UK based Porcelain tiles

[MrChips]

I'm pretty sure there are a few fellow UK people on here, i'd be really keen to hear your experiences of a porcelain tiled floor. Especially whether you've had any issues with cold weather etc.

I'm really struggling to find a tile that I like. I'm keen to avoid a standard grey, but am worried that something too mottled/random might be a hinderance when actually working in the garage (mainly car detailing, but some mechanical stuff too). I've seen some like these:

Anyone (not just UK based of course) care to share their experience with more patterned tiles/wood effect tiles?

 

[Lee Celtic]

Hello MrChips.. I too am in the UK and am looking at flooring..

I've heard that black and white check has been done to death but thats because it looks sooooo good.. but can I find a plain black tile anywhere..? nope.. they all seem to have glitter or specks in them..

Just worried they will be slippy when wet or with sawdust ..Hope you find what your looking for.

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

Those are gorgeous examples.

After living with tile in my workshop for a year and now in my garage, I would say the larger format tiles are easier to roll jacks around on, but that represents only a uber-minor inconvenience. I installed 12x24 inch tiles in a staggered pattern and I LOVE the look and feel of tile.

If you are only going to park your Aston or Jag in the garage, do whatever looks great. If you plan on doing work in your shop, a dropped screw will bounce a ****** mile off hard porcelain tile. Finding it on a variegated design becomes troublesome if you do a lot of work on the surface.

I have Italian dark wood tiles in my house (and a shower!) and while it looks nice, it has a wood grain pattern that might be problematic in a garage situation. Again, it depends on your intended use. Finding a screw on this tile would take a flashlight and a magnet trolley.

While I know it hardly rains at your house, wet tile raises safety concerns. I bought a couple pieces and brought them home to wet them to verify their characteristics because no information was available from the package. Many tiles do have "wet" technical information that helps you choose a tile that keeps your garage from turning into a no-notice skating rink.

Tight grout joints are preferable. I would stay away from the Versailles pattern in the second photo. Wide joints are part and parcel of that style, though the tiles themselves look yummy.

Good luck! Lots of great choice out there.

Ray

 

[Hesketh]

I put porcelain tiles down my self 2 years ago in my garage and while it was one of those jobs I regretted starting when I was about half way through it, I am very pleased I have done this over paint or epoxy etc.

It has stood up well to some fairly heavy use and had engines and the like dragged across it, I did go posh and got a trolley jack with nylon wheels which is much nicer to use on a tilled floor. It has got quite dirty at times but just move the cars out and give it a good scrub and wash and it comes up like new.

I really cant comment on your question about the cold weather as the garage is heated and the coldest it has got is about 13-14C

There are some pics of the floor going down in the signature link below.

 

[MrChips]

Well, the garage is coming along nicely, electrics all done and walls about to be plastered. I'll do a proper thread once we're a little bit further.

As for the tiles.. I tried a few of the wood effect samples and I think they would work but only for a much larger garage (like many of the USA based ones on here!)

As it stands I've gone for a 600mm square very very light grey concrete effect. The bottom right on these samples:

I've tested how they faired when covered in old brake dust and grease and they cleaned up very easily so fingers crossed they'all be good. It should allow me to go for a darker wall colour without making the room seem small and dim.