Garage floor ideas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Easley SC
Garage floor ideas
Looking for garage floor ideas. I have always liked the look of the epoxy floor with the flakes in it, but how good is the quality of the DIY kind from your local store? I don't have my mind set on anything right now so all suggestions are welcome.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 815
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From: Richmond VA
I had a great looking epoxy floor for about 6 years then it started to fail. Now I can't keep it from blistering under the tires. I am going with swisstrax or race deck. No fumes, drive on it instantly and replace tiles if they get damaged.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 985
Likes: 1
Don't use the DIY kit if you are going to do epoxy. Unless you do the prep just right it will fail, heck even then odds are you might have problems. Should you decide on epoxy go to your local Sherwin Williams and look at their Armor Seal products. Again though prep is critical.
Not sure of your budget but another very cool thing is polished concrete. Google it and see if there are any contractors in your area. Runs around $5-$7 a s.f. good luck
Not sure of your budget but another very cool thing is polished concrete. Google it and see if there are any contractors in your area. Runs around $5-$7 a s.f. good luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: casa conejo california: my casa sue's casa
I have the epoxy floor, but had it done by a local contractor. My existing floor had several large cracks in it, and even though I consider myself fairly handy, I opted to have it professionally done due to the fact that the cracks were extreme.
Seeing both professional and local store floors, I think that the store bought floors don't supply enough of the vinyl chips. My contractor completely covered the tacky epoxy with a very thick layer of vinyl chips and scraped off loose chips after drying was complete. After, he double coated with clear. IMO, the heavier chip pattern is a better look and appears more durable.
One thing to note is that this is a very smooth surface, so be careful with wet bare feet or you'll be on your **** in no time.
BTW, if I was to do it again, I would probably tackle the job myself. After seeing the process, it's pretty basic. One thing to note if you decide to DIY, make sure all gas pilot lights in the garage are extinguished. The fumes from epoxies and clear coats are very combustable.
mik
Seeing both professional and local store floors, I think that the store bought floors don't supply enough of the vinyl chips. My contractor completely covered the tacky epoxy with a very thick layer of vinyl chips and scraped off loose chips after drying was complete. After, he double coated with clear. IMO, the heavier chip pattern is a better look and appears more durable.
One thing to note is that this is a very smooth surface, so be careful with wet bare feet or you'll be on your **** in no time.
BTW, if I was to do it again, I would probably tackle the job myself. After seeing the process, it's pretty basic. One thing to note if you decide to DIY, make sure all gas pilot lights in the garage are extinguished. The fumes from epoxies and clear coats are very combustable.
mik
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
I did the rustoleum kit DIY. Lots and lots of prep. I opted to NOT use flake. The lack of flakes increases durability but it also makes it slippery.
fwiw, I ended up putting racedeck in. The epoxy is a whole lot sturdier than the racedeck.... my racedeck traps water like crazy and I've torn it up using floor jacks and the like.
fwiw, I ended up putting racedeck in. The epoxy is a whole lot sturdier than the racedeck.... my racedeck traps water like crazy and I've torn it up using floor jacks and the like.
Last edited by Kale; Oct 8, 2011 at 11:31 AM.
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Looks great! 
I am also planning a Race Deck garage floor for my garage and can't wait to pull up the old rubber mats I layed over the builder epoxy...
If the OP chooses epoxy, make sure the cement floor is diamond cut and roughed up to accept the epoxy. I purchased a builder model home when I moved to Florida in 2005. They applied residental epoxy over the floor. It looked very nice, however after driving through my first Florida Summer rainstorm and then parking my hot, wet tires on the floor, the epoxy lifted. Thus the rubber mats solution.
Although the rubber mats have held up OK and are now starting to show their age, after researching the Race Deck option (I could play on their website all day designing floor plans)
, I realize that I would rather have rain/water flow through and out the garage then sitting underneath the rubber mats. I've picked them up before and it's nasty! 
I am also planning a Race Deck garage floor for my garage and can't wait to pull up the old rubber mats I layed over the builder epoxy...If the OP chooses epoxy, make sure the cement floor is diamond cut and roughed up to accept the epoxy. I purchased a builder model home when I moved to Florida in 2005. They applied residental epoxy over the floor. It looked very nice, however after driving through my first Florida Summer rainstorm and then parking my hot, wet tires on the floor, the epoxy lifted. Thus the rubber mats solution.
