My 2-Car Porcelain Tile Install....
- Thread starter Dakota00
- Start date
I'm not doubting it, both me and my wife's vehicles got hardly used this winter. But yet, still made a huge mess.
Thankfully this deep freeze is finally going to break. Tuesday is hitting a high of 9C or 50F, I'll be washing the cars and hosing down the floor. Cars haven't been washed since late November!
I am considering tile for my garage floor, I can't find these tiles locally, what can I expect to spend per sq ft on materials? I have seen other unglazed porcelain tiles but I don't want to over spend or worse under spend and end up doing it twice...
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mtwaterguy
Well-known member
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Where would locally be?
duneslider
Well-known member
Have you been to a tile store, not home depot lowes. Any good tile store, where professionals go, such as Dal-tile, interceramic, etc is going to have a huge selection you can choose from.
A quality through body porcelain will not be cheap. $3-4 a foot at a minimum I would think. I haven't priced one recently. I would think you could easily see $5-8ft. though.
A quality through body porcelain will not be cheap. $3-4 a foot at a minimum I would think. I haven't priced one recently. I would think you could easily see $5-8ft. though.
OJ Bartley
Well-known member
I also got mine on sale at a big box... HD, if I recall. Around $1.50 psf or something. PEI 4, and the COF rating is a bit less than ideal, but after testing it out, I was comfortable with how it felt.
There are deals to be had if you aren't in a rush. Just watch the flyers. Then go check them out in person before buying. I also tried a couple of local tile stores, and even the clearance stock in the big one was still pricey by comparison.
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There are deals to be had if you aren't in a rush. Just watch the flyers. Then go check them out in person before buying. I also tried a couple of local tile stores, and even the clearance stock in the big one was still pricey by comparison.
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CT, RI, MA when I was building houses I used a place called bannon tile in RI, thats where I am going to look, but would like to know about what to pay, I have bought tiles there that were $35 a sq foot, they are not shy, lol
DSPark13
Member
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Dakota,
I like how the 2" spacing under the two lift legs at the sloped end of the garage turned out. I noticed you stated that you used hydraulic concrete. If you don"t mind sharing, how did you accomplish that task so neatly? I will have to do something similar since I too have a slope in my garage.
Thanks,
Derrick
Dakota,
I like how the 2" spacing under the two lift legs at the sloped end of the garage turned out. I noticed you stated that you used hydraulic concrete. If you don"t mind sharing, how did you accomplish that task so neatly? I will have to do something similar since I too have a slope in my garage.
Thanks,
Derrick
Hey Derrick,
The posts were leveled and positioned using plastic spacers.
Next, I built forms around the post plates. Then poured the hydraulic concrete into the mount holes of the plate. While tapping the form with a mallet to remove air pockets.
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Once the hydraulic concrete was set, I pulled the forms. As you can see how nice they turned out.
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Drilled the holes to install the bolts.
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Lastly, painted the spacers so they would blend in. Done...
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The posts were leveled and positioned using plastic spacers.
Next, I built forms around the post plates. Then poured the hydraulic concrete into the mount holes of the plate. While tapping the form with a mallet to remove air pockets.
View media item 50623
Once the hydraulic concrete was set, I pulled the forms. As you can see how nice they turned out.
View media item 50624
Drilled the holes to install the bolts.
View media item 50622
Lastly, painted the spacers so they would blend in. Done...
View media item 50625
Rod N
Well-known member
Dakota. Your fit and finish is superb!
Any issues drilling through the tile?
I'll be putting my 2 post lift in the next few months.
Any issues drilling through the tile?
I'll be putting my 2 post lift in the next few months.
Rod N
Well-known member
What type of drill did you use? Rented?
DSPark13
Member
Dakota,
Thanks for the info and pictures, that helps. Did you leave the plastic spacers when you created the form and started pouring the concrete? I searched and was only able to find hydraulic water block cement, is that what you used or was it something different? I did see originally where you had to level your floor and fill in some cracks before you placed the porcelain, everything you have achieved with your floor and lift spacers looks great!
Thanks for the info and pictures, that helps. Did you leave the plastic spacers when you created the form and started pouring the concrete? I searched and was only able to find hydraulic water block cement, is that what you used or was it something different? I did see originally where you had to level your floor and fill in some cracks before you placed the porcelain, everything you have achieved with your floor and lift spacers looks great!
Rod N
Well-known member
Like this?
Attachments
Hey Derrick,
Had a brain fart, I used Non-shrink grout from Home Depot not Hydraulic cement. It's been a year since I did the work, I forgot!
This is what I used... http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-non-shrink-grout-25-kg/984854
I left the spacers in place and buried them into the mix.
Hey Rod,
Similar to this rotary demo drill
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Cairo94507
Well-known member
Dakota- Your thread has convinced me to go with porcelain tile for my floor. I will use your thread as the "bible" when getting this project done. Seriously nice work.
