Porcelain Tile Garage Floor Color?

[Cairo94507]

Just started a complete 3-car garage remodel. Adding a BendPak flush mount mid-rise scissor lift into the floor, air in the walls, lighting, cabinets, doors, etc.

The problem I am having is deciding on a floor color. I am going with a PEI 5 Porcelain tile. I wanted to install a medium gray with dark grout. Probably either a 12x12 or 18x18 with a 1/2 off-set pattern to keep it simple. No contrasting color border. However my contractor and the porcelain tile people are telling me it will show tires marks from being driven on. They are suggesting a dark grey tile instead.

I am looking for any feedback from people who have done porcelain tile and drive on it daily. Do you get tire marks?

Thanks so much everyone-
Cheers,
Michael

 

[Angelfire]

If Dakota doesn't chime in here, you may PM him. He did a light grey/dark grey floor so can probably give you good feedback regarding your question.

Cheers.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212509

 

[Shea]

This article should help regarding common questions about porcelain tile for a garage floor.

http://allgaragefloors.com/porcelain-garage-floor-questions/

It tires do leave marks, they clean up fairly easily.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Have you asked the new car dealerships? Many of those are a light gray or tan.

 

[gerryw]

I went light grey, very pleased, dirt from tires yes, but nothing a quick mop wont solve, I am talking dirt not rubber.

also the light tile makes a huge difference in reflecting light a big plus.
No regrets
Ps, this photo is slightly distorted (came from text)
I did a great job, i promise!!
Gerry

 

[pgray007]

I did a lighter grey and no problems. Local tesla dealer has the same tile.




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[larry4406]

I did a lighter grey and no problems. Local tesla dealer has the same tile.

pgray007 - that is a very nice looking floor!

 

[pgray007]

pgray007 - that is a very nice looking floor!

Thanks! You can check my build thread for the dramatic play by play and more pics. I liked it so much (and had enough left over) that I did a shower in it too (lighter grout here of course):




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[Dakota00]

Going on over 4yrs now with my tiled floor and there has never been any issues with tire marks sticking to the tiles.

 

[Cairo94507]

OK - so I may lean back towards the medium grey color. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback.
Cheers,
Michael

 

[Cairo94507]

Looks like I found my tile. It is a PEI 5. The color is Stealth Jet and it essentially looks like a lightly mottled concrete. I will use a black or very dark grout. The tile man really liked the tile. Also, to be safe, going with 12x12 tiles. We will use a stainless steel trim around the lift pits and for the edges of the stairs leading into the house. We were thinking for the existing expansion joints we would place a very thin stainless trim piece to maintain the expansion joint.

 

[Cairo94507]

This is the lift going into the floor:

 

[Cairo94507]

That is the BendPak mid-rise flush-mount scissor lift. The two distinct lifting mechanisms are not connected and you can set the distance you want. We will go with something around 30" apart, give or take. We are going to pour a 12" base, rebar and pinned to the existing floor. I will be taking pictures. That is likely going to be cut and framed this week.

 

[torqueman2002]

Terra cotta tile

But I'm prejudiced. I like GM Training Center's lay-out in Warren, MI.

Oh, it also has in floor lighting!

 

[Tony_G]

Gray/white here, still love it & still looking like day one over a year later!

 

[dirtrunner0519]

Are there weight limits you guys are concerned about for the tile garage flooring. I have a semi and occasionally pull it into work on it?

 

[ddawg16]

I did a lighter grey and no problems. Local tesla dealer has the same tile.




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Pgray....I like that....but it must have been a ***** to get those tiles perfect with such a small grout line.

That tile looks like something similar we used in one of our bathrooms....has kind of a denim texture to it....you don't slid when it's wet

 

[pgray007]

Pgray....I like that....but it must have been a ***** to get those tiles perfect with such a small grout line.



That tile looks like something similar we used in one of our bathrooms....has kind of a denim texture to it....you don't slid when it's wet

I used a tile leveling system (RLS if memory serves) and the tile was rectified so it was frankly not too bad. This was my first time job so decent materials and tools made up for lack of experience. Moving slowly probably also helped!


