Another Porcelain tile question

[Z2V]

My plan has been to do an epoxy coating on my garage floor but after reading all the threads on porcelain tile I'm starting to consider going that direction.
I've got my old twin post lift out to be replaced with a four post. My question is put the lift on top of tile or put lift down then tile to it? Will the tile support the four post lift? Would the tile crack if I were to drill thru it and put bolts in floor to secure the lift? I'm not worried about cracking from drilling but more when I tighten the bolts to the floor. I would rather put the lift on top of tile if it will support the load.
Opinions please
Thanks

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

Drilling porcelain is like drilling glass.

If I was doing a lift in my shop I would probably do what a bud did on his epoxy: 1/4" rubber pads (18x18) under his 14x14 steel post bases, sitting right on the porcelain. His lift has wheels if he needs to move it. Porcelain has an enormous compression strength. You can always replace a cracked tile.

If you must drill the floor, I'd consider drilling the concrete and then setting 1/4" steel plates on the leg locations that were 1" bigger than the leg feet. Or better (if you want it done right) -saw cut your floor and put J-bars in and re-concrete, using the steel plates as a "place holder" for the J-bars.

Then, you tile up to those floor plates and when done, bring the lift legs in and set them right on the threaded J-bar and tighten them down loosely for assembly.

I used J-bars and plates when I built a 20x20 gazebo out of steel last Spring. The structure was nearly two tons of steel with another ton for shade lathe. Here is what the plates looked like...

If you opt to simply drill the floor, definitely do it before tiling. Epoxy your threaded rod in using a foot template of the bottom of your lift leg.

Ray

 

[Z2V]

Awesome gazebo Ray. I guess I could use a 1" hole saw on the tile then go with 3/4" hammer drill in cement for the anchor bolts. I think the j bars would be way overkill for a four post lift. Great idea though, thanks

 

[Cairo94507]

Definitely awesome gazebo. Serious skills.

 

[Dakota00]

Z2V,

No need to over think this, place the lift on top of the tiles. Drilling the holes thru the porcelain tiles is very easy with a 7/8" or 1" diamond hole saw. If the tiles are properly installed with 100% coverage underneath, the tiles will not crack. After the holes are drilled thru the tiles, you can then finish drilling into the concrete with a 3/4" bit using a hammer drill.

That's how I installed my lift.
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[Cave Creek Ray]

The voice of experience!

Much easier than my idea! My only offering is to drill the porcelain well over size to make sure you don't snag the edge of the tile with a thread on the bolt. I'd go for the 1" diamond drill to give you 1/8" around the edge while drilling. That would help prevent a crack when drilling -or screwing all the bolts in.



(Thanks: I set the footings and got the posts installed and then used my tractor to erect the steel while the welders welded it up. I had a block mason set the posts and grout and fill them. Then I hired a guy who had never done stack-stone to apply the stone on the outside. Gotta know your limits and besides, I am busy doing other stuff. Just painting the steel took a week. There's 122 pieces of 2x2 20' long up in the lath. That is almost a half mile of steel and I had to prime four sides of it -or 2 mi. I still have to get the welders back now that its cooled off to final weld it in place so I can final paint it before winter rains come... I ran the power and the water to all the locations as well as an outdoor shower and "dog pool." I ran the water for the plants and the power for landscape lighting and anti-freeze Christmas lights for fruit trees. It was a huge project. And that was after totally dismantling the back yard, removing over 100 boulders. Sorry for the thread creep!)

 

[Z2V]

Dakota, that's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks
Ray, again, love the gazebo. I wish I had enough back yard for something like that.
Cheers