Interlocking plastic tiles are a popular choice to finish off a garage floor. The plastic tile systems sold by Swisstrax and Racedeck® are rigid PVC tiles that claim "unbeatable" strength and durability.
While we know that plastic floor tiles do have their place (discussed in Frustrations with Plastic Tiles: Coatings vs. Plastic Tiles), for the homeowner looking for long-term reliability and durable garage floor protection, epoxy floor coatings are usually the hands-down best choice.
Why Doesn't STRONGHOLD FLOORS Offer Plastic Floor Tiles?
STRONGHOLD FLOORS chose not to sell plastic floor tiles even back when we were owners of the franchise, PremierGarage of Central PA. About seven or eight years ago, a black-and-white checkerboard floor - which was featured in many popular car shows - was sought after and as such, the plastic floor tiles were also growing in popularity.
Plastic floor tiles offered an easier solution to achieving this look than epoxy coatings and other materials on the market at the time. Even today, creating a checkerboard floor is one of the few reasons where we do recommend the tiles.
As a national franchise network, PremierGarage decided to offer the plastic tile products. We, however, as a local franchise at that time (2004-2010), decided to skip offering the plastic tiles. Why? Because leading up to that point, we had replaced over a dozen garages where plastic garage floor tiles had been installed. Every time we replaced them, the homeowner had valid complaints about these systems.
Five Problems with Plastic Garage Floor Tiles
Not Impervious to Moisture
While the surface of the plastic tiles certainly does stand up to moisture, the problem lies in the cracks between tiles. Water can seep through the connections between the tiles and get trapped underneath. Not only does this not protect the actual garage floor, but the moisture can cause a musty, foul odor that cannot be removed without tearing apart the entire system.
Not Durable Over Time
Plastic tiles are quite strong, but over time, the weight of your vehicle can cause them to crack. Think of PVC pipe. It's the same material, and those, too, can chip and shatter. UV rays can also weaken and dull the tiles.
Not as Easy to Install as the Videos Claim
While the videos make the interlocking plastic tiles seem very easy to install, they aren't as easy as depicted. This is especially true when your garage floor is not flat (due to a drainage slope or foundation settling).
Not Maintenance-Free
Just like everything else in your house, plastic garage floor tile systems require maintenance. If a tile is cracked, it should be replaced so moisture doesn't seep through and damage your garage floor.
Depending on how the tiles are hooked together, fastened to the concrete, and where the cracked tile is located, it can be a headache to replace. Additionally, many homeowners complain about the tiles becoming dull within the first year of installation, and no matter what they try, they simply cannot restore that "out-of-the-box" luster.
Decorative chip, epoxy floor coatings only require cleaning with water to retain their shine. In some cases, later in life, homeowners can choose to reapply the top coat to rejuvenate the floor, but this isn't required.
Not Very Slip Resistant
The tiles themselves usually have grooves or surface texture to assist with slip resistance. That isn't the issue. The issue is when oil, gasoline, or even car cleaning products get spilled on the tiles. Because of the grooves, it's difficult to get the tiles 100 percent clean. As a result, the tiles become slippery.
Conclusion
In most cases, professionally installed epoxy garage floor coatings are your best bet for a durable and aesthetically pleasing garage floor.
If you are a Do-It-Yourself person, we recommend checking out the pro-grade epoxy garage floor kits offered on the web. Don't waste your time with the kits from big box stores, which fail quickly.
Further Reading on Plastic Tiles
For more information regarding garage plastic floor tiles, check out the following blogs:
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