ramairthree
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2010
- Messages
- 101
I have read a lot of other garage threads in other forums and also scoured through this site. Basically, all other sites with reputable advice said come here for garage flooring advice!
I have decided that I want to do an interlocking tile with a diamond plate pattern.
I am military and have moved enough that I don't want to put the time, money, and effort into a high quality surface I cannot move if I have to. I most likely will not have to move now, but you never know. I may decide to move when I finally decide to retire in 3 or more years or so. I have been in the same place for a while, but lived in one place three years, another one year, then another four years, then another four years, then another a year, then another two years, then another three years, ... you get the picture. Sure has been hard on furniture, etc.!
This crosses VCT, epoxy, peel and stick tiles, etching, etc. off the list.
This is for a standard two car garage. It usually houses a newer car and a '69 GTO driver with the typical slow rear main seal drip, power steering fluid leak, eaten 8track debris, etc. It gets the typical cardboard under the car. I put over 4000 miles a year on that car, it's not a show car/museum piece. I have a gravel driveway, and plenty of small sharp gravel makes it into the garage.
I am happy with the durability, ease of rolling/moving stuff, etc. of the concrete. I often get down with out a creeper, and the hardness and the looks are the issue. Something I may not need but I want.
I am looking at doing about a 19 x 21 foot area,
with one large 17 foot door opening to edge.
I plan on getting 270 gray tiles 12x12" and 160 black tiles 12x12" for a border,
and 18 feet black ramping edge
so I have extra tile for replacements, repair, a little trim if needed, etc.
Obviously, will adjust for different sized tiles.
I have bare concrete in good shape. I use a floor jack, jack stands, creeper, and do a little work like putting in a new starter, throwing in some relays to my headlights, changing oil, etc. No welding inside, or machine work, lifts, etc.
I have never had a moisture problem in the garage. It is not heated or airconditioned. Where I live it only sometimes gets below freezing and rarely snows.
I have narrowed down my choices to either a plastic like interlocking tile, or rubber interlocking tile.
If I do PVC/plastic, I will plan to do RaceDeck or another comparable tile based on replies. The company has great customer service reviews, employs lots of Americans, and is an American made product. Like anyone else, I find the gregsmithequipment type tiles at less than 1.69/sf very attractive pricewise. But when all is said and done I did not join enlist in the military in '85 and still be in because I want to buy Chinese **** and watch the economy tank. I have not gotten a quote from RD yet, but will be close to twice as much as that from what I understand.
My concerns with a hard tile are noise, comfort, brittleness in cold, buckling/expansion, slippery when wet, creeper, jackstand, jack, etc. use. Any longterm, first hand knowledge feedback on this I would much appreciate. Any other US made reccomendations of a hard tile, made in the USA, with a comparable quality and good economic quality to price ratio will be appreciated. For example, is the MotoFloor stuff currently on sale at Costco for under 2$ / sf American made, and at least 2/3 as quality of the RaceDeck? Can you pick it up at a Costco and also save by no shipping?
I am acutally leaning a little harder on wanting a rubber tile, for noise, comfort, etc. I understand it will not breathe well but have not had moisture issues. (In the garage anyway- basement is a different story!) Concerns are, would it be slippery, etc. I like a smooth, glossy look with the diamond plate pattern, but understand you can get too slippery.
I hear good things about the durability of the big foot (again gregsmith) rubber tiles, in the under 2.50/sf price range, but again it's from China. At that price I can do the floor now, instead of saving up some more. Nothing to worry about, I am not starving, but as garage guys you know how it is when the ****** you did not expect to need rebuilt does, and you want a new carb, etc. just a how long I need to wait thing. Luxury but not a necessity. Is there a comparable racedeck product to rubber or semiflexible/quiet RaceDeck?
I found RaceWay rubber tiles. Has anyone seen these in person. Are they shiny like the big foot stuff, or dull and matte? I can be able to do the garage now at their price. Are they US made? Anyways, again I would welcome comments on these tiles or other rubber tile options. I also considered roll out matts, but the size and weight and cost actually give an edge to the tiles instead. The raceway tiles are also called Titan tiles.
Anyways, thank you for any information. I have spent an hour or more a day for the past two weeks trying to learn more and read more about the options and have made it this far.
Here is the intended area.
She is a real GTO. She left the factory an automatic and not a 4 speed Judge, which is why I could afford it and drive it so much with all pleasure and no guilt. The 1970s paneling has been painted a light gray which really improved the looks of the garage. Peg Board is a cost effective tool hanger in my book.
Old tools and Craftsman box acquired over time. Sadly, some new Craftsman stuff I got is not on par with what I got 20 years ago. I added some Gladiator self assembled cabinets in the past few years because they were the sturdiest I could find for the price and picked each up at a good sale or clearance price. At the time I also thought Gladiator was to Whirlpool/Kenmore like Craftsman is to Sears. The previous owners DIY shelving has come down for looks and so if I need to I can do something sturdier. It has been coming along slowly but surely.
