Hello,

I'm thinking of putting floor tiles down on the garage floor to solve the dust problem, its rented and I don't want the ballache of trying to get the owner to agree to me painting it, so tiles look like a nice alternative except 45M^2 at 45pound a sq mtr makes it a little bit pricey.

What are the locost options? I looked at some gym/allpurpose matts advertised on ebay, but I don't think they are really suitable for what I want, I need something thats completely sealed to keep the oil off the floor, and the dust out my gubbings.

Did anybody find a cheaper option?

foam backed carpet? nice and cheap

Sounds like the main problem is that teh concrete isnt sealed and creating lots of dust. Im sure their are products available that seal the concrete and are clear, might be cheaper albeit a pain to do if you have loads of stuff on the floor.

Other option might be to see if a local carpet place might have an offcut of floor vinyl. Wont be as durable as rubber tiles but should be way cheaper.

Lino?

You could use the same mats we put down in our horse stables - 6ft by 4ft of 3/4" solid rubber, about £25 each+vat (current price) from www.horsemat.co.uk- ours have been down 8 years now and still look like new when you hose them down. I imagine its quite difficult to wriggle under a car when laying on your back though.
Also quite nice if you have to stand at a workbench for long periods.
Hugh

I still would try to use paint/ sealer. Why would the owner make objections to improvements?

Otherwise I would opt for vinyl, as above. Rubber tiles are heavy and not locost (?). On a black floor it is difficult to find the small things that you dropped, and things can get in or through the joints / seams ( I don't know what this is in correct English).

i've used the gym tiles, worked out quite cheap, comfy to kneel on since there about 12mm thick, fit together really quite well, and after a year on the whole still look like new. however, they don't form a seal, so spilt oil will work it's way though if left long enough

wouldnt watered down pvc glue stuff seal the floor im sure thats what plasterers and so use to seal walls so the plaster sticks to a none dusty wall

SEALOCRETE !

What about old conveyor belts? no idea where you'd get them but a google search should throw something up, my gym uses them, so they must be cheap or free, I'll ask next time I'm in.

quote:

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Originally posted by adam1985
wouldnt watered down pvc glue stuff seal the floor im sure thats what plasterers and so use to seal walls so the plaster sticks to a none dusty wall

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we sell horse matting where i work!£28 inc vat!6 X 4 sheets also weigh about 40kgs per mat so wont move easily!

8x2 sheets of moisture resistant 18 or 22mm chipboard tongue and grooved all round, with a layer of DPM underneath. Not only keep the dust down , but the damp and the cold as well. Very cheap compared to other types of flooring. Wickes is a good place to buy it. T&G means no proud edges to trip over.

Easy to slide heavy objects around on it too.


http://www.wickes.co.uk/Sheet-Chipboard-Flooring/Tongued-and-Grooved-Chipboard-Flooring/invt/164516

Look at that square metre price!

John

[Edited on 16/10/08 by mr henderson]

Would have thought finding an old short pile vinyl carpet has got to be the most Locost solution.

I painted a garage floor the other day- cost a load and was a pain to do!

Cheers,
James