Ceramic Floor Tiles

[Brian Degulis]

Hello All

I'm considering using ceramic floor tiles on the floor in one head. I'm not sure how they would handle vibration. Anyone done this or have them any advice on aplication methods or materials would be apreciated.


Thanks Brian

 

[Bob Bradley]

I would be afraid that the natural flexing of the hull would cause them to crack.

 

[Liquid Asset]

I have woundered about this. I was thinking that it would be a good easy and inexpensive way to put down flooring that looks excelent. I was thinking about using a colored caulk in between the tiles in place of using grout. This way it would allow the tiles to flex and not crack. I have seen caulking that looked like stucco, I bet it could be used.

 

[Capt.Erich]

You will ant to use a semifleible adheasive and grout. There are some off the shelf products at Lowes and Home Depot that work fine. I refit a 1996 70 MY last year and installed "tile" in the pilot house and galley among other projects. The tile was a synthetic that was lighter and easier to work with than the real thing. It looks like real tile to untrained eye. Personally I'm not crazy about tile on a boat but that's what the owner wanted.

The other thing to remember it to keep any access hatches available for opening. You wouldn't want to have to tear up a new floor to get access to something important underneath.

 

[Freebird]

I too have been considering ceramic tile to cover my upper salon that is now covered in a crappy indoor-outdoor carpet. I had the same concerns as to how it would survive stress created by rough water.

Anybody have any experience with ceramic tile over such a large area?

 

[Capt.Erich]

Freebird,

Are you thinking about covering the floor of the FLYBRIDGE with tile?

 

[Paul45c]

Freebird,

Are you thinking about covering the floor of the FLYBRIDGE with tile?

Wherever it is, he'd better have a lot of dampening material underneath them tiles to take the vibration from 600w of Skynyrd, Allman Bros., ZZ...

 

[Capt.Erich]

I'm thinking about the added weight above the CG. Real tile would add a significant amount of weight that larger stabliizer fins could be required.

 

[SeaEric]

I am offering a 48' Ocean Yacht for sale that has ceramic tile flooring in all 3 heads. These floors also have built-in electric heat under them. This owner lived aboard this boat and said that the toasty warm floors were great in the chilly months. Photo attached.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Eric,

Do you know if he use ruberized grout, or normal grout in the installation?

 

[MikeP]

All of tile's good points make boat use a poor application for it unless the boat is a marina queen. You will never be able to isolate it from the vibration. Also, anything hard dropped on tile will likely either be broken or chip the tile. Since boats roll and pitch - stuff IS going to hit the floor...

Also, it may not be a concern but resale "appeal" for a boat with ceramic tile floors has got to be limited at best. I love ceramic tile but seeing it on a boat would send me running to the next boat on the consideration list. But that's just me.

 

[Freebird]

Freebird,

Are you thinking about covering the floor of the FLYBRIDGE with tile?

Yeah, and I'll wear roller skates up there too to add to the fun!

No tile on the bridge, just in the upper salon and pilothouse. Mine is enclosed and air conditioned with a big wet bar. The only downside I can see is that it will still be slick, and furniture and passengers may slip and slide in rough water.

 

[Freebird]

Wherever it is, he'd better have a lot of dampening material underneath them tiles to take the vibration from 600w of Skynyrd, Allman Bros., ZZ...

Hey Paul,

Cranking up the tunes is how I removed some of the crappy wallpaper in the salon!

600 watts is for sissy country music! ZZ needs a good thousand to get the desired ripple effect!

If you can breathe normally when the music is playin', you need more power!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Use Amtico. They make it to look like tile, marble, granite, or whatever. I put the marble Amtico tiles in my 3 heads and they look great. They are easy to install and weigh far less than tile.

 

[hatterass]

I put in tial in my head several years ago. looks fine, but I also useds a flexable grout so the joints would resist cracking. I levealed the floor and uses mastice to lay the tials.
Its funny because this weekend I went out and bought Brazilan teak to replace the tile. i have nothing better to do with out a motor.
good luck with the project.
Dave

 

[Capt K]

You could always fine-tune your trampoline skills, Dave. I'll have to stop by and see the new material.

K

 

[Boatsb]

I was considering vinyl tile for my head in the 41c. I need it to be flexable as the floor meets the hull and has a nice transition. Any suggestions?

 

[CDB101]

I had thought about tile too, then the 'plasteak' product was brought up in a past thread. Its vinyl flooring to look like teak and holly wood floor. I looked into it and ended up installing it in the head and galley. I love the results and it was easy to do. Water proof and not too slippery... I'll have to get some photos this weekend.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Sky,

How bout a picture. I would like to see it.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Sky,

How bout a picture. I would like to see it.

I searched my camera card and computer and, unfortunately, I can't find one. Next time I'm at the boat, I'll get one and post it here or e-mail it to you.

I bought my real marble tiles and had them ready to install when Amtico came up on this site as a topic. I looked at their website and then found a dealer in my area. They had some samples and they also ordered some others from Amtico so we could pick what we liked. I was surprised at how this stuff looks like the real thing. Needless to say, I returned the marble to HD and ordered the Amtico.