Tile Questions

[MileHigh]

So after reading everything and deciding how much epoxy will actually cost me, plus it's just me to do the install I think I have decided to tile the garage. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money and most of that will be going to close on the house in a week, but I also don't want a cheap HD/Lowes tile. I came across this stuff on CL, supposedly PEI 5 porcelain for $1/sqft?

http://denver.craigslist.org/mat/3150194035.html

Its the 3rd picture, Cervino 13x13. I'm going to try and take a look at it this weekend and find out the exact thickness and break strength. My garage is just over 700 sqft and with other materials will probably come in right around 1k installing it myself. I've done plenty of bath and kitchen tile before but nothing this large or heavy use.

Thought on the other material:

Grout - don't want to rush with epoxy but a few stores have highly recommended use of a poly grout. Anyone else used this stuff recently? Any good places online to get a better price? What makes a good quality poly grout?

Thinset/Mortar - Still trying to research the best stuff but from the shops and what I found so far, TEC Super Flex provides superb shear bond force of 700psi. Now I'm still a DIY guy so I don't really know how much that comes in to play. I assume that means that i wont just have tiles popping up and even if my garage settles a bit the small amount of flexibility of the latex additive would probably help? Open to suggestions.

Preparation:

I've read countless threads on multiple steps of surface prep for epoxy floors. What it really needed for tile? Its a new house, so clean concrete and been cured for 60days minimum. It would seem that I wouldn't have to do much if the thinset has such a good bond strength?

If anyone has found a specific manufacturer of cost effective, well suited porcelain tile please share!

If I do decided to go ahead with this, don't worry I will post a thread on the project

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Ooh, this looks like a good option. I'm building a place in Highlands Ranch as we speak, and hope to follow in your footsteps. I'll be tracking your progress. Good luck.
Oh, and these tiles might not be solid color all the way through. They may be glazed, which would not be great if one were to chip. I don't think it's a huge deal, though.

 

[JimVonBaden]

IMHO, Porcelain is the way to go, with a smooth surface for cleaning. You really don't want too much texture, and you don't want a lot of crown in your tile.

Jim

 

[MileHigh]

Pat congrats on having a place built out there. I'm actually staying with family right near Aspen Grove until I move in. I'm just wrapping up with my new home construction now.

The tile is not through color, but that seems to take the price up to $5-$8 sqft. I can just buy an extra box or two to replace any that get broke/chipped but I don't see that really being a problem for me. I do plan on working on the cars but its not an industrial shop.

Yea, that's what I really want to see in person is the texture and crowning of these tiles. Plus they mention other styles and color.

Jim, where in NOVA are you? I just moved from Springfield/Fairfax.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Jim, where in NOVA are you? I just moved from Springfield/Fairfax.

I live in Alexandria, half a mile from 395 on Seminary Raod.

Jim

 

[Jack Olsen]

The Lowes porcelain stuff (which is often $1/sf) is PEI 5, I'm pretty sure.

I don't know about the stuff in your picture, other than that some of those colors and patterns might take a while to get used to.

I spill engine and gear oil and lots of other stuff all the time. My solution was to use the inexpensive grout in a dark color. Nothing stains dark brown, and while there's nothing wrong with the epoxy stuff, it's pricey and also a headache to work with.

Four years ago, I used the cheap, basic thinset, grout and (ceramic, PEI 4) tile from Home Depot. I hit the (terrible, un-level) 80-year-old pad with a pressure washer and degreaser and set the first tiles I'd ever set. None of them has ever come loose. I'm really happy with how it's worked.

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Pat congrats on having a place built out there. I'm actually staying with family right near Aspen Grove until I move in. I'm just wrapping up with my new home construction now.

The tile is not through color, but that seems to take the price up to $5-$8 sqft. I can just buy an extra box or two to replace any that get broke/chipped but I don't see that really being a problem for me. I do plan on working on the cars but its not an industrial shop.

It sounds like you and I have similar priorities. I may end up going with a glazed tile also, as I'm not willing to spend $5 per square foot on tile. If I can do $1 per square foot for quality glazed tile with minimal crown, I'll likely do that.
BTW, I live near Wads/470, just a few minutes from Aspen Grove.

 

[mothgrey]

What prep is needed for the tile on concrete?

 

[MWilding]

What prep is needed for the tile on concrete?

I have an old epoxy finish in **** shape on mine and was quoted for grinding and acid washing. It's all about the prep if you go the epoxy route. That and not getting cheapo product.

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

I'm just now deciding tile is the way to go for me too. I'm buying a 3-car in Roxborough. Should close end of september.

Did you buy the tile? Good quality/good price/honest guy, etc?

I'm hoping to do a checker pattern- do they have light and dark at good price?
Thanks

 

[Pat Mickelson]

I'm just now deciding tile is the way to go for me too. I'm buying a 3-car in Roxborough. Should close end of september.

Did you buy the tile? Good quality/good price/honest guy, etc?

