Tiling my single vehicle garage

[michakaveli]

I've been pondering laying tile in my single bay garage. A lot of times there is a decent looking tile on clearance at Home Depot and Lowes, and was thinking of laying the floor out as a project sometime this summer. I was planning on laying down the plastic sheet (don't know what it's called) layer prior to laying the actualy tile down. Process being mortar, plastic sheet, mortar, tile.

Any tips or cons to doing this? Thanks Guys.

 

[RichardNorman]

The Home Depot near me has a decent 12x12 tan ceramic tile on clearance for .57 a square foot. I just bought a bunch for my basement and I'm thinking of doing part of my garage as well after seeing Jack Olsen's pics here on the forum.

That being said, I don't think laying plastic down before the tiles is a good idea. Maybe you mean Ditra? It's a anti crack layer?

 

[BoutTime64]

I think you mean Ditra too, that orange stuff that comes on a roll. Its pretty pricey but they say its the best for isolation between tile and the floor. I just finished a small tile job but am no expert. If the concrete floor is sound and free of structural cracks, (where one side comes up higher than the other) you migtht be able to just go straight down on to it. Otherwise Ditra is like 2$ a sq ft!

 

[michakaveli]

Yes, I was referring to the "Ditra". My floor currently has small cracks and I am concerned of new cracks surfaces or the existing cracks growing. Thanks guys, I wasn't sure what that was called.

 

[a91syncro]

Hey guys,
I set tile for a living so I guess I should chime in. As for Ditra it is made to uncouple the tile from the substrate in case there is some movement. I think less than an eigth of an inch. I have used it for years with no problems. If the cracks have been there a while you may not have to do anything, it depends on if they are still geting bigger. There are also some morters that will move with the cracks and not crack or weaken the tile. One brand is Custom Building Products Megalite Morter. I think it will witstand upto an eigth inch of movement. I hope this sheds some light on your project.

 

[michakaveli]

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[tcianci]

Another product that I have used is Custom building products REDGARD. It is a water based brush on membrane. Faster and cheaper than Ditra and it's always the right size. You brush or roll on the REDGARD, let it dry, apply a polymer modified thinset mortar and tile. But like others have metioned, if the floor is in good shape with stable cracks, a product like Megalite or other top line polymer modified mortar should do the trick

 

[MrMark]

I don't think I would do a tile job without Ditra if the substrate was the least bit suspect or prone to movement. I have read about some tile setters that won't even do a job anymore without Ditra. It's kind of like some painters and Benjamin Moore paint. If the slab is well settled you probably don't need to worry, though. Ditra is more essential for second floor applications and where you are not going right on a slab that is mature.