Tile vs tile flooring....?

[Jbmotorsports]

I haven't seen these two tiles compared directly so let's see what your guys opinions are. 750sq ft detached. I will do auto work/fabrication/welding etc in here as well as just hanging out. Seems there's pros and cons to each (for me at least)

I'm debating between a porcelain wood plank look tile vs the NewAge stone composite flooring.

Main advantage of the NewAge floor is ease of installation. Also, I like the idea of not standing directly on the cold floor and I imagine these may insulate slightly from that as I stand all day in a concrete floored shop so some change might be nice. It's very echoey (?) in there so some sound deadening might be nice for just hanging out. But then I worry about doing work on them. I ordered a sample and found them to be extremely durable to abrasion and maybe I should try letting weld spatter or grinder sparks hit one and test that. But I could always put something down for mitigation I suppose.

The porcelain tiles, I feel, would look better and the durability has been proven if laid properly. But I lose out on any insulation from the floor and the amount of time it will take to install. Seems like even though I can find the tiles around $1/sqft that when it's all said and done it may be a little cheaper than the newage but that's not my deciding factor.

I'm torn between them at the moment so I'd just like to hear what some of yall think

 

[Toyo72]

We put NewAge tile in our kitchen, laundry room, and one living area, 1000+ sq ft. Underneath was stained concrete. Not exactly comparable to using it in a garage, but I can give you our experience. The final product was great, but it is not tolerant at all of an uneven surface. You must make sure that you are well within their guidance of 3/16" over a 10' span (iirc), and flatten or float any bumps, ridges, divits, etc. The product is so thick and stiff that the locking mechanism isn't tolerant of anything but a flat surface (it will creak and pop), and it isn't as easy to install as the marketing. Also, you must give it the required room to float, not a problem typically in a garage, but follow the instructions to the letter and use spacers around all edges when installing. All in all we are very happy with it, it is resistant to impacts and scratching, and seems like it will hold up very well.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

I noticed those things in the sample and had concerns of that as well and asked them about and they were kinda like you'll be fine. I know certain areas will need to be leveled but I figured I would need to do that either way. After my experience installing very thin vinyl laminate and thinking I could get away with some relatively minor surface imperfections I am aware of how important the foundation is for this type of flooring. Thought I could cut corners when leveling because I was being lazy and kicked myself for it, cracked and sloppy/compressible areas will constantly remind me not to shortcut there lol

 

[duneslider]

Technically, the spec for tile is 1/4" deviation in 10'. But truth is even that much deviation with a larger tile is very difficult to do. Plank tile is going to be much easier to deal with if you are more like 1/8" in 10'. The flatter you start with the easier and better the install goes. So, whether you need to grind down some highs, or fill up lows before laying it helps a lot.

I will say, installing click together is going to be way easier and faster.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

I guess there's not too much actual experience with the new age tile that I have found in relation to a shop that gets worked in like I plan. I hesitate to do it just to "try it out" I am under the impression that the porcelain is pretty much exactly what I need otherwise. Decisions decisions

 

[Armorpoxy]

We have had some customers use the New Age and they have told us that it is sort of like a cement board with a vinyl VCT type covering. A dropped tool or sharp object will damage the vinyl on the board so for a working garage it may not be the best choice. Also as noted above due to it's high level of not being flexible, the floor must be very level for the slats to connect.

Another solution would be something like our www.supratile.com heavy duty interlocking tiles. These virtually cannot be damaged, have a lifetime warranty, and install in just hours.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Ok, I'll agree with those accounts. I had previously tested it by smacking it with a hammer and it handled that well. Last night I took a large flathead driver and dropped it around chest high straight on the blade and it dug out a huge chip. Definetly a no go. So now I need to decide between real tile, epoxy or something like your supratile. It's so damn hard to decide I may just flip a coin

On the plus side I wouldn't have to empty the whole garage to install the supratile

 

[duneslider]

Everyone talks about the real tile like it is indestructible but the reality is that it isn't. IF installed perfect it will hold up very well and most likely will withstand some drops of screw drivers and such but it absolutely can and will break. When I demo tile I use a hammer to smash it up. There is a limit to everything and fixing a broken tile is a fair bit of work.

