What about Mat Flooring?

[Shoeboy23]

I'm new here and am hooked.

I have read all about the sealants, epoxies, and of course the Racedeck (and other similar). I know i dont wanna do epoxy and I like the Racedeck or SwissTrax floors. Very nice, but my girlfriend isnt really a fan. We both like the mat type flooring like this...

http://www.jnkproducts.com/coin_pattern.htm

I don't know what brand is any good, or if those floors are garbage. I have noticed that I dont see any threads with them.

My question is ...Are they any good? Is there a particular place I should go to or a website I should check into?

Who's done it? I'd love to see some pictures and hear some feed back.

Thanks in advance for any help any of you can provide.

Aaron...Shoeboy"."

 

[gunguy]

Jacks or jackstands may damage the surface. It would be worth getting a sample to test for awhile.

Respectfully,

Jim

 

[scottalbi]

ShoeBoy, Various Costco sites are selling the very same mat (grey diamond pattern, 7.5' x 17' for $179. Great price. It's made by BLT, sold on JNK website and other sites often as G-Floor. My reading tells me thiS is the best PVC rolled mat, and economical. I worry about PVC outgassing VOCs into the bedrooms upstairs. Recycled rubber rolled mats are a green choice.

Scott (ScottAlbi)

 

[XR80David]

Why don't you want to do the epoxy? If you are afraid of getting epoxy on your shoes don't worry, you won't.

 

[scottalbi]

I'm coming back to the idea of epoxy. I'm thinking acid washing might not be sufficient to prep the surface. It's 50 yrs old, with oil/grease in a few spots. Would I need to rent a grinder for a day ($250-300)? If I rented a grinder, could I skip the acid etch part?
Scott.

 

[cobrar97]

Most expoxy floors I've seen end up lifting or getting dirty where you cannot clean them. The polyurea stuff looks much, much better...and more expensive.

But back to the thread; I'm also interested in more info on the mats type floors. Anybody have one?

 

[Shoeboy23]

Anyone have pics of these mats? I'd also like to see some pics of the mats after they've been in for a while. We always see pics of the "Finished Product" (freshly installed) but rarely after some time.

Thanks all for the responses thus far. Hopefully a few pics will work their way to this thread.

Aaron...Shoeboy"."

 

[Shoeboy23]

Perhaps you have a link i could follow. I just went to Costco . com and all theyve got it tiles.

Thanks,

Aaron...Shoeboy"."

ShoeBoy, Various Costco sites are selling the very same mat (grey diamond pattern, 7.5' x 17' for $179. Great price. It's made by BLT, sold on JNK website and other sites often as G-Floor. My reading tells me thiS is the best PVC rolled mat, and economical. I worry about PVC outgassing VOCs into the bedrooms upstairs. Recycled rubber rolled mats are a green choice.

Scott (ScottAlbi)

 

[scottalbi]

Certain Costco do have these mats in stock, but you need to call. My wife snapped a photo at our local site a month ago, but I don't know how to attach it to this post. Here is the info she copied down for me (what a gal!). It's a great price for the .075" grade diamond pattern.
"SKU/Item #112281
Better Life Technology Garage Floor Covering and Protector
7.5' x 17' diamond tread
Commercial grade
Covers 127.5 sq feet
No adhesive required
.075" thickness
$179.99

Sam's Club also sells the .050" thick mat, ribbed pattern only, at certain locations. Check their website: G-Floor_at_Sams_Club for $159.76.

- ScottAlbi

 

[RaceDeck1]

Try costco if you want to go with mats.

 

[cobrar97]

RaceDeck1 - I'm assuming you know "what's up" in the flooring world. I'm looking to find out if these mats are any good? I've emailed the manufacturer, but get no respose. Do they hold up, and can you turn car tires on them without them bunching up?

I'd like to hear if they are worth the money and time to put them in. Thanks!

 

[RaceDeck1]

Not to "dish" on any one product but I will try to answer your questions best I can

The mats themselves should hold up to daily driving in and out. I would recommend getting the thickest one possible. Most are made from vinyl and do react to some chemicals.
The biggest issues I know of with rolled out matting is that moisture gets trapped underneath causing odor causing mold and mildew to grow on the concrete. The second issue is that many mats, especially the thinner / cheaper versions can bunch up ( like a rug) when you roll heavy objects across them.

I have seen the Costco mats and they seem to be the thicker version , good luck.

