Cover for working garage floor (currently painted)

[RatLabGuy]

We;re buying a house Dec 30th w/ an attached garage. Aparently the PO has painted the floor w/ a simple cover, not sure what but he said "just a basic latex (?)".
I'd like to put in a good cover before moving in, but don't have much time to do it.
Been doing alot of reading about epoxy vs vinyl interlock tiles vs VCT re: durability etc.
Trouble is, I do alot of automotive work and am hard on a floor, this will definitely be a "working" garage... aside from the usual auto fluids, also having a heavy jack dragged across it, tools or auto parts dropped, heck even big chunks fall sometimes... i also do welding, cutting, grinding...

I'm not real concerned w/ it looking "pretty", mostly concerned w/ easy cleanup - I hate laying on my back on a nasty floor.

I know welding/any hot stuff is bad for any material, I can plan to use blankets/protection and prob have something different under my workshop.

only ~400 sq ft so $$/ft is only a moderate issue.
my thoughts are:
- snap together vinyl tile - easiest install, can go over the existing painted floor - but how does it hold up to this kind of use? Does dragging a 3 ton (say 75 lb) floor jack across it destroy it? what about dropping, say, a 75 lb differential?
- epxoy - more durable (?) but will require removing all the current floor, considerable effort/time for install, probably untenable in Jan? slick when wet?
- VCT - easy (er) install- but can it be put on top of paint? How is durability for this? I liek te hidea of being able to just replace tiles here and there later if needed, cheaply. Does it absord oils? Get slick?

I'm leabing towards VCT but would like to hear input.

 

[mhm993]

Rat--there's several years of arguments and opinions on that subject around here. Search some key words, and get comfortable at the screen for a while. There's lots to read.

 

[wjh0919]

I agree with MHM993. I wouldn't rush to do something in the garage just to get it done. Read - search - read - ask - read - plan - read - decide. If it takes a few months to research and be happy with what you've decided - so be it. You don't say where you live so weather may limit what you can do anyway.

I did VCT in my garage - but I don't do as much work as you. I thought about expoxy but couldn't justify the cost and I was worried about my ability to get it done properly. I couldn't justify the cost of snap-together-vinyl tiles.

Not sure that helps but it's my 2 cents

 

[dondarnell]

I use my garage pretty much the way you describe. I live in Michigan, so clean up of the winter dragged in by the cars and sleds is an issue too. I used epoxy kits from Lowes - I think they were maybe $60 each. Its been five years and they still clean up well. They are a bit scarred now, but still look pretty good most of time. I'm going to go over them again next year with the same stuff.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Doesn't sound like you're going to be doing anything that a high quality epoxy coating won't be able to handle. Do a quick search on "Wolverine" and read what our customers are saying...

 

[XRetailGarageGuy]

Some good advice. I would stay away from any tile product you will not be happy in the long run. You are right...preparation is going to be key. Get all old coating off first. I would not go with a big box retail product. Fred at Alpha has good advice. This is his sweet spot!

 

[RatLabGuy]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the feedback.
Maybe I should be a little more direct.
I don't have a lot of time between buying the house, and having to have the garage available for use. On top of that, it will be early Jan - likely pretty chilly. This make me wonder if an epoxy is feasible?

Some Q's regarding VCT -
-how does it hold up to thsi kind of use?
-does oil etc get between the cracks allowing them to get nasty there?
-can it be placed over the existing paint (assuming it is very clean and not chipping up)?

If the paint will have to come off regardless, then I'm kind of tempted to just deal with it for now and see how badly the winter/spring projects destroy it anyway, then in the summer plan to redo something nice.
ratty