VCT tile questions

[prostreet57]

Since I didnt get any response in another section Ill ask in here:

I have what you would call a working garage and the the thought has come up a few times.
Question: Those of you who have VCT tile flooring, what are the effects of rolling a car around on a jack or just jacking a car up do to tiles. If a car sits on a jack for an extended period of time will the wheels of the jack leave ruts in the tile?
How bout motorcycle kickstands, what to do?
Jackstands I know need some type of base to keep from cutting in the tile.
Surely someone has found out the hard way or know someone who did this.
Please let me know because im dying to do tile in the garage

 

[Luckydevil]

One of the guys on here has motorcycles and VCT. If I remember correctly, I think Mike said it held up fine to kickstands. I'm sure he'll chime in on this though...

 

[OH-MAN]

I think if you are doing heavy (engine and ******) type stuff it may take a beating.
I would go with a coated floor .
If you drag large metal stuff on it it will scratch through either one.
Kind of depends on how wild it's going to get in there.
One neet thing is any oil or fluids spilled cleanup is so nice on a coated floor.

 

[danski0224]

I think any activity involving a jack, jackstands and VCT tile will leave a mark. Too much weight concentrated in a small spot. Probably a non-issue if pieces of plywood were placed under the jack stuff first.

Anything caught between jack or creeper wheels and the tile probably won't be good for the tile, either.

Attempting to move the jack with a car on it may pull up a tile.

I see nothing but problems with automotive fluids and water getting between the tiles and the floor.

I do not see the point with the tiling thing, but I do not succumb to savvy marketing hype very easily. I would spend the money on a commercial grade epoxy coating and touch up as necessary.

Ever seen a mechanics shop with a tile floor? Me neither. Plenty of painted or epoxy floors, though.

 

[erok01]

Flooring, I think, is the best appearance mod you can do to your garage. With that in mind you have basically 3 options. Tile (either vct or quartz), paint or stain, or a free floating system ie race deck. Each floor will have benefits and drawbacks. You have to make a decision based on how YOU will be using the garage. Just because VCT works for me it might not work for you.


With that being said, I love my VCT. I debated the diy floor paint but decided durabilty was too much of an issue. If the paint peels up from hot tires sitting on it then dragging stuff around on it is going to leave scratches all over it and that isn't even an option. With the tile I do have some upkeep but it's fairly minimal. I mop once a month and strip and re-seal once a year.

As far as its durability, it's not bad. I saved some extra tiles and put those under the jacks. I have a creeper and a stool with casters, I wiped the wheels down one time and thats it. Any small surface scratches caused by the wheels I'm assuming will be gone once I strip and re-seal.

Attempting to move the jack with a car on it may pull up a tile.

First, never try to move a car by using the jack! Thats asking for trouble and not very safe. Second, good luck pulling a tile up with anything. If its glued down right it aint goin anywere.

As far as fluids, if you have a junker in your garage that leaks like a faucet then put a drip pan under it, plain and simple. If other liquids spill, which frequently happens, wipe it up. Never had any problems wiping up fluids. Now if you leave it sit there for a couple of months then ....

Obviously these VCT tiles are bullet proof, but I personally like the look of the checker pattern and I didn't want to drop $1k on flooring for my garage. If money wasn't an issue I would use a stain on the flooring, but I don't even want to speculate at how much that would cost. Ultgar would be your goto guy on that.

Price wise VCT is the cheapest way to go.