Need help deciding between PVC or polypropylene tiles

Hi guys, long-time lurker, but I believe this is my first post.

I&#;m having a tough time deciding between PVC vs. polypropylene floor tiles. Here&#;s my situation:

I have a standard two-car residential garage. I&#;m just a weekend warrior who does occasional wrenching on street motorcycles and dirt bikes and maybe one or two car oil changes per year. I also do some occasional light woodworking from time to time that creates a bit of sawdust, but nothing significant. I&#;m not pulling car engines or doing major automotive work or anything like that. The garage always has two cars parked inside year round along with two or three motorcycles. I don&#;t tend to spill chemicals on my garage floor. Even when doing oil changes, I lay down extra cardboard and keep towels underneath to make sure nothing gets on the floor. If I paint something or working with nasty chemicals, I do it outside. My garage is unfinished concrete but in good shape with no cracks. I&#;m in the northeast, and water in the garage is not an issue.

I prefer the feel and low sound of PVC tile, but my biggest concern is the issue of staining. All that said, how much of a problem is staining with PVC tiles? Seems that the biggest potential issue with staining is from car tires, but I haven't been able to find any pictures of how bad it looks. Is there a reason I should go with hard tiles instead? I&#;ve been specifically looking at True Lock PVC tiles, but if I decide to go hard tiles I&#;d probably go with the True Lock HDXT. I like the coin pattern best. I have samples of each on the way so I can see what the differences are.

Appreciate the wisdom and experience of the forum and any input you guys may have. Thanks. We have an article below about the differences between polypropylene and PVC tiles. They both are nice and both have their drawbacks as any other flooring does. There is a picture further down in the article that shows typical tire staining for PVC tiles.

Based on how you plan to use your garage, I don't think you would have anything else to worry about other than the staining. Even if you spill oil, the PVC tiles clean up nicely. With the exception of the chemicals that leach from car tires, they are fairly stain resistant. If you use black tiles where your tires will sit it's not that noticeable. However, if you are OCD about the floor, you may not care for it.

Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles | Get the Real Facts | All Garage Floors

What are interlocking garage floor tiles? Learn how durable they are, the drawbacks, plastic vs. PVC, and how to install this popular garage flooring.

We have an article below about the differences between polypropylene and PVC tiles. They both are nice and both have their drawbacks as any other flooring does. There is a picture further down in the article that shows typical tire staining for PVC tiles.

Based on how you plan to use your garage, I don't think you would have anything else to worry about other than the staining. Even if you spill oil, the PVC tiles clean up nicely. With the exception of the chemicals that leach from car tires, they are fairly stain resistant. If you use black tiles where your tires will sit it's not that noticeable. However, if you are OCD about the floor, you may not care for it.

Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles | Get the Real Facts | All Garage Floors

What are interlocking garage floor tiles? Learn how durable they are, the drawbacks, plastic vs. PVC, and how to install this popular garage flooring.

Thanks Shea, that is a very helpful article.

We sell both types of tiles but 90% of our sales are the solid PVC. Yes certain tires may contain additives which can leach into the tiles and give the gray tiles a slight yellowish stain. We normally recommend black for parking over and then you can border around the parking areas with gray or other colors.

Thanks for your input.

Do you think that 90% sales of the harder polypropylene tiles is because of ease of installation, greater availability, or some other factor such as people being concerned with staining issues of the PVC tiles? Hi the 90% is the PVC not the polypropylene. Usually the reason for this is they are quieter since they aren&#;t hollow and have a sturdier feel to them, and have 1/4 the joints since they are oversized greatly reducing the potential for water getting under them.

We have very large installed base of fire houses for this reason. Lots of opinions one way or another but this is our experience. That being said they both work great and will give almost unlimited years of service. You won&#;t find the cheap plastic tiles in any automotive shops or industrial warehouses. They are mostly for home garage or show applications. You won&#;t find pvc in automotive shops, either, but unlike plastic you will see them in warehouse type applications. They are the heavier duty, more commercial choice, but most people with home garages don&#;t need heavy duty or commercial and opt for the cheap plastic tiles.

I think ceramic tile is the ultimate. I would probably choose epoxy after that. Unfortunately my garage shop has a wood floor so neither were options. I chose pvc over plastic, but in hindsight a few years later as light staining is present and there are areas where the tile seams are buckling due to expansion, I probably should have used wood again.

I can pull up and reset the buckling tiles, but that means clearing out the garage and doing some work. I know the sellers talk about floating but when you put your 4 post lift on top and park a car and install cabinets, the float hits obstacles that stop the float. Same expansion problem exists with plastic. And if you open your doors and get direct sunlight on the floor, you can have temporary heat related buckling in that area. We have sold over 1,000 commercial auto type environments with our www.supratile.com solid PVC industrial grade tiles. These include new car dealers, automotive and transmission shops, detail center, lube centers, used car dealers, etc.

For these applications we often recommend using our adhesive in the 'core' of the floor to prevent any tile shifting from sudden starts/stops. Generally the entire floor does not need to be fully affixed, just the core and the rest of the sheet floats.

We do note in our installation instructions and on website that any garage areas may need to be affixed with adhesive since they can expand with direct sunlight and buckle a bit. The adhesive solves this problem (almost all fire houses have this issue since they leave the doors open quite a bit). Another advantage to PVC tiles is that since they are solid and not hollow/waffle type construction they can be easily affixed with adhesive. Polypropylene tiles are difficult to affix with adhesive since they have very little surface area to bond down.

PVC tiles are very comfortable to walk on, and dropped tools just bounce off. They are though since they are oversized more difficult to create interesting patterns with.

With a PVC tile floor if any tiles have any issues with movement and such, that area only can be easily pulled up, adhesive applied, and the tiles re-installed.

Interlocking floor tiles are advantageous in many ways for a variety of different applications. As many people still aren&#;t aware of these, here are some of the benefits of using them.

Goto Okler to know more.

Advantages of Interlocking Floor Tiles

Interlocking Means Easy to Install

One of the main benefits of using interlocking floor tiles is the ease and speed of installation