Garage Floor Coating

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JohnnyRocket

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I notice on IG, here, and other detailing forums that some detailers have their floors coated, some have bare concrete, and some have floating tiles.

Can someone clue me in to the advantages and disadvantages of each? I have always just had bare concrete and can't see a reason to spend thousands of dollars on tiles or a coating.

Coating -

Cons
Cost (Approximately $3k)
Potential peeling issues
Potentially slippery when wet

Pros
Concrete won't stain when changing vehicle fluids or if one begins to leak
Aesthetics

Garage Tiles -

Cons
Cost (Approximately $3k)
Water stays stagnant under the vehicle (no way to push away)
Similar to above, but winter salt/magnesium chloride stay attached to concrete floor below
Wheeled chairs might not roll as easily/floor jack

Pros
Comfort while working long hours
Aesthetics


Anything I'm missing?
 
with some of the tiles...like SwissTrax.....it's not comfortable to kneel on
 
I coated my 20'x20' garage myself about ten years ago and it cost me about $400 in materials. This included a two-part gray epoxy, chips, and a two-part clear coat. I've had no pealing, but my garage faces south and living in AZ, the top gloss coat is lo longer shiny. It looked great for about 5 years. If you lived in a place where they put salt on the roads, I personally wouldn't go this route. Note that you can put this special stuff in the top coat to prevent the slippery floors.

I've been researching having it done professionally, and I've been seeing $1200 for a garage my size. Where do you get $3k?
 
DMW said:
I coated my 20'x20' garage myself about ten years ago and it cost me about $400 in materials. This included a two-part gray epoxy, chips, and a two-part clear coat. I've had no pealing, but my garage faces south and living in AZ, the top gloss coat is lo longer shiny. It looked great for about 5 years. If you lived in a place where they put salt on the roads, I personally wouldn't go this route. Note that you can put this special stuff in the top coat to prevent the slippery floors.

I've been researching having it done professionally, and I've been seeing $1200 for a garage my size. Where do you get $3k?
Click to expand...

Based on my research, I would never use epoxy as it is prone to issues in the garage. I would only consider a polyurea coating. "polyurea material - 3 times as durable as epoxy and 4 times as stain resistant, with a MUCH better warranty"
 
I have had both epoxy and Racedeck tile floors. Epoxy looks better IMO but the tile has held up better than the epoxy. although that could have been an install issue with the epoxy.

With tile you can do a pattern, check out some of the things people have done under galleries on the Racedeck page. I did a pattern using beige, gray and black. Looks awesome but both the black and beige get dirty fast. One other plus if you plan on moving tile can move with you.

Don't forget Racedeck is sold on Autogeek.
 
JohnnyRocket said:
Based on my research...
I would only consider a polyurea coating.
Click to expand...
•That’d be my choice as well:
-I’d much rather enhance the bare concrete,
than cover it up with floor tiles—(along with
their inherent “Cons”, that you’ve been kind
enough to list).


Bob
 
I put down the Rustolem coating with flakes and coated with the clear they sell. I have gotten about 7 years from it and half that time one side was never driven on and only the garage queen sat there. Now that both dailies are in and out It’s starting to show it’s age. Flaking and sun faded.Found a local guy who is going to remove and put down poly coating for around 1200 for a 20x20 can’t wait for spring.
 
i really depends how nice and what you do in your garage.

I was quoted about 2500 to do a 2+ sized garage with polyurethane coating, vs $150 in materials to do an epoxying coating. At the end of the day I found it was a better value of my money to spend $150 to do the floor myself, and buy cabinets and tool drawers and work tops to clean up the garage. I dont stage pictures in my garage I store 2 cars bicycles and tools. I spend maybe $1000 total and have a whole wall of tool drawers work tops peg boards.

