I don't think the epoxy haze is gonna wear off on its own. That being said, I found that grout stripper sitting on it for like 15 minutes followed by a pumice stone knocks it out. I'll have it all cleaned up in a couple of days and then will sit down and take some good pics. The stair does look nice.
My Porcelain Tile Install
- Thread starter bdamico
- Start date
I don't think the epoxy haze is gonna wear off on its own. That being said, I found that grout stripper sitting on it for like 15 minutes followed by a pumice stone knocks it out. I'll have it all cleaned up in a couple of days and then will sit down and take some good pics. The stair does look nice.
Haze is off and the floor is all cleaned up. Total cost = around $2k (about $4.50.ft), a bad back, and a little aggravation with a contractor that showed up when he felt like it. Nevertheless, the results are stunning. The lighting is bad so the pics don't do justice but I couldn't be happier.
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mobiledynamics
Well-known member
Mild mild vinegar wash and a green scrubbie. Scrub as HARD as you feel comfortable on the tile.
The key to Epoxy is cleanup .....during install......
The key to Epoxy is cleanup .....during install......
I scrubbed the sh*t out of the tile with all kinds of abbrasives. Not a scratch.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
I'm a fan of least agressive going up.
Same sponge - straight vinegar.
Any luck.
The earlier the better with this.
What brand epoxy. Mapei, Laticrete, Customs ?
Same sponge - straight vinegar.
Any luck.
The earlier the better with this.
What brand epoxy. Mapei, Laticrete, Customs ?
It was CEG. I got the haze off with stripper and a pumice stone. It came off good enough for the garage.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
Eeeks. I would have never used a pumice stone.....but hey, it's clean now right ;-)
Like I said not a scratch. Pics are up. Just a couple of grout lines that need to be touched up.
Would love to see the pictures. The links you posted are to your email account, which of course none of us has access to. Could you try again?
Shoot. Had no idea. How bout now?
Now they're working.
It looks great!
It looks great!
JimVonBaden
Well-known member
Beautiful, and I bet very long lasting!
Jim
Jim
Yes. Think about how many commercial projects use the stuff indoors and outdoors all over the world. It's hard as a rock. Do some searching around this site, you'll see.
Cool man...now I am definitely gonna look into it. Did you have to find a tile guy who had done garages before or was it just any old guy who can lay tile?
Dakota00
Well-known member
When using the proper thin-set and grout for exterior, climate will not be an issue at all.
bdamico, glad you got the floor cleaned up, I've been busy the last couple of days to check in on the forum. When dealing with Epoxy, clean up is extremely important before it sets up. Otherwise in your situation the haze would have never came off by itself, especially on a Matte finish.
I got estimates from a few guys who advertise a lot down here. They wanted around $2.50 a foot w/o baseboards but including materials. But I bought the tile from a commercial GC. He recommended his tile sub. He quoted me sub prices. I ended up paying him about $1.50 a foot w/o materials but including baseboard and extra effort with epoxy grout. He said he's done lots of outdoor spaces for hotels etc. I wouldn't worry about finding a tile guy who's done garages--you may be looking for a while.
chvybeatsford
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
- Messages
- 19
Looks good.. but man its killing me to decide.. u making it harder with such a nice floor..
It's not a hard decision. Had epoxy. It looked good but not perfect. No lift but it yellowed when my dog pissed on it. And my tires left marks. Had that for about two years. What's the point if it's just going to look okay down the road?
I see people raving about epoxy when they put it down. And I see people complain about things a few years down the road-not all but enough to worry. And I see people babying their epoxy floors. Putting mats down under their cars and motorcycles--seriously? That is totally absurd.
My floor looks like it could be inside a multimillion dollar home--and it does look about as good as the rest of the stone floors inside my home. And I drop hammers and drills from the top of my ladder--no harm. I leave spills on it--no worries. I see no downside at all. I thank Dakota and the others like slick and jack who are helping people like me here see the light without any incentive to build a business.
I see people raving about epoxy when they put it down. And I see people complain about things a few years down the road-not all but enough to worry. And I see people babying their epoxy floors. Putting mats down under their cars and motorcycles--seriously? That is totally absurd.
My floor looks like it could be inside a multimillion dollar home--and it does look about as good as the rest of the stone floors inside my home. And I drop hammers and drills from the top of my ladder--no harm. I leave spills on it--no worries. I see no downside at all. I thank Dakota and the others like slick and jack who are helping people like me here see the light without any incentive to build a business.
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bdamico, looks awesome. Love the pattern. I would have done the same if I had your size tiles.
And your welcome. It is a superior floor you have to agree. My main concern is that people don't buy into the hype of DIY epoxy. It is a coin toss to say the least. It is a coin toss when Pros do it, let alone DIY. And for epoxy to be stronger, or thicker, you wallet has to be that much thicker.
Do you have any pics from the outside by the way. Would love to see the full big picture.
