Advice for protecting garage floor under Racedeck

[Evan55]

Im hoping to get some advice about what garage floor coating is best for my application.

Im moving into a new (to me) house at the end of the month that was built in 2012. The garage floor is bare concrete and is flawless, and I would like to keep it that way.

I have racedeck tiles in my current garage which I am going to move over, but as Im sure many of you know, liquids go right through the tile seams in racedeck. (that was fun when my dog was a puppy! )

So I need something that will seal and protect the concrete from oils and fluid stains, that *might* sit there for a little while before I can clean up (lets be realistic)

The less prep and total install time the better, since the sooner its done the sooner I can start moving into my new house. Same with cost, Ive already spent the $ on racedeck so Im not trying pay for it all over again. $300 or less would be nice for a 400sq ft garage.
(But if it takes a little extra time or a little extra money for a much better end result then Im willing to make the investment)


thanks for the help

 

[bdamico]

Posts like these are why sad cat has a sad:

Almost as bad as people protecting their epoxy floors with something on top. What's the point?

 

[alfazer]

I use PVA glue or sealer mixed in water to seal my floor. It's quick and cheap.

I'm not sure if it's called something different in USA? I never seem to see much mention of it on here. ???

 

[Evan55]

Posts like these are why sad cat has a sad:

Almost as bad as people protecting their epoxy floors with something on top. What's the point?

Its all spelled out in the post, sparky. Maybe you should consider actually reading the thread before making a fool out of yourself with an irrelevant meme pic and uninformed opinion.

 

[bdamico]

Its all spelled out in the post, sparky. Maybe you should consider actually reading the thread before making a fool out of yourself with an irrelevant meme pic and uninformed opinion.

It's neither irrelevant nor uninformed. I had read your post... Racedeck advertises that most liquids like oils and grease or gas do not get through. To the extent they do or any other thinner fluids like piss get through (as you indicated), it wouldn't seem to be a good product for a garage environment. So, yes, it does make me sad that people buy garage flooring and then have to bandaid it--bringing us full circle to my point--what's the point of having a flooring product that doesn't work well in a garage environment? Have a nice day.

 

[A_Pmech]

Can we tone it down in here a bit please?

 

[bdamico]

Can we tone it down in here a bit please?

fixed it

 

[anik321]

Curious to see what happened here.

Didn't want to dig up a dead thread but better than starting a new one. I have a pristine new garage floor on which I'll be laying down some racedeck. But if and when I do move, I'd like to take the racedeck flooring with me but not leave a oil stained floor behind for the new owners.

Any suggestions? The OP hit the nail on the head but there were no proper responses.

 

[Gator Fett]

Curious here also.

Even more relevant if you are planning on using freeflow tiles.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Im hoping to get some advice about what garage floor coating is best for my application.

Im moving into a new (to me) house at the end of the month that was built in 2012. The garage floor is bare concrete and is flawless, and I would like to keep it that way.

I have racedeck tiles in my current garage which I am going to move over, but as Im sure many of you know, liquids go right through the tile seams in racedeck. (that was fun when my dog was a puppy! )

So I need something that will seal and protect the concrete from oils and fluid stains, that *might* sit there for a little while before I can clean up (lets be realistic)

The less prep and total install time the better, since the sooner its done the sooner I can start moving into my new house. Same with cost, Ive already spent the $ on racedeck so Im not trying pay for it all over again. $300 or less would be nice for a 400sq ft garage.
(But if it takes a little extra time or a little extra money for a much better end result then Im willing to make the investment)


thanks for the help

Curious to see what happened here.

Didn't want to dig up a dead thread but better than starting a new one. I have a pristine new garage floor on which I'll be laying down some racedeck. But if and when I do move, I'd like to take the racedeck flooring with me but not leave a oil stained floor behind for the new owners.

Any suggestions? The OP hit the nail on the head but there were no proper responses.