Now if it was a super nice garage with finished walls I would maybe spring for the expensive polyurathane. I will say with epoxy be sure to properly etch (get a seperate etching solution or 2 and use those, not what comes in the kit) get extra flakes, and let the expoy dry for a week before parking cars on it.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, I still can't see a reason to spend the money.
 
I went with Garage Tech this time. I had epoxy last time and while it's nice, I like the Garage Tech better. For me, less fatigue when working on it all day. Clean up is unbelievably easy. I run the shop vac over it and an O'cedar type mop loaded with Ultima Waterless Wash occasionally. It's chaneled underneath to allow water flow, so I can pressure wash it off if I want to as well.

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That floor looks like mine. But mine is painted. Helluva lot cheaper than tiles
 
Bringing back this thread as I'm now seriously leaning towards Rust Bullet Floor Coating. 2 Layers of color with flake then a layer of clear to seal those flakes in. Comes highly recommended as it's a urethane based product and will not peal up or wear under normal traffic or if items are dragged on it.

I love floor tiles but I do wash cars in the garage out of the sun and don't want all that water trapped under them as even if it's channeled, there no air flow to dry it out. The ventilated ones are nice but then all the dust, dirt, leaves, etc will get under there and become a real PIA too.

I really just wanted a nice smooth water proof floor that will make a rinse down and squeegee of it so easy. The drainage on mine is perfect as water will flow out to the driveway easily too.
 
I tried Epoxy floor coatings, none have worked most have peeled. So I went with Swiss tracks. Been happy ever since
 
Polyaspartec coatings are the way to go. Most come with a lifetime warranty and I've seen no issues. I'm strongly considering it for mine. Cost is about $2800 to 3000 for my 24x24 area.

Downsides outside more coat are its a 3 to 5 day process and I'd have to clear everything out. Upside is b one and done.

Swiss tracks are about 1400 to 1700. Upside is pricing and I can do it myself.

Water drains off my floor just fine. I am not sure how I would like working on them and underneath will get quit dirty.

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You can vacuum over the Swiss tracks and most everything comes up or pull one piece up and clean under it.
Why I went with Swiss tracks was like you said everything out of the garage for a week and I have to many tools to put outside. It only took me two days to put down the Swiss track and I did it myself.
 
Dano shine said:
You can vacuum over the Swiss tracks and most everything comes up or pull one piece up and clean under it.
Why I went with Swiss tracks was like you said everything out of the garage for a week and I have to many tools to put outside. It only took me two days to put down the Swiss track and I did it myself.
Click to expand...

I'm am probably going to go this route given the costs. I am trying not to cheap-out but putting things in perspective, to spend $3k on a garage floor is a bit more than I want. Besides, if I don't like the swiss trax I can box up and sell them without much issue. Overall though I think I will be happy.
 
I have Commercial VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile) in my garage. The biggest advantage I have experienced vs. a bare concrete surface (besides aesthetics) is cleanliness. It is very easy to clean and it prevents the dusting that any bare concrete surface will produce. Concrete can be polished and sealed to prevent the dusting, but that is more work than coating it.

If I drop a rag, or a clay bar, an applicator, or any other item during detailing I can pick it up and continue without issue. I don't have to worry about what kind of contaminants I might have picked up. That could never be done safely with a bare concrete floor.

Although I considered the floating, snap together, type tiles, i.e., Racedeck or the like, I didn't like the idea of dirt accumulation in the seams and beneath the tiles. The VCT tiles are bonded to the floor so that is not an issue.

I also considered floor coatings but the high-end ones were simply too expensive for my tastes.

So... In summary - cleanliness is a big "pro" in my opinion. And the VCT tiles provide that at a very reasonable price compared to the other options.
 
Bringing back this thread. I just ordered Swisstrax Ribtrax Smooth for my garage. It is 720 sqft so it is costing me $3300. Anyone elae have this floor? How do you like it so far?

I'm hoping it helps with the dust and dirt in the garage. I had the whole garage painted, added an air filter and heater, now last thing is the floor.

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