Advice for garage floor?

I went snap together and was glad when I moved took 15 mins to take it up and pack it also cleans easily

 

I haven't tried these guys yet but the price is right for snap-on tiles.

http://www.floorjunkies.com/

 

That is who I went with for my new garage (around 1600 sf). They also sell the same tiles (I think) through samsclub.com . The base price is cheaper at Sam's, but you pay alot for shipping, so the overall cost is about the same as the Floorjunkies. I spent about two days deciding on a pattern and yet almost two months after getting the tiles delivered they still sit in boxes lined up against the garage wall. Too busy!
BT

 

epoxy splatter paint and call it good....'twere it me!

 

You are right I had epoxy when living in the Chaicago area it came up after the winter and never looked right thats why I went to the tiles originally

 

+++; it all depends on the surface preparation, and I have never seen one where they got all the old oil & grease completely clean.

Also, if you have a collector car that sits very long, the paint will sort of glue itself to the tires and rip up when you move it, eventually.

But I still use one-step "epoxy" (really moisture-cured urethane, I think) from Pep Boys about once every couple of years because it does keep the dust down, and you can sweep up after the woodworking equipment so much easier.

I have a pretty pronounced "step" between the car bays and the shop area which makes me stay away from the tiles; don't know if I could get them to conform to the contour.

 

Jeff328 - not to thread jack - but, with your org. question I would think you would like to know as well?

Who is in favor of all one color vs. black and white check pattern?
If all one color, what color. Gray or Graphite.

I'm thinking of doing this as well.
Since I don't have a garage full of Ferrari's (only one). I was thinking of going with just one color. I don't think I keep it clean enough to go with white tiles... or a check pattern.

Just curious to hear from others who have do it. Photos would help as well.

 

in the houses i design, i usually use polished concrete in the very large garages...it really shows off a collection well...(tip: also use cold cathode lighting fixtures)...

 

I used the epoxy from Rustoleum--Professional grade--2 years ago--constant traffic in and out of garage--No lifting--Looks still like new!!!!

 

I ahve seen several DIY floors peel up as you describe but have yet to see one that was done professionally. Something to consider. Preparation is everything according to most of the research I have done on the subject. One also has to worry about new construction to make sure the concrete has cured properly. Of course while it is curing it is also getting dirty if you use it...

Yes, I am thinking about the same question - coating or tiles. Unfortunately cost IS somewhat of a consideration in my case.

CC

 

That's it.....the prep IS critical....

The only thing I have seen nicer is a glass bead filled epoxy coating we used on Texas Department of Criminal Justice shower areas....

THAT's bound to be pretty tough!

Maybe an architect here can give the tradename...it sprayed in like paint would, but kicked up really hard.......

 

If your going to stay there for a while: epoxy. I have epoxy on my plant floor after 3.5 years of hi-lo's and my guys sliding heavy pallets of parts across the floor it still looks pretty damn good.

In the photos it needs a cleaning.

I'm told the secret is preperation. You can rent a sandblaster or better yet have it applied by someone with experience. If it holds up well in an industrial application it should last forever in a garage. Paint schemes are only limited by your imagination. Somewhere on this website I saw the Ferrari logo painted on a floor.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Searching on garage floor in this forum yields a wealth of info.

 

My biggest concern with epoxy is dragging a floor jack around, might tear it up.
(I guess a lift would prevent that.)
With tiles , you can take them with you, when you move.

 

Me - too, stay away from epoxy. I'm on my 3rd professional painter. Paint keeps lifting, I've sanded it, used residential paint, temperatures above reccomended application, commerical bonders you name it.... Screw it go - tiles....your lucky to get a couple years out of it.

 

Additionally, if you go the all gray route - inlieu of checkerboard you could do a single color alternative in the actual parking bay area where the cars will sit to give it another dimension maybe just black.

good luck

 

I think tiles might be the way to go. Has anyone installed the porcelain tiles that showroomgarage.com sells? I was told they are very wear-resistant. I'd like them better if they were 24" x 24" as shown in most pics than 12" x 12". Does anyone know of any other tiles to recomend?

Also, have people seen the $11000.00 granite floor in the Garage thread? It's pricey but "WOW"!

 

SoCal - so no idea about winter/salty water lifting epoxy, but hot summers and Griot's epoxy in my former condo (3 car tandem garage!) and it remained perfect. My only regret was that I didn't add sand or some rubber chips for traction.

My current home, I have plastic tiles. I wish I had gone with epoxy. Plastic tiles are tough and in the winter, the floor isn't cold - but clean-up is a pain. Epoxy is easy to just clean with a mop and soapy water. The tiles seem to take much more scrubbing to clean, will crease/dent when a jack stand is placed on them (use plywood under the jackstands to prevent this), and makes using those garage casters (for pushing project cars around the garage) a bit tougher to roll around.

In my next home, I will be going back to epoxy with the speckled rubber bits for traction.

Bob

 

if cost is no factor, go industrial, Dex-o-tex http://www.dex-o-tex.com/
and keep the color neutral & solid, the checks or patterns make in a real PITA to find stuff when dropped, nuts bolts etc.. now if your not working on the car in the garage then go ahead with the fancy finish.

this stuff is used in heavy industry and shops, once down it's down. I've spec'd this stuff for yrs, $$$ but worth it.

 

Rustoleum beige two part epoxy with sprinkles plus two part clear coat. It might be slippery when wet, but it doesn't get wet. I drive the truck when it rains. What is snow?
Bee Jay
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Was it put down when the building was built?

With epoxy, I think it is an excellent product, but it is only as good as the prep and the integrity of the concrete floor. Also, it is a complex chemical with complex interactions within itself and between it and the mother surface. The possibilities for getting one part wrong seem fairly high.

My SIL put it down on his garage a few years ago. But sold the house shortly after that so I don't know if it is still good or not.

It is slippery though and some traction grit in it is a good idea.

Personally I like concrete and probably would never put anything on it.

I am kindof a tightwad too!

Tom W