And your welcome. It is a superior floor you have to agree. My main concern is that people don't buy into the hype of DIY epoxy. It is a coin toss to say the least. It is a coin toss when Pros do it, let alone DIY. And for epoxy to be stronger, or thicker, you wallet has to be that much thicker.
Do you have any pics from the outside by the way. Would love to see the full big picture.
Dakota00
Well-known member
Your welcome bdamico!! I'm glad I was able to help out!! That tile floor sure beats out an other flooring options by a long shot!!
SteveL
Well-known member
Floor looks great! Curious what you did for a threshold at the overhead doors? Do you notice the additional height difference between your garage floor and driveway pulling in and out?
I would love to do porcelain tile but my floor is flush with the driveway and I'm afraid of creating a trip hazard.
I would love to do porcelain tile but my floor is flush with the driveway and I'm afraid of creating a trip hazard.
marty_p
Well-known member
Incredible, bd -- no, more like awesome!!! 
I did nothing. Look at the pics on the first page. The garage floor was already raised and had a couple inch lip above the driveway.
Put a steel edge for the threshold. Look at my reno to see what I mean. They even sell those edges, ramp type. You really won't trip over a 1/4" difference. Maybe once. lol.
Hard to show it because i have a column in the middle. Here are a couple I just took. Still a work in progress
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2905644#post2905644
machine_punk
Well-known member
Very nice! The tile looks great and I like the cabinets.
I just finished tiling the upstairs bathroom...could not even imagine tiling that big of a space. I did use the epoxy grout, but I was VERY careful to keep it wet, keep wiping with new water, and keep going until the water was clean. Didn't end up with any haze, but you have to do a LOT of work up front, for whatever benefit epoxy grout gives you.
Great looking garage!
Kev
I just finished tiling the upstairs bathroom...could not even imagine tiling that big of a space. I did use the epoxy grout, but I was VERY careful to keep it wet, keep wiping with new water, and keep going until the water was clean. Didn't end up with any haze, but you have to do a LOT of work up front, for whatever benefit epoxy grout gives you.
Great looking garage!
Kev
I also got nailed with the Epoxy grout haze. Ended up getting it off with a stripping pad and Hydrogen peroxoide cleaner. I am still seeing more at different angles. Major PITA. As a warning to other who come after me............never choose a contractor who is not familiar with Epoxy grout. I was warned my the tile distributor and I had the installer speak to the TIle store. Still got burned on the haze!!!!
Didn't I warn you?
jonesmechanical
Well-known member
Wow, I can't wait to move forward on mine. I can't believe that its not the universal choice. Even with cheap porcelain tile, its seems like the superior option over anything in a working garage, and it just happens to look amazing, clean up amazing, and IF something does happen, the simplest fix of anything else available for garage flooring.
Of course, like anything else out there, it has to be installed correctly.
Your garage looks amazing.
Of course, like anything else out there, it has to be installed correctly.
Your garage looks amazing.
thanks for comments. I am very happy how it turned out, how it's holding up to dropping all kinds of heavy **** on it as I was building my soffit cabinets. I also love the clean up. all i do is blow it out and use my steam cleaner on it, which is used for all the stone and wood floors in my house.
compared to my prior epoxy floor, i also love how there are no brown marks from my tires.
compared to my prior epoxy floor, i also love how there are no brown marks from my tires.
Dakota00
Well-known member
bdamico, that garage is looking great!! especially that floor
SapesOfIndia
Well-known member
Looks great!
Your garage is also slightly elevated from driveway like mine.
How are the tiles aligned on the driveway side edge? Are they flush with the elevated edge? Are you using any SS or any other type edge? (I don't see one but hard to see in the photo is it is there)
Any worried about tiles chipping on the edge?
Your garage is also slightly elevated from driveway like mine.
How are the tiles aligned on the driveway side edge? Are they flush with the elevated edge? Are you using any SS or any other type edge? (I don't see one but hard to see in the photo is it is there)
Any worried about tiles chipping on the edge?
They are flush; I used nothing; and I'm not worried since my tiles are stronger than concrete. The only thing that ***** is that there is an even bigger hump to drive over now. If anything I will maybe make a concrete ramp up into the garage to the extent I have room between the elevated garage and the garage doors.
duneslider
Well-known member
Just for anyone who ends up with epoxy grout haze and is looking for help Stonetech Professional Coating Stripper and a scrubby on a pole works great at removing epoxy grout haze.
The best way though, is making sure it is cleaned up to begin with. It will take years to wear away on its own.
The best way though, is making sure it is cleaned up to begin with. It will take years to wear away on its own.
I have no need to research this now but at the time I was looking for a quick solution to my haze problem, I seem to recall there being a relatively narrow window for best results in order for haze removers to work--lesson I take from it is if you plan to use epoxy grout, be prepared ahead of time to know how to get rid of haze, have the time to do it in the window, and have access to the product you need.