Although the rubber mats have held up OK and are now starting to show their age, after researching the Race Deck option (I could play on their website all day designing floor plans)
, I realize that I would rather have rain/water flow through and out the garage then sitting underneath the rubber mats. I've picked them up before and it's nasty!
Last edited by MSG C5; Oct 8, 2011 at 02:22 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Prescott Arizona
This is great site for flooring, or anything related to a garage.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
I have a Racedeck floor and love it. The thing I really like is during the winter when it's cold, I can still lay on it and it's not freezing cold.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
I have a Racedeck floor and love it. The thing I really like is during the winter when it's cold, I can still lay on it and it's not freezing cold.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
I used three BLT bright blue 10x33' coin pattern industrial grade PVC vinyl floor panels. It ships quickly via truck in rolls of approx. 300# each. It goes down in a couple of hours by one person. It smells good and it's easy to clean (@ bltllc.com). I can take it with me when we move again. It was cheaper than doing a professionally installed epoxy floor (1,815sf) and much cheaper than RACE DECK.
Having said that if I knew then what I know now, I would not have chosen the product. It has its advantages, but getting the company to reply to a tire stain issue was difficult. They were supposed to contact me once they spoke to their R&D guy...that was over a year ago.
Having said that if I knew then what I know now, I would not have chosen the product. It has its advantages, but getting the company to reply to a tire stain issue was difficult. They were supposed to contact me once they spoke to their R&D guy...that was over a year ago.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Oct 8, 2011 at 07:58 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 295
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From: Franklin NC
Race Deck for me 3 years and still looks great. Don't have to worry about seeing cracks appear in the concrete floor. I did epoxy UCoatit and really prepped the floor and after four years it started to break up (bubble)
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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I used three BLT bright blue 10x33' coin pattern industrial grade PVC vinyl floor panels. It ships quickly via truck in rolls of approx. 300# each. It goes down in a couple of hours by one person. It smells good and it's easy to clean (@ bltllc.com). I can take it with me when we move again. It was cheaper than doing a professionally installed epoxy floor (1,815sf) and much cheaper than RACE DECK.
Having said that if I knew then what I know now, I would not have chosen the product. It has its advantages, but getting the company to reply to an tire stain issue was difficult. They were supposed to contact me once they spoke to their R&D guy...that was over a year ago.
Having said that if I knew then what I know now, I would not have chosen the product. It has its advantages, but getting the company to reply to an tire stain issue was difficult. They were supposed to contact me once they spoke to their R&D guy...that was over a year ago.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
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From: Northeast NE
Big big thumbs up here for Rustoleum kit...but make sure you get the two part EPOXY based kit...not the water based.
Wears like iron, 8 years now anything from oil to brake fluid won't touch it. Just a mop and it looks like new.
A couple important things though...clean clean clean clean. You get out in results what you put in in prep. I did the power scrubber and acid etching. My floor was an oily mess before I started and it has held up perfectly.
Big thing that nobody mentions is that the floor needs to cure for a year before coating so all the moisture can leave the slab. Coating it too early is a common mistake.....this is according to rustoleum rep.
Love love love mine.
Wears like iron, 8 years now anything from oil to brake fluid won't touch it. Just a mop and it looks like new.
A couple important things though...clean clean clean clean. You get out in results what you put in in prep. I did the power scrubber and acid etching. My floor was an oily mess before I started and it has held up perfectly.
Big thing that nobody mentions is that the floor needs to cure for a year before coating so all the moisture can leave the slab. Coating it too early is a common mistake.....this is according to rustoleum rep.
Love love love mine.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
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From: Sacramento CA
But they look fantastic and are super easy to install.
FWIW, I have not managed to stain, discolor, or otherwise damage the racedeck with typical garage chemicals.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 654
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From: Prescott Valley Arizona
I used the standart 12" black and white tile flooring and it appears to be holding up quite well. Hot tires will leave brown stains but with the coloring all through the tile, a light sanding or cleaning will remove the marks easily.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
At the end of the day in my opinion, I think simple vinyl tiles are the way to go. They can be replaced easily if needed and are inexpensive.
BUT, if anyone decides to do this make sure you prep and seal the floor first because you will get moisture build up/sweating with any type of flooring. It's amazing how much my floor sweats in the spring in the rainy season.
