Porcelain tile & engine hoist/engine stand

[Mikaman]

New house, new workshop floor, deciding whether to epoxy or do something else ... forgive me but you guys have GOT to be kidding about laying porcelain tile! I've laid a lot of tile, no problem doing the job, and I guess it would be OK just to park on, or maybe do the occasional oil change. But I can't imagine rolling a loaded engine hoist or engine stand over a grouted tile floor! Anybody here who really does that?

And dragging a floor jack from the corner of the shop to the car, must make a hell of a racket.

Maybe lay it with a really narrow grout line, like less than 1/8"? Or maybe would help if it was laid in a diagonal pattern (since I tend to move the hoist in straight lines parallel to the sidewall) so the casters might span the grout lines without getting stuck in a rut -- maybe/kinda.

I mean, other than that, the porcelain tile idea sounds good ... low cost, durable, attractive, no maintenance. But it seems to me that they'd be impractical for a serious working workshop. Or am I missing something, or overthinking it, or just plain wrong?

[bdamico]

Originally Posted by Mikaman

Or am I missing something, or overthinking it, or just plain wrong?

Yes. Read up. Look at the way Jack uses his shop and he has ceramic.

[Jack Olsen]

Yes. My ceramic tile isn't as strong as porcelain. I never thought about noise -- I certainly haven't noticed any difference from bare concrete. It isn't any more slippery, either. I've used jacks and jack stands on mine in ways that would make epoxy owners cringe. I've rolled a 550-lb engine over it perched on a small steel floor jack. I've spilled every automotive fluid there is on it. I've spilled paint stripper on it. Dropped tools. It's held up great. The only thing that doesn't wipe off clean with a paper towel is dried-on oil-based paint (and a razor blade takes that off).

Here's me hitting it with a 4-lb sledgehammer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elJtN6nRlhk

The key to tile strength lies in the way it's installed. If there are voids under the tile, you'll have problems. Like concrete, tile is very strong in compression, but weak in tension.

[JakeKohl]

Apparently, (I'm finding out in about 6 weeks) if you use a rectified tile, you can get a really tight grout line and avoid much of the "ka-chunk ka-chunk" when rolling things.

[rickyrj1]

I have had my porcelain floor for about 3yrs now with no issues. I have a kwick lift on it. It looks as good as the day it was completed. Black & gray 18" tiles with black grout.

[slickgt1]

Search my name, and "can your floor do this". You will see more action.

[Turbota]

I am having glazed porcelain 20" x 20" rectified tiles layed on my 3-car garage floor (585 Sq. Ft.) as we speak. As someone mentioned, rectified tiles can be layed very close together with very narrow grout lines, if wanted.

For someone that may not know what a rectified tile is ... These are tiles that are fired as one very large piece. Then they are cut to size (after being fired) which results in a perfect size with perfect straight 90 degree edges. Because of this, they can be set very close together.

I don't know if ceramic tile is manufactured as rectified, but much of the porcelain tile is.

To get a cost idea of having my porcelain project done:
___________________________

Garage Floor Area:
30' W x 19.5' D
(585 Sq Ft.)

20" x 20" Tiles (Tilecrest 'Illusion'):
$ 20.55 per box of 6
37 boxes needed
$ 760

Thinset Dry Mortar (Mapei 'Ultraflex 1'):
$ 11.31 per 50 lb. bag
11 bags needed
$ 124

Sanded Grout (Keracolor):
$ 11.95 per 25 lb. bag
1 bag needed
$ 12

Delivery Charge:
$ 29

Tax:
$ 52

Installation Labor:
$ 1.50 per Sq. Ft.
585 Sq. Ft.
$ 878

Total Cost: $ 1,855.....($ 3.17 per Sq. Ft. Installed)

(Prices above includes a Lowes 10% Military Discount on Materials)
.

[ScaldedDog]

Originally Posted by rickyrj1

I have had my porcelain floor for about 3yrs now with no issues. I have a kwick lift on it. It looks as good as the day it was completed. Black & gray 18" tiles with black grout.

What gray tile? If I could find some, I'd do this.

Mark


Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[bdamico]

Originally Posted by Turbota

I am having glazed porcelain 20" x 20" rectified tiles layed on my 3-car garage floor (585 Sq. Ft.) as we speak. As someone mentioned, rectified tiles can be layed very close together with very narrow grout lines, if wanted.

Yeah. I don't have much of a grout line in my garage. Why you going with sanded? Gonna do 1/8?

