Tile gurus, please help!

[chenthu]

Are there any pros and cons with a 6x24 tiles such as this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_399388-3469...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

This is a glazed porcelain with a PEI of 4, 10mm thickness, and Wet Coefficient of Friction of 0.6. If I am reading the postings here correctly, this should be ok. But the size of 6x24 - is that going to be an issue? There are postings here that implied a 13x13 would be easier to work with than 18x18, not sure about the 6x24...

Any feedback would be much much appreciated!

- SB

 

[shoot summ]

Have you installed tile before?

There really isn't an issue with a 6x24 IMO, other than it is long and narrow, want to watch the lippage.

Typically I see that type of tile with a very tight grout joint to make it look more like wood. This makes it a little harder to adjust as you are laying the tile as a 1/16" joint shows small adjustments pretty easily.

 

[SapesOfIndia]

I don't see a problem. Tiles meet all the basic requirements.
I don't see a problem with grout lines as well. Recently I saw wider grout lines with such a tile in a balcony and it looked nice.
Get the floor leveled as much as you can before you lay out the tile.
Use staggered joints. See examples for some options.
Tile away!

 

[slickgt1]

If you can get your hands on the tile, then lay it on the floor, and lay some staggered sections up against it. Then, lay down on the floor, and check if the tile is bowed in the center. If it is bowed in the center, and it being that thin, then you will have a lot of just slightly elevated sections that will tend to catch your feet. What I am saying, is your floor will be wavy, no a lot, but enough to bother me.

 

[32krazy!]

the shape of the tile shouldnt matter. start with as level a floor as you can get, then backbutter and lay the flooring. im actually looking at the same style of tile as its different and should hide dirt really well.

 

[chenthu]

Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

 

[Fredartic]

Get the floor leveled as much as you can before you lay out the tile.
Use staggered joints. See examples for some options.
Tile away!

what about the slope for the drain? Is there a problem to keep that slope for draining?

Thanks

 

[SapesOfIndia]

what about the slope for the drain? Is there a problem to keep that slope for draining?

Thanks

I should have said flat. It needs to be flat. Not leveled.

 

[duneslider]

I have seen that a lot of the less expensive tiles of that size are not very flat and have a bow in them. It can make install very difficult like others have mentioned. Sapes showed a pick of how you should do the running bond and get better success. If you do it standard half like brick is done you will most likely have issues. Or, just install it straight and get a more modern look.

 

[chenthu]

Thank you again everyone.. Unfortunately, I am giving up on tiles purely due to cost - the tile I want is $2.29/sq ft, plus materials and labor is pushing the budget.

I am most probably going the RaceDeck / Swisstrax / GarageTrac route - given that I can do that myself, I will only be spending on the tiles and that makes it a cheaper option.

Thanks again for all the tips and advice!

- SB

 

[JimVonBaden]

Thank you again everyone.. Unfortunately, I am giving up on tiles purely due to cost - the tile I want is $2.29/sq ft, plus materials and labor is pushing the budget.

I am most probably going the RaceDeck / Swisstrax / GarageTrac route - given that I can do that myself, I will only be spending on the tiles and that makes it a cheaper option.

Thanks again for all the tips and advice!

- SB

Your labor is free, and it is easier than you think.

Jim

 

[SapesOfIndia]

Thank you again everyone.. Unfortunately, I am giving up on tiles purely due to cost - the tile I want is $2.29/sq ft, plus materials and labor is pushing the budget.

I am most probably going the RaceDeck / Swisstrax / GarageTrac route - given that I can do that myself, I will only be spending on the tiles and that makes it a cheaper option.

Thanks again for all the tips and advice!

- SB

If you are not in a hurry then you can plan for the materials/install and then find a good deal on tiles. Look at Craigslist/Lowes/HD/contractors.

My tile is about $3/sq ft installed and I didn't skimp on quality of materials. I am not alone. There are several on this board who did same or even better than me. Compare this to any other tile and porcelain wins in the long run.

 

[Herb67SS]

Just as a point of reference:

I'm having 1000 sq ft of 18x18 PEI4 porcelain laid. My cost is $4/sq. ft. installed. That includes the tile. I bought the tile for less than $1/sq ft at HD.
Could have reduced that to around $2.25 sq ft by installing it myself.
Everything else is more when you factor in the total cost of prep etc.
The beauty of porcelain is ONCE AND DONE.

But you need to do what you fell most comfortable about.

 

[chenthu]

Just as a point of reference:

I'm having 1000 sq ft of 18x18 PEI4 porcelain laid. My cost is $4/sq. ft. installed. That includes the tile. I bought the tile for less than $1/sq ft at HD.
Could have reduced that to around $2.25 sq ft by installing it myself.
Everything else is more when you factor in the total cost of prep etc.
The beauty of porcelain is ONCE AND DONE.

Definitely agree on the once and done - and more than that, the clean look of porcelain tiles cant be beaten. But as you said, the key is if you can do it yourself, otherwise it does get expensive.