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Can a Porcelain Tiled Garage Floor do This?

Updated 16 April, 2015 By Shea 34 Comments

porcelain tiled garage floor with floor lift
Floor lift mounted on top of porcelain tile installed by the owner.

Yes, porcelain tile is one of the more durable garage floors that you can install in your home today and the toughest of all garage tile options – really!  For a variety of reasons, and a few of which are very understandable, some people are having a hard time accepting the fact that it can be such a resilient and long-lasting garage floor choice.

As a result, we have decided to cover some of the more frequently asked questions regarding the durability of porcelain tiles for a garage floor.  If the idea of this type of flooring is new to you, you can learn about the many benefits of porcelain tile in our first article.

F.A.Q.’s about porcelain garage floors

car jacks on porcelain tiled garage floor

Will floor jacks damage porcelain tile?

This is the most popular question by far.  No, floor jacks will not damage or crack the tile.  The key to this is in the installation.

When laying the individual tile, it’s important that each tile has thinset (mortar) applied to both the concrete floor and the back of the tile (back buttering) before setting it.  This insures that there are no air pockets under the tile and provides for a solid footing.

floor jacks on porcelain tile garage floorsIt’s also important to make sure all the tiles are level with each other and don’t have any raised edges.  This prevents a small edge of tile from being the only load bearing source when using jacks or jack stands.  Small grout lines of 3/16” or less help as well and make for easy rolling of tool boxes, creepers, and jacks.

It’s not uncommon at all to see porcelain tile used in mechanics garages and various automotive settings where jacks, lifts, and other heavy equipment are use.

Can porcelain tile be used in cold climates?

Yes.  Because porcelain tile has an absorption rate of less than .05%, it will not absorb water which could cause damage if it freezes.  If your winters traditionally get below freezing and your garage is not heated, there are a couple of requirements you must follow however.

The first is to use a thinset with a latex additive added to the mix.  This makes the thinset more flexible and able to withstand the freeze/thaw cycles that a garage floor can go through.

porcelain tile garage floor 3The second is to seal your grout or use a grout that doesn’t require a sealer.  This will prevent water or snow melt from seeping into the grout and underneath the tile causing it to pop off when water refreezes.  It also aids in preventing stains in the grout.

Can I use ceramic tile instead of porcelain?

If you can find a ceramic tile with a PEI rating of 4 or 5 and if you live in a climate without freeze/thaw cycles then ceramic tile can be used in the garage.  There are a few things to consider however.

ceramic tiled garage flooring

This is a ceramic tiled garage floor by Jack Olsen.  It’s known as the 12-Gauge Garage because of the 12 gauge steel used for the Strong Hold cabinets he installed.  You can visit Jack’s garage here.

Porcelain tile is more dense than ceramic due the manufacturing process.  This high density is what provides for the extremely low absorption rate.  Because ceramics have a higher absorption rate, they should not be used in cold climates as water absorption during the freeze thaw cycles will cause it to crack.

Porcelain tile is also colored through-out the tile whereas ceramic is not.  If you chip ceramic tile it is very noticeable because of the different color underneath the glaze.  If you do happen to chip porcelain, it is much less noticeable because the color does not change.

Won’t porcelain tile break easily in a garage?

No.  When porcelain tile is installed correctly without any voids or air pockets underneath the tile, it is very hard to break or chip.  The extreme density of the tile is what makes it so strong.

A good example is from this short video clip below.  The flooring is actually ceramic tile from Jack Olsen’s 12-Gauge Garage as shown in the photo above.  In the video, Jack pounds the tile with a sledge hammer without damaging it.  The video camera on the floor actually jumps because he is hitting the tile so hard.

While we don’t recommend pounding on your floor like this, you need to remember that the tile being struck is ceramic.  Porcelain is stronger yet.

Will road salts and deicing fluids damage porcelain?

No.  Because porcelain tile is so dense and has such a low absorption rate, salts and deicing fluids will not damage it.  This is why porcelain tile is extremely hard to stain as well.

One exception to this is polished porcelain which you would not want to use in a garage due to how slippery it would be – which leads us right into our next question.

Isn’t porcelain tile too slippery for a garage floor?

No, it won’t be slippery if you purchase tile with a higher coefficient of friction (C.O.F.) rating.  Tile rated between .055 and .059 are generally considered equivalent to bare wet concrete.  A rating of .060 and above is considered slip resistant and meets or exceeds OSHA and ADA requirements for a wet surface.

This is why it’s not uncommon to see porcelain tile used in entry ways in commercial settings.  It reduces the chance of slip fall accidents that could cause law suits.

Will welding damage porcelain tile?