[Turbota]

Yes, I told the tile guy I wanted 1/8" spacing between the tiles.

I was a little leary about finding a tile guy on Craig's List, but the guy that is installing my tiles is doing a great job, and the lines between the tiles are straight as an arrow. He is using a very long level too to make sure all the tiles are the same height.

The installer is originally from Poland, but has been here in the US now for the last 15 years laying tile ... He originally said on Craig's List that he charges $1.25 per Sq. Ft, but I told him that I would pay him $1.50 if I got a good job ... and he certainly is doing that.

I will post some photos of the completed job when my wife gets back from an out of the country trip on 4 July (she has the camera with her) .... my cell phone camera is screwed up.

All I have to show you is the outside of the garage ... which is really of no help.

[bdamico]

Originally Posted by Turbota

Yes, I told the tile guy I wanted 1/8" spacing between the tiles.

I was a little leary about finding a tile guy on Craig's List, but the guy that is installing my tiles is doing a great job, and the lines between the tiles are straight as an arrow. He is using a very long level too to make sure all the tiles are the same height.

The installer is originally from Poland, but has been here in the US now for the last 15 years laying tile ... He originally said on Craig's List that he charges $1.25 per Sq. Ft, but I told him that I would pay him $1.50 if I got a good job ... and he certainly is doing that.

I will post some photos of the completed job when my wife gets back from an out of the country trip on 4 July (she has the camera with her) .... my cell phone camera is screwed up.

All I have to show you is the outside of the garage ... which is really of no help.

Many of them--including big companies--advertise on craigslist here in miami. I wouldn't sweat it. The range seemed to be what you're paying and upwards of $2.50 for companies with employees. I think I paid close to a $1.50 with extras. And seeing how fast they laid the tile, I don't feel guilty at all because he did okay on an hourly basis. I'm really glad I did the baseboards. You should consider it if you're not already.

[Turbota]

Tile baseboards would be nice, but on my house, the interior garage walls are some kind of a white painted cement stucco finish, so there is no drywall to get wet.

I am going to play this one by ear.

I might even consider that 5" rubber type baseboard, but I don't know how good it would stick to the painted textured cement walls?

My floor tile is kind of an 'earth tone' beige color. with some swirls in it ... if I could find that rubber baseboard in someing a little lighter than the common dark brown I have seen before, that might look good?

Jeeeze ... I wish I had a camera to show you of the tile job as it sets right now.
_____________________________

BTW .... For people that think tile garage floors will crack when you drive your car or heavy truck on it, that just ain't true. I have 16" x 16" ceramic tiles on both my driveway and my carport on my house in the Philippines ... and after driving on it for 2 years, there is not one crack! .... and ceramic is not as hard as porcelain.

[bdamico]

You can pick that up from lowes or homedepot and see how it looks--return if it doesn't look good. My understanding is that the rolls adhere better than strips but my knowledge is limited. And if you do decide to do baseboards, don't offer/pay too much. It added $100 to my job and he made the baseboards from tiles cut lengthwise into threes. A ton of extra work

[Turbota]

Thank's dbamico

I also am looking to get some of those oak finished cabinets that you put together and hang on the walls. I had them in the garage of the house I used to own in Illinois, and they were pretty well made and looked good too.

Right now, my house I just bought here in Cape Coral (photo above) is nothing but an empty 3-car garage (totally empty of everything) ... Hey, but really nice looking floors!

The tile guy said ... the garage floor tiles he is installing would even look nice inside the house!

And to be honest, I think I really like them a little better than the tile that are in fact inside the house ... maybe I might just move out in the garage when my wife gets back from her trip! ..... next is a nice flat screen TV out there
________________

EDIT ... And a small beer refrigerator!

[sheddownunder]

A quick question - l can get a polished tile cheap, so is a polished porcelain tile ok for a garage floor?

[Dakota00]

You can use polished porcelain in your garage, you just have to be very careful when the floor is wet. It's very dangerous if you park your cars in the garage after it rains or snows.

[Carguy99]

Originally Posted by Dakota00

You can use polished porcelain in your garage, you just have to be very careful when the floor is wet. It's very dangerous if you park your cars in the garage after it rains or snows.

this would be my question. I live in snow and rain country. I like the look but I wonder how slippery it would be???

[JakeKohl]

Originally Posted by Carguy99

this would be my question. I live in snow and rain country. I like the look but I wonder how slippery it would be???

different tiles are...different depending on firing process, finish type, etc.... Best bet is to go to the retailer with a spray bottle of water and give them a try.