Cheapest easiest floor option and wall paint

[malykaii]

So after years of being on wait lists, begging, pleading, offering finders fees... you name it, I scored a rental garage. (NYC is pretty cut throat for parking spots and garages)

This spot is real nice as it's electric door, off street, and (very rare) has walls between the spots. I plan to stay for a few years but since it's a rental I want to keep my financial investment to an absolute minimum.



The floor is oily in spots and no water, so prep is tough. Worried epoxy won't stick well. What about cheap tiles? Are they oil and jack stand resistant? Thanks?

Off topic, but any cheap wall paint recommendations for a filthy concrete wall? Colors?

 

[RalloZ35]

If you wanted to go really cheap those snap together foam childrens mats would work well, and if you ruined one it wouldn't cost anything to replace.

 

[malykaii]

^I plan on doing an engine swap and a lot of side jobs out of this place. The foam wouldn't be jack stand friendly by any chance?

I'm clueless regarding children. Do they make some sort of hard plastic version of that? Then I can use diamond plate steel between the stands and floor maybe?

 

[RalloZ35]

Race deck flooring might be a better option for you then, look that up... It is kind of pricey though. And I don't really thing the foam would be bad with jack stands.... I would thing the jack stand would just sink down to the concrete. I dont know haha, It was an Idea... I'm sure racedeck would work for what you want though.

 

[malykaii]

Yeah, that stuff is pricey, but at least I can take it with me. I'll measure how much I need next week and if it's cost effective.

The kid mat thing isn't a bad idea. Next time I'm at a store that stocks them, I'll take a look.

 

[RalloZ35]

The floormats are real easy on the knees too haha. Good luck with you decision let me know how you do!

 

[Shea]

Depending on the width of your spot there, a roll out floor mat will most likely go edge to edge. No floor prep needed and jack stands won't be an issue.

 

[hal1]

roll out floor

http://www.homedepot.com/p/NewAge-P...42G04rzBXfvfq6VDyTM0C3Ii9h6NIo8wNZBoCgi_w_wcB

 

[tomd]

I agree with above.

 

[joshgn]

totally off topic...but how much does a space like that cost there? was just curious..

if you dont want to say, I understand...

 

[ImpalaJon]

Loop

 

[Gotcha640]

My inlaws have a 9x15 ish rug in their entry that gets replaced every few years. The old one goes to the garage, the garage one goes to my garage, where I jack and jack stand on it, drip oil, and everything else. You should be able to find a thin, large carpet on Craigslist, or on big trash day, or, in NYC, wrapped around a body.

Regular creepers don't roll very well on them, but cardboard or those loops of fabric things work fine.

 

[Garage Flooring]

So after years of being on wait lists, begging, pleading, offering finders fees... you name it, I scored a rental garage. (NYC is pretty cut throat for parking spots and garages)

This spot is real nice as it's electric door, off street, and (very rare) has walls between the spots. I plan to stay for a few years but since it's a rental I want to keep my financial investment to an absolute minimum.



The floor is oily in spots and no water, so prep is tough. Worried epoxy won't stick well. What about cheap tiles? Are they oil and jack stand resistant? Thanks?

Off topic, but any cheap wall paint recommendations for a filthy concrete wall? Colors?

Looks like you have had some great advice. Here are a couple of thoughts.

9x20 clearance coin mat

$2.29 each garage floor tile

For the wall paint, just go get some inexpensive concrete paint. Nothing fancy. If you want to spend a little extra, use a good primer first.

 

[OJ Bartley]

Seems like mats are the way to go for you. I would stay away from the kids foam flooring, we have half our kitchen covered in it right now, and they slide and separate a bit even from little feet running over them. I would probably spend some time cleaning up the walls with maybe a wire brush or something and then go at it with a coat of white or very light concrete paint. Looks like there's not a ton of light, so don't go too dark. And congrats on the new space!

 

[workhurts]

Since you are renting, has the owner given you approval to paint and stuff? For as small as the space is, go light on paint. I'd almost just prime it white and leave it alone.

