Garage Floor
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 450
Likes: 4
From: Springfield PA
I had a company do an epoxy floor about 5 years ago and it looks like the day it was done. They ground off the old cheap epoxy, shot blast the floor, and then applied there epoxy with flakes. I had them write hot tire pick up was under their standard warranty.
Eric
Eric
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 10
From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
IMO, it's plenty easy to clean. Sweep & Mop (if necessary). Plus I've walked on it w/water puddles from the cars and it's 'no-slip'. I'm sure not gonna wax it 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,292
Likes: 2,509
From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
I'm pretty frugal....OK cheap... I wanted a nice garage but did not want to pay the $$s for race deck. Plus I did not like the idea that dirt and the like would accumulate under it. I'd rather put money into my car.
I went to a flooring store and bought peel and stick commercial grade flooring and being it was 13 years age I think it was less the $1 a square foot. Used liquid nails to set it..... used a quality sealant, was with a burish buffer, rented and it works for me. I wash the car in there and all a I do is apply wax maybe once a year. It has held up well. And I do have 4 carpet mats that the car sits on. It will mark up with hot tires that is one trade off and is minor.
I went to a flooring store and bought peel and stick commercial grade flooring and being it was 13 years age I think it was less the $1 a square foot. Used liquid nails to set it..... used a quality sealant, was with a burish buffer, rented and it works for me. I wash the car in there and all a I do is apply wax maybe once a year. It has held up well. And I do have 4 carpet mats that the car sits on. It will mark up with hot tires that is one trade off and is minor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 108
From: On the coast North of SF bay
Depends on what you want to use the space for. In my case, I have a 4 car garage and a 20' container that are full, so I just built a 38X48 steel barn with total clear space on 11' walls an a 16' ridge.
Considered the various floor coverings as discussed above and the only one I'm still considering is a grout sealer that seems to last forever.
My logic is that the garage/barn is not a showplace, but a workshop where I plan to install a 2010 SS/LS3 Camaro driveline into a Gen 1 Camaro complete with a digital dash setup.
Welding, oil spills, a track loader, etc. are all part of that process and a floor covering will look like hell after a short time.
Considered the various floor coverings as discussed above and the only one I'm still considering is a grout sealer that seems to last forever.
My logic is that the garage/barn is not a showplace, but a workshop where I plan to install a 2010 SS/LS3 Camaro driveline into a Gen 1 Camaro complete with a digital dash setup.
Welding, oil spills, a track loader, etc. are all part of that process and a floor covering will look like hell after a short time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 552
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
The Racedeck-type tiles tend to click as you walk on them; some people are bothered by this and others don't care. These tiles have channels underneath to drain water away. You can put underlayment or landscape fabric under them, but unless the garage stays fairly dry there can be mildew/mold problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 91
From: California
The Racedeck-type tiles tend to click as you walk on them; some people are bothered by this and others don't care. These tiles have channels underneath to drain water away. You can put underlayment or landscape fabric under them, but unless the garage stays fairly dry there can be mildew/mold problems.
Basically it's support inserts to seat the tile on any uneven flooring, reduce fatigue and noise.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 91
From: California
My RaceDeck is actually sitting on my Rustoleum Epoxy garage floor for two reasons:
1. After 10 years the Rustoleum is UGLY and never had a fully even finish. To my eye, I could see the roller marks even though I did the multiple passes as they instruct and was very careful about it.
2. The epoxy has almost killed me a handful of times when it/my feet were wet. Even with the anti-slip additive it is dangerous.
The RaceDeck is a lot less slippery and has more "bite" to it, which is a good thing in my opinion. I would never wax it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 552
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Scraping the splitter.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,111
Likes: 1,029
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
When I had the detached 3-car built at my house in New Jersey, I did the floor myself using Armorclad.
After letting the floor cure for about 6-weeks, I etched it using the Armorclad kit and rolled the epoxy and clearcoat myself. I think it came out pretty good. Over a year later, I have no scratches, no chips and it's not lifting anywhere (and the C7, GT-R and one of my drag cars...with DR's...have been parked on countless times with hot tires).
These are the only decent pics I have of it before the garage got loaded up with the parking lift, motorcycles, etc...
Like others have said, prep is the key for these DIY epoxy floors, but with new concrete mine were pretty much good to go. I've been kicking around now doing a Race Deck install in two of the bays.