There are pluses and minus' to all the different types of flooring. I'm a licensed tile contractor and I won't be putting tile in my garage, just doesn't work for me and I could do it basically for free. For me sealed concrete does what I want it to do. That doesn't mean tile, or laminate, or whatever isn't right for someone else. For me, there are just a lot of things I don't like about tile in a garage. I do have a tile backsplash behind the sink in the garage.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Just for conversation sake what are some of the reasons you wouldn't do it?

I think it may be too much work that I don't feel like doing but I want to do something that will last and would grin and bear it if its worth it. I got samples of racedeck and i personally don't like the feeling of it, though if I was doing a non working garage I would love to do the free flow tile

 

[Dakota00]

Everyone talks about the real tile like it is indestructible but the reality is that it isn't. IF installed perfect it will hold up very well and most likely will withstand some drops of screw drivers and such but it absolutely can and will break. When I demo tile I use a hammer to smash it up. There is a limit to everything and fixing a broken tile is a fair bit of work.

There are pluses and minus' to all the different types of flooring. I'm a licensed tile contractor and I won't be putting tile in my garage, just doesn't work for me and I could do it basically for free. For me sealed concrete does what I want it to do. That doesn't mean tile, or laminate, or whatever isn't right for someone else. For me, there are just a lot of things I don't like about tile in a garage. I do have a tile backsplash behind the sink in the garage.

As an ex tile contractor myself I respect your opinion duneslider, however I disagree with you. A properly installed tile floor can withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it in a working garage setting. One member here I recall dropped a transmission on his tiled floor, leaving no damage not even a scratch. It's been many years since I tiled my garage floor and it's been nothing but remain in perfect condition. Never chipped or broken a tile, as far as I know all members in this forum with tiled garage floors experienced the same.

To each their own in which floor covering a person chooses to best suit their needs. However, for a working garage the only permanent flooring option that can take the abuse other than a bare concrete floor is porcelain tiles.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

That was my impression as well based on all the "research" I've been doing over the past few months. I do like the idea of something like the supratile as I would appreciate the insulating effect and sound deadening as well. I know most people wouldn't care about that for a garage, and it's not something that's required but it is weighed in my decision making.

My friend said he would help me do the tile I just don't know how much work it will ACTUALLY be as I haven't done tile work before.

 

[Mark118]

As an ex tile contractor myself I respect your opinion duneslider, however I disagree with you. A properly installed tile floor can withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it in a working garage setting. One member here I recall dropped a transmission on his tiled floor, leaving no damage not even a scratch. It's been many years since I tiled my garage floor and it's been nothing but remain in perfect condition. Never chipped or broken a tile, as far as I know all members in this forum with tiled garage floors experienced the same.

To each their own in which floor covering a person chooses to best suit their needs. However, for a working garage the only permanent flooring option that can take the abuse other than a bare concrete floor is porcelain tiles.

I wholeheartedly agree with Dakota. I installed Porcelain over seven years ago. Since then I've regularly used floor jacks, jackstands, heavy tools, etc., on it; it's also been exposed to dropped tools & parts, heavy stuff sliding over it, etc.. It is easily swept, sprayed off and still looks new. In spite of constant use, never had a chip, scrape or any damage whatsoever. I'd never consider anything else.

 

[Shea]

We did a review on the NewAge floor tile. Yes, it will get damaged by sharp objects dropped on it and it will scratch. It just depends on the angle of the drop and weight. It's a crapshoot. It was more durable than we expected though. You can read the review below along with a few articles about porcelain tile in a garage. It's arguably the toughest flooring you can install.

NewAge Defies all the Rules with their Luxury Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles

Learn how durable NewAge LVT garage floor tiles are in our review. Plus, what we discovered with floor jacks, stain testing, and installation requirements.

allgaragefloors.com

Porcelain Tile | All Garage Floors

Discover the benefits of porcelain garage floor tiles. Includes installation tips and frequently asked questions.

allgaragefloors.com

 

[Shea]

I haven't seen these two tiles compared directly so let's see what your guys opinions are. 750sq ft detached. I will do auto work/fabrication/welding etc in here as well as just hanging out. Seems there's pros and cons to each (for me at least)

I'm debating between a porcelain wood plank look tile vs the NewAge stone composite flooring.

