Help Me Pick a Flooring Solution?

[Tuvi]

Hi All,

First post here! I've spent many many hours reading through the forums here, and have learned a lot! What a helpful bunch! Here's a bit about my garage and my dilemma...

I live in rural Ontario, Canada. It snows A LOT here in the winter. Roads are salted. Garage is 24x36 and has been up for less than a year. It's a detached building, with ~ 550 sq. ft. of living space above it. Radiant heat in the slab (and insulated with 2" SM underneath the pex runs), ICF walls, slab sensor/thermostat controls the heat. Garage is used for light wrenching, woodworking, storage, and hanging out with friends. I've got most of my stuff (motor stands, bench, couch, etc.) on casters. When it's not bug season AND above freezing, I like having the garage door open while puttering/hanging out. Doing this exposes about 1/4 of my floor to direct sunlight (albeit the forest is often in the way depending on season and time of day). I have a drain in the middle, and the slab is very slightly sloped towards it. All plumbing/mechanical (h2o tank, transfer tank, etc.) is a back corner. In all honesty, I don't spend too much time in the garage in the summer. It's definitely more of a "winter hangout".

Problems with the bare floor that I'm trying to solve:

1. DUST! It's everywhere and it's starting to really annoy me.
2. Ease of cleaning.
3. Comfort - I've got a dart board, big screen, etc. in there... it'd be nice to be able to take winter boots off and walk around in socks, maybe throw a bean bag chair on the floor, etc.
4. Cosmetics - Of course I'd like it to look nice, but I'm definitely a "function over fashion" guy.

I'm STRONGLY leaning towards a tile (Swisstrax, Racedeck, etc.) in lieu of epoxy. I feel like snowmobile carbides going in and out would force me to re-coat epoxy pretty frequently... it'd be far easier to just replace a few tiles than to re-coat some/all of the floor. Correct me if I'm wrong on this one! Also, I'm looking for a 25-year solution here. I'm not opposed to spending more $$ up front if it means less $$/work later.

Everyone seems to be raving about the "Free Flow" product. While it seems pretty neat (and looks great), I'm wondering if it would actually keep the dust knocked down? Do casters move over it with ease? For my application, would a solid tile be better? I guess my concerns about the solid tile are:

- more expansion/contraction, especially in sunlit areas
- radiant heat - while I know the tile can handle a radiant floor with ease, I'm wondering if my slab sensor/thermostat setup would result in a significantly cooler room due to the solid tile insulating the floor?

So there you have it! I haven't done a lot of research on OTHER coverings (porcelain, etc.), but I'm open to doing so if y'all think I'm shooting myself in the foot by NOT considering them.

I'm sure I'll think of more questions as time goes on. Thanks in advance for any insight you may have!!

 

[Hephaestus29]

Carpet

 

[Garage Flooring]

Hi All,

First post here! I've spent many many hours reading through the forums here, and have learned a lot! What a helpful bunch! Here's a bit about my garage and my dilemma...

I live in rural Ontario, Canada. It snows A LOT here in the winter. Roads are salted. Garage is 24x36 and has been up for less than a year. It's a detached building, with ~ 550 sq. ft. of living space above it. Radiant heat in the slab (and insulated with 2" SM underneath the pex runs), ICF walls, slab sensor/thermostat controls the heat. Garage is used for light wrenching, woodworking, storage, and hanging out with friends. I've got most of my stuff (motor stands, bench, couch, etc.) on casters. When it's not bug season AND above freezing, I like having the garage door open while puttering/hanging out. Doing this exposes about 1/4 of my floor to direct sunlight (albeit the forest is often in the way depending on season and time of day). I have a drain in the middle, and the slab is very slightly sloped towards it. All plumbing/mechanical (h2o tank, transfer tank, etc.) is a back corner. In all honesty, I don't spend too much time in the garage in the summer. It's definitely more of a "winter hangout".

Problems with the bare floor that I'm trying to solve:

1. DUST! It's everywhere and it's starting to really annoy me.
2. Ease of cleaning.
3. Comfort - I've got a dart board, big screen, etc. in there... it'd be nice to be able to take winter boots off and walk around in socks, maybe throw a bean bag chair on the floor, etc.
4. Cosmetics - Of course I'd like it to look nice, but I'm definitely a "function over fashion" guy.

I'm STRONGLY leaning towards a tile (Swisstrax, Racedeck, etc.) in lieu of epoxy. I feel like snowmobile carbides going in and out would force me to re-coat epoxy pretty frequently... it'd be far easier to just replace a few tiles than to re-coat some/all of the floor. Correct me if I'm wrong on this one! Also, I'm looking for a 25-year solution here. I'm not opposed to spending more $$ up front if it means less $$/work later.

Everyone seems to be raving about the "Free Flow" product. While it seems pretty neat (and looks great), I'm wondering if it would actually keep the dust knocked down? Do casters move over it with ease? For my application, would a solid tile be better? I guess my concerns about the solid tile are:

- more expansion/contraction, especially in sunlit areas
- radiant heat - while I know the tile can handle a radiant floor with ease, I'm wondering if my slab sensor/thermostat setup would result in a significantly cooler room due to the solid tile insulating the floor?

So there you have it! I haven't done a lot of research on OTHER coverings (porcelain, etc.), but I'm open to doing so if y'all think I'm shooting myself in the foot by NOT considering them.

I'm sure I'll think of more questions as time goes on. Thanks in advance for any insight you may have!!

