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-   -   Tip: Shop Floor Covering Options (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=53558)

jimpappas 01-26-2010 09:09 AM

tile floor
 
I used Swisstrack tile on my hangar floor at about $4 per tile.

I get tons of complements on the looks and I put it in myself over a couple weekends even with stuff in the hangar like Doug hopes to do.

It does have some properties I don't care for.

I get lots of static shocks touching the plane, wall switches or anything else metal. Haven't found a way to ground it.

Walking on it is kind of noisy too. It makes a sound similar to wearing metal golf shoes on concrete?

My fuel vents leaked over a weekend and melted about a dozen tiles, I know they say that can't happen but it did in a hot hangar with the leaked fuel.

It went down easy, looks great but it isn't perfect and costs about the same as epoxy coating.

The main reason I didn't go epoxy was I rent this hangar, why improve someone elses property? I can remove the tiles when my lease is up, can't do that with epoxy.

For my home garage, I will do epoxy when I build the garage this year.

Rick S. 01-26-2010 09:23 AM

I used the foam locking 2' squares from Sears...Costco colors were um let's say a little to "bright" for me. I really think they worked well to preserve feet and back during long hours of standing and now they live in the hangar since the build is done. Worth the 50 bucks or so they cost. And if Old man Leffler endorses them you know they're good!! ;)

Mel 01-26-2010 09:31 AM

DANGER WIL ROBINSON!
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jimpappas (Post 400102)
I get lots of static shocks touching the plane, wall switches or anything else metal. Haven't found a way to ground it.
My fuel vents leaked over a weekend and melted about a dozen tiles, I know they say that can't happen but it did in a hot hangar with the leaked fuel.

This sounds like an accident waiting to happen. What happens when you reach for the fuel drain and get that "spark"?

Bill Ervin 01-26-2010 09:45 AM

another option
 
There was a guy at Sebring doing a demo of a UV cured (Instant) floor coating called Rapid Shield you might look into. I thought the concept was great, he can do a small shop in a few hours, no muss no fuss and no fumes:D It is cured instantly by using intense Ultraviolet light. He said the cost was around $3.50 sq ft.

Check it out

rapidshield.com

tuner 01-26-2010 10:17 AM

I've used both the RaceDeck brand product as well as the cheaper MotoFloor brand that RD manufactures for Cosco. The MotoFloor brand is normally priced at Cosco around $2.50 per square foot and they often run sales that brings the cost down below $2 / ft. (ironically the product is on sale at Cosco today).

I haven't experienced the static shocks that jimpappas mentioned, but this type of flooring can be a bit noisy to walk on as he described. I have spilled my share of fuel and oil on the flooring without a problem and it does clean up easily with products like 409, Simple Green, etc. One issue regarding spilled fluids to consider is that when liquid passes between the tiles, it is going to be trapped underneath the flooring unless you remove a section and clean it.

I think overall it is a nice alternative to epoxy. Like anything, there are some pros and cons.

f1rocket 01-26-2010 11:08 AM

The CEO of RaceDeck posts on the Cobra forum that I am a member of and he said that Costco is running a sale of his product at $1 a square foot. As mentioned above, it is not the exact same product but it is manufactured by Racedeck. Below is his post:

We just got word from one of our larger customers, Costco... about a 1 day sale they are having...thought some of you who are looking for a crazy good deal would be interested on this inside line.

MotoFloor will be on sale Tuesday, January 26th on Costco.com's Deal of the Day. This is a one day promo. MotoFloor will be $30 off per box. go to http://www.costco.com and search for MotoFloor

As most of you know we also manufacture flooring for a few international companies like Costco and Harley-Davidson.
__________________
Jorgen Moller /CEO
RaceDeck Garage Flooring
800-457-0174
Proudly Made in USA
[b]http://www.racedeck.com


Personally, I prefer sealed and polished concrete over any coatings. No matter what you use, it will eventually discolor and may come up in spots. With sealed concrete, there's less worry to keep that "spotless" look. I will say that it is slick as snot when wet so that's a negative.

I remember a comment someone passed on to me when I was researching what to do with my hangar floor. He said something to the effect that when contractors came to the house to work on something, if they saw the garage floor painted, they automatically raised their price because they figured the guy living there was OCD and would be a pain-in-the-rear to deal with.


Tim 8-A 01-26-2010 11:41 AM

Doug ,
You are welcome to come by and look at my install.
I did my garage about a year ago, the floor has held up well and I have a car lift in the garage.
2 cons:
Its noisy to walk on.
If you turn your tires while not moving it will pull up the tiles.

jimpappas 01-26-2010 01:00 PM

static
 
Mel,

You got it, that is a major risk and I take great care to touch another surface before and while touching anything near fuel caps.

I get the static in winter with floor heat as well as summer and humidity.

Not sure what is causing it, might be the shoes but I need to find a solution before it becomes a problem.

They are great for appearance, clean up, the ones that got ruined were easy to pop out and replace, you can change the design, lots of pros.

Only those couple negatives to work out.

noelf 01-26-2010 01:27 PM

A question for those with the lay-down-plastic-tiles:
 
Do you have any issues with the wind lifting the tiles that are near the garage / hanger door??

Tim 8-A 01-26-2010 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noelf (Post 400203)
Do you have any issues with the wind lifting the tiles that are near the garage / hanger door??

The wind doesn't affect them, but the sun causes them to expand.


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