Floor Treatment for covered Screen Porch

[HawkinsHollow]

Some may find this amusing. Years ago we wanted to tile our back porch, so I hired a local tile expert contractor. Porch is poured concrete with 80 years of who knows how many layers of paint on it. So I moved the washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, hot water heater, etc. out the door down steps to the patio. Contractor gave me a list of what to get, tile, cement, grout, spacers, acetone,.....wait....acetone??? Well, anyway, I'm not expert, I did what was asked and bought everything. He said ok to walk on it when we got home.
That evening so exited home from work & floor was beautiful. Then I thought I'd be working into the night putting everything back when "pop!" a tile popped up. Then another, etc. Each had 30 layers paint stuck to bottom.
So I called him. He answered phone drunk! I explained what happened, he said "yea, acetone was supposed to etch paint so tiles would stick but..." I said what are we supposed to do??? No water, fridge, etc. He said "I don't know".
So wife & I pulled up all tile, I scrapped floor with a garden hoe & shovel, then went to Lowes & bought linoleum & the glue. I installed it, put everything back and it's still there today.
I wrote him a letter after not hearing anything saying I was out all that money. He hired a lawyer! Lawyer wrote saying he will pay half which he did...I just wanted to forget about it.
Acetone!

OUCH!! I am considering putting some faux stone on my painted foundation block at some point and that is a big consideration, what to do with the paint. I definitely won't use acetone

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Since then another contractor said use that 1/2" cement board first.

 

[alexinPA]

Those Tech Wood tiles are really good. I got tired from painting my deck and installed them right on top of treated wood 3 years ago. Looks good, no maintenance, never vacuum.

 

[jyoutz]

Since then another contractor said use that 1/2" cement board first.

Yes, screw the cement board to the block (also use liquid nails exterior grade). Then attach faux stone to the cement board.

 

[jyoutz]

I will also advise to get the type of faux stone that fits together without a mortar joint between them. Because you have to apply that mortar joint after the stones are applied and set to make a good looking grout joint. Squirting thin set mortar with a grout bag isn’t fun at all and your hands will be hamburger when you’re done doing this. Ask me how I know.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I will also advise to get the type of faux stone that fits together without a mortar joint between them. Because you have to apply that mortar joint after the stones are applied and set to make a good looking grout joint. Squirting thin set mortar with a grout bag isn’t fun at all and your hands will be hamburger when you’re done doing this. Ask me how I know.

Good tip! I am considering buying the molds and pouring these myself. Still need to price it out and see if the ROI is there. I am a school teacher so I think I could get into a good summer groove and churn out enough of these over the summer to get it done. I don't have a ton of exposed foundation but a least a few thousand $'s worth in materials I bet. At this point of the project I have less money than time.