Garage Floor Options

[kbuhagiar]

Hello, folks,

I just discovered this wonderful resource a couple of days ago and have now added it to my other favorites (corvetteforum, ncrs.com, etc).

I am reviewing my options for a garage floor covering. Originally I was hoping to have an epoxy coating professionally installed; however, I have determined that there is too much moisture trapped in my existing concrete slab. So, any sort of paint, coating or permanently adhered floor tile would appear to be out of the question.

I am now looking toward the possibility of using RaceDeck or MotoFloor, but I am still concerned with the moisture-in-the-concrete-slab issue. Every two or three years, we get enough rain around here to thoroughly saturate the ground, and when that happens the concrete slab 'sweats' and makes the floor wet. It usually evaporates in two or three days, but I'm wondering if this would be a problem with the above-mentioned products. Also, what if my washing machine acts up and drains its contents all over the floor? Would I have to pull up the RaceDeck/MotoFloor to dry it out?

Looking forward to any thoughts or opinions on this matter.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[Luckydevil]

The black plastic tiles sold at Home Depot actually have small slits in them that I think would work good in your case. They would allow the moisture to evaporate instead of trapping it. I remember seeing a couple people on here speak highly of them. Let me see if I can track down a thread for you...

 

[dboat]

Or get the Racedeck that is like a mesh.. it would breathe for you.. I am putting it under my cars where all the nasty snow melts so that the dirt drops through it..
Dana

 

[staceman]

Hi Ken,

Because of my location in the cold midwest I had to go with a tile floor and ended up installing KIWI Tile in my garage a year and a half ago. I break it apart in large slabs to power wash in the spring. Other than that it's maintenace free other than the occasional vacuum. They offer two styles; solid or perforated which was my selection. Check them out at http://www.kiwitile.com/home/.

 

[maronha]

Hey I came across a tile that sell for $2 a sqft, but it is not made in the usa. You can see it at this website . This guy sell alot of lift and other stuff. I called him and he said he really see were there can e such a big differance in US made and that made in China. His comment was that how many different way can you inject polymers into a mold to get the tile. If you look at his tile it is the same identical look as kiwi. Is KIWI MADE in the USA?

HERE IS THE LINK www.GregSmithEquipment.com

 

[Hammerdown]

What was your moisture reading? You only encounter this problem once every two or three years? I know when I researched my epoxy that was a concern of mine. I used the UCoat it and had to actually apply it to a wet floor! Water pressure does not seem to be a problem with this coating. I did not like the plastic tiles for the reason that they don't really protect the concrete from damage, all the oils, gas, salt or grime seep through the seams and go into the concrete, plus the cost of Racedeck was prohibitive. It does look cool, but I'm still an epoxy guy.

 

[RedRacer74]

That company is sending me a sample of their Bigfoot tile both in plastic and rubber. I already have a RaceDeck sample and I will compare the quality and post what I see in a few days.
The price is hard to beat. I will be doing a 1200 storage area for cars / motorcycles. The usage won't wear the tile as cars will just be parked for extended periods of time.

 

[maronha]

after getting my sample of the plastic BIGFOOT tile i am really leaning toward the rubber style floor tile. I have not got a sample of the rubbr floor tile from them but i do plan on calling for a sample as well. I do have a rubber sample tile (12''x12'') from

http://www.floorsurfaces.com

and they do seem to be very nice but very expensive, compared to that of bigfoot. I am also getting a sample of floor called versatile which is interlocking design and they are 24''x24''.

 

[tah81]

I just finished putting Race Deck down and it has channels under it to drain water out and allow for drying. The vendor recommended powerwashing the tiles as needed to get them clean. Hope this helps.

 

[zen garage]

Check out a tile called xylon made by sportcourt. it is a mesh style that allows for air circulation. I have it on my wifes side of the garage where snow melts and passes through to the concrete. The water evaporates pretty quickly. It is also softer and quieter than the solid type tile flooring. My garage side is the solid daytona from sportcourt and the two sides of the garage are night and day. If you would like pricing shoot me an email.

 

[RedRacer74]

Just got the Bigfoot tile samples. The red plastic tile looks a bit cheap for my taste. If price is the issue then this is your tile. The rubber looks to be of a good grade however the color sent was a nasty yellow and not impressive. Quality looks to be good. I dont know about the interlock on the rubber and wonder if it would lift and come apart.
Kiwi is up next sending me a sample. Racedeck is far superior so far.
Havent seen Moto yet at Costco and will look this weekend.

Looking for more samples to explore.

 

[maronha]

I agree that the plastic bigfoot tile does look and feels cheap to me. I hear from a flooring guy that this floor comes from New Zeland. I have not got my sample of the rubber tile yet but should be here next week. I do have a samplle tile from link below and it seems to me that is made very strong, but to much$$$$$ for my wallet.

http://www.floorsurfaces.com/home-resilia.htm


I am also waiting for a sample of VERSATILE which is an interlocking tile like locktile but its 24''x24''. hers a link if anyone want to check it out. Even without seeing the sample i am leaning toward this one.

http://www.softnsafefloors.com/versatile.html

 

[camarosource]

Just got the Bigfoot tile samples. The red plastic tile looks a bit cheap for my taste. If price is the issue then this is your tile. The rubber looks to be of a good grade however the color sent was a nasty yellow and not impressive. Quality looks to be good. I dont know about the interlock on the rubber and wonder if it would lift and come apart.
Kiwi is up next sending me a sample. Racedeck is far superior so far.
Havent seen Moto yet at Costco and will look this weekend.

Looking for more samples to explore.

Did you check out MotoFloor from Costco? What was your impression of it? Thanks

 

[Ryan Wilke]

I did not like the plastic tiles for the reason that they don't really protect the concrete from damage, all the oils, gas, salt or grime seep through the seams and go into the concrete, plus the cost of Racedeck was prohibitive. It does look cool, but I'm still an epoxy guy.

Hammer,
I agree with your train-of-thought there!
Is your garage heated?


Reason I ask is because my garage floor has become BADLY PITTED/FLAKING due to the attack of melting road salt that is brought in by the wife's car every winter. My garage is not heated so it doesn't get hosed out until late Spring, which allows the salt to lay there for weeks/months to eat on the concrete surface.

Consider this:
I was thinking of renting a floor grinder and grinding the surface down ~1/2" (in May or June), then laying a cap of concrete 2" at the outer walls and sloping toward the center. I'd also install a 20" wide 24" deep crock drain grate (gravel dry well type) at the floor center, then seal the entire floor with an epoxy. I would hope then that the tracked in road salt would melt/drain/run toward the center of the floor under the car (rather than toward the outside walls, corroding everything that's metal along the way!) and NOT destroy the floor's surface in the process.

Do you guys think my above plan would work?

Is there a better idea to restore & preserve a garage floor under my conditions?

Thanks in advance for any & all advice, opinions or suggestions!
Ryan W

 

[BoCRon]

I really liked the Bigfoot Rubber tile and will probably use it in my exercise room.
I ended up using Daytona tile by Sport Court in my garage and really love it. I ended up buying if off ebay. Here's a site where you can look at it and the colors.
http://jnkproducts.com/

Also, take a look at Dynotile. Very strong overlapping seams, which my husband really liked. We will be using this on our covered porch. If there is no distributor near you, you can buy directly from them which saves a bit.
www.dynotile.com

Annette

 

[jaredwb]

Have you considered polished concrete? For a cost that is comparable to many of the other options it is a far superior floor that can take a beating. If you prefer, the concrete can also be dyed nearly any color.