Yes.  Welding can lead to small burn marks on the surface of the tile which is extremely difficult to remove.  In fact, welding will eventually damage any surface including concrete.  A welding blanket should be used.

Convinced yet?

Hopefully the answers to these popular questions have dispelled some of the myths about the durability of porcelain tile as a garage floor.  If you still aren’t convinced, then porcelain probably is not for you.  It’s important to be confident in your garage flooring of choice.  If you are convinced however, then you will be rewarded with years of service, durability, and good looks that will make your neighbors envious.

Related articles others have read:

  • Home Owner’s Guide To Garage Flooring Ideas and Options
  • What is The Best Flooring For Your Garage?
  • Add A Touch of Class With A Porcelain Tiled Garage…
  • Garage Floor Tiles – Designing Your Custom Floor Dream

Garage Floor Tiles Porcelain Tile


34 comments

  1. Kevin McCarty says

    19 March, 2016 at 7:39 AM

    What is the approximate square foot cost for a porcelain tile garage floor installed?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      19 March, 2016 at 9:03 AM

      To be honest Kevin, it really varies depending on your area. We know of many readers who paid less than $2 a square foot and readers who have paid up to $4. If you are considering a porcelain tiled garage floor, we suggest visiting a few tile stores in your area to get some names and references of installers in your area. Give them a call to get an idea of your installation costs before purchasing your tiles.

      Reply
  2. Aardee says

    27 March, 2016 at 2:52 PM

    I am convinced! So the durability of porcelain garage floor depends on workmanship leaving no voids or air-pockets; that is so hard to find! Given that, I am now shopping for those who may specialize in this type of garage flooring and offer decent period of guaranty/warranty. I would appreciate if you can refer anyone. Q: What tile is size is better for durable floor, 12×12 or 24×24, assuming no one would do perfect floor prepping and installation job?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      27 March, 2016 at 6:58 PM

      Hello Aardee. The tile size does not matter for durability, but it does make a difference for other things. Larger tile sizes for example require less grout lines. Generally, 12″x12″ is the minimum size you want to use and you can go up from there. Smaller sizes tend to look too busy in a garage. For installion we suggest contacting the various tile setters in your area to get a quote.

      Reply
  3. Chris says

    16 May, 2016 at 9:22 AM

    What do you do with the expansion grooves in concrete? I would like to tile our carport floor and a large adjoining patio. However, the poured concrete patio has expansion joints cut in. Do we need to cut the tile along these lines and use a matching flexible caulk, or can we just continue the pattern and tile over the joints? Thank you for your help.

    Reply
    • Shea says

      16 May, 2016 at 7:17 PM

      Hello Chris. Since the tile will be outside, it’s really best to honor the joints and cut the tile to match. You are going to get more expansion and contraction than you do in a garage. A sanded caulk in your matching grout color can be applied in those areas.

      Reply
  4. Wally says

    17 May, 2016 at 7:45 AM

    I am thinking about tiling my garage. Do I have to use a porcelain tile with PEI of 4 or 5? It’s a residential garage not a working garage. I live in MI, so it gets cold (below freezing temp in the Winter). My garage currently is concrete and I noticed with the weather or temp changes, the concrete has water on it’s surface, but not a lot of water it’s I think what they call “sweat”.
    Another question I have is the joints inside the garage, do I need to fill those with cement before tiling ? Or I need to cut the tiles to match the joints? The joints I think are 1/2″ wide, so it will be kind of obvious if I cut the tiles around the joints

    Reply
    • Shea says

      17 May, 2016 at 11:10 AM

      Hi Wally. You will need a minimum PEI rating of 4 for a garage floor. The rating determines the hardness of the tile. Anything less runs the strong chance of cracking under the weight of a vehicle. A PEI of 1 for example isn’t even rated for foot traffic. PEI 4 rated tile are not hard to find and are often on sale at home improvement centers for around $1 per square foot.

      The moisture you see occasionally when the weather changes is most likely condensation. This is fairly typical when cold concrete comes in contact with relatively warmer air masses.

      In terms of the contraction joints in a garage, most people fill the joint with thinset as they go. The most important part of laying tile for a garage floor is too make sure there are no air gaps under the tile or it can break under weight. Back buttering of the tile is highly recommended. Also, for areas of cold weather it’s best to use a polymer-modified thinset to avoid freeze thaw damage.

      Reply
  5. Wally says

    17 May, 2016 at 7:47 AM

    Oh, my garage floor is currently painted (gray paint I don’t think it’s epoxy), do I need to strip the paint from the floor before tiling? Or I can tile right on top of it?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Shea says

      17 May, 2016 at 8:54 AM

      You will need to remove the paint before tiling. Thinset does not stick well to it, plus, you want the thinset to adhere to the concrete for a permanent bond. Paint does not have a permanent bond to concrete.

