Latex additive under porcelain in garage

[wesalexleft]

I'm getting ready to put down porcelain in a 20' X 20' garage in the Memphis, TN area. The garage is used for some motorcycles (not much weight), one car, and general shop use mostly of maintenence and repair of vehicles. No heavy duty welding/banging/machinery involved other than the rolling tool chest. Summer highs in the 100+ occasionally. Winter lows around freezing with occasional teens to single digits, but this doesnt last long and I don't see the slab and ground going through a hard freeze often. The garage is kept in the 60's for most of the winter with a small heater and vehicle heat.
So here's the question. Tile can be had at the $1 to $1.50 per sq. ft. almost all the time. PEI V. Looking at Kerabond and Keralastic which I've heard is good stuff, but the latex additive is almost the price of the tile it appears. For 400 sq. ft, I'm lookin at 10 gallons of the stuff, and it's $160.00/5 gallon. Is this necessary? All labor will be done by me...I've tiled plenty before, but I hate to see the cost amost double due to the thinset additive if it's not needed. Of course, I don't want to do it again any time soon either.

[MileHigh]

What about Keraply? Can be found $11-$12/2 gallons. Seems that it will help with freeze/thaw conditions and similar concerns. That's what I've been thinking of using for an additive.

[Dakota00]

Kerabond and keralastic is a must in temperature changing climates. That's all I use in my exterior tile and stone jobs. I do dilute the 5gal pail with water to a near 50/50 mix. To save on cost. Never had any problems with the floors I've done. Considering the amount of money you'll be saving on labor dont cut corners and not use the latex additive.

[MileHigh]

Would this do any good?
Keraply Additive

Add it to the medium grade flex mortar?
Ultraflex1

Hey Dakota, is there any major difference or benefit between using white or gray mortar?

[slickgt1]

Originally Posted by Dakota00

Kerabond and keralastic is a must in temperature changing climates. That's all I use in my exterior tile and stone jobs. I do dilute the 5gal pail with water to a near 50/50 mix. To save on cost. Never had any problems with the floors I've done. Considering the amount of money you'll be saving on labor dont cut corners and not use the latex additive.

+1. Do it and don't skimp out.

[MileHigh]

Maybe I'm missing something but when I search for kerbond and kerlastic I don't find anything at Lowe's or HD. All I get is the flex mortar and Keraply polymer additive... ?

[Dakota00]

Originally Posted by MileHigh

Would this do any good?
Keraply Additive

Add it to the medium grade flex mortar?
Ultraflex1

Hey Dakota, is there any major difference or benefit between using white or gray mortar?

Hey MileHigh,

Ultraflex 1 is the cheapest thin-set you can get for basic adhesion. But it does the job. Personally I would never use Ultraflex 1 in a exterior application. Get the proper thin-set and latex that is designed and made for exterior application. What you posted will probably cost the same as the Kerabond thin-set without the same benefits.

Reason for the different color thin-set is because you don't want to use a grey thin-set when laying light or white marble and stone. Grey thin-set will bleed through the marble, I've seen it first hand from hack jobs. That's where the white thin-set comes in to play.

[Dakota00]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_67997-1295-0020050L_4294856526

BTW, go to a few local tile shops and ask them about the kerabond/keralastic, they usually will give you a discount on prices which will beat any big box stores.

For me, to give you an idea I get 40-50% discount off the price from my local tile shop, compared to a big box stores.

[illy]

Dakota00
So you dilute it...afew questions...
what floor prep do you need to do?
what notch size for 1x2ft tile
What grout spacing do you recommend?

[Dakota00]

Floor Prep: old concrete floor, I degrease the floor, wash it, vacuum the remaining water, let dry for a little time, then lay down the ditra membrane if the customer wants it or skip that and start laying tiles.

Notch size would be 1/2" trowel for floor, back butter the tile smooth, or with a 1/4" trowel.

Grout joint depends on the tiles, rectified tiles 1/16" or less, rounded edge tiles about 1/8", exterior limestone and granites 1/4"

[Turbota]

I used Ultraflex 1 thinset mortar from Lowes to lay the 20" x 20" porcedlain tiles in my garage. A 50 Lb bag is less than $15.

No problems at all ... but I live in Florida if that makes any differance.

[illy]

Thanks for your help.
The floor is one year old so no need to degrease.

[Dakota00]

Originally Posted by Turbota

I used Ultraflex 1 thinset mortar from Lowes to lay the 20" x 20" porcedlain tiles in my garage. A 50 Lb bag is less than $15.

No problems at all ... but I live in Florida if that makes any differance.

Makes a big difference when living in a warmer climate all year round.