don't see many tile guys with one that big. I got rid of all my big ones now that I don't do it all the time. I think I have my set of 8' and down but the rest I offloaded to another guy.
I'm sure you will love the garage.
I use permacolor mostly and it is a fast setting grout too but it doesn't set too quick. Mapei used to have a fast setting grout and they slipped me a few bags one time and I didn't realize they were different until it was too late. I ended up having to get a buffer and buff the grout off the top of the tile.
Floor looks spectacular, really like the tile and the pattern. Someday I may decide it is worth putting something down. I just don't know that tile is right for me.
It was nice to see that big long straight edge, I don't see many tile guys with one that big. I got rid of all my big ones now that I don't do it all the time. I think I have my set of 8' and down but the rest I offloaded to another guy.
I'm sure you will love the garage.
I use permacolor mostly and it is a fast setting grout too but it doesn't set too quick. Mapei used to have a fast setting grout and they slipped me a few bags one time and I didn't realize they were different until it was too late. I ended up having to get a buffer and buff the grout off the top of the tile.
laffs
Active member
That looks awesome! I've always wondered about tiling my garage floor, the look is incredible and I'm sure clean up is great as well. I'm just scared of that first cracked tile staring me in the face.
-Another from the GTAMC here as well.
-Another from the GTAMC here as well.
dubber
Well-known member
You really did an amazing job in there. Well done.
Lol, yea don't worry. Tile is super durable. Link in my sig for some referance. And you can search for Jack Olsen hammering on his ceramic floor, with a mini sledge , and he has a rough time breaking the tiles.
ARCTIC_RAGTOP
Well-known member
Looks great. Excellent job!