 

[cobrar97]

Sounds like it would work for me...especially since I have cracks and such. Is there any way to keep the moisture from forming underneath it?

 

[Bulldog13]

What if you painted a concrete sealer on first...kinda like the sealer the use in basements...???

 

[RaceDeck1]

If there is moisture in the concrete, it has to go somehwhere

 

[Shoeboy23]

hmmmmm i didnt think about the moisture issue. mold and smell...not so good. hmmm I think I may see a RaceDeck order in my future.

 

[pattenp]

I have JNK coin pattern PVC matts and have not been totally satisfied. The main problem I have is that the matts bunch-up when rolling tool cabinets or anything with weight to it with small casters. One solution is to full surface glue the matts down but I didn't want to go that route. The matts are soft and damage and stain easily. I wish I'd done more research before my purchase. With what I'm seeing with the RaceDeck, I wished I'd gone with that product.

 

[Shoeboy23]

thanks for the info. i 'm sorry you're not having success with your floor. I think the issues you are having are my main concerns. I believe i will NOT be going with the mats. Again, sorry for your trouble and thanks for the info.

I have JNK coin pattern PVC matts and have not been totally satisfied. The main problem I have is that the matts bunch-up when rolling tool cabinets or anything with weight to it with small casters. One solution is to full surface glue the matts down but I didn't want to go that route. The matts are soft and damage and stain easily. I wish I'd done more research before my purchase. With what I'm seeing with the RaceDeck, I wished I'd gone with that product.

 

[cobrar97]

It's a shame on the mats floors. They seem so much easier, and cheaper, than the RaceDeck types. But...I guess you get what you pay for. I emailed G-Floor requesting more info on their mat flooring, and I've gotten no reply.

 

[pattenp]

It's a shame on the mats floors. They seem so much easier, and cheaper, than the RaceDeck types. But...I guess you get what you pay for. I emailed G-Floor requesting more info on their mat flooring, and I've gotten no reply.

They were easy to put down... just roll them out. Cheap.... I guess so... I got 3 10X24 matts for around $1500. They did look great when new, but they've been down for about 3 years now and tire tracks are very visiable. Mineral sprits clean up some of the stains but it takes alot of effort.... more than I'm willing to spend. I don't worry about it any more, just waiting for the point that they look so bad that the wife will agree with replacing them.

 

[cobrar97]

I spoke with G-Floor, and they said that the mats last, on average, 10 years. They said it's mostly due to people not keeping them clean, and they just look so bad that they need replaced.
They say that if kept clean, they'll look very nice.
I guess after reading above, I'm concerned about the dampness underneath them creating a bad small. G-Floor says they've not heard of this before.

 

[scottalbi]

(Friends, excuse this blathering post, it's got some good info. Scott)
Rubber mats or rolled flooring made from recycled tires is an alternative to vinyl sheet*.

[*Personal reasons I favor this product: w/out the problem of continually outgassing VOCs, aka volatile organic compounds, and being 100% recycled that, unlike PVC did not require a toxic manufacturing process. Possibly cheaper than G-Floor.]

Here's a contact I found after surfing a while. He's a decent guy, no pressure.
Gordon Exe <[email protected]>
New Century NORTHWEST
775 Vincent St. Eugene, Oregon 97401
Phone: (541) 485-2354 - Fax: (541) 485-5566
e-mail [email protected]

A quote he gave when I was thinking of doing my whole floor:
Product: 1/2" x 4' x 6' All Black Rubber Mats
Quantity: 30 each @ $42.00 each

~ SALE OVER HERE ~
25% off everything (mats, tiles, rolls) til Monday: http://www.rubberflooringinc.com/garage/index.html

~ OR ~

Rubber-Cal mats on Amazon

~ OR, THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME TYPE OF CARPET ~

Drymate Garage Floor Mat on Amazon 1/2" High x 20' Long x 7'4", Wide, Polyester with bonded backing to prevent soak through, vacuums, dries quickly. $133.

 

[oldgeek]

I am average Joe homeowner, who has owned multiple homes in my life. Cutting to the chase I installed G-Floor Mats a year ago. I park 2 cars and a riding mower and the mats still look great. As with any floor, coating or covering much depends on the climate you are in and the condition of the floor. If there is a concern about trapping moisture that is likely a bottom up problem, in which case no coating will help.

In my part of the country I now live, mats made much more sense than epoxy and more cost effective than tile.

