Hey,guys-I'm looking for info about the shop floor on HorsepowerTV-the black/white checkered flag pattern.I like the way it looks but wonder how it's done? Will tile stand up to the abuse of a real garage? I'm thinking floor jacks rolling cars around and engines on stands being wheeled around might just beat the tiles up and it will look like junk in no time.I e-mailed the show but got no response-now that's customer service!
Any ideas?

The floor they use is probably a Urethane coating. It is not something the average guy can do with good results. The floor needs to be shotblasted for starters. Not just a muratic acid wash. The checkered flag pattern can be done with a special template you lay down and do in sections. I know lots of people are going to say they bought a kit of epoxy from home depot and it works like a charm but I have seen a lot of floor failures and the number one reason is lack of or poor prep. There are some good epoxy systems that you can buy. Make sure it is a two componant epoxy, not a single componant "modified" epoxy. (nothing more then an oil based paint with a splash of epoxy resin in it). First you have to make sure there is no sealer or paint on your floor now or you will have to remove it all by shotblasting or chemical stripper. Acid etch the floor with muratic acid and water. About 10 parts water to one part acid. The floor should pop and sizzle if it is working. The acid will not clean the floor or remove any old coating. You need to use a good degreaser to remove the oil stains. The floor should feel like 100 grit sandpaper when it is properly etched. Then reduce the epoxy 25 percent for the first coat. Let dry and put on the second coat at full strength. Do not drive on the floor for 14 days till it is fully cured. You can walk on it but hot tires can be a problem initially. Some epoxys cure in 7-10 days. Heat and air movement will help to cure it properly. I did this system in my back garage and it is holding up great. I hate to discourage people but just know all the facts before you pick up a gallon of paint and create a problem.
Scott

UCoatIt has a good setup, but like Scott said, it's all in the prep.

Race Deck is one of their sponsors. Check out their floors.
graemlins/beers.gif http://www.racedeck.com/

I have been looking at that Snap-lock setup myself, but wouldn't it be a pain rolling your creeper across that?

Originally posted by J Meadows:
Race Deck is one of their sponsors. Check out their floors.
graemlins/beers.gif http://www.racedeck.com/ At about $5. per foot, I doubt they sell many to shops. Mostly trailers and small areas.

I believe Chuck from HPTV has complained about how hard it is to keep that floor nice. I believe they used vinyl tile.

Jody

I'm going through this decision process myself right now. I've narrowed it down to UCoatIt or Race Deck. For my oversized two car garage, UCoatIt will run approx. $500 and Race Deck will cost approx. $2K. I'm concerned about the finish quality and longevity of an epoxy floor and I don't like the price of the floor tiles. Also, I have used Kiwi Tiles in smaller garages - due to the flow through design, there is no way to get the dirt from beneath the tiles without picking them up. Also, the tiles are textured such that they leave marks on my hands and body (usually last a day or so) when I lay on them. Floor jacks dent the tiles too.

That floor is composite quartz tile. It is available from Griots Garage. Each 2'x2' tile is $60.00! Chuck told me they got the flooring comped to them. It holds up well to welding spatter but needs to be cleaned often for the show.

Where's all the guys that have 20 year old kids that change their oil in your garage??? Sorry for the pessimism, just went through this last night, looked like the Exxon Valdez came through :mad:

found this on the corvette forum:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=797963

That floor (asphalt tile) looks great the day it's laid, but it won't look like that for long; the white tiles suck up the oils in a hot tire like a sponge (and it won't come out), and even cold tires will permanently mark them.

As previously noted, a 2-part industrial epoxy is the indestructible solution, only if it's prepped RIGHT; Home Pro Floors ( www.homeprofloors.com (http://www.homeprofloors.com) ) did mine four years ago (steel shot-blasted, then two coats of 2-part industrial epoxy resin, with the second coat tinted light gray), and it's absolutely indestructible and a snap to keep clean. Turnkey job was $1.92/sq. ft. I have checkerboard tile in my garage office, but I wouldn't use it on the garage floor.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/13522/2002228141543-3-FrtGarage.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/13522/2002228141543-2-Office1.JPG
graemlins/beers.gif

Great setup there John. Obviously Camaro's don't come in Ferrari Red so I guess I can't fault you for the Non GM Product. tongue.gif

I am envious about the garage though and hope to get around to mine one of these days. But first the car needs completion and thats only a matter of weeks now.

Once again, very nice!!!

My brother-in-law (who's a tile setter)laid 6x6 ceramic tile in a black and white checkerboard pattern in his barn with black grout. Looks great and has held up real well. Floor jacks don't crack it (if it's laid right) everything spilled wipes right up and the blacker the oil the better it makes the grout look graemlins/thumbsup.gif 6x6 is small enough too that it's not to slippery when wet ;)