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My 2-Car Porcelain Tile Install....

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laffs

Active member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
26
Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks guys for the compliments!!!

Laffs, nice to see you on here. As for cracked tiles, when properly installed that's not going to happen with this floor unless you take a small sledge hammer to break tiles on purpose. And even then it's still not an easy task.

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.

Major concern doesnt lie with the install, rather the slab its going on top of.
 
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Dakota00

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Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
Major concern doesnt lie with the install, rather the slab its going on top of.

I understand your concern... In my case, being that my garage slab is 30yrs old. All the shifting and settlement had already occured. The thinset I used is super tough but yet is flexible at the same time. I took an extra step by using a premium waterproofing and crack-isolation membrane because of the cold cellar under the garage floor. I'm not too worried about tiles cracking due to the slab. :thumbup:
 

OJ Bartley

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Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
605
Location
Toronto, ON
How did I almost miss Dakota's own tile thread!? First of all, congrats on the baby. Mine's 3 months and I have NO idea how you managed to fit in any time to work.

The floor looks awesome, as we all knew it would. I'm going to use your thread for reference when I do mine in the spring. I've had the tiles sitting in the garage for months already, just couldn't get around to it.

So there's no issue with building up low spots using the Kerabond/Kerelastic? (Other than cost, of course) I won't be doing a membrane because there's nothing under my garage, so if I did use the K/K mix to build up, I could just tile right on top using the same mix for thinset after it dries?
 
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Dakota00

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Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
How did I almost miss Dakota's own tile thread!? First of all, congrats on the baby. Mine's 3 months and I have NO idea how you managed to fit in any time to work.

It wasn't easy... My wife is awesome, she took care of the baby while I was working in the garage. BTW, congrats on your little bundle of joy :thumbup:

The floor looks awesome, as we all knew it would. I'm going to use your thread for reference when I do mine in the spring. I've had the tiles sitting in the garage for months already, just couldn't get around to it.

So there's no issue with building up low spots using the Kerabond/Kerelastic? (Other than cost, of course) I won't be doing a membrane because there's nothing under my garage, so if I did use the K/K mix to build up, I could just tile right on top using the same mix for thinset after it dries?

There's no issues using K/K to build up the low spots, actually it works out to be cheaper than buying those self leveling underlayment mixes. You will need to thin out the K/K mix so it's easier to spread when filling low spots, after it dries you can tile right over. Again using K/K when installing your tiles.
 

OJ Bartley

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Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
605
Location
Toronto, ON
Beautiful. Thanks Dakota. How careful do I have to be about grease spots with the K/K?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
 

UpstateNY

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Jan 2, 2012
Messages
662
Dakota,

You mentioned these were purchased so as not to be slippery when wet. What's your real-world experience ?
 
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Dakota00

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Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
Beautiful. Thanks Dakota. How careful do I have to be about grease spots with the K/K?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

No problem!!

I guess you are referring to old grease spots? How bad are these spots? If it's a heavily soaked area I would rough up the surface with a grinder, then degrease and wash the area good. Once dry, burn the thinset on those area(s) then install your tile. K/K is very durable and has incredible adhesion properties.

Dakota,

You mentioned these were purchased so as not to be slippery when wet. What's your real-world experience ?

As with any wet flooring surface you take precautions when walking on it. I tested the floor with my running shoes and work boots, I was quite pleased with the anti-slip surface from these tiles.
My only concern would be snow and slush from the vehicles. But that we will see in a few months....
 

katotter

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
410
Location
South Africa
Great job, came out looking sharp. Great outlay too. Gives the impression that the space is bigger than it actually is.

I used ceramic instead of porcelain. Should have gone porcelain, ceramic chips for nothing. But it still looks the part. I also used an aluminum edge strip at the end of the floor on the outside, also used a square edge strip at the other end of the same row of tiles, don't know why, just thought it might be added weather resistance. Aluminum edge on the outer border really helps, wont crack the tiles there.
 

