The 'E' Type Forum

Hi Everyone

Looking for advice on floor tiles for my new garage. I'm intending to fit non slip interlocking tiles over the concrete. I would need them to be oil resistant and strong enough to support axle stands and the like. The floor area is approximately 52sq m.

Thanks in advance

I used these:
https://duramat.co.uk/

No issues with normal garage activities on these, and they look great.

Can you easily use axle stands and trolley jacks on them? Or do they leave significant dents and not roll well?
Thanks, Geoff

Jack stands do not make any significant Mark's but tyres do. Black from the rubber leaches out and stains the tile and it almost impossible to remove.

Oil will also stain the tiles over time and I have a major problem following an over winter oil leak. The oil has seeped between the joints and travels along them. It also pools under them and the only way to get rid of it is to lift the tiles. Ditto coolant or any fluid. I have bought an industrial floor cleaner which does a decent job but stains remain. I have had the tiles down for about 15 years so I guess they need replacing. I will post some photos tomorrow.

I also used Duramat - black checker plate with yellow ramp edging. Had the car up on axel stands, jacks and hydraulic ramps with no issues. Any oil or fluids cleaned up ok with engine degreaser, but were cleaned up immediately so I can’t comment on prolonged exposure. Easy to fit and cut.

I used epoxy concrete paint.

Tough as nails, impervious to oil and you can clean it with a pressure washer.

Thanks for the various comments. Yes, paint would be a good solution but the floor is uneven and if anything needs completely relaying, which isn’t convenient or easy to do with two cars, one on a rotisserie, and with oil stains not taking any new surface well.
That’s why tiles might be the best idea to give a nicer surface. My only experience with tiles have been some inexpensive ones that wouldn’t take the weight of a trolley jack or axle stands, but are useful as a nicer surface to walk on when working around the cars.

Geoff

Hi Geoff....an easy quick cheap surface to cover old not good concrete surfaces is 8x4 sheets of hardboard...iv had some down for 6 years now...its ready for a change..gaffer tape it at the joints....my concrete was a bit flakey so not suitable for epoxy paint....Steve

Interlocking tiles require a flat surface so any unevenness will need to be addressed. This is usually done by spreading a self levelling screed.

Alan, as topic author I apologise for stealing your topic but hope you’ve got your answers as well.
Some very good advice and information for which my thanks to all.

Geoff

Hi

David is right, but if you're going to the trouble and expense of laying a self levelling screed then I would epoxy paint it after it has cured and before it gets contaminated with oil, etc.

However, my experience of self levelling screeds is that they don't really, without a lot of help.

Regards

Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m fortunate in having a brand new, uncluttered floor which is level. I have decided to go for these tiles:-



They get great reviews and are very hard wearing.

Geoff no need to apologise I’ve done the exact same thing on other threads.

Interesting, and a decent price (these days). But:-

How do you cover a whole floor when they are only slotted on two sides?

They would have to be laid in double width strips with no interlocking between them.

Regards

Hi Alan i have done what you expect : Epoxy on a flat concrete and some paths with smooth tiles , the one you have on your last post.
But BIG WARNING : the Epoxy is VERY slippery..... when wet ( ask me why...!)

ALAN COCHRANE wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 06, 2023 7:39 am

Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m fortunate in having a brand new, uncluttered floor which is level. I have decided to go for these tiles:-



They get great reviews and are very hard wearing.

Geoff no need to apologise I’ve done the exact same thing on other threads.

Alan - have you checked these? They look exactly like the packs that I have previously bought from Costco, which come with removable edge finishing strips. Whilst they are great as a cushioned floor for standing or kneeling, they are not suitable for heavy loads, and will certainly squash under an axle stand etc. Just suggesting you check them before leaving Screwfix...

Expoxy is lethal if your feet are wet, it was the reason I covered it with the tiles. Looks great but the chances are you wont when your feet slide from under you!

They're marketed as garage floor tiles in the blurb so should be OK. The tiles are also marketed as non slip and have the checker plate relief on them for enhanced grip.
I checked the reviews and several people were singing there praises as garage floor coverings.
Only time will tell I suppose.

Alan, might it be worth just getting one set and see how they perform either with the weight of the car wheels on them or moving a trolley jack or lifting the car onto axle stands. If they work great and buy the rest, if not then you’ve only lost the cost of one set that you might use elsewhere. Just a thought. Good luck.

Geoff

Alan
I tried these tiles,, of the appropriate industrial grade, on my new floor. They were quite pretty and pleasant to walk on but to work on they were less than optimal!
They moved easily when rolled over by a laden trolley jack, which became much harder to move itself. Anything that sits on them in one place for more than a few hours leaves a mark. Unless your axle stands have big feet, you will probably find the matting ends up “incised”.
If you want a surface that stands up to the usual garage environment, avoid any tiles of ant sort of foamed neoprene, if you use thinner tougher “vinyl” type interlocking tiles glue these down. Better still, I.M.O is to buy industrial machine shop flooring on the roll and stick it down.
Or even better, longer lasting and colour selective is use epoxy floor paint. Two or three layers applied at the proper intervals over a floor which has if necessary been scrabbled and repaired. If you thin the first coat by 50% and let it soak in that will stabilise the concrete..When finished you will have a floor that is able to withstand almost any point loading, solvent or oil you may care to use, and it will be easy to clean up and roll stuff around.
Good luck …get painting with a long reach roller. Be radical go for grey.