Workshop floor tile question.

[8ob]

Some of these plastic interlocking tiles are available locally , has anyone here used or know about them and are they any good or are they to be avoided ? Man says they just get layed on the floor as is with no glue

Bob

 

[reb78]

They look like the camping mat tiles that Halfords sell. Are they hard? I lined my land rover with similar from Halfords but they were like foam camping mats

 

[pedrobedro]

Friend of mine had some hard rubber ones in his stable for walkways and they lasted years with a hose and wheelbarrow traffic and didn't move about when joined together.

 

[rtcosic]

I have those on my garage floor. They were recovered from a school workshop refurbishment. I just laid them directly onto the concrete floor. You may need a soft faced mallet to ensure they are properly interlocked. You need to allow a little gap around the edge for expansion.

I have no issues with trolley jacks and axle stands, but the heaviest vehicle I have on the would be around 1.8 tonnes. I do have issues with them 'rucking up' when moving said vehicle on the wheel dollies as the castors are small and put a high point load onto them. The tiles don't mind - they just spring back into shape.

Mine have a few too many scars from welding and grinding and one or two boast shapes which just happen to be the same as hot workpieces temporarily laid on the floor!

They are great - keep your feet surprisingly warm. I use the jetwash with patio spinning thingy to clean them. The water does get underneath but gradually works its way out the garage door. I did deliberately have the floor laid with a 1:200 fall towards the main door.

Edit: just noticed you said 'plastic'. Mine are very heavy industrial/commercial ones. There may be cheaper, lighter look-a-likes.

Edit, edit: They also 'ruck-up' when I jack up the rear end of my cars. The Jaguar IRS camber changes with travel so you start with the wheels vertical when under load. Jack up and as the load comes off the camber changes. Drop the unladen vehicle down the wheels have their unladen camber and the tyre contact patch moves outwards as the load increases. This pulls the tile joins apart slightly. They usually spring back of their own accord but occasionally need application of the soft faced attitude adjuster.

 

[8ob]

Thanks for the heads up RT, They are these ones at 5mm thick https://r-tekmanufacturingltd.com/r-tile-textured-surface-dove-tail/

Bob

 

[Ashley Burton]

Had mine years!

Moving house, So taking them with me unlike people with painted floors

 

[8ob]

Had mine years!

Moving house, So taking them with me unlike people with painted floors

Good enough for me

Bob

 

[zzr1200]

Probably not a good idea in the welding shop.....

 

[Bullet2012]

Had some in my first workshop, laid. Directly onto the concrete . Worked really well and definitely improved the underfoot temperature. They can easily be cut to shape around obsticals. You can buy a end strip (slope) for the ends that traffic enters onto and an edging to cover the dovetails and allow for an expansion joint where they meet with walls.

 

[8ob]

Probably not a good idea in the welding shop.....

Only for the toy shed floor ZZR, trolley jacks resistant would be important. Other than that just something that's easy to clean that's also maintenance free,

Bob

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Probably not a good idea in the welding shop.....

Not as vulnerable as the Costco-type ones [foam] which Dopey here has in the cave....
Good for standing on for long[ish] periods though.

 

[rtcosic]

Thanks for the heads up RT, They are these ones at 5mm thick https://r-tekmanufacturingltd.com/r-tile-textured-surface-dove-tail/

Bob

Look exactly like mine. They are very heavy - I was caught out by their weight when I came to collect them.

 

[Bullet2012]

Edge strip (slope)

 

[Bullet2012]

Only for the toy shed floor ZZR, trolley jacks resistant would be important. Other than that just something that's easy to clean that's also maintenance free,

Bob

I found that a trolley jack would dent the tiles but the dent would come out within a few days, I got into the habit of using a few small pieces of plywood under the jack and stands. I just used to pressure wash the floor a couple of times per year.

 

[Mick Annick]

8ob

I had them in my garage at the last house, no problem with jacks, etc, dents seem to spring out after a while and very warm underfoot, I’d certainly have them again if I every get my workshop finished. I currently have a rammed earth floor which gets interesting when wet...

 

[Memmeddu]

@8ob
I think that those tiles are good in a mechanical environment
Not quite good in welding and fabrication environment
Because I think that those tiles are flammables

 

[8ob]

Thanks for the input chaps I can live with slipping a board under axle stands and jacks.

Bob

 

[rtcosic]

Thanks for the input chaps I can live with slipping a board under axle stands and jacks.

Bob

This is a welding site. I have toyed with the idea of having 75mm diameter circles laser or plasma cut and welding them to the feet of the axle stands.

Just toying you understand, just toying.

 

[owas]

Why not just use stable mats?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Got some of this on order for November's shed build.
Will post up some comments when it arrives here next week.

https://www.costco.co.uk/Tyres-Auto...r-75-x-17ft-23-x-52M-Floor-Protector/p/112281
Can't see a jack bothering it.