Floor Tiles for Garage Brewing

[JackOlsen]

Double post. Sorry.

 

[bleme]

I work for a tile contractor. We put tile in auto dealerships every day. Several of our tile setters have installed tile in their garage. We do put down a coating of Redgard before nearly every tile installation now to keep cracks from transmitting up through the tile but this is mostly a problem with new concrete. Buildings these days don't let the concrete cure long enough.

There is also a big difference between ceramic and porcelain tiles. Ceramic is fine for walls but I would only put porcelain on my floors. As far as being slick, modern tile has all kinds of surfaces. The wood-look tile in my office has an wood-like grain that makes it pretty slip resistant, yet I can put all my weight behind drawing a knife blade across it and not scratch it a bit. We normally sell it for $1.29/sf but it is on sale for $.40/sf for our 40 year anniversary. If you aren't in a hurry and keep an eye out, deals like that are bound to pop up.

 

[TallDan]

I don't know a thing about making beer. But I can maybe add to this conversation a little. I put the tile in my garage. That was me hitting it with the 4-lb sledge hammer.

Welcome to HBT! Love the garage and the car, I think I first saw it on Jalopnik several years ago.

We could help you start brewing beer in no time if you have an interest! Your DIY spirit would definitely fit in here.

 

[kh54s10]

Well, I stand corrected on the durability of the tiles, as long as the floor itself doesn't crack.But at the quoted $350

 

[Stealthcruiser]

My long-term plan is outdoor-grade porcelain tile. If you DIY, it can run $2.50 sq ft or less. Properly installed it is the toughest flooring, shrugs off oil, water, tools dropping, jack stands, freeze/thaw cycles . . .you name it.

.

Tools dropping, no.
It will chip.

Jack stands, I wouldn't chance it straight on the tile.

Edit: I'm talking ceramic tiles, which I have in my brew area.

 

[kh54s10]

I stand corrected on the durability of the ceramic tiles, unless the floor itself cracks. For me, I will stick with epoxy. That is for the cost and the labor of the install.

But then again, if I ran into a lot of money I would love a tiled floor in a huge garage with classic cars.....

 

[JackOlsen]

Tools dropping, no.
It will chip.

Jack stands, I wouldn't chance it straight on the tile.

Edit: I'm talking ceramic tiles, which I have in my brew area.

Ceramic tile, right here. You can see the flush-with-the-floor top of the lift underneath the car -- I covered it with the same tiles.

Here's the whole rear end of a (rear engine) car pressing through a steel wheel onto one tile:

(And in the background you can see the anvil I dropped on the tiles.)

 

[bleme]

Most porcelain tile have a compressive strength of at least 20,000 lbs per square inch. As long as you install so there isn't lippage, which would focus all the weight on an edge, they can hold just about anything.

 

[sjfischr]

Thank you all for the advice.
After all of the thought, I am going to avoid rubberized tile because of the potential for nasty, stick wort to get underneath. However, porcelain tiles, epoxy, all of that stuff seems like a lot of trouble.

I think I am going to stick with MaryB's suggestion as a neighbor already has used it. Heard it's a bit of a pain to get everything completely pristine and clean first but it seems semi-permanent in nature.

I would go with this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...ine-2-5-Car-Garage-Floor-Kit-286879/205697937 if you are concerned about concrete stains.

Personally... it is a garage floor, I have spilled wort several times, spilled spent grain.. I hit it with the garden hose and sweep the mess out the door and if it stains a little no big deal. It will eventualy collect oil under the truck.