Tiling a garage floor.

[bluevin123]

Hi,
I tiled a friend of a friends bathroom last year, and he was well happy, he now wants me to tile his garage floor. Its 30m2 and houses his lovely Dodge Viper...he wants me to tile it in 300x300 ceramic tiles from B&Q...a mate of his up north done the same and has said he has changed engines, jacked cars up on it,and had no problems whatsoever...I explained that maybe a smallish ceramic might not be the best option, but he said thats ok, if anything happens it will be his fault as he wants me to use them certain tiles... I dont mind at all, as long as I bed them with 100% coverage.
He has some red paint down on the floor,apparently car showroom paint from Vauxhall.
Not to sure about that,a lot of people on here have said its got to come up with a machine.
Is there any other way dya think?.

Was thinking about charging £600 for this plus mats...thats sounds ok dont it? well depends if I got to get the paint up of course..
Cheers.
Vin.

[Rad2474]

If the paint is sound it should be ok to tile on. You could try an angle grinder with wire brush. I'd insist on a drive of the car as part of the bill.

[bluevin123]

Ha ha, yeah I know my luck probably be stuck in reverse, and Ill drive straight through the back of the garage lol.
Cheers,
Vin.

[brian c]

personally i would mechanically remove as much paint as possible to ensure a sound bond for tiles.I wouldnt use ceramic tiles on a garage floor personally,i would insist on porcelain(vitrified) at least.But as they say its your call.

[timeless john]

Of course any where north of Luton is 'up north' to southerners.
B&Q tiles for a Dodge Viper doesn't sound very classy to me!
You should be going for a solid body porcelain tile of minimum 10mm thickness, and your correct for 100% adhesive covering.
The floor paint should be removed with a scarifier machine, which will cost min £120/day and 30sq mts will take 5/6 hours approx. Garage floor are not normally that well screeded so check levels before you estimate.
Just because the tile may be cheap ( and there is a reason) you don't have to go in too low with your fixing price - although its a large single area so your figure may suit you.


Timeless John

[peckers]

I agree with john you should use a scarifier to remove the paint to give the adhesive a good bond to the screed, I have used these machines and they do the job well, However depending on how good the screed is it could loosen the surface and you may have to put down some slc to give you a good surface to tile on, But this may not happen depends on the screed, It is a bit dusty doing this job afterwards brush and then hoover the floor well and give the floor a couple good coats of primer.

[Ajax123]

If it is vauxhall car showroom paint it is likely to be epoxy or high grade PU. Surely this would just act as a very effective primer. Does it really need to be removed?

Make sure there is adequate sub floor flexural strenth. If it is screed on insulation for example when the car drives onto it it will flex and potentially pop the tiles. If its is 100mm plus concrete no issues though. If it is on block and beam it might be a bit bouncy for tiling onto.

Other than that I have seen loads of garages tiled in the last 12 months or so. It almost seems fashionable. I think people are trying to emulate the clean garage workshop look.

If you do want to take up the paint and don't want to sand it you could use an enclosed shot blasting machine. They are no more expensive to hire than a sander and just as effective. Less dust as well.

[smurf21]

This guy has bought cheap tiles from b and q he aint gonna pay for a scarifier plus labour and he aint gonna pay for sand blasting explain your concerns about the paint he will prob say it will be ok just tile it......then its up to you but remember once you tile it it becomes your problem regardless of what he said...If you do tile it i would at the very least spend an hour orso at least scoring it with an angle grinder or wire brush attach to get some sort of key...but wey hey he might just say do wot needs doing...good luck

[Big D]

All the above advise is spot on and if customer does not take your recommendations I would not touch it even if he does say it is his responsibility once fitted it is yours , if he can afford a dodge viper why can he not pay to prep it properly and buy a decent quality porcelain!!

[CJ]

Definately remove the paint. Or you WILL have problems.

Also.......would you jack a car up on ceramic, I know I wouldn't. Be tempted to use Quarries for a indestructable floor. (As long as the paint is gone)

[bluevin123]

Thanks guys,certainly got me thinking now,,,is a scarifier like the ones used for gardens.
Never even heard of one til this post.
Cheers.
Vin.

[whitebeam]

Thanks guys,certainly got me thinking now,,,is a scarifier like the ones used for gardens.
Never even heard of one til this post.
Cheers.
Vin.

Think he might have been thinking of a scabbler

[diamondtiling]

If he has bought the tiles then thats his choice, if they are not up to the mark then tough, I would love to see a professional painter and decorator saying " ok love, even though you bought 50 litres of cheap white emulsion that could not cover a white wall I will paint it all again and you dont have to pay", what? wake up! in 20 years I have yet to see that happen.
Your floor needs keying for definate, the paint is a bad companion for tiles, ceramic tiles are the last choice for me but if laid with no voids whatsoever then you should not have any problems apart from possible wear marks on the face of the tile. Fit expansion joinys, they are as cheap as chips, I laid a ceramic floor in my mates garage with UFH for his porsche, its still there, no chips, no cracks, no problems, just do it properly and good luck.

[diamondtiling]

for joinys, read joints,...........

[Ajax123]

Think he might have been thinking of a scabbler

No a scabbler is something entirely different. See scarrifier pic attached

[timeless john]

Bluevin - I think diamondtiling sums it up!

Ceramic - Its his last choice but just do it and good luck!


Timeless John.

[doug boardley]

what about one of these to remove the paint?