Hey Derrick,
Had a brain fart, I used Non-shrink grout from Home Depot not Hydraulic cement. It's been a year since I did the work, I forgot!
This is what I used... http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-non-shrink-grout-25-kg/984854
I left the spacers in place and buried them into the mix.
Thank you Dakota00 for sharing your details, I have been learning a lot from your build.
I found the following video that demonstrates the process:
DSPark13
Member
Hey Derrick,
Had a brain fart, I used Non-shrink grout from Home Depot not Hydraulic cement. It's been a year since I did the work, I forgot!
This is what I used... http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-non-shrink-grout-25-kg/984854
I left the spacers in place and buried them into the mix.
Perfect! Thanks again Dakota. That is the info I needed and what I will be using when I finish with our house/garage build and install my lift. I might also be looking at installing the porcelain floors as well, now that I see how nice yours turned out.
Derrick
lmao... Thanks for the compliments!! If you have any questions before or during your install don't hesitate to ask.
No problem, this thread is about educating those who want to learn!
BTW, I knew your username looked familiar. I'm also on GTAMC and TMC as you probably saw in one of my previous pics, I have a Mustang too!
Congrats on the new ride!!Glad to help out Derrick.
ryanp77
Well-known member
That floor is amazing, some real quality work
keitho64
Member
I have been researching garage floor options for some time. I have been in my house for over 15 years. When i moved in the floor was painted so I cleaned it and repainted. It has held up well and is in need of a refresh.
I must say I love the look of your floor and the ease with which is cleans up. I was concerned about tiles breaking since I do a lot of wrenching but you sold me. Prep is key!
By the way nice True Blue Bullitt, my son has a Highland Green one #507!
Thanks again for sharing and documenting the installation!
I must say I love the look of your floor and the ease with which is cleans up. I was concerned about tiles breaking since I do a lot of wrenching but you sold me. Prep is key!
By the way nice True Blue Bullitt, my son has a Highland Green one #507!
Thanks again for sharing and documenting the installation!
Hey Keith,
The point of this thread was to make it the "Bible" of tiling your garage floor. Covering all aspects of prep, installation and punishment I put my floor through.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my thread!
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!
The point of this thread was to make it the "Bible" of tiling your garage floor. Covering all aspects of prep, installation and punishment I put my floor through.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my thread!
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!
20_rc51_00
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- Jun 26, 2014
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Of course you take that into account. Visually it is important to make the most exposed places the best looking. Also, you absolutely should lay out the tile so if you have a 1/2" strip at the back you can work around that by using a variety of techniques from slightly wider grout lines to a smaller accent tile in a pattern throughout the design.
I was just making the point that many garages have little exposed wall space at the floor level, so that should be taken into account.
Hi JimVonBaden,
your floor looks great, I really like the fact that the grout lines are nearly invisible. Did you use less than 1/8"? Is there a risk with narrower grout lines that tiles may heave from hot/cold cycles? I live in Edmonton Alberta and winters can see -40C to thaw in the matter of days depending what sort of winds come from the arctic.... Which wreaks havoc on everything. Although my garage is attached and stays above freezing, there can be some definite temp swings when pulling in and parking frozen tires/falling snow/ice and the heat from the engine...
Thanks.
Shea
Well-known member
That's a vinyl composite tile floor that you are looking at. ^^^^ That's why you don't see grout lines.
20_rc51_00
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Dakota00, how slippery do you find the tile with snow/ice in the winter? Didn't see it in mentioned. Thanks.
OJ Bartley
Well-known member
You weren't asking me, but I'll chime in anyway. My tiles have a lower COF rating than Dakota's and are still good with plain water. Slush makes them a little worse when it packs in under your shoes, so if possible go for something with a higher COF (I think the recommendation is to stay above 0.6 or so IIRC).
20_rc51_00
Member
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- Jun 26, 2014
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Thanks guys. So the tile manuf. states the COF? I never noticed, will have to keep an eye out.
OJ Bartley
Well-known member
Yep, it should be stated. Here's a pic from my boxes...
gerryw
Well-known member
Cairo94507
Well-known member
Great question. Come next year I expect to have a near identical pit in my 3 car, middle stall.
Rod N
Well-known member
I would say you need to trim it with metal.
OJ Bartley
Well-known member
That will be super clean and look really sharp. It will look awesome.
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gerryw
Well-known member
Simple it is !,
THANKS!!!!!
Gerry
THANKS!!!!!
Gerry
duneslider
Well-known member
Gerry,
Keeping it easy and simple, trim the pit with a metal edge protector.
There are several colors of that schluter trim too, so you can find one that matches your floor color if you want. Or you can go with the stainless version if you are in an area that salts the roads.