Smaller porcelain garage floor tiles or bigger ones?

[rcx132]

We had a thread about this earlier and I think I'm going for commercial porcelain garage floor tiles because they will last longer than PVC ones, they won't move around, and they should be more resistant to brake fluid and nasties and even welding splatter. Downside is install costs and they will be cold, and they need to be properly installed to be able to handle axle stands and jacks.

They come in 150 x 150mm or 200 x 200mm or 300 x 300mm sizes. I'm not sure which size to go for. I thought that if the floor is uneven then the smaller tiles will be more accommodating, and being smaller less chance of them breaking. They need to be installed with no voids under them to handle the loads and I thought the smaller ones would be easier to install rather than trying to get an even spread of adhesive under a big tile. What do you think?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Getting an even spread of adhesive with the right tool is very easy and you tend to do a largish area at a time, certainly a lot more than a single tile size, I imagine if you tried that method you stand more chance of getting voids.

Bigger is better is my view but I understand the comment regarding the floor condition.

 

[Shox Dr]

If the floor isn't level then it needs preparation with self leveling compound. Other wise you're in danger of having tiles stand proud by a few mm, doesnt sound much until you cant roll jacks around without them, getting stuck on the lip...sods law states it will be in the most used place on thr floor.

As Steve says, you need to be applying adhesive to a large area to even out the bed. But not too big, so it interferes with working space or working time of the adhesive.

However If you have never laid floor tiles, I'd looking at farming the job out.
Nothing worse than been reminded of your haste, everytime you use something

 

[vwmark]

How much have you found the tiles for? I have been looking for ages on fleabay etc.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@vwmark

Try Topp tiles. Ask for any end of range, Of warehouse damaged Shipments.

I have a friend, Neil, who did that. Through them he got enough tiles to do a small workshop. Ok. It had to be a interesting pattern.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

When laying them use a water proof latex adhesive and grout.

 

[rcx132]

How much have you found the tiles for? I have been looking for ages on fleabay etc.

12 per square metre:
http://www.directtilewarehouse.com/garage-tiles/

They are commercial, for use in garages and workshops, but they won't warrant them against axle stands.

 

[cumbriasteve]

We tiled under and around our four poster lifts to allow easy cleaning up of the usual drips and rust debris that falls when repairing or servicing.

It made cleaning easy but even the non slip were like glass with oil on as probably expected and a few did end up with some decent chips on the surface due to falling tools.

One thing you have to watch when using the adhesive spreader is that you use it at the same angle to the floor at all times, any change and the adhesive profile is not the same height, should imagine it would make little difference on a pedestrian floor but for heavy commercial use any difference can come back to bite you.

 

[knighty]

how do you want to tile your garage floor ? is concrete not better/more robust ?


if you want it to look nicer you could put down a decent epoxy floor paint ?

 

[vwmark]

@vwmark

Try Topp tiles. Ask for any end of range, Of warehouse damaged Shipments.

I have a friend, Neil, who did that. Through them he got enough tiles to do a small workshop. Ok. It had to be a interesting pattern.

Problem is the wife thinks the kitchen needs doing 1st.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@vwmark

Problem is the wife thinks the kitchen needs doing 1st.

she must be obayed.

You may wear the trousers, but we all know he tells you what colour and style.

 

[rcx132]

how do you want to tile your garage floor ? is concrete not better/more robust ?
if you want it to look nicer you could put down a decent epoxy floor paint ?

Properly sealing a concrete floor still costs money, I think it was a few hundred for my floor, same as the tiles (though the tiles still have additional install costs and adhesive cost). Without sealer it dusts. A few people on here have complained about epoxy paint just peeling off like a rubber sheet. Tiles just feel like a forever solution that isn't much more expensive that epoxy or sealing.

 

[mangocrazy]

If and when you do the tiling, don't forget to 'butter' the back of the tile with adhesive as well as applying it to the floor. It doesn't need to be a thick coat on the back of the tile, just enough to fill in any dips or hollows. Having both surfaces with adhesive makes for much better 'grab' and also reduces the risk of voids.

 

[Mee]

Unfortunately tiles are not recommended for garage/workshop floors and CS has highlighted the issue with oils/lubricants, but they are also slippery when wet despite the claims of them being anti slip or non slip. One other problem may be the grout as you may be able to use waterproof grout but this is easily attacked by various fluids and it sucks them up like a sponge.

Loading can be a problem with things such as jacks or axle stands, then of course there may be issues with items such as engine hoists where they carry a lot of weight and have high point loadings which will crack tiles.

For me its paint, many types exist and I like the PU types as they are cheap and readily applied, drop a tool or something heavier and it only damages the paint so out with a brush and coat it last thing and its repaired.

 

[rcx132]

If and when you do the tiling, don't forget to 'butter' the back of the tile with adhesive as well as applying it to the floor. It doesn't need to be a thick coat on the back of the tile, just enough to fill in any dips or hollows. Having both surfaces with adhesive makes for much better 'grab' and also reduces the risk of voids.

That's what the adhesive company said to do when installing commercial or garage tiles. They also said to water down the adhesive more than normal. But was surprised when they said that a comb should still be used.

 

[rcx132]

Unfortunately tiles are not recommended for garage/workshop floors and CS has highlighted the issue with oils/lubricants, but they are also slippery when wet despite the claims of them being anti slip or non slip. One other problem may be the grout as you may be able to use waterproof grout but this is easily attacked by various fluids and it sucks them up like a sponge.

Loading can be a problem with things such as jacks or axle stands, then of course there may be issues with items such as engine hoists where they carry a lot of weight and have high point loadings which will crack tiles.

For me its paint, many types exist and I like the PU types as they are cheap and readily applied, drop a tool or something heavier and it only damages the paint so out with a brush and coat it last thing and its repaired.

Hey Mee. So there are tiles specifically rated for workshop use that are non slip and can take loads. I read thru posts on this forum and other forums and porcelain tiles are popular in workshops in the US and some people are saying that raw ceramic tiles were once popular in the UK.

 

[Mee]

They don't make them, that's why I prefer paint.

You said the magic word "were" and many raw tiles were outlawed by environmental and H&S legislation.

 

[Crater Creator]

Porcelain tiles are a good looking option. If I was re-doing mine I would probably go for it. I used PVC interlocking but porcelain is nicer looking and would stand up to welding spatter much better than what I chose.
This link gives some good info on using porcelain (note: porcelain NOT just ceramic).
http://allgaragefloors.com/porcelain-garage-floor-questions/

 

[rcx132]

Porcelain tiles under a hammer:

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I am sure the OP has taken into account oils and grease.
I have laid bathroom graded tiles in a workshop with no issue.