S.
After letting the floor cure for about 6-weeks, I etched it using the Armorclad kit and rolled the epoxy and clearcoat myself. I think it came out pretty good. Over a year later, I have no scratches, no chips and it's not lifting anywhere (and the C7, GT-R and one of my drag cars...with DR's...have been parked on countless times with hot tires).
These are the only decent pics I have of it before the garage got loaded up with the parking lift, motorcycles, etc...
Like others have said, prep is the key for these DIY epoxy floors, but with new concrete mine were pretty much good to go. I've been kicking around now doing a Race Deck install in two of the bays.
S.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 430
Likes: 5
From: New Albany IN
I considered rack deck and also epoxy. The race deck is pricey and does not seal the floor from dust and the epoxy never seems to last with hot tires, etc.
I choose to install commercial grade VCT tiles. About $1.00 each glued down was less than $500.00 bucks. Great seal on the floor so no dust, clean up is easy with mop and glow or a buffer, you can vary the colors (mine are black and white) and mine still look great after eight years. I also have a four post lift on mine with no problems. Just another option.
See pic.
I choose to install commercial grade VCT tiles. About $1.00 each glued down was less than $500.00 bucks. Great seal on the floor so no dust, clean up is easy with mop and glow or a buffer, you can vary the colors (mine are black and white) and mine still look great after eight years. I also have a four post lift on mine with no problems. Just another option.
See pic.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 1
i painted my concrete floor, after a good cleaning, and putting down a sealant. i used a grey paint specifically designed for garage floors, or so it said, which had a sand-like substance blended into the paint, to minimize slipping.
it didnt work particularly well, and the floor is really a mess, with several large areas that are now paint free--although it had a lot of water on it from melting snow over the years, as well as being exposed to two children and their toys (until now, no adult type toys). it had the benefit of being easy to apply. obviously, you can check with your local hardware store, or homedepot. you may want to incorporate this into one of the tile-like systems mentioned here. sorry, not a lot of help.
it didnt work particularly well, and the floor is really a mess, with several large areas that are now paint free--although it had a lot of water on it from melting snow over the years, as well as being exposed to two children and their toys (until now, no adult type toys). it had the benefit of being easy to apply. obviously, you can check with your local hardware store, or homedepot. you may want to incorporate this into one of the tile-like systems mentioned here. sorry, not a lot of help.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 294
Likes: 7
From: Milford Delaware
I had the epoxy floor and when it got wet it was slippery, also over time the hot tires sitting on it pulled up the epoxy in spots. Maybe it wasn't prepped right but I decided to put GarageTrac flooring over it and never worry about it again. The tiles are simple to use and quick to laydown. Cutting is a breeze with either a little table saw or jig saw.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 985
From: Mount Dora, FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 214
From: Sarasota Florida
I had the epoxy floor and when it got wet it was slippery, also over time the hot tires sitting on it pulled up the epoxy in spots. Maybe it wasn't prepped right but I decided to put GarageTrac flooring over it and never worry about it again. The tiles are simple to use and quick to laydown. Cutting is a breeze with either a little table saw or jig saw.
Last edited by SRQStingray; Jul 2, 2014 at 06:37 AM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,024
Likes: 12,406
From: NE South Carolina
I've got to clean out my garage and get it prepped for the new baby. What do you recommend for the garage floor? I've seen in some pics some plastic/rubber tiles that look like they snap together. Any feedback on that? What to use and where to get them? Also, some people roll on a sealant to the floor but I didn't know how durable that was.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
I had considered epoxy but a friend had used that on a relatively new home and had it peel in spots in 6 months. My decision was rmade when the local commercial paint store mentioned one of their employees used commercial tile, which they did not sell!
Bought commercial tile, 1/8 inch thick, from Lowes. I picked a color combo that would not show dirt as much as a black and white checker board pattern. Purchased the best glue available from a tile store, who’s price for the tile I purchased was 25% higher than Lowes. Just washed the floor, no need for acid treatment etc. Have not had one tile lift in all these years. My street rod used to be in the center area and you’ll see some dark areas where the 16 inch section width tires were parked. That is about the only drawback I’ve seen, hot tires will stain the tile. It is relatively easy to clean.
Floor is 14 Years Old