Quarter Life Crisis

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 9, 2012
Messages
73
Location
Long Island, NY
Man, what a gorgeous job. I'm new on here, but this is the kind of thing that will keep me coming back on a daily basis. VERY nice work! I never even considered tiling my garage floor until now. I'm going to go set up a signature and avatar and start posting.
 

Adam5

New member
Joined
Sep 30, 2013
Messages
4
Nice work. Looking great Please do share some more pictures and video if possible when you are done. And wish you good of luck with your small project.
 

ben98gs

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Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
142
Location
Mooresville, IN
It does not appear that you had any to deal with, but what would you do for a floor with the relief cracks (the purposefully make cracks that separate the floor into quarters)?
 
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Dakota00

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Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
It does not appear that you had any to deal with, but what would you do for a floor with the relief cracks (the purposefully make cracks that separate the floor into quarters)?

You can respect the control joints by placing the tile joints on top of those control joints, then fill the joint with silicone. But without seeing the slab and the control joints it's hard for me to give my opinion. I've done jobs where I filled the control joints and then tiled over them with no issues.
 

katotter

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Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
410
Location
South Africa
It does not appear that you had any to deal with, but what would you do for a floor with the relief cracks (the purposefully make cracks that separate the floor into quarters)?
I had to pour my 3 1/2" concrete floor in two goes due to mixer issues, so I made a joint down the middle. Tiled so that I have a hardline right across it. Several months later its only starting to crack the grout on that line now.
 
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N0tt0N

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Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
229
Location
DC
Wow! That's inpiring! I am prepping my garage for porcelain as well and I love the details you've provided! Thanks
 

slickgt1

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Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
1,674
Gotta love it. Nothing in between jack and floor, no hot tire pickup, no shifting with weather, waterproof, and looking super hot.

Really liking the light color man.
 
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Dakota00

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Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
That looks absolutely amazing without a doubt! The pattern is simple but gives the garage both character and class.

Thanks, I was looking to go with some crazy and different patterns. But at the last moment I went with this simple yet classy pattern. I'm glad I did!!

You got me going now

Awesome man!! Did you try laying out the floor in a herringbone pattern?
 

Jack Olsen

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Mar 22, 2009
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6,678
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Los Angeles
Yeah. Black and white checks looks fine in the winner's circle, but it's a pain in the neck if you drop fasteners on it.
 

slickgt1

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Oct 11, 2010
Messages
1,674
Yeah. Black and white checks looks fine in the winner's circle, but it's a pain in the neck if you drop fasteners on it.

You just need to get flat on floor and look down sight. And yes it is a pain in the ***. Lol. I sort of with I went all white too, but no regrets.
 

tc-cad

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Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
270
Location
Mequon, WI
Looks GREAT. I love the pattern texture and color of this tile. How does it do with freeze and thaw?

TC-CAD
 
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Dakota00

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Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
1,078
Location
Woodbridge, Ontario
Freeze and thaw will not be an issues, as the tiles have zero absorption. The thinset (Kerabond/Keralastic system) is design for exterior applications which flexes during the freeze and thaw. The grout is waterproof and stain proof, this floor is pretty much bulletproof!!
 

tc-cad

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Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
270
Location
Mequon, WI
Thanks
I guess this method should stand up to Wisconsins wonderfull weather.
How many square feet was your garage?

TC-CAD
 

bczygan

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Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
22,002
Location
DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
Beautiful job!

A couple questions...
The thinset you used seems a premium one. Where is the best price on it?
What size notched trowel did you use?
Did you back butter the tiles and use a rubber mallet to set them?
What size spacers did you use?
Any additives used?
And how about cutting?

I picked up some of this porcelain tile at Lowes for .08/SF (Yes, they made a website error, usually .98). My garage is 9 1/2 x 19 1/2. so I got 240SF (And then I got another 240SF for future work)

http://www.lowes.com/pd_425267-89484-G4320_1z0zm5x+2z8vh+4294856525__?productId=4748133&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=Glazed%20porcelain|Less%20Than%20$1

4712176003957lg.jpg


I know they're not the best, but will they work for my garage?
Are they solid color through the body, or not (Since the surface is a glazed finish)?

Thanks for any info.

PS, like the dark grout with a lighter tile.
 
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