VCT vs. Rubber Tile

[HotrodHR]

I know that there are some old threads regarding rubber tile, but I want some fresh opinions.

First, I installed epoxy-coat in my detached garage working shop. I cut, grind weld and paint in there so I know the benefits of epoxy.

As soon as it warms up a bit (March) I plan to put flooring in our attached 3 car garage. This garage is used for parking my wife's SUV and will not be used for automotive repairs, etc. We have some storage cabinets, floor type and wall mounted, and that's it.

I have been considering VCT ($0.46/12"x12") and Gfloor Levant roll out flooring.

However, I have a source for rubber tile, 18"x18" coin, and 12"x12" tiles similar to VCT in thickness and color. There may not be enough tile available in the 18x18 in colors that would work to cover 620 square feet but they do have enough in a variety of colors in the 12x12. This is a Flexco type product that are not seconds, but leftover material from large projects. The price is ridiculously cheap, 35 to 44 cents per square foot.

I'll be doing the install myself no matter which product I choose. Worst case scenario if I choose the rubber and it fails, I'll be scrapping and grinding to fix.

Considering the planned use (not concerned about future resale of house), what are your thoughts.

 

[HotrodHR]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... sound of crickets, where are all our opinionated commentators?

 

[pbon]

I have rubber and like it (Advanta Tuff Seal but Armorpoxy Supratile also is worth a look). If you need water proof, it is a good choice. Tires will stain rubber tiles so use darker colors. It will expand in heat, like direct sunlight, just like the cheap plastic tiles. My first choice would be small, brick size ceramic tiles. My second choice would be epoxy on concrete. My third choice would be rubber or vct—I have seen some great pictures of VCT tile garages. Next would be the cheap plastic tiles you see in show garages (but never in working shops). I’d do the roll out mats last.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I know that there are some old threads regarding rubber tile, but I want some fresh opinions.

First, I installed epoxy-coat in my detached garage working shop. I cut, grind weld and paint in there so I know the benefits of epoxy.

As soon as it warms up a bit (March) I plan to put flooring in our attached 3 car garage. This garage is used for parking my wife's SUV and will not be used for automotive repairs, etc. We have some storage cabinets, floor type and wall mounted, and that's it.

I have been considering VCT ($0.46/12"x12") and Gfloor Levant roll out flooring.

However, I have a source for rubber tile, 18"x18" coin, and 12"x12" tiles similar to VCT in thickness and color. There may not be enough tile available in the 18x18 in colors that would work to cover 620 square feet but they do have enough in a variety of colors in the 12x12. This is a Flexco type product that are not seconds, but leftover material from large projects. The price is ridiculously cheap, 35 to 44 cents per square foot.

I'll be doing the install myself no matter which product I choose. Worst case scenario if I choose the rubber and it fails, I'll be scrapping and grinding to fix.

Considering the planned use (not concerned about future resale of house), what are your thoughts.

I have rubber and like it (Advanta Tuff Seal but Armorpoxy Supratile also is worth a look). If you need water proof, it is a good choice. Tires will stain rubber tiles so use darker colors. It will expand in heat, like direct sunlight, just like the cheap plastic tiles. My first choice would be small, brick size ceramic tiles. My second choice would be epoxy on concrete. My third choice would be rubber or vct—I have seen some great pictures of VCT time garages. Next would be the cheap plastic tiles you see in show garages (but never in working shops). I’d do the roll out mats last.

I feel the need to clarify because there are truly rubber tiles out there -- Gym tiles typically. Tuff Seal, TrueLock etc are PVC not rubber.

I am not a fan of VCT at all. PVC have their place, but you have to understand they can stain from tires. Use black under tires. I went with Polypropelene (rigid tiles) and I love them

 

[pbon]

Sorry, you are right. I have pvc, not rubber. It feels rubber like, though. Not sure whether Hotrodhr has access to rubber or pvc or whether true rubber would be a good choice or not. My guess is it would be pretty good. Not sure about staining if the color is not black.

 

[HotrodHR]

Thanks for all the feedback. The tiles are flexible 12"x12" smooth surface and also 18"x18" with raised coin surface. They look the the tiles available from Flexco. I'll go look at them this weekend and see if there's any manufacturer's markings. In the meantime I'll try to attached a picture the guy texted to me.

 

[pbon]

They do look like VCT. How do they stay on the floor? They don’t look like they attach to one another line pvc or plastic interlocking tiles. If you must glue them down, are you just making more of a mess if they don’t work out? Do you want mismatched floor sections with different leftover tiles?

 

[cderalow]

those look like an older armstrong VCT product.

typically the only rubber I know of is made by Nora and typically looks like most epoxy floors with chips.

 

[JR 42]

Those look like smooth marbled rubber or maybe PVC to me. If they're flexible, they're rubber or vinyl; if they crumble easily they're VCT. Either way, that's a hell of a price.

18"x 18" raised dot solid color tiles will be Flexco rubber if I had to guess- Roppe and Johnsonite rubber tile are larger, and I haven't seen a vinyl version of them.

If they're really 12" square and 18" square and the same thickness you could work out a pattern of some type if the colors look good together.

Nearly all normal rubber flooring doesn't do so well with oil and grease, so watch out for drips and spills. It's also kinda slippery when wet.

Tire staining could be a concern.

Tile lift from the tires could also be a concern. Maybe using something like Taylor Pinnacle as a wet- set would be better than a normal rubber tile adhesive (?). There's epoxy adhesive, but it's expensive and would be very difficult to remove.

Is your existing concrete smooth and flat? The smoother, the better.

 

[HotrodHR]

They do look like VCT. How do they stay on the floor? They don’t look like they attach to one another line pvc or plastic interlocking tiles. If you must glue them down, are you just making more of a mess if they don’t work out? Do you want mismatched floor sections with different leftover tiles?

These are just some of samples, there are a couple other colors that I haven't seen. They are glue down 12x12 tiles.

They have more than enough to do a single color, checkerboard, or any other design. They are definitely flexible, unlike the VCT at HD and Lowes that break if you bend them. I'll get some more pics this weekend.

 

[HotrodHR]

Those look like smooth marbled rubber or maybe PVC to me. If they're flexible, they're rubber or vinyl; if they crumble easily they're VCT. Either way, that's a hell of a price.

18"x 18" raised dot solid color tiles will be Flexco rubber if I had to guess- Roppe and Johnsonite rubber tile are larger, and I haven't seen a vinyl version of them.

If they're really 12" square and 18" square and the same thickness you could work out a pattern of some type if the colors look good together.

Nearly all normal rubber flooring doesn't do so well with oil and grease, so watch out for drips and spills. It's also kinda slippery when wet.

Tire staining could be a concern.

Tile lift from the tires could also be a concern. Maybe using something like Taylor Pinnacle as a wet- set would be better than a normal rubber tile adhesive (?). There's epoxy adhesive, but it's expensive and would be very difficult to remove.

Is your existing concrete smooth and flat? The smoother, the better.

Floor is smooth and flat, 7 years old with expansion joints I'll have to fill. Other that a few spots (drops) of furniture stain and one spot about 10" of peanut oil that my wife spilled when she was taking out the trash the floor will need very little work to prep.

Not concerned about oil and fluid drips, my wife drives an SUV with 65k miles that looks brand new. I may put down some small mats for the tires to avoid stains. The flooring guy says to seal and apply liquid floor polish (similar to VCT).

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi, our www.supratile.com tiles are PVC. Certain tire compound additives can cause stains so we recommend black under the tires.