As for floor, why bother? You jack that truck up and it'll probably hit the other wall. I suppose ramps for oil changes would work. If you want to keep from dripping oil and fluids all over the place just some scrap carpet will do. Drive around some construction sites or some people renovating or craigslist and pick up some carpet.

Other ideas for paint if you really want color is to go to lowes or home depot and look for returned/reject paint. Sometimes they have 5 gallons of the same color.

 

[packpride85]

I'd do something that can easily be removed since its a rental. I wouldn't even bother painting the walls but if you do make sure you get written approval from the owner.

 

[OJ Bartley]

Yeah, make sure you have approval to paint, but I think a nice solid coat of white would help to brighten it up in there.

 

[malykaii]

Bringing this one back from the dead... Didn't have much time to get anything done till now.

\I wouldn't even bother painting the walls but if you do make sure you get written approval from the owner.

I want to paint as I will be spending plenty of time here... hours at a time restoring my next car. With the door closed it looks like a creepy dungeon, so I want to make it liveable. I intend to stay for a decade, so I doubt she'll even remember the place when I move out. Worst case, I'll loose my $100 deposit. Plus I should be charging her a cleaning fee, the place was nasty from the last tenant, lol.

Other ideas for paint if you really want color is to go to lowes or home depot and look for returned/reject paint. Sometimes they have 5 gallons of the same color.

YES!!! I never knew such an option existed. I also forgot how much paint cost. Walked into Home Depot only to see that the average gallon of paint is $35 (need 2) and the line is 10 people long. So I look for what you suggested. So I cant find more than one can of any color, and am getting ready to two tone the place with peach and pastel green... only to look at the floor and notice 5gal cans. Grab a 5gal of Gloss Cream for $25. THANKS!!!

You should be able to find a thin, large carpet on Craigslist, or on big trash day, or, in NYC, wrapped around a body.

LOLED HARD... not anymore, sadly. With $2500 a month rent comes an awful cleaned up gentrified neighborhood. I think the carpet will get grimey fast though.

Race deck flooring might be a better option for you then.

Yeah, after better inspection, turns out the floor is so warped and wavy that I don't think snap together tiles would ever work.

If it is OK to roll a creeper over, why not keep it as is?

I hate creepers, would never pay for that. Only use one at work because I must. Then turns out a co worker was throwing his out over a broken wheel... now I have a free creeper.
I used two gallons of garage floor cleaver and scrubbing brushes to finally get all the grease off the floor. Your right. Its not bad and I'll see how it works out.

^If it doesn't, I see posts about stall mats, roll out flooring, and loop. Those are my back up. Thanks gentlemen. Pics coming real soon of a before and after.

 

[malykaii]

totally off topic...but how much does a space like that cost there? was just curious..

if you don't want to say, I understand...

Well, first off... remember, NYC is a whole different world. There is work and money still here. A two family building on my block just sold for 1.3 million. No driveway, just a small back yard. Rent averages over $2k a month for a two bedroom in my area.

MY garage is $260 a month. Everyone pays $230 a spot but mine is wider by an inch and has en electric door, so I pay extra. Oh well, beggars cant be choosers.

This is also in a more residential area. Its about 20-25 minutes drive away for me (about 4 miles, so riding a bicycle there is easy). An open spot in my area is worth about $220 and a three car garage around the corner went up for $1500 and they managed to find a schmuck to pay that. So at $260 plus a small commute, I am satisfied.

 

[malykaii]

The 15 year old grease stain in question. Total dungeon status.




No idea what that was, but I'm glad i cleaned it. Last thing I want is to be here at 10pm in this jail cell like place alone with that thing.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Kristi in my office has a list of returns. I know we have four mats out there I would love to get off the floor. Give her a call at 800-956-4301 x204 Pretty sure she can get you a screaming deal on some ding and dent returns

 

[malykaii]

^ Cool stuff. When im,done painting this weekend and all I will.

 

[Mr. Fixer Upper]

If you have not jumped on a floor yet the New Age roll floor just went on sale for Father's Day:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/NewAge-P...PID=6147012&SID=ib53boxqfu0025g3001rw&cj=true

$89 for a 7.5ft x 20ft.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Please see this current thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294852