Porcelain Tile in Garage

[Tom in Buffalo]

Hello,

I am a DYI and would like to know if porcelain tile in a garage floor is doable in a cold weather climate like Buffalo, NY?

What are the pittfalls if any?

What should be considered if attempting a job like this?

[Davy]

Hi Tom, welcome. About the same as if it were your kitchen floor.

1. Start with a clean slab, the prep work is important. No paint, texture or grease.

2. Check for slab cracks, treat with a membrane if needed.

3. Use a top notch thinset and make sure you have good thinset coverage. Skim coat the backs.

4. This might be a good place for epoxy grout to eliminate staining.

These are off the top of my head, others will chime in.

[Lazarus]

It's fine for your application.

If it's enclosed, drainage probably isn't an issue, but it should be flat, the surface should not be sealed, a rougher or textured surface is preferable and it should allow a little water sprinkled on the surface to absorb.

Expansion joints should be employed for any "run" of over 20 or so feet and the tile should be "held back" a quarter inch or so at the perimeters.

[Tom in Buffalo]

Thank you for the feedback.

No issues with the control joints being filled in with mortar? No concerns about the freeze thaw cycle that would cause cracking?

Sorry about the questions, but I want to be sure before I start this project.

Also, is there any advantage with intstalling a membrane?

[Lazarus]

The control joints should be filled with a flexible, possibly color-matching silicone caulk. If you have fairly wide grout joints, you can use a rubber "backer rod" sealed over with the caulk mentioned above. This may help with the freeze-thaw cycle.

If the slab is properly prepped...and no significant cracks, use a quality thinset and you're probably OK. A membrane such as Ditra or Greenskin is certainly good insurance, however.....

[Tom in Buffalo]

Laz,

The floor is solid with no cracks. I have done some work on cars in there so there may be a couple of spots with oil/grease. What do you recommend product wise / technique wise to prep the concrete floor??

[Lazarus]

It's tempting to use solvents to remove the grease spots, but don't do it. They tend to allow the oil, etc to penetrate deeper into the slab. You might try a solution of TSP, brushed on the spots, followed by a pressure washing with clear water.

I'm sure you'll get some other responses about alternative methods. Sit tight.

[jim_c]

Cool idea.
A friend of mine has a tiled floor in his garage and it looks like a showroom.
We are not far from you so it is feasible in this climate (S. Ontario).

[Tom in Buffalo]

Hi Jim,

Is your friend's garage in a cold climate as well?? any pics??

[jim_c]

Sorry Tom, I don't have any pics but my friend's garage looks amazing. He has the alternating black and white pattern like a chessboard.
He is near Hamilton which has about the same climate as you only worse. Humid and cold in winter, hot and dry in summer.
If you have the finances and if it's going to be practical, I'm sure you will like your tiled floor. Obviously you have to follow good practices and use good materials. I suggest you research this very carefully since there are a lot of wrong ways to tile a floor. But then go ahead and do it!
JC

[dhagin]

What Davy said. You might also consider a crack isolation membrane, like NobleSeal, over the control joints if you can't get the tile layout to align grout joints with them. And don't use any solvents over any part of the floor.

Post some photos of the floor for us. Is it a smooth steel trowel finish? Sealed or painted? Does it absorb water quickly? You may need to grind the whole thing depending on the answers to these questions.