Quarry Tile floors

[OHEKK]

I'm in awe of some of the floors pictured here.

VCT tile is nice and the epoxy floors look $uperb. It seems each have their problems.

I notice some shops have quarry tile.

If Epoxy is $6-7 sq ft, wouldn't quarry tile be a better / cheaper option?

What are the downsides of a tile floor?

Labor? sounds like a do it your self weekend project.

How about it? what are the pros & Cons of Quarry Tile?

 

[1ownerT]

I do not know the pros and cons but several years ago I worked on a local realestate big shots house and his five car garage was quarry tile. It looked great with the three Benz's the Jag and a Rover all sitting there.

 

[OHEKK]

My floors are old and cracked with several patches. I don't know how I could get them smooth enough to prep them for epoxy or VCT tile.

Of course epoxy looks nice but it is not only expensive but I read so much about the problems : Lifting, staining, scuffing, burns etc.

My guess I could get some quarry tile for $1 - 2 sq ft and install it myself therefore covering up the cracks & patches.

My buddy asked "What if you drop something and crack a tile?"

Heck just break it out and replace it...right?

Your thoughts?

BTW - What does VCT stand for?

 

[Wile1Coyote]

You may need to install a subfloor and vapor barrier in order to get good adhesion being in the snow belt. Not sure what you do with the shop heat in the winter but there are issues with tile adhesion in colder climes.

 

[rnbradford]

VCT = Vinyl Composition Tile

 

[dodgecharger-fan]

You may need to install a subfloor and vapor barrier in order to get good adhesion being in the snow belt. Not sure what you do with the shop heat in the winter but there are issues with tile adhesion in colder climes.

Good opportunity for some radiant floor heating then?

I'm asking here. Would the subfloor have room for radiant?
There's a system that has the tubed running right through the subfloor. Think that would work? It would certainly minimize the change in floor height....

<goes searching for links>

 

[dodgecharger-fan]

Not what I was remembering. but this looks like a great system.
http://www.warmboard.com/

The only thing I'm not sure about is the spacing of the tubes. They customize that. In some areas you may want tighter loops and in some you'll want wider. For a garage though, I'd think they'd all be the same...

 

[Rollman]

I have quarry tile in my shop/garage , Its been in there for a good 25 years. Its easy to up keep, just hose it down for the most part. It was installed on a wetbed so its not coming up . Only downsides I could think of is it could chip easy there's no bounce to the floor so if you drop something it might break the object and could crack the tile. You would need to drop something pretty heavy and big on a wetbed floor to really do it any damage. I can't fit a car in my garage do to its odd shape but I do have my bike and a wood shop in there. Over all I like the quarry tile .

 

[OHEKK]

Thanks Rollman!

I'm glad to hear your tile floor has held up.

What color is it?

I'm thinking about using gray, tan or terra cotta.

What about the grout?

Does it stain?

Did you use a grout sealer?

I'm thinking of using black grout...can't get much dirtier than that.

As mentioned earlier, my concrete floor is cracked and has many patches from previous owners.

I'm positive that epoxy, VCT or race Deck is NOT my solution.

Besides, If i do the installation myself, this should be an inexpensive option.

 

[Rollman]

I'm glad to hear your tile floor has held up.

What color is it?

I'm thinking about using gray, tan or terra cotta.

What about the grout?

Does it stain?

Did you use a grout sealer?

I'm thinking of using black grout...can't get much dirtier than that.

As mentioned earlier, my concrete floor is cracked and has many patches from previous owners.

I'm positive that epoxy, VCT or race Deck is NOT my solution.

Besides, If i do the installation myself, this should be an inexpensive option.

The tiles are terra cotta colored and the grouts black . No sealer but Its been so long ago I can't remember . It will stain if you leave oil or gresse on the surface but a acid wash will make it look new again .

You could level out your floor and still use VCT or race deck . I would make a kerf cut in those cracks and patch them if your going the VCT or race deck route .

 

[phy6]

If Epoxy is $6-7 sq ft, wouldn't quarry tile be a better / cheaper option?

Where did you get that number from? I am looking at $0.50 to $1.00/ sqft for epoxy.

Quarry tile would look good in a garage bathroom, or on steps! Anyone have pictures of an install?