Main advantage of the NewAge floor is ease of installation. Also, I like the idea of not standing directly on the cold floor and I imagine these may insulate slightly from that as I stand all day in a concrete floored shop so some change might be nice. It's very echoey (?) in there so some sound deadening might be nice for just hanging out. But then I worry about doing work on them. I ordered a sample and found them to be extremely durable to abrasion and maybe I should try letting weld spatter or grinder sparks hit one and test that. But I could always put something down for mitigation I suppose.

The porcelain tiles, I feel, would look better and the durability has been proven if laid properly. But I lose out on any insulation from the floor and the amount of time it will take to install. Seems like even though I can find the tiles around $1/sqft that when it's all said and done it may be a little cheaper than the newage but that's not my deciding factor.

I'm torn between them at the moment so I'd just like to hear what some of yall think

We did a review on the NewAge floor tile. Yes, it will get damaged by sharp objects dropped on it and it will scratch. It just depends on the angle of the drop and weight. It's a crapshoot. It was more durable than we expected though. You can read the review below along with a few articles about porcelain tile in a garage. It's arguably the toughest flooring you can install.

NewAge Defies all the Rules with their Luxury Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles

Learn how durable NewAge LVT garage floor tiles are in our review. Plus, what we discovered with floor jacks, stain testing, and installation requirements.

allgaragefloors.com

Porcelain Tile | All Garage Floors

Discover the benefits of porcelain garage floor tiles. Includes installation tips and frequently asked questions.

allgaragefloors.com

 

[duneslider]

As an ex tile contractor myself I respect your opinion duneslider, however I disagree with you. A properly installed tile floor can withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it in a working garage setting. One member here I recall dropped a transmission on his tiled floor, leaving no damage not even a scratch. It's been many years since I tiled my garage floor and it's been nothing but remain in perfect condition. Never chipped or broken a tile, as far as I know all members in this forum with tiled garage floors experienced the same.

To each their own in which floor covering a person chooses to best suit their needs. However, for a working garage the only permanent flooring option that can take the abuse other than a bare concrete floor is porcelain tiles.

Don't get me wrong here, I do agree that a properly installed tile is extremely durable but anyone that claims it is indestructible is fooling themselves. There is no flooring that meets that criteria. If you were looking at a laminate click together and tile and wanted the most durable sure a proper tile job would be great.

I'm a bare concrete guy in garages, I would destroy tile with the stupid stuff I do. ie, I don't have an anvil so I use the floor.

Plus, I am lazy. If I had tile in my garage I would think I needed to clean it and I hate cleaning grout. I would be annoyed all the time when I saw dirty grout. I have a jeep that leaks stuff all over, I can't imagine the mental issues I would suffer if I saw that on my tile and grout. For some reason, I don't care about it on the concrete.

Anyway, tile is a premium product. If you are wanting that sort of garage then I think its a great choice. Just don't think its magic. I remember once on a job a guy was talking about how indestructible tempered glass was and he was hitting it with a hammer and then someone bumped the edge with something and the whole thing exploded. I have been to customers to replace tiles that had 100% perfect coverage but something dropped just right on an edge and chipped or cracked the tile. Again, not the end of the world, its fixable.

I will also say, if the tile is NOT done correctly it will not be as durable and more likely to have issues from dropping and breaking.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Shea, I actually found that to be the case and was VERY impressed with the new age in general I just worry because like duneslider I get a little lazy when doing work and end up not taking any precautions for collateral damage. I also have no delusions that porcelain tile is indestructible but repairing cracked tiles isn't the end of the world.


So I guess I'm back to deciding between the porcelain tile and something like the supratile as I think that would possibly be better for the kind of work I do as well as the way I work though I honestly have no idea either way

I only have concerns about tile installation as I won't be doing it myself as it would likely put me back in PT for back issues. I have found a guy to do the labor for 3k, and at $1/sqft for the tile it's pretty comparable to the supratile. I would likely lay something down on either surface when welding or grinding.

Man this is such a hard decision to make it's making me a little crazy, I'm at the analysis paralysis stage lol

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi, we are happy to send you a sample tile of our www.supratile.com and see if you can damage with with anything (well reasonably anything!) you drop on it!

 

[FMB4]

Concrete is the only way to go.