The bottom line is mats are a viable option without any of the problems that some have envisioned.

 

[cobrar97]

That's what I wanted to hear. I'm thinking more and more about doing these.
I contact G-Floor and they sent product sample right out.
I contact RaceDeck over a week ago, and I still haven't received the samples they said I would have at the beginning of the week.

 

[agoogol]

I am thinking about staining the garage, since I bought it before doing my homework and realizing it may peel up with the tires, then putting two of these down. I figure that would work ok?

http://www.jnkproducts.com/inrace_details.htm

 

[oldgeek]

I have never stained a floor. I have painted one in a warm climate location with good results. I have epoxy coated 3 different floors, twice successfully once where it did not stand up to wear and the ravages of snow etc. The flaking and pealing of a floor is quite the mess and the expense of grinding, sanding to try again risky and costly. The mats was an immediate fix, with no mess and a 2-3 hour job. They have held up well. If you live in an area with rain and snow, every floor needs to be attended to. The tile option is also very good however more expensive. The tile needs to be on a reasonably flat surface. If the tile is not solid you need to be mindful of the affects of snow or wet car from rain.

Bottom line the weather conditions need to be considered, changes from hot and cold, and those factors are non trial. Hope this helps.

 

[Zedder]

Someone posted recently that they had the mats from Costco and lifted them up after one winter and the bottom was covered in mold! They took them back and got a refund, then orded tiles. Seach the forum and you should be able to find the post...

 

[oldgeek]

Since I own the mats I can only speak about my own experience, I have not had any mold problem. If you stop and think about how many people have carpeting and covering on unheated basement slabs, you have to wonder about the validity of some claims.

 

[scottalbi]

Guys, what do you think about these "Tarpet" mats at Costco?Tarpet™ Midsize Car Floor Mat - 7.5' x 15' - $155.

Pros: Environmental (thermo polyolefin - no VOCs), cheaper & lighter than PVC/rubber, no adhesive, can drag outside to wash.
Cons: Maybe it takes longer to dry because it's "carpet"?

 

[ket-tek]

Since I own the mats I can only speak about my own experience, I have not had any mold problem. If you stop and think about how many people have carpeting and covering on unheated basement slabs, you have to wonder about the validity of some claims.

I understand where your coming from. Though carpet and hardwoods breath, the air and moisture make thier way through.

I would say the standard moisture test would be worth doing if someone was going to purchase a solid rubber mat to cover an entire garage..

Put plastic down on an area of the floor and tape around the edges to seal it tight and wait for a few days or weeks and then pull it up to see if has condensation on it from the moisture wicking up through the concrete.

 

[oldgeek]

I am happy with my mats. No floor that has vehicles go in and out on a daily basis for 3 years will look pristine and it takes a lot of effort to keep "any floor" clean.

Lay tile tile and see how well they clean after 3 years and oh by the way you have hundreds of seams to contend with. Go look at a regular floor that is subjected to water heat and cold extreme's. It is not so much an issue of getting what you pay for but rather the conditions you are subjecting your floor to. Epoxy, tile, mats are going to have a 3000 lbs vehicle with heavy black tires on it constantly with in some cases snow and rain.

The mats worked well for me and the mold growing under them in my case a non issue and my application is 20X20 wall to wall.

 

[scottalbi]

I am happy with my mats. No floor that has vehicles go in and out on a daily basis for 3 years will look pristine and it takes a lot of effort to keep "any floor" clean.

Did you use an adhesive when laying your G-Floor mats or just lay them on the floor? What color/pattern? Do you remember the thickness (.055"/.075"?)?

 

[oldgeek]

I used the rib pattern .55 thickness. In the winter I usually push broom the snow chucks out the garage door. I had a floor drain that was useless because of the floor contour and just covered it up. I did not use any adhesive but I do have some heavy objects at the front (wall not door) that I guess keeps it in place. I have had no issue with the floor bunching. I have looked under the mat's with no mold apparent.

I thought the problem might be with my wife turning the wheels on her car when she parks and that shifting the mats, but that has not happened. Keeping the floors spotless is frankly impossible but it is with any floor that you use every day.

If I lived in a different climate zone I would have used epoxy assuming the floor was in a condition to be treated that way. The tiles have a very nice look but again the rain and other factors ruled it out.

I was going to spend the extra money to go with the .075 coin pattern, we use that in one of our shop areas at work. After looking at that it appeared to be overkill for my home. In short for me the mats worked out nicely. It protects the floor and cleans up reasonably well.

