Epoxy paint or snap together tiles for the garage??

[Bill Wells]

after self applying concrete paint to prepped surfaces, even when new , cured and not driven on, the paint would always seem to 'lift' under the tires and then wick out to areas where tire tracks were. i tried rubber pads under the tires and same problem, just a little longer before it showed. after 6 yrs of every other year adding a new coat of paint i contacted a professional two part epoxy coating firm that does industrial sites and custom garages.

they came in and used a media blasting machine, using bb's, to get the 6 layers of paint off the floor and properly prep the concrete surface underneat the paint, removing a very fine film of concrete surface material as well. then a two part epoxy was put on the floor, after several days of drying/curing another two part epoxy coating was applied. after several more days of curing a clear urethane coating was applied using clear silica in the top coat for non skid protection for safety and liability.

the floor maintains, now 5 yrs later, a lustrous shine looking wet and mirror like. it has been impervious to all fluids , including acid. i have dropped heavy tools on it and no chipping. despite 5 winters of detroit winter salt droppings, rain, hot tires etc the floor looks brand new today..except for one stall where someone did a 4 wheel burn out with stones in the tread and 'etched' scratches in the surface...long story, don't ask !

i could not be more pleased with the results, when done initially and now so long after. every now and then i swipe a mop over the floor, squeegee the water to floor drains and wipe down with toweling and voila, brand new wet look again.

the key is the prep. friends have tried several do it yourself epoxy processes following prep recommendations and have had limited success in long term liveability. my media blasting prep seems to have done the trick compared to their results after 9-12 mos.

just another opinion....see my photo gallery for floor pics in my garage....

oh yeah, i am told they would come back and 'rough up ' the surface of my one stall with the 4 wh drive scratch marks and recover with another top coat of urethane and it would look like new again too...it just doesnt seem to be on the top of my list as i suspect if a 4wd burnout was done before i t might happen again, as same driver still uses that stall....no comment.

i have seen the tiles and the decking material but have not had anyone that i know attest to its long term usage, the votes have not yet been cast. but they do look good too... bill.