      Reply
  6. Zeke says

    19 September, 2016 at 7:43 AM

    My garage has a little bit of a slope so that water flows outside. Will that affect tiling? Will water pooling be an issue? (I live in the Pacific Northwest)

    Reply
    • Shea says

      19 September, 2016 at 11:51 AM

      If the garage floor slopes so that water flows to the outside, then that is ideal Zeke. You shouldn’t have any issues with pooling then if it’s laid properly.

      Reply
  7. Bryan says

    9 October, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    Great article. I’m interested in doing my garage in 24 x 24 black and white checkerboard. A couple of questions. I love the look of high polished but will that scratch more easily and be too slippery in a garage environment. Is there a finish I should be looking for? And my biggest problem is I can’t seem to find anyone local that stocks pure black and pure white 24″ squares. Is there a national source I could tap?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      9 October, 2016 at 1:16 PM

      Hello Bryan. You will need to do some Google searches to try and find what you are looking for. You may want to visit a good tile store in your local area to see what they can order in. The home improvement centers have the ability to order in tile as well. As an example, we quickly found these 24″ square tiles from Floor and Decor. Many of these large national chains will send out small samples for a small fee as well. A polished tile is naturally going to be more slippery. Generally, the less shiny tiles tend to be less slippery and have a higer COF rating. In terms of ratings, you need a PEI rating of 4 or 5 for durability and a wet coefficient of friction (COF) rating of .5 or better. Our article on porcelain tile explains these ratings a bit better. If you don’t find any of these ratings listed, be sure to call or email and ask.

      Reply
  8. Linda says

    2 November, 2016 at 8:01 AM

    With porcelain tile how is the edge handled at the front of the garage so there is a smooth transition when entering garage. Does space need to be left around edges of garage for expansion or can tile butt up to and then cover stem wall for a neat finish?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      2 November, 2016 at 10:05 AM

      Hello Linda. Most people use the aluminum Reno Ramp by Schluter for the entrance to the garage. It makes for a nice transition ramp. Your local home improvement centers can usually order these if they don’t carry them in stock. In terms of where the tile terminates at the stem wall; you will need to leave an approximate 1/4″ gap from the wall. You can tile up the stem wall as well. Instead of using grout in this gap, you should use a sanded caulk that matches the color of the grout you have chosen. The caulk allows for movement between the slab and stem walls.

      Reply
  9. Mark says

    11 July, 2017 at 5:06 AM

    Hey Shea,
    Looking at Porcelain in my garage. I’m pouring new concrete with a slight pitch off the front of garage towards rear with a trench drain about 6 feet from door. I live in WI, however I will be heating the garage. Also, I have a Ford F250 Super Duty. Any concerns with weight / Drain?
    Thanks Mark

    Reply
    • Shea says

      11 July, 2017 at 8:06 AM

      Sounds like a nice setup Mark. No concerns at all about weight. As long as there are not air gaps under the tile, it will accept thousands of pounds withou issue. Regarding the drain, just make sure to honor the break in the concrete slope with a joint.

      Reply
  10. Dwight Mattmuller says

    24 September, 2017 at 7:23 AM

    Was reading up on tile garage floors to see if there are any updates. I used porcelain tiles on my second garage floor 3 years ago and its holding up beautifully. I used epoxy grout in the second one and it’s bullet proof. My first garage I did not and have to clean and seal the grout lines fairly often. I used 2 inch by 6 inch bull nose for the transition. I was concerned about applying this weight of the car to the bull most since the garage floor is elevated about an inch and no issues. It’s to bad this site does not allow pictures or at least I can’t figure out a way to upload.

    Has anyone used bull nose for the wall molding? This way I could hose down the floor and not worry about damaging the wood molding. The downside is I would need to cut the tile within 1/8 of an inch since the bull nose is thinner than a wood molding

    Reply
    • Shea says

      24 September, 2017 at 10:51 PM

      Hello Dwight. It’s great to hear your porcelain tile is holding up nicely. We have heard from many people who are thrilled with the choice. Yes, we think epoxy grout is the way to go as well. It just takes a little more effort to apply – especially with the clean up of the tiles after it has set. We have seen bull nose tile used before for the front transition. It can work well if done correctly. The key with the bull nose as with all tile for the garage is to make sure there are absolutely no air pockets or gaps in the mortar when the tiles are laid.

      You can send pictures if you like directly to our email, [email protected]. If they are good examples, we can feature them for others to see.

      Reply
  11. Dwight Mattmuller says

    24 September, 2017 at 7:24 AM

    Also for expansion joints there is a liner you can use that is glued down over the joint and extends 18 inches on either side. helps the tiles float with the floor and I have seen zero issues with my expansion joints. (I live in Ohio)

    Reply
    • Shea says

      24 September, 2017 at 10:56 PM

      You are correct. They are called crack isolation membrane and can be used over concrete cracks and contraction joints.