As long as I am being long. Have you ever seen a kitchen floor that shows marks from shoe heals or airport lobby's, you have to stay on top (no pun intended) to keep any floor clean.

If I get ambitious in the next several months I might adhesive down the floor at the front and rear but not on the sides. I left enough space on the sides to allow for expansion and contraction but after 1 year that does not appear to be an issue.

Hope the above helps.

 

[scottalbi]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I really would like to use those G-Floor mats, they seem like just the thing for me... except I've become very environmentally aware, and learned that viny & PVC give off bad gasses (VOCs = volatile organic compounds), forever. I don't want to lay down all that stuff under our bedroom wing where we'll be having children, hopefully. So, it boils down to choosing between rubber mats, or "Tarpet" (sold at Sam's Club) which is made of thermo-polyolefin. Thanks, have a nice weekend.
Scott

 

[oldgeek]

Good luck in whatever you decide. A note just FYI. PVC pipe is found in almost every hotel, new home, water supplies, ice makers, etc. I have no idea what VOC's are produced from the mat's or for that matter from composite decking. If you are highly concerned, I would contact your areas enviromental experts, OSHA people if you can or a local university. Those folks are not selling a product (but perhaps an agenda) and would rely on their expertise.

 

[BLT-GFLOOR]

First off want to introduce myself. This is my first post I was referred over by a potential customer of ours. My name is David & I am head of Customer Service for BLT-Gfloor products.

I wanted to reply to the concern of VOC's with our product that I saw mentioned earlier in the thread. I am posting a copy of our Tech Data Sheet that shows we do meet Several required Tests such as the Ford Specification BO 116-03. Our material shall contain no lead or Asbestos. I will copy and paste this so sorry if it is a bit large format.

If anyone has any questions on our product line feel free to contact me.


Better Life Technology LLC
Technical Data Sheet
Standard Product (Floor Covering)
General purpose, fire retardant, flexible PVC formulated for good oil
resistance.
Material meets all safety regulations per Federal Vehicle Safety Standard No.
302.
Material meets GM 9070P flammability test DNI (Does Not Ignite) denotes that
material does not support combustion during or after ignition.
Material meets Ford specification BO 116-03 (interior vehicle applications)
Material: Vinyl
Burn Resistance: Cigarette and solder burn resistance
Asbestos-Free: Product shall contain no Asbestos
Lead-Free: Product shall contain no Lead
Typical Properties (.075) ASTM Method
Specific Gravity, (+/-0.02) 1.30 D-792
Hardness, Shore A (+/-3) 81 D-2240
Tensile,PSI 2450 D-412
Elongation, % 375 D-412
100% Modulus,PSI 1200 D-412
Brittle Point, C -35 D-746
Oxygen Index, % 23 D-2863
Oil Testing: On 7 Days in IRM 902 Oil @ 60 C, 0.075
Tensil Retention, % 94.6 UL 1581
Elongation Retention, % 88.2 UL 1581

 

[Chris Adams]

Hello David, nice to see another company speaking up for their products here, and with no subterfuge.
Thanks for posting the info.

 

[mcthomaspa]

I am the party that referred David of Better Life Technologies to this forum. I did so because I was both impressed with the forum as I did due diligence to solve a garage flooring problem and perhaps more importantly the very professional and competent way in which David responded to my questions and provided requested samples and other information. I believe that both the forum and BLT will benefit from the new association. Suffice to say I am purchasing the G-Floor and look forward to the values it will add to our garage.

Mcthomaspa

 

[glennm]

I live in Ontario, Canad and have G Mats in my garage, two from Sam's with ribs and one diamond from Costco -- they look like new after two winters but I do sweep them regularly and wash them on occasion.

I don't think they look as nice as a new epoxy floor but they work well. The rib pattern keeps winter water on the mats and if you have a slope towards the door, the water flows in the channels as the snow and ice melts.

I have decided that I am going to have my 30 x 40 garage floor epoxied and take the mats up in the summer - I will continue to use them in the winter to keep the water from between the cars. Some water does get under the mat but it hasn't been a problem for me.

 

[Fish-man]

i just bought (3) of the g-floor mats from sams. i'm starting out with one on the floor for a couple days to see if i like, before i unroll the other 2.

i was seriously contemplating epoxy, but can't get anyone to call me back!
everyone must be busy... :-\