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[ewjax]

Similar questions here. If I plan to do any work on my car in the garage, even with back buttering, how much risk is there with the tile breaking if I drop a tool?

 

[Toomanytools?]

Similar questions here. If I plan to do any work on my car in the garage, even with back buttering, how much risk is there with the tile breaking if I drop a tool?

Porcelain tile is pretty tuff as long as there are no voids when being set. I have dropped a hammer from about 3 feet onto my laundry room porcelain tile floor with a sub base of plywood and no issues.

Of course the right angle of a heavy object dropped on a edge could chip, but porcelain is colored through out so should show as bad.
Most of the members here that have done tile seem to have little to no issues.

pgray007,
What is the base detail in your shop?

 

[Cairo94507]

We will be saw-cutting the floor for the lift this week. Today we will do the final layout for placement. Already have my tile installer on board and have selected the materials. Looking forward to seeing this come together.

 

[machsnell]

Looks like I found my tile. It is a PEI 5. The color is Stealth Jet and it essentially looks like a lightly mottled concrete. I will use a black or very dark grout. The tile man really liked the tile. Also, to be safe, going with 12x12 tiles. We will use a stainless steel trim around the lift pits and for the edges of the stairs leading into the house. We were thinking for the existing expansion joints we would place a very thin stainless trim piece to maintain the expansion joint.

cairo where did you source the tile? is it rectified? $/s.f? its a great looking tile. i want to see finished product.

 

[pgray007]

Porcelain tile is pretty tuff as long as there are no voids when being set. I have dropped a hammer from about 3 feet onto my laundry room porcelain tile floor with a sub base of plywood and no issues.



Of course the right angle of a heavy object dropped on a edge could chip, but porcelain is colored through out so should show as bad.

Most of the members here that have done tile seem to have little to no issues.



pgray007,

What is the base detail in your shop?

Base is just unfinished cinderblock. I didn’t have any great ideas on how to fancy it up, so just slapped some PVC S4S trim and quarter round over it. The trim is attached with tapcons and construction adhesive, and is waiting for my lazy contractor (aka the three man team of me, myself, and I) to hit it with some caulk and paint so it doesn’t look like hell anymore.


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[Cairo94507]

The tile I selected is rectified, it's a PEI 5 and comes in multiple sizes. I am going to use 12x12. At this point it is $4 a sq. ft., down from $5. I am still shopping for a better price. Here is the update picture of the floor as we prepare for the lift.

 

[Cairo94507]

Sorry it's on its side....but we saw cut and excavated the pits for the lift and did a 10" pad with 4" wire and rebar, pinned all the way around-it won't be going anywhere.

We also added a 2" chase from one pit to the other to accommodate 1 hydraulic hose -plenty of room.

Then we excavated and added 3" chase from the front of the pit to the garage cabinet wall. The hydraulics, air and electricity will travel through that chase to the lift. The actual lift pump and motor, etc., will be in a cabinet along the wall. The only thing visible will be the lifting ramps in the floor and the 3 switches to operate the lift. Should look clean when finished.

 

[Jaguar1962]

I'm considering using a PEI 4 Porcelain floor with a PEI 3 for a contrasting color as a perimeter border and between the bays. Is a PEI rating of 3 advisable for this use?
Thanks, Gene

 

[Cairo94507]

Here is the tile floor installed with the lifts in place. Next week the tile guy returns to clean the floor and grout lines after it dried for a month. I am very happy with the finished result. The tile ended up costing me just over $3 per square foot.

 

[Dakota00]

Looks fantastic! Enjoy your new floor.

 

[Cairo94507]

Thank you Dakota00 - It was you and your thread that convinced me porcelain was the right floor for me. Sure, it costs more than all of the other options, but there is nothing like walking out into my garage and playing with the cars while on that floor. I am very happy. Cheers.

 

[Angelfire]

Well done!