Tiles are a great solution, but you will want to put something down where the carbides slide on the floor

Flow through won't help with dusting. That said you could prime the floor which would help or even a densifier.

We offer RaceDeck and TrueLock. I think the HD Extreme Small coin would be perfect. I would consider combining it with free flow over any drains, etc

 

[Tuvi]

Carpet

That should work REALLY well with all the oils, fluids, sawdust, and snow/water! Maybe an exotic hardwood would be better?

 

[Tuvi]

Flow through won't help with dusting. That said you could prime the floor which would help or even a densifier.

Justin,

Thanks for your candour here! I was hoping that - with the free flow - there'd be almost no dust since there'd be no direct traffic with the concrete. To your point, a coating may not be a bad idea (if I go with a free-flow setup).

Thanks again!!

 

[Garage Flooring]

Justin,

Thanks for your candour here! I was hoping that - with the free flow - there'd be almost no dust since there'd be no direct traffic with the concrete. To your point, a coating may not be a bad idea (if I go with a free-flow setup).

Thanks again!!

Yup even just a primer or dare I say it some Kilz.

 

[Swissfloors]

Get some samples in of Ribtrax. I would suggest this or a similar product and in the areas you have the snow mobiles use our Rubbertrax (softer and less slippery) product as it locks right into the standard Ribtrax product. We did that for Richard Petty's snowmobiles and they loved it.

 

[Angelfire]

Don't discount porcelain tile. You will probably still need to plan for the carbides with a sacrificial protection (ie. plywood or similar) but otherwise, it would be a very solid solution.
Cheers.

 

[jsp0511]

Just installed ribtrax in my garage. totally love it!

 

[RaceDeck1]

We have the over 20 styles and options to choose from. Happy to send you some samples and of course GJ members get great deals .. Thanks

 

[regguy1]

I just did a rehab of the attached garage, I used True lock tiles, the concrete was cracked and uneven and removing and replacing concrete floor would be expensive. see video here:

I used epoxy in my detached garage where I do work. see photos

 

[CJDave]

RaceDeck Free Flow was my choice 4 years ago. Love it. Zero complaints for my purposes, her daily driver and my collector Mach 1. Light, mostly, maintenance but the engine hoist, engine stand and tool box roll nicely. Good luck. CJDave.

 

[James-W]

Don't discount porcelain tile. You will probably still need to plan for the carbides with a sacrificial protection (ie. plywood or similar) but otherwise, it would be a very solid solution.
Cheers.

My first inclination for flooring in my garage was to go with porcelain tile or ceramic tile. But, the garage is 24X36 (864 sq ft) and when I inquired as to the cost of installing the tile I was given an estimate of $6,000 for labor. I only got one estimate but it was from the place that does really good work and they generally give you a fair price. I figured with the cost of the tile and the labor it would most likely be around $10,000 and that kind of turned me off to the idea. I ended up going with Racedeck tiles and I am very happy with them.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I just did a rehab of the attached garage, I used True lock tiles, the concrete was cracked and uneven and removing and replacing concrete floor would be expensive. see video here:

I used epoxy in my detached garage where I do work. see photos

Nice Floor!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Caribde studs will scratch and damage any floor no matter what it is made of. The nice thing about epoxy is that it is easily touched up by just re-doing the protective topcoat at any time. Most likely the floor will see the carbide scratches only in certain areas so we would expect that the damage would be minimal from the carbide.

 

[garagedriven]

I did this research not long ago (live in Toronto) and settled on Ribtrax. (Just ordered recently) Check out Rick's site for some info on what it's like to live with in Canadian winters:

https://www.radgarage.ca/floor.html

 

[Angelfire]

My first inclination for flooring in my garage was to go with porcelain tile or ceramic tile. But, the garage is 24X36 (864 sq ft) and when I inquired as to the cost of installing the tile I was given an estimate of $6,000 for labor. I only got one estimate but it was from the place that does really good work and they generally give you a fair price. I figured with the cost of the tile and the labor it would most likely be around $10,000 and that kind of turned me off to the idea. I ended up going with Racedeck tiles and I am very happy with them.

I installed myself and came out with a cost of around $2/ft for a PEI 5, rectified, through body tile. At $7/SF labor only, I'd have looked elsewhere.....that seems outrageous.

 

[James-W]

I installed myself and came out with a cost of around $2/ft for a PEI 5, rectified, through body tile. At $7/SF labor only, I'd have looked elsewhere.....that seems outrageous.

I thought it was high as well, but they have always been the less expensive place around so I didn't check into it further. I guess maybe I should have gotten at least three estimates, but in any event I am very happy with the Racedeck.

 

[Oscarm]

I live near you too..(Southampton) and same concerns. The 'flow-through' tiles seem like sponges that would trap dust, sand, salt and mud, and a ****** to sweep out. Take a close look at "Armor Poxy's" Supratile product. Interlocking tiles that can easily be replaced if needed. Ask for sample of their "textured" version of the tile...looks like it would be good for rolling casters (jacks, creepers etc.) Not a severe pattern like the diamond textures of coin textures that are usually promoted. The 'textured' version would be easy to sweep or wash out too, without getting trapped under a grid type of tile.

 

[55cadillacking]

Well, you seem to be getting a good variety of advice here. But, from speaking with you behind the scenes, I am confident you have made a good choice for your particular situation. I will be following with keen interest as I am also considering some changes to my garage flooring. Lots of options. Which is good.....and bad!