Epoxy or VCT

[PearlWhiteGT]

I'm new to all this so please bare with me. I can't figure out if I want to go with some sort of Epoxy coating or VCT Tile. It's just a 500sq/ft 2 car garage that will see floor jacks & wrench time for my car. So what are some pros & cons between the two?

Thanks for any help!!!

 

[mmhouse]

Well, I'll start.....

VCT less expensive.

VCT will require less floor preparation. Epoxy requires a lot of floor prep to reasonably assure that it will not peel (usually floor grinding). For VCT you just need a reasonably clean floor.

VCT is easier to install, especially as a DIY project.

The primary advantage to Epoxy is that if applied properly it is much tougher and less succeptible to damage from floor jacks, jack stands, etc. VCT will require protection from scratches and dents such as boards or plywood squares.

Epoxy can also easily accept additives that will make it less slippery, especially when wet.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Well, I'll start.....

VCT less expensive.

VCT will require less floor preparation. Epoxy requires a lot of floor prep to reasonably assure that it will not peel (usually floor grinding). For VCT you just need a reasonably clean floor.

VCT is easier to install, especially as a DIY project.

The primary advantage to Epoxy is that if applied properly it is much tougher and less succeptible to damage from floor jacks, jack stands, etc. VCT will require protection from scratches and dents such as boards or plywood squares.

Epoxy can also easily accept additives that will make it less slippery, especially when wet.

What if the house is a new construction. It was built at the end of 2008 & has been sitting on the matrket till now. Will I still have to floor grind? I want to do this right the first time & get it over with.

 

[mmhouse]

There are experts here that should chime in and answer that for you.

 

[markdoddridge]

Your gonna have to do something with the concrete if its pretty new. The reason you grind/shotblast/etch is not just to clean, but to make a rougher profile for the epoxy to grab onto. Most of them come with kits for etching, and the manufacturers state that all you really need to do is clean thoroughly and etch. Its actually not that difficult as a DIY project. Just clean, Etch with a stif brissled broom, paint it on, sprinkle some flakes, and wait for it to cure. Id say go with epoxy, cuz it just plain looks better. Nothing like a shiny coat of epoxy that looks like wet granite.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

So I won't have to grind the floor if it's pretty new? Just etch with a stiff brissled broom if I go with the epoxy?

 

[AlphaGarage]

Yup - a good chemical etch will work. Most folks use Muriatic Acid - it's easily sourced, cheap, and effective. It's also caustic stuff, so be sure to read and follow package instructions.

It works by dissolving the calcium in the concrete, while leaving most of the other components intact, resulting is a more aggressive texture.

If you can't use Muriatic acid for health or other environmental concerns, there are other non-toxic "green" chemical etchers available. We offer them, but they are more expensive.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Thanks for the info!

 

[oldskewl61]

i did vct in my old shop hated it it was pro installed and did not hold up well . In the cold it would just radomly pop off tiles

 

[PaulR]

Not an expert just a happy home and commercial property owner, I've laid down my fair share of VCT in the past, 3-4 floors of various sizes. I still really do NOT understand why anyone would use it in any garage setting besides a show garage. We have it in our kitchen here at the office and it gets scuffed up, I cannot imagine what steel jacks or stands would do to it.

VCT has it's uses I think, just not in a really real garage setting.

just my .02

Paul

 

[iatros]

I had the same dilemma...

I just ordered my VCT from Home Depot, and will be ordering my clear epoxy from Fred @ Alphagarage to apply on top.

Gives me the checkerboard that I've always wanted, along with the durability, less-slip, and less maintenance of epoxy.