I have not gotten it back organized, decluttered, etc. since the paint, but it really makes a big difference. Although those of you that have painted paneling, know what a pain that it.
I have decided that I want to do an interlocking tile with a diamond plate pattern.
I am military and have moved enough that I don't want to put the time, money, and effort into a high quality surface I cannot move if I have to. I most likely will not have to move now, but you never know. I may decide to move when I finally decide to retire in 3 or more years or so. I have been in the same place for a while, but lived in one place three years, another one year, then another four years, then another four years, then another a year, then another two years, then another three years, ... you get the picture. Sure has been hard on furniture, etc.!
This crosses VCT, epoxy, peel and stick tiles, etching, etc. off the list.
This is for a standard two car garage. It usually houses a newer car and a '69 GTO driver with the typical slow rear main seal drip, power steering fluid leak, eaten 8track debris, etc. It gets the typical cardboard under the car. I put over 4000 miles a year on that car, it's not a show car/museum piece. I have a gravel driveway, and plenty of small sharp gravel makes it into the garage.
I am happy with the durability, ease of rolling/moving stuff, etc. of the concrete. I often get down with out a creeper, and the hardness and the looks are the issue. Something I may not need but I want.
I am looking at doing about a 19 x 21 foot area,
with one large 17 foot door opening to edge.
I plan on getting 270 gray tiles 12x12" and 160 black tiles 12x12" for a border,
and 18 feet black ramping edge
so I have extra tile for replacements, repair, a little trim if needed, etc.
Obviously, will adjust for different sized tiles.
I have bare concrete in good shape. I use a floor jack, jack stands, creeper, and do a little work like putting in a new starter, throwing in some relays to my headlights, changing oil, etc. No welding inside, or machine work, lifts, etc.
I have never had a moisture problem in the garage. It is not heated or airconditioned. Where I live it only sometimes gets below freezing and rarely snows.
I have narrowed down my choices to either a plastic like interlocking tile, or rubber interlocking tile.
If I do PVC/plastic, I will plan to do RaceDeck or another comparable tile based on replies. The company has great customer service reviews, employs lots of Americans, and is an American made product. Like anyone else, I find the gregsmithequipment type tiles at less than 1.69/sf very attractive pricewise. But when all is said and done I did not join enlist in the military in '85 and still be in because I want to buy Chinese **** and watch the economy tank. I have not gotten a quote from RD yet, but will be close to twice as much as that from what I understand.
My concerns with a hard tile are noise, comfort, brittleness in cold, buckling/expansion, slippery when wet, creeper, jackstand, jack, etc. use. Any longterm, first hand knowledge feedback on this I would much appreciate. Any other US made reccomendations of a hard tile, made in the USA, with a comparable quality and good economic quality to price ratio will be appreciated. For example, is the MotoFloor stuff currently on sale at Costco for under 2$ / sf American made, and at least 2/3 as quality of the RaceDeck? Can you pick it up at a Costco and also save by no shipping?
I am acutally leaning a little harder on wanting a rubber tile, for noise, comfort, etc. I understand it will not breathe well but have not had moisture issues. (In the garage anyway- basement is a different story!) Concerns are, would it be slippery, etc. I like a smooth, glossy look with the diamond plate pattern, but understand you can get too slippery.
I hear good things about the durability of the big foot (again gregsmith) rubber tiles, in the under 2.50/sf price range, but again it's from China. At that price I can do the floor now, instead of saving up some more. Nothing to worry about, I am not starving, but as garage guys you know how it is when the ****** you did not expect to need rebuilt does, and you want a new carb, etc. just a how long I need to wait thing. Luxury but not a necessity. Is there a comparable racedeck product to rubber or semiflexible/quiet RaceDeck?
I found RaceWay rubber tiles. Has anyone seen these in person. Are they shiny like the big foot stuff, or dull and matte? I can be able to do the garage now at their price. Are they US made? Anyways, again I would welcome comments on these tiles or other rubber tile options. I also considered roll out matts, but the size and weight and cost actually give an edge to the tiles instead. The raceway tiles are also called Titan tiles.
Anyways, thank you for any information. I have spent an hour or more a day for the past two weeks trying to learn more and read more about the options and have made it this far.
Here is the intended area.
She is a real GTO. She left the factory an automatic and not a 4 speed Judge, which is why I could afford it and drive it so much with all pleasure and no guilt. The 1970s paneling has been painted a light gray which really improved the looks of the garage. Peg Board is a cost effective tool hanger in my book.
Old tools and Craftsman box acquired over time. Sadly, some new Craftsman stuff I got is not on par with what I got 20 years ago. I added some Gladiator self assembled cabinets in the past few years because they were the sturdiest I could find for the price and picked each up at a good sale or clearance price. At the time I also thought Gladiator was to Whirlpool/Kenmore like Craftsman is to Sears. The previous owners DIY shelving has come down for looks and so if I need to I can do something sturdier. It has been coming along slowly but surely.
I have not gotten it back organized, decluttered, etc. since the paint, but it really makes a big difference. Although those of you that have painted paneling, know what a pain that it.
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