I'm hoping to do a checker pattern- do they have light and dark at good price?
Thanks

I have not tiled my new garage yet, and likely won't for a year or two. Other things have taken priority over that. Besides, we don't move into the new place until a month from now.
You're paying someone else to do it? I'd love to see the process and/or outcome.

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Doing it myself
I've done kitchen basement before
It's easy
You're welcome to help if you want to practice/learn

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Great, thank you. Just let me know when you plan on getting started and I may stop by.
Cheers!

 

[MileHigh]

I'm just now deciding tile is the way to go for me too. I'm buying a 3-car in Roxborough. Should close end of september.

Did you buy the tile? Good quality/good price/honest guy, etc?

I'm hoping to do a checker pattern- do they have light and dark at good price?
Thanks

I ended up grabbing some good stuff from another guy on CL. 12x24 PEI V for .48/sqft.

I've done tile before (blacksplashes, bathroom, showers, etc) but man the garage is a lot more work. One thing I would definitely do is use a self leveler. Its taking me 2-3 times longer to lay having to account for all the unevenness across the whole garage.

I just hit 50% tile laid this weekend. Slow but steady.

Take a look at Floor & Decor Outlets down there in near you on County Line.

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Wow, I can't believe you found that tile for so cheap. That is exactly what I am hoping for, although I'd lay mine 90 degrees different from yours. nice!

 

[MileHigh]

Yea I was originally planning to run them horizontal and avoid trying to run 40ft long straight lines back. But after sketching up the layout I found out I would save A LOT of cutting running it this way.

Even though they are rectified and I could do smaller joint, I went with 1/8. Again it made a tremendous different on the final spacing and reduction of cuts I will have to make.

I'm leaving out all the tiles that will have to be cut so I can do those at the end and just rent the tile saw for one day.

 

[Pat Mickelson]

Wow, and they're rectified? What a screamin' deal! Was it an odd lot or some kind of special pricing? Their store is just 1.5 miles north of our new house, so that would be a great way for me to go, too. That is, if they have something like that in a year or two.

 

[MileHigh]

Well it left overs from a pro bono project in the area. This guy volunteered to install 3-4 pallets of tile in some rehab projects. They had 3/4 of a pallet left and told him he could keep it for his work. It came down to having to get it out of his buddy's garage asap. Screamin deal indeed. It's looking like I'll have to buy about 60-80sqft at full retail but not a problem at all!

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Damn! I saw that ad on CL last night and sent him an email- no reply. You must have gotten it before me. Hope it turns out well.

 

[ScaldedDog]

MileHigh, that guy gave me a few of those tiles to test, and they are sitting in my garage. You're welcome to them.

Mark

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Milehigh-
Instead ofrenting a saw you might consider buying one the re-selling it. there are several on CL that LOOK good for around $150-200. Let me know if you do- I'd split depreciation for using it.
BTW- I have a $40 saw from harbor freight- it works- its just SLOW. Too slow for such a big project

 

[MileHigh]

MileHigh, that guy gave me a few of those tiles to test, and they are sitting in my garage. You're welcome to them.

Mark

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

I may take you up on that. How many do you have? I'm going to be swinging by my folks place in Littleton this weekend either Saturday evening or Sunday.

Milehigh-
Instead of renting a saw you might consider buying one the re-selling it. there are several on CL that LOOK good for around $150-200. Let me know if you do- I'd split depreciation for using it.
BTW- I have a $40 saw from harbor freight- it works- its just SLOW. Too slow for such a big project

I bought a cheap one for my previous bathroom remodels and sold it when I was done. But for this type of tile I know those wouldn't "cut" it. I may look in to that, but I'm also going to crunch the numbers on seeing what the store charges for installation when I go to buy the remaining tile I need. It may only end up costing me 100-150 for them to install the ~30sqft that will need to be cut.


BTW, for all interested: Lowes (at least the one by my house) will cut your tiles to size if you buy from them. Good thing to consider, just buy the final amount of tile seperate and bring in all your measurements. Would save time and money if they have a tile you like.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I have 4-5 of them. PM me.

Mark

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[Herb67SS]

What prep is needed for the tile on concrete?

Anybody gonna answer this? Or is it just wash, and lay tile?

 

[Dakota00]

^^^ Degrease the concrete, wash it, make sure it's completely dry, then go ahead and start tiling.

 

[Herb67SS]

^^^ Degrease the concrete, wash it, make sure it's completely dry, then go ahead and start tiling.

Thanks Dakota00!

Since the OP seems to have what info he needs right now, thought I'd borrow the thread.

Just had my floor poured but won't be able to tile or anything until next summer. Is there a joint filler I can use to fill the expansion grooves so they aren't a dirt trap until I can tile that is also ok for using under thinnest or epoxy?

Not planning on epoxy but next summer is a long way offhand things could change. Right now I'm thinking tile.

Tx

 

[Dakota00]

Personally I would leave the control joints empty. When it comes time to tile, clean the joint with a shop vac. But if you want to fill the joint, use a concrete crack filler. It wont affect the thin set.

 

[Herb67SS]

Ok. That's good avice. I can live with not filling them.

Never thought of concrete crack filler.

Again, thanks.