Flooring recommendations

[RVAmike]

I'm sure this question has been asked a ton of times on here. Sorry for any redundant conversation. I just want to explain my situation and see what people recommend.

My garage is about 4-5 years old. So the concrete floor is about the same age I assume, we just bought the house back in December. There doesn't appear to be any sealer on the concrete. Currently I'm working on finishing the walls, they were not insulated and drywalled. This fall, or next spring I may work on a more permanent flooring solution in order to preserve the concrete. So here's the environment for anyone in the know on materials:

I work on a lot of things, most of which involve some sort of mechanics, which invokes oils, cleaning chemicals, and spills of course. I also play around with some welding, wood working, painting things. I plan to restore an old Volkswagen. So this floor will experience the full gambit of abuse.

Tile work is in my vocabulary and have done it, I just wouldn't know what grout would be the best to use.

Not sure on the plastic tile, due to working with the oils and things, I'd worry about something eventually seeping between them and getting to the concrete.

Epoxy seems like the most cost effective, but I'm not interested in putting it down myself, and would it hold up ? especially if I'm welding and sparks hit it ?

Any recommendations and input are much appreciated. I'm in no rush, I'm finishing up other things, so I'll be contemplating this for a while before I decide.

 

[bdamico]

you want porcelain tile and before you start saying it won't hold up etc search "porcelain" in title only and realize it is most durable flooring option there.

 

[RVAmike]

I'm absolutely on board with porcelain tile if the consensus is that it would be the best option for my situation or what I plan to subject the floor to. I laid porcelain tile in my old house when I renovated my kitchen. I know it has the density and strength to hold up against the weight, etc... I'd be more concerned with the grout... I'm novice, but totally understand the tile laying process, what I'm not familiar with is grout options for garage environments.

 

[RVAmike]

Curious if the VCT tile could withstand the environment. Obviously I wouldn't want to rest a freshly welded red hot piece of metal on it. But could it handle light sparks ?

 

[txbonds]

How would you deal with oil and other liquids getting into the grout?

What about line-X garage floor coating?

 

[bdamico]

I'm absolutely on board with porcelain tile if the consensus is that it would be the best option for my situation or what I plan to subject the floor to. I laid porcelain tile in my old house when I renovated my kitchen. I know it has the density and strength to hold up against the weight, etc... I'd be more concerned with the grout... I'm novice, but totally understand the tile laying process, what I'm not familiar with is grout options for garage environments.

Dark grout goes a long way. Thin grout lines go a long way. A non cementous or hybrid grout will solve the staining problems, were you faced with any. I have dark epoxy grout that never needs to be sealed and never stains. There is a guy named Dakota here who is a pro, I believe he recommends something short of epoxy for most. mapei ultracolor plus if I'm not mistaken. I just put down some fusion pro in a balcony that is supposed to never stain. There are a a lot of interesting grout products these days.

I just blow out my floor every few months. Every once in a while I wipe up a stain. I've had mine down for four or so years I guess now and it looks as good as day it was put down. Wish my stone floors inside the house were so easy to maintain

Search "vct" in titles only. There are plenty of installs. People love the floors for certain applications but will not withstand your application. The coating guys will also respond with their best recommendations. They are a good group here

 

[Angelfire]

Look into epoxy and urethane grouts....There are some pretty good ones out there for stain resistance etc... Just practice before using them as they are not your typical sanded grout (particularly the epoxy version). What most who install porcelain in their garage do is chose a dark gray/brown/black color so anything that does make it to the grout isn't noticeable.

 

[RVAmike]

Dark grout goes a long way. Thin grout lines go a long way. A non cementous or hybrid grout will solve the staining problems, were you faced with any. I have dark epoxy grout that never needs to be sealed and never stains. There is a guy named Dakota here who is a pro, I believe he recommends something short of epoxy for most. mapei ultracolor plus if I'm not mistaken. I just put down some fusion pro in a balcony that is supposed to never stain. There are a a lot of interesting grout products these days.

I just blow out my floor every few months. Every once in a while I wipe up a stain. I've had mine down for four or so years I guess now and it looks as good as day it was put down. Wish my stone floors inside the house were so easy to maintain

Search "vct" in titles only. There are plenty of installs. People love the floors for certain applications but will not withstand your application. The coating guys will also respond with their best recommendations. They are a good group here

I took a look at your thread... Your floor looks fantastic... Color is along the lines of what I'd go with. You've got me thinking, which is the point of this thread. I'm going to continue to compare other options. Epoxy grout reinforces the porcelain tile strength and durability basis. I'd definitely have to install myself to keep it affordable.