Garage Flooring Suggestions

[1bush2hog]

I am currently adding on a 2 car garage and would like to know if anyone here has used the vinyl mats and/or the snap together tiles (racedeck) to put on top of the concrete to keep floor looking nice and stain free. If so, did you install? Are they durable? Worth the money?

I know epoxy is another good alternative, but from what I understand to get a good job, it takes more effort preparing the surface and using 3 coats, and can be just as expensive. I have also read where it can be quite slippery when wet unless sand or grainular substance is used to mix in with epoxy. How long will a good epoxy job hold up before it has to be redone?

Thanks

 

[livincountry]

We had a vendor apply the epoxy floor coating (in my manufacturing plant years ago). We went with the smooth finish because it was easy to keep clean. Adding grit meant you wouldn't slip but nothing would be swept up either. It theoretically will last forever. The only issue is when something is dropped on it like a heavy wrench or you name it. It will chip easily and thats the downfall. We had 30K sq. ft. and it was applied over the weekend before we moved in all our machinery. It's been years but I recall something like $12-$15K final price.

Not familiar with the mats but I would opt for that knowing what I know now about the epoxy. DON'T waste your time with the epoxy stuff you can buy at Lowes. I put that in our patio room hoping it was similar and it's as thick as paint. The epoxy the pros put down is like a 1/16 or more thick and will fill in the cracks so it's smooth as glass.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

I've had pretty good luck with the Valspar brand, the product that they say is "hot tire proof". The only thing has discolored it so far was a little brake fluid. I have dinged it a few times and a crushed rock in the tire treads has chipped it here and there, but no peel or spread. I had a crack running across the floor, moving with the temperature and open about 3mm. Put several coats over this area first, allowing the epoxy to seep in each time. Eventually filled it up level, applied 2 topcoats and the crack has not opened back up in over 3 years. I left it slick finish for easy cleanup, and yes it is slippery when wet. I intentionally rolled it dry to put a little nap on the surface, I think that helps.

 

[Jagmandave]

My neighbor has put down those snap together tiles in his garage, and while they look nice, they creak and crack when you walk or drive over them. I'm not sure it hurts anything, but it's a little disconcerting.......and dust and dirt, liquids will get down between the tiles. Sure, you can lift them right up and clean under them, but who wants to go thru that?

I have a professionally applied epoxy floor in my plant - it's expensive, but wears like iron and looks terrific, and yes, it's slippery when wet, but easy to clean up. A squeegee takes care of any water that might be on it, and a rag gets any oil or grease, since they just wipe up there's no reason to leave it on the floor.

I also agree that the "kit's" advertised on TV are not so good, but I really think it's because people don't prep the floor correctly. In our case, they used a machine to shot blast the floor to give it some tooth so the epoxy would adhere. It's never come up and we drive fork trucks over it all day. They also put it down about 1/16" to 1/8" thick, using a squeegee to spread it out and force it into the cracks, then after it set up a bit, they used rollers to give it a bit of nap.

One of the most promising ideas I saw that really didn't pan out was a local company that was spraying down something similar to rhino bed liner on the floor, took it up about 6 inches on the wall so the corners were coved nicely. Wouldn't stay down tho, came off in giant pieces.......again, if they had used that shot machine, I think it might have worked. Dried almost instantly and was self leveling too, interesting idea..........

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Preparation is the key to a good epoxy job. I used a floor sander and the coursest belts availble. Took off the top layer of dirt and sealer and scratched for a good bond.

 

[livincountry]

What would happen if you prepped the floor with muratic acid? Would that just clean it or etch it too?

 

[dieselsmoke1]

What would happen if you prepped the floor with muratic acid? Would that just clean it or etch it too?

In my case ...no. I tried it. Sealer was applied earlier and much grime accumulated on the surface. Muratic acid can't eat through either. If relatively new mud in good condition with some acid and brushing, maybe. My opinion.

 

[Marcussen]

My new garage floor is 4 months old with no sealers or oil stains. I was going to use a Rustoleum kit that has etching fluid and epoxy. I want to seal it before I get oil stains on the floor.