The pursuit for garage flooring started back in mid-2014. I really wanted polished concrete floors in my garage. The issue with that option is that it doesn't remove stains completely and is susceptible to more stains in the future. I decided to do a metal look epoxy system topped with urethane and an anti-skid. I hated them. They turned brown, were slippery, scratched easily, and generally looked like crap. I've yet to see an epoxy floor that is acceptable to me. But remember, I'm obsessed. After that really expensive disaster, I set out to find a suitable cover-up.
I wanted to do Porcelain tile, but there is no way thin-set is going to stick to urethane. To remove it requires diamond grinding, tons of cash, and a giant mess. A really high-quality porcelain tile is harder than concrete but wasn't an option for me.
I played volleyball in college on many plastic floors. I hate plastic floors. They click and clack and feel cheap. I didn't want anything to do with that. I thought about getting rubber mats like my gym and eventually stumbled on a video of Tanner Faust's garage and these recycled rubber tiles called Swisstrax Rubbertrax. I thought that could solve the plastic feel, so I got on the phone on Black Friday in 2014 to Swisstrax.
This super nice girl named Sarah picked up the phone and started schooling me on why rubber doesn't work on rubber tires. I was distraught that my only solution to fix this mess wasn't going to work. She proceeded to explain why I needed regular plastic Ribtrax.
- These are 3/4" of an inch thick and are substantial enough that they don't make noise or feel like a normal plastic floor.
- They can withstand up to 70,000 LBS (yes, that’s correct) so floor jacks and jack stands are not an issue.
- They are easy to clean and water drains beneath them.
- You can customize the look of the floor with different colors and designs.
- They are very easy to install yourself
After the phone call, I knew that this was the flooring solution I was looking for.
Specifications
- Sized 15.75″ x 15.75″, Thickness 0.75″, Weight 1.47 lb, Perforation 0.13″, Materials: Polypropylene copolymer.
- Industrial strength, Ribtrax is resistant to oil, gas, acid or solvents including Skydrol and Alkalis.
- Through Swisstrax, garage floor tiles have a Limited Lifetime warranty, non-prorated, no restocking fees, and no hassles.
- Ultra-thick for extra protection, able to withstand up to 70,000 lbs of rollover weight, and compressive strength of 3120 psi.
- Commercial grade, with temperature tolerances of -22°F to +248°F and a fire rating of HB (Horizontal Burn).
- UV stabilizers mixed into the material as well as the color pigments, making them highly fade-resistant and non-slip.
FAQ & Support
If you decide to return your unused Swisstrax tiles 30 days past receipt, you will incur a 25% restocking fee with them. If you return within 30 days, you will not have to pay a restocking fee.
Please note: Swisstrax is only available in the US. They do not ship these internationally.
For help on deciding your color, layout, and how many tiles you need, please refer to this article: . The Swisstrax Floor Designer can be found.
How the heck am I going to deal with all the dirt and water that falls through the tiles? That's going to look terrible.
They are substantial enough at 3/4" thick that dirt and dust fall beneath the tiles. Your floors look clean all the time. There are channels in the tiles that allow water to flow out or evaporate if necessary. Leaves never make it to the back of the garage. They get caught in the first few tiles. I love this. I shop vac the stuff right through the tiles once every 6-months.
I spill oil and other stuff all the time. Isn't it going to be hard to clean underneath?
The tiles pull up in seconds. I use our to pull up a corner. Wipe up the mess, and the tiles simply snap back into place.
What about floor jacks and jack stands?
The tiles are rated up to 70,000 lbs, so a floor jack is no issue. If you have sharp jack stands, you'll want to put a piece of wood underneath, but it's not an issue if you use ones that spread the pressure evenly.
Can I install this myself?
You simply cut using a table, miter, or circular saw. It took me about 4 hours to do my 600 sq. ft. garage.
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