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View Full Version : Quick, Easy, Cheap ...Garage Mod!

IQRaceworks
03-31-2008, 07:40 PM
I have seen this done before in bigger shops, but never really wanted to spend the money or the time to do it myself. I thought the tiles were really expensive and hard to install....but I was WAY wrong.

I bought two boxes of these self-adhesive tiles.....for $15 a box! That's enough to do 90 sq/ft. I decided to do a 7'x12' area. That would give me a few extras left over in case I screwed any up while installing them.

In order to prep the floor...I just vacuumed it off, and cleaned it with some pine sol and a mop....and let it dry.

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/406/1009785sda6.jpg




Installing the tiles was a piece of cake. Just peel the backing off, line them up, and stick them down. It took me right at one hour to do this 7'x12' area. I think it turned out great...I might even buy another box and make it a little bigger.

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/2922/1009790sbc0.jpg


This 7'x12' spot is just about the perfect size to part my toys on.. I don't know how oil/fuel resistant they are....so I'm probably not going to be doing any oil changed over the tiles....I'll have to role the bikes out onto the concrete. It's more just to add a little "bling" to the garage. Now I just need to do something to the walls! Got any ideas?

For $30......I think it was money well spent. :D



http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/2638/1009799sqe3.jpg
cooltoy
03-31-2008, 07:48 PM
A+ man that looks really good. Nice price too
rjharris
03-31-2008, 08:10 PM
Did you put anything in the expansion joint??
IQRaceworks
03-31-2008, 08:54 PM
Did you put anything in the expansion joint??

Nope, just went right over the top of it. The tiles are pretty stiff, so I don't think you will see the expansion joint underneigh...even over time.

But...one thing that I didn't think about is that if that expansion joint moves around a little, it might want to move the tiles around a little also. I guess I could take a razor and make a small slit down the expansion joint through the tiles in order to allow some movement of the joint.

I will just have to keep an eye on it and see what happens.
CrazyEyeZX10R
03-31-2008, 09:30 PM
Looks good man! If they go down like household laminate peel-n-stick tiles you might want to hit them with a heat gun or a blow dryer for a little bit. They will stick good at first but over time peel up. Especially on concrete that sweats and stays close to the same as the outside temp. As for the walls....what about doing an undercoating on the lower say 3 ft or so? You could even use some inexpensive baseboard trim to seperate the paint and coating parts.
IQRaceworks
03-31-2008, 09:33 PM
Looks good man! If they go down like household laminate peel-n-stick tiles you might want to hit them with a heat gun or a blow dryer for a little bit. They will stick good at first but over time peel up. Especially on concrete that sweats and stays close to the same as the outside temp. As for the walls....what about doing an undercoating on the lower say 3 ft or so? You could even use some inexpensive baseboard trim to seperate the paint and coating parts.

I might have to try that if I notice any coming up. The adhesive on the tiles was super tacky....as soon as they touched the concrete, they were stuck...if you tried to peel them back up, it would break the tiles. If I notice any starting to come up...I might try to heat them up a bit.

Thanks for the tip.
CrazyEyeZX10R
03-31-2008, 09:39 PM
I might have to try that if I notice any coming up. The adhesive on the tiles was super tacky....as soon as they touched the concrete, they were stuck...if you tried to peel them back up, it would break the tiles. If I notice any starting to come up...I might try to heat them up a bit.

Thanks for the tip.

We usually heat them as we put them down. Not sure if heating them after they have already started to peel will re-adhere them but its worth a try. If it doesn't work you can get laminate glue from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. or I should have some around here.
Justen
03-31-2008, 09:41 PM
Walls - Neons, in my opinion. If you know anyone from a local distributorship up there you can probably get them for really cheap. I used to work at the local Bud dist. here and when they change the logo (~1 yr.) the old ones were no good, as AB is really strict about that stuff. I've got a bud one here at my house. Neons and road signs if you ask me.
CNI
03-31-2008, 09:42 PM
Dang that looks good Ian! WOW! Not sure what you can do on the walls that inexpensive. I was thinking diamond tread plate on the walls but that would be expensive. what about like sheet metal or something or even just continuing the tiles up the wall like a foot or three. :D
IQRaceworks
03-31-2008, 09:51 PM
Dang that looks good Ian! WOW! Not sure what you can do on the walls that inexpensive. I was thinking diamond tread plate on the walls but that would be expensive. what about like sheet metal or something or even just continuing the tiles up the wall like a foot or three. :D

I guess I could tape off squares, and paint the walls white/black. Or maybe paint some big Honda sign on the wall. Not sure yet....but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Neon signs would be pretty cool...anyone know where I can get some cheap?

:D
ClayB_600R
03-31-2008, 10:02 PM
as far as the walls go i would either try n find some diamond plate and go a couple feet up...or take the squares up 2-3 feet...either one would look pretty good IMO... unless i missed it...where did u buy these?? i think i want to do a section of my garage where i park my bike...very cool lookin! nice work!


ClayB:fight3


237
CNI
03-31-2008, 10:27 PM
you could always put up some posters. I wouldn't paint a motorcycle brand. That's like putting your bike type in your screename and then later you change your bike and your stuck. If you plan on living there for awhile then I'd go all out and have fun but if you plan on selling the place sometime soon then I wouldn't put in the extra efforts unless it's tasteful and generic. What you have now someone with a 4 wheeler or a harley would be happy to use that space if they bought your house. Of course I'm just thinking out loud and what I'd do. Black/white squares painted on the wall sounds tedious. Diamond plate is expensive. I'd do like sheet metal with seams and bolts to give it that industrial look. :D
BRAD
03-31-2008, 10:29 PM
used the same tiles in our basement bathroom, been there a year now in a damp environment with NO issue at all.
mustv8
03-31-2008, 10:34 PM
looks good. on my last garge i did the 12x12 tiles, a littel less bissy on a bigger floor.
I would go with mirrors on the walls, makes you shop look bigger and sometime you can get good deals at glass shops that have bad spots in them.
Firemann
03-31-2008, 10:41 PM
Cool, You can always get some banners for the walls, usually easy to find on eBay.
ClayB_600R
03-31-2008, 10:43 PM
Cool, You can always get some banners for the walls, usually easy to find on eBay.

+1...that would be a good idea...get like a honda banner or something...that way it is changable, yet cool/shop lookin...


ClayB:fight3


233
Justen
03-31-2008, 11:48 PM
+1...that would be a good idea...get like a honda banner or something...that way it is changable, yet cool/shop lookin...


ClayB:fight3


233

If you go to the craziness they call Ernte Fest, stay around at the end of Sat. night, and they will give away a lot of the beer banners. Some of them are HUGE and expensive. I've seen it done every year.
CrazyEyeZX10R
04-01-2008, 12:16 AM
If you go to the craziness they call Ernte Fest, stay around at the end of Sat. night, and they will give away a lot of the beer banners. Some of them are HUGE and expensive. I've seen it done every year.

I've stayed to the very end on many a Saturday night BUT.....I've never been in the "shape" to ask for banners! Hell its usually a big enough job just to get to/find the vehicle!