Garage Floor Epoxy vs floor tiles?

[REKIII]

I've been debating on this topic for awhile now.  I was totally on board with the epoxy leaning towards professional install just to make sure it was done right with a high quality product, but it does seem like there are a lot of quality DIY options.

But......The use of epoxy still scares me.  I've seen it damaged from weld spatter, tire chirping, dropping heavy things on it, etc.  It seems like repairing epoxy is, at best, a band-aide and very visible.

Racedeck or other similar snap tile is expensive, noisy, and doesn't handle jackstands, etc well.  Not to mention the disgusting underside that becomes a reality after a few years.

I understand that my take-aways aren't the same for everyone and a quality debate could be made of any of them.  But.....I researched another idea and really like it.

Armstrong VCT (Vinyl Composite Tile).  Basically the stuff Targets and Walmarts use on their floor.  It's relatively cheap, needs little prep, easy to install and very hardy.  It can be waxed (high end commercial waxes work best) and if you do damage a tile beyond what wax will fix, you can replace that tile.

There are a lot of different colors and patterns you can use and they are readily available.  Another huge advantage is that you can do a section of your garage, then move stuff onto that section and do another section.  You don't have to completely clear out a space for days while the install happens.

Just another thought to consider.

[SteelBlue]

My completely anecdotal and no experience comment is that Swiss tracks or similar products may be difficult for homes in our part of the country as the water/dirt and grime from snow will seep beneath them and get dirty quickly. 
 

Is the concrete sealed in the garage? You could always just have the concrete polished and it would act in a similar nature to epoxy without the possibility of chipping. Would still have a more “finished” look to it and could be cleaned quite easily.

[patsbimmer1]

When I was with Blain's they started doing polished cement in parts of the newer service centers and warehouses and it could become slippery when wet or dusty.  This was with me wearing CAT slip resistant work boots.  I haven't experienced that with epoxy coatings.  When my dad owned his own painting business he did a few and his advice to me was it was pretty simple but if it is applied to a surface that was the slightest bit dirty you would have a longevity issue.  I've also seen these in professional shops with no issues as long as they are allowed to cure properly.

I have no experience with the flooring options but as stated above by REK, the amount of filth that would gather under them and the cost would keep me away.

[Rekpoint]

patsbimmer1 said:

the amount of filth that would gather under them and the cost would keep me away.

But thats one of their selling points. They say you should pull them up and vacuum every 3 or so years. And they are easy to pull up if you drip oil under them.

[straight6pwr]

i guess it depends on what your priorities are on form and function. its kinda the old 'pick 2' thing:

1. Durability

2. Aesthetics

3. Cost

Personally, I'd never epoxy a floor in a state that is going to get frigid cold/snow & salt melt all over it. Spend all that money than in a few years you have peeling/chipping. That would be annoying.

If I had fresh concrete I'd be looking at polishing it over anything else. A polished concrete is really not that slippery when wet, its actually rated as 'slip resistant' floor in commercial applications. It is slippery when sand or other small media is on it, but how often is that kind of spill in a person's garage?

[Ryan...]

Lots of good points being made here... I'm not necessarily confident I could do a quality DIY epoxy job.

AFAIK my floor wasn't sealed, so maybe polishing it would be a nice option as well...

[Jdesign]

I have experience with a few surfaces and here is my input:

Tiles

Pros

• more absorbant to impacts, comfortable to stand/walk on 
• you can take them with you when you relocate
• you can replace ones that fail fairly easy
• temperature - They are much better to lay on that concrete
• can use right after install

Cons

• Liquids can leak through and stain or stink (gear lube) the surface underneath making it hard to clean up spills
• most expensive
• noise can be an issue depending on the underlayment
• fitting around corners and mounting machines to the floor can be a challenge

Floor coating (paint)

Pros

• very strong
• easy to install
• easy to clean up spills
• fairly inexpensive
• mounting equipment to the floor is easy

Cons

• color chips need to be added for traction which can make it hard to find nuts/bolts and small hardware 
• tends to be very slick when wet
• you cant take it with when you relocate
• you have to allow it to cure before parking or putting anything on it
• still cold when laying on it

Concrete polish/sealing

Pros

• very strong
• easy to clean up spills
• fairly inexpensive
• not as slick as paint depending on sealant used
• mounting equipment to the floor is easy

Cons

• general install requires stages for a good finish
• you cant take it with when you relocate
• you have to allow it to cure before parking or putting anything on it
• still cold when laying on it

--- 

With that said my input is tiles are the best if its a home garage. You can always take them with you when you leave too. So the price is not as bad if you consider that you will have them for a very long time. If its a shop, coatings are normally the better answer because of clean-ability,  ability to mount lifts and other equipment, and less set up time.

[Ryan...]

^^^ Very helpful list, thanks!

I do like the point that you can bring the tiles with, I'd not even considered that..

[gilber33]

Does anyone have any advice for removing a sealant on a garage floor? I would love to do a coating of some type on it, but I'm 99% certain that when they poured our slab, they put a sealant on it. Water and oil seem to sit on top of the concrete rather than soak in and it has coloration in spots that doesn't look like standard concrete.

[Bassboy3313]

Only thing I have seen is grinding the concrete with floor sander that has diamond scuff abrasive on it. This will prep it for the new coating.