      Reply
  12. Jim says

    11 October, 2017 at 5:40 AM

    Hi Shea
    Great article, and I am hoping that it will be the solution I am looking for. I have a very sturdy wood floor garage that has a storage area underneath. It has been in continual use for 40 years. I was hoping that I would be able to cover the existing floor with plywood, (or something similar), and porcelain. What are your thoughts on how the tiles would hold up?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Shea says

      11 October, 2017 at 8:21 AM

      Porcelain tile is extremely durable, Jim, but the issue you will need to overcome is the wood floor flexing under weight. Wood subfloors are easily reinforced to not flex under weight of people or furniture. However, it can be difficult to ensure that a wood floor under the weight of a 3500 to 4000 lb car will not flex. Porcelain will not flex at all and can easily crack if it does.

      Reply
  13. Al says

    12 October, 2017 at 4:17 PM

    I really want to porcelain tile my garage. It is a new build house so I was told I can’t until the floor has settled (5 yrs) by the builder.

    What are your thoughts on this? I was told my 22×24 could settle 1/8″

    Reply
    • Shea says

      12 October, 2017 at 9:12 PM

      That’s a new one for us Al. There really isn’t a need to wait. If the soil for the slab was prepped properly it shouldn’t settle at all. Builders don’t wait 5 years to tile the inside of a house either.

      Reply
      • Al says

        13 October, 2017 at 9:34 AM

        You also don’t drive cars inside the house usually, I guess I will pay close attention to make sure they compact it well!

        Reply
        • Shea says

          13 October, 2017 at 7:40 PM

          Haha… Yes that’s true, Al. However, we really don’t think it’s something you should worry about. Most cracks and such generally show up within the first few months as the concrete cures.

          Reply
  14. Chuck says

    5 April, 2018 at 6:35 PM

    We live in NY in the Mid-Hudson Valley. My garage floor is 18 years old and has been well scarred by road salt. Do you suggest using a leveler before tiling?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      6 April, 2018 at 9:38 AM

      Hello Chuck. If it is indeed well scarred, then yes, using a leveler beforehand to smooth it out is recommended. Thinset does fine with filling in the occasional pits and scars as you go, but if the surface is inundated with them, fixing the issue first is the way to go.

      Reply
  15. Randy says

    26 August, 2018 at 1:58 PM

    Polished or unglazed porcelain tile for garage/shop floor? I would think glazed, but want to be certain before I purchase. Thanks

    Reply
    • Shea says

      26 August, 2018 at 6:18 PM

      Hello Randy. You definitely do not want polished porcelain. It will get real slippery when wet. A matte finish is best as these will have the highest coefficient of friction ratings. Matte finishes are generally available in unglazed tiles.

      Reply
  16. David says

    28 August, 2019 at 1:06 PM

    After reading here, I decided to go with porcelain tile in my garage. We will use the garage as a playroom and party room often, but still keep it available to park the car in when bad weather sets in. I found a good deal on nice looking porcelain tile with a PEI 4 rating. When my tile crew was 3/4 through with installing, one of the guys told me he doesn’t think my tile is thick enough to handle the weight of a car without cracking. It is 6″x24″ tile, 0.3″ thick. Residential/Commerical, PEI 4. He’s got me nervous now. The floor looks fantastic, and I don’t want to ruin it with the car. But also the garage looses significant function if we don’t park the car in it.

    Is there a minimum thickness that is important for porcelain tile in the garage?

    Reply
    • Shea says

      28 August, 2019 at 2:34 PM

      Hello David. It’s unfortunate to hear that the person you spoke with doesn’t understand the material that he is working with. All porcelain floor tile is 1/4″-3/8″ thick. A thickness of 0.3″ is almost in the middle of those figures. The most important aspect of laying tile is to ensure that there are no air pockets between the tile and concrete, no gaps of missing thinset under the edges, and that the tile does not bridge gaps in the concrete that have not properly been filled. The reason for this is that porcelain tile has an average compressive strength of 20,000 lbs per square inch. This article here explains more. The tile you chose has 12 square inches of area, meaning that it can withstand up to 240,000 lbs of weight evenly distributed across its surface. So, the few square inches that a car tire occupies is not going to exceed 60,000 lbs, as an example. This is why porcelain is used in so many commercial applications such as automotive repair shops, hotel drive up entrances, and etc. Now, if your installer were to lay the tile to bridge a large gap with nothing to support it underneath, then you most certainly will break it. I hope that helps to ease your fears.

      Reply

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