Detached Garage Flooring Project and Bar

[gb70]

I have always wanted to do a checker board floor in a garage. Moved here a year ago and have decided to go for it this time. I bought Armstrongs VCT tile flooring at Home Depot, along with the adheisive. First step was getting the floor cleaned up using a buffer that had a stiff pad to use with degreaser. I rinsed it off with a high pressure water gun. Did that 2-3 times. Then after it dried I started from the center of the garage out. My detach is 30'x50' so it is not an overnight job. I used four 1' square tiles (same color) together, creating a 2' square. This gives it more scale since the garage is large. 1' squares would be too busy IMO. It is nearly done till I ran out of tiles. These are special order at Home Depot or Lowes and can take 7-20 days to get in. Once this part is done I plan on scuffing up the tiles with 100 grit sandpaper disk using the same buffing machine. I need to scratch up the surface so that the clear epoxy I am going to lay on top has somethig to bite to and stick. The clear coat epoxy goes on wet and looks wet (glossy) afterwards and I will not have to worry about stains and or polish. It will give it a deep wet glossy look to it. Should turn out nice. Here are some pics thus far.

I have an idea. See the bar in the background where I placed 1' squares on. The countertop acts as a bar and I was thinking about adding draft beer set up over there. There is a TV of course (satalite) and will have bar stools. That would be too cool. Wrench, TV, beer Later in Part II need to do some neon or something. Here is a closer look. I built two spaces for my stereo speakers to come flush to the counter wall. They are the all black speakers left and right side. Pretty cool hugh? The bar counter top is solid concrete. Dn't ask how I got it up there.

 

[volvo]

>>>>The clear coat epoxy goes on wet and looks wet (glossy) afterwards and I will not have to worry about stains and or polish.>>>>>>

gb70 : You have a nice place there and very unique idea of epoxy over vct tile. Is this a first or has someone else have any experience with vct/epoxy? What brand epoxy are you putting down and do you expect any draw backs or problems? Sounds like the best of all worlds to me.
Good Luck Thanks...H

 

[gb70]

>>>>The clear coat epoxy goes on wet and looks wet (glossy) afterwards and I will not have to worry about stains and or polish.>>>>>>

gb70 : You have a nice place there and very unique idea of epoxy over vct tile. Is this a first or has someone else have any experience with vct/epoxy? What brand epoxy are you putting down and do you expect any draw backs or problems? Sounds like the best of all worlds to me.
Good Luck Thanks...H

I like the look of both and thought why not? I contatced a guy that does epoxy floor coverings and asked his oppinion. He told me that he did it once for a customer and contacted him to see how it was holding up. He said that it has been fine for over a year now. What I learned is that I need to scuff up the floor with 100 grit using a buffer machine so that the epoxy has something to stick to. My guy came out to see my work this far and was impressed. He took two tiles from me and has a job next week where he will be mixing a batch of clear epoxy and will scuff up one tile medium and the other more and the lay down the epoxy (two thick coats of 8 mills each). He then will bring it by and show me his results. He is lending me his machine but he gets the commercial (contractors) pricing and quality epoxy you just can't buy at Lowes or Home Depot. I am going to ask him if he will sell me just the materials but I don't want to insult him so if he does not go for that I will let him finish up with putting down the epoxy. That really will be the easiest part of the job so far. I have spent like 60 hours of my own free labor getting this far. The glue has to set up before you can lay tiles and that can take 1-2 hours depending on temps. If it was just lay down adheisive and tiles on top right afterwards I would have been done days ago.

I think this will turn out great. Best of both worlds, the looks, durability, and care free waxing and polishing. Also way more stronger, the epoxy that is, and it will protect the tiles.

Wish me luck.

 

[supercharged]

i need me an old gas pump too....


looks great, by the way!

 

[RichardNorman]

I have considered using VCT in my garage here in MD but so far I have heard nothing but "hmm, I don't know"s when I ask how well the tiles and adhesive would hold up to the up and down temps of the mid-atlantic area.

I know Idaho is probably more stable temp wise but it does get cold there.....are the VCT tiles up to the cold temps?

 

[FL_Javelin]

Beautiful Garage!

I was looking into VCT also, the clear epoxy is interesting however I would have some concerns.

I have no experience with VCT but I believe it "gives" a little when something heavy is applied or dropped. What would happen to the epoxy after this happens?

I would think if the epoxy doesnt give also, you would have chipped epoxy there. Without epoxy on the VCT, it would be an easy matter of replacing the tile but that would not be as easy if epoxied.

Just trying to be devils advocate here, food for thought.

 

[RavinJetta]

Gorgeous garage. I love how the flooring came out

 

[gb70]

I have considered using VCT in my garage here in MD but so far I have heard nothing but "hmm, I don't know"s when I ask how well the tiles and adhesive would hold up to the up and down temps of the mid-atlantic area.

I know Idaho is probably more stable temp wise but it does get cold there.....are the VCT tiles up to the cold temps?

That is true from what I learned from Armstrong's tech dept. Idaho does get some months of below or slightly above freezing. My detached is well insulated but I bought 2 wall heaters off of Ebay for 115-145 dollars each. As long as the temp is above 55 degress in the garage it should be fine according to Armstrong.

 

[gb70]

Beautiful Garage!

I was looking into VCT also, the clear epoxy is interesting however I would have some concerns.

I have no experience with VCT but I believe it "gives" a little when something heavy is applied or dropped. What would happen to the epoxy after this happens?

I would think if the epoxy doesnt give also, you would have chipped epoxy there. Without epoxy on the VCT, it would be an easy matter of replacing the tile but that would not be as easy if epoxied.

Just trying to be devils advocate here, food for thought.

The clear (2 coats) of epoxy. 8 mills thick each layer ot coat will help protect the tile while adding strength and gloss to the floor. If the epoxy did chip it would be easier than removing and reapplying another tile IMO. Epoxy is way harder than VCT alone by the tile itself. Appriciate the thoughts. More welcome.

 

[RichardNorman]

That is true from what I learned from Armstrong's tech dept. Idaho does get some months of below or slightly above freezing. My detached is well insulated but I bought 2 wall heaters off of Ebay for 115-145 dollars each. As long as the temp is above 55 degress in the garage it should be fine according to Armstrong.

We don't get consistant temps in the winter really. Up and down anywhere between 30 and 50 degrees.

Do you plan on running the head all the time?

I guess I'm just going to buy a few tiles and glue 'em down in a corner of my garage to see how they last this winter.

God.....I can not imagine having to take up an entire floor of VCT gone bad. Ouch.