Obviously this is an old post, but someone down thread still has an interest. I am not sure I completely agree with some of the information that has been given. Instead of arguing about it. I will state my opinion. Take it or leave it.

(1) Any concrete floor that has never been protected can cheaply and easily be protected from the elements and sealed using an inexpensive densifier / sealer solution such as TL39. https://www.garageflooringllc.com/concrete-densifier/ It is my personal belief that this is the minimum treatment that should be done to almost any garage floor.

(2) Anyone with any long-term experience with garage floor tiles will tell you that stuff gets under it. Just about every manufacturers warranty out there requires you (not that anyone does) to clean underneath every year. If you do not protect the concrete, freeze thaw and stains are a very good posibility.

(3) Regarding oils, greases, etc. If you are the type of person that cleans this stuff off the tile right away. BDAMICO is correct. It likely will not go through in any large amount. If you have a leaky vehicle or are not into cleaning the garage, the stuff will go through and you really need something more like 8505 or 8510 (Ghostshield)

(4) We used KILZ on a garage floor.. I can't make it as a professional recommendation, but it worked for me personally. It did not alter the surface texture enough for me to be concerned about the tiles slipping --but that was on an ordinary floor. If you have a real smooth garage floor, I would not do this.

(5) The problem with doing a urethane or epoxy under the tile is you increase the likelihood of slippage.

(6) The underlayments that are usually used will not prevent stains or moisture getting through. In fact that is the point. If you use something that stops the moisture, you are going to end up with other issues.

 

[anik321]

(3) Regarding oils, greases, etc. If you are the type of person that cleans this stuff off the tile right away. BDAMICO is correct. It likely will not go through in any large amount. If you have a leaky vehicle or are not into cleaning the garage, the stuff will go through and you really need something more like 8505 or 8510 (Ghostshield)

(6) The underlayments that are usually used will not prevent stains or moisture getting through. In fact that is the point. If you use something that stops the moisture, you are going to end up with other issues.

Thanks Justin. Wanted to follow up on these two suggestions.

1. Reading other posts and online articles suggests that while using 8505/8510 will provide protection to your concrete slab from salt, water and deicing fluids - it will not offer full protection again oil stains (my biggest pet peeve). When I leave this house, I would like to be able to take my racedeck with me and leave a clean pristine concrete slab just like the way it is now.

2. Could you explain (6) a bit more? What other issues can we expect to see if using something that stops moisture (say EPDM roof liner) under the tile?

I'd like to add that my garage slopes outwards to let water out so any liner (if properly installed) should continue to allow that. If water/oil proof liners ARE okay, any suggestions?

 

[Garage Flooring]

Thanks Justin. Wanted to follow up on these two suggestions.

1. Reading other posts and online articles suggests that while using 8505/8510 will provide protection to your concrete slab from salt, water and deicing fluids - it will not offer full protection again oil stains (my biggest pet peeve). When I leave this house, I would like to be able to take my racedeck with me and leave a clean pristine concrete slab just like the way it is now.

2. Could you explain (6) a bit more? What other issues can we expect to see if using something that stops moisture (say EPDM roof liner) under the tile?

I'd like to add that my garage slopes outwards to let water out so any liner (if properly installed) should continue to allow that. If water/oil proof liners ARE okay, any suggestions?

1. I think perhaps you have this backwards 8505 and 8510 are the recommended sealers to use for full protection against oil. Products like TL39, TL021 and other silane / Siloxane based sealers do not offer full protection. They will breakdown under oil.

2. There are several issues. First, EPDM is not designed to put up with automotive fluids. It will swell and distort.

The bigger issue is the root reason we suggest landscape fabric. One huge advantage of garage tiles is air and moisture movement. They are designed to allow moisture to drain out or evaporate like it usually would. When you use a non-permeable underlayment you trap moisture. The source could be from underneath or it could be coming under the front edge. Either way, it is trapped.

Trapped moisture could cause issues with the concrete -- especially in colder climates -- and it is also an invitation for mold, mildew and other problems.