Garage Floor Coverings

[cowboyup3371]

Does anyone have the rubber or plastic floor coverings in their garage? If so, can you provide any feedback - good, bad, or indifferent - on them? Although I would like to know the brand you use, I'm more interested in how well they work and if there are any issues/gotcha's I should consider.

Thank you much

[willie]

20+ yrs ago, I worked for a company that made the vinyl used for banners. It was pretty heavy duty stuff and even fire retardant. I brought a couple of rolls home with me and covered my basement garage floor with the stuff. I even stapled it up overhead to cover the insulation between the joists. Over the yrs, I have spilled all kinds of liquids on the stuff and never had a problem. An added bonus was, being white, how much it brightened the place up. My only regret is that I didn't grab more rolls than I did.
Also, I looked into vinyl (or whatever they call it) tiles, planks, etc and didn't like the idea of spilled liquid seeping down through the joints only to remain there under the flooring. I don't have that problem with the vinyl I used. Good luck with what you decide to go with.
And, seeing that you're in OH, the company that bought our company out and moved the equipment to their place was Avery Dennison in Cincinnati. If you're anywhere near there, it might be worth you calling to ask if they'd sell you the out of spec (ie blew, etc) material. Just a thought.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I painted mine with epoxy garage floor paint with the colored flecks. It’s held up OK. Not great.

I have an older retired friend who used the plastic floor panels in the immaculate garage that houses his cherished new C8 Corvette. He seems to have unlimited funds, spends all his free time cleaning, paint correcting, polishing and admiring this car. When I see him at church next week I’ll ask him what he used/ how much $. My dad always said, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it” but wouldn’t you like to have a showplace and a car like this?

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks guys. While looking through the comments on a woodworking forum I belong to, I found one concern hopefully you all can help answer. How easily can you move things around on those tiles? Thinking large tools, toolboxes, and the like

[phydeauxmutt]

Assuming the floor will be concrete, just ask for a smooth, troweled finish, then seal it.

If you want to go extravagant, use some clear epoxy.

[argonsagas]

this is about vinyl flooring planks in a garagge

https://www.floorcity.com/blogs/flooring-expert/vinyl-plank-flooring-in-a-garage

[dpep]

Does anyone have the rubber or plastic floor coverings in their garage? If so, can you provide any feedback - good, bad, or indifferent - on them? Although I would like to know the brand you use, I'm more interested in how well they work and if there are any issues/gotcha's I should consider.

Thank you much

Is your primary reason for wanting to cover the surface cushioning or is it more just appearance?

[cowboyup3371]

Is your primary reason for wanting to cover the surface cushioning or is it more just appearance?

As I mentioned before, I lost my shop last month when my friend moved to Augusta GA. Consequently, I am now in the planning stages to build a 10x20 garage next to my mobile home to keep my bikes and woodworking shop near me. However, the mobile home park I live in does not want any "machine-based noise" past 8pm. Since I don't like to quit mid-task, this may become a small problem for me so I'm looking to implement some soundproofing ideas. I already intended to insulate the walls and ceiling as well as installing drywall to help somewhat but there are other things I can do.

Based on what I have read, one way to reduce the noise from any garage is to cover the concrete floor. I am currently looking at the rubber floor covering from rubberflooringinc.com as recommended by some other woodworkers while others have recommended the fancier stuff like Rich mentioned. Additionally, some folks just lay plywood down.

I'm not stupid enough to think it will completely soundproof the shop but every little bit I can do to reduce the noise coming out, especially when i close the garage door, will work out better for my neighbors and I. So I'm just looking for real-world experiences from those who may have done it.

[dpep]

Aha, for acoustics.

For the situation you describe have you considered maybe making a moveable sound booth that could be rolled/placed around power tools when you use them in the evening? I am sure someone with your skills could put something like that together pretty easily.

[cowboyup3371]

It is a thought I will investigate but the size of the shop along with the quantity, type, and placement of the tools may make that an impossibility

[phydeauxmutt]

If you are putting cushioning on the floor for acoustic attenuation, I'm sure the earthworms would love you.

However, ... for everyone else that is above the ground, your acoustic materials should be in the walls and maybe the ceiling.

Assuming you are building with 2x4s and flat sheeting, are you going to insulate? Some insulations attenuate more than others. Some flat-sheet stuff will attenuate more than others. Unfortunately, the BEST attenuator will not work for you, that is DISTANCE.

[Baatfam]

However, the mobile home park I live in does not want any "machine-based noise" past 8pm.

Scott, Mr. Curious here.
How do they define "machine-based noise?"
That covers everything from blenders to pickup trucks, but not fireworks or drum sets....

[Cipher]

Saw a beautiful ceramic tile job once. Used a resin in the grout. Guy dud ut himself

[Nessism]

Honestly, Scott, unless you build this shop of yours like a bomb shelter, I doubt you will be able to suitably contain the noise of a woodworking shop. The saws and such are just plain too loud.

That said, one good way to attenuate the noise of heavy machinery is to mount them on rubber feet. I did that on my large air compressor, and it really helped. It's far from quiet, but it's quieter than before rubber mounting.

[cowboyup3371]

Scott, Mr. Curious here.
How do they define "machine-based noise?"
That covers everything from blenders to pickup trucks, but not fireworks or drum sets....

Here's my question to the manager of the complex and his answer. I won't say we are friends but i can stop by his place (he lives onsite just up the road from us) and see the results/progress of his own woodworking projects. I tried suggesting we set up a communal shop somewhere on the grounds but he wasn't very receptive of the idea.

Although I typically try not to do any loud outside work before 9am, this project will require significant time to complete since we only have the weekends to do it. What are your desired "quiet" hours we need to follow?

We don’t want any loud machinery outside of the hours of 8am to 8pm.

Honestly, Scott, unless you build this shop of yours like a bomb shelter, I doubt you will be able to suitably contain the noise of a woodworking shop. The saws and such are just plain too loud.

That said, one good way to attenuate the noise of heavy machinery is to mount them on rubber feet. I did that on my large air compressor, and it really helped. It's far from quiet, but it's quieter than before rubber mounting.

Thanks Ed, this is the reason I am asking about feedback from anyone who has done it. I know I won't totally silence it but the effort will help reduce it even a little.