What to do with garage floor?

[Mopar_Ray]

I'm looking for some ideas on what to do with the floor in my garage. It's a 24 x 24 attached garage about 35 years old. Concrete has quite a few areas that are pitted up probably from moisture and road salt etc.

I don't want to empty the whole garage at once so epoxy probably would not work out well? Thought of racedeck or similar but it's pretty expensive and not convinced of long term durability?

Right now i am thinking about vinyl tile. I am not looking to create a showcase, just want something that I can keep swept up at least. All the pitting makes that hard.

Anyone done a garage floor in the same condition?

 

[Fixnfly]

You could always rent a uhaul to put your stuff in while your working on the floor. They make their money off of mileage so it won't cost too much parked in your yard.

 

[Mopar_Ray]

I like the idea of Armstrong tile. Need to figure how much work to prep the floor to tile.

 

[Shea]

Need to figure how much work to prep the floor to tile.

The floor needs to be smooth. Any pits, spalling, and contraction joints need to be filled as well as the floor degreased. VCT will telegraph irregularities through the tile.

 

[Mopar_Ray]

What's the best way to fill pitting and spalling? Got plenty of that!

 

[kwfloors]

A good concrete based patch like Ardex or Webcrete. I mix it with latex added for a stong bond.

 

[Mopar_Ray]

Just a thought. What if i were to use 7/32 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Moisture-Resistant Plywood Underlayment. wouldn't have to do much prep and could use something like liquid nails to glue to plywood to concrete floor. Wouldn't cost a lot, and would have a fresh surface to lay tile. How do think this would work out?

 

[SteveCh]

Doing that might cost as much as Racedeck or the like.

 

[Mopar_Ray]

Have not compared total project price yet. I have concerns about racedeck... How will it hold up with daily use and is noisy when you walk around on it?

 

[SteveCh]

My RD isn't noisy, not a bit. Others say theirs is. Mine really isn't any noisier than just walking across any floor. About the only way you might decide is to see if you can find someone near you with it and get them to let you walk around on their tiles.

Works great for me. However, plastic tiles aren't for everyone. I've never had anything but bare concrete or RD, so I can't attest to epoxy or vinyl or anything else as to longevity and toughness. Reading through this forum over a period of time, seems the primo choice is ceramic tile, or there is a preponderance of people of that opinion. It is, however, probably the priciest.

But you are at the fun part, which is being able to consider all of them and make your own decision.

 

[Mopar_Ray]

Finally finished drywall and paint, so back to figuring what to do with floor. Not trying to create a show room or anything, just something I can keep somewhat clean.

Don't want Race Deck and don't want to empty out the whole garage to do a nice epoxy job.

So i am thinking VCT is my best option.

Concrete has a lot of damage after 35 years of abuse. I have a couple of ideas on how to fix enough to lay tile.

Either use some 7/32 in. moisture-resistant plywood as an underlayment.

Or using some self leveling concrete dressing to fix the existing concrete well enough to lay tile.

How do think either of these ideas will work?

 

[Jinks]

Finally finished drywall and paint, so back to figuring what to do with floor. Not trying to create a show room or anything, just something I can keep somewhat clean.

Don't want Race Deck and don't want to empty out the whole garage to do a nice epoxy job.

So i am thinking VCT is my best option.

Concrete has a lot of damage after 35 years of abuse. I have a couple of ideas on how to fix enough to lay tile.

Either use some 7/32 in. moisture-resistant plywood as an underlayment.

Or using some self leveling concrete dressing to fix the existing concrete well enough to lay tile.

How do think either of these ideas will work?

I realize you've said you don't want Race Deck, but correctly preparing that floor is going to cost a bit & add a lot of work. I didn't have the spalling, but did have the cracking you have. I looked at all the options & finally went to http://www.bigfloors.com/ They have a product called "Garage Track" that's very similar to Race Deck, but quite a bit less expensive. Mine has been down for two years & shows no problems. There's very little difference in the sound as you walk on it, but if you want it silent use the "Freeflow" style. I found them to be economic & easy to work with. It's worth a look.......

 

[T.OConnell]

Not 5 minutes ago I you tubed radiant heat for my garage. Ended up watching a video about soil cement? Don't know much about except cheap and easy. Maybe goofy idea maybe not! Check it out.