Question about Porcelain Tile

[agoogol]

Question everyone - Strongly considering porcelain tile with the state of my garage floor..i.e. spilled paint, rust, misc. stains etc. Seems like stain or epoxy will be a nightmare to clean this for. And I found the attached porcelain glazed tile at Lowes for $.42 sq. ft.

Questions and apologies in advance if I am repeating others:

1. Any issues with cold/moisture in Colorado and using Porcelain tile?

2. How do I know the PEI rating? I don't see it on the box anywhere?

3. What do you do for a threshold for where you car drives over it at the entrance?

4. I don't like the look of tile going up on my side concrete footers. Any other ideas? Just paint?

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[N0tt0N]

agoogol: If these are the tiles: Here: Then it looks like the are PEI 5 (shown under the Specifications tab) and impervious to moisture when means they are safe for Colorado cold. The only thing that worries me is the glazing. I think in this case it means they are not the same color all the way through and may show chips if they occur. Also, this may indicate that they will more slippery when wet as the coefficient of friction (COF) reported by Lowes indicates although even wet it is at .61 which isn't bad. They are listed as textured so make sure you'd be happy laying on it or rolling things across it easily.

Bottom line, if you like the look and they don't feel too rough or slick they may do just fine.

I did a tile splash on one side where the steps to the house are and left the rest painted below the wall treatment. I may eventually trim it but for now its just painted.

Good luck!

 

[Jack Olsen]

Make sure they're non-porous. Otherwise they will absorb oils and such and stain like concrete.

 

[James-W]

I thought you could put a sealer on porcelain tile to prevent it from staining. I could be wrong on this, but I think glazed tile is already stain proof and does need additional sealing.

 

[85camaro]

I thought you could put a sealer on porcelain tile to prevent it from staining. I could be wrong on this, but I think glazed tile is already stain proof and does need additional sealing.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles will not take a seal. Only the grout can be sealed.

Also, epoxy must be grinded off as thin set will not adhere to it. The only thing that will stick to epoxy....is epoxy.

 

[James-W]

Porcelain and ceramic tiles will not take a seal. Only the grout can be sealed.

Also, epoxy must be grinded off as thin set will not adhere to it. The only thing that will stick to epoxy....is epoxy.

I think you are wrong on that. I am fairly certain unglazed porcelain tile can be sealed against stains.

 

[85camaro]

I think you are wrong on that. I am fairly certain unglazed porcelain tile can be sealed against stains.

Porcelain tile is too dense to take a seal. Even granite, which is a natural product, has virtually closed pores which makes it difficult for sealers to penetrate.

 

[7echo]

Epoxy grout will probably be helpful.

Best tile site on the net is John Bridge...

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/

 

[jmack]

3. What do you do for a threshold for where you car drives over it at the entrance?

Search the forums on this one. Popular options include the Schulter Reno-U edge, which is a long piece of stainless steel you lay down with the tile. Another option is using concrete to create a wedge/ramp up to the tile surface from the driveway.

4. I don't like the look of tile going up on my side concrete footers. Any other ideas? Just paint?

Paint is probably best for the 4" on concrete at the bottom. I used some SW Duration exterior in a dark grey to match the gladiator stuff.

I too found a cheap (~30¢ per sqft) glazed porcelain tile at lowes. Based on suggestions from this forum, I bought a few pieces and laid them out at home, put a little water on it and boy was it slippery. That's why I ruled out glazed tile (despite the appeal of the low cost) and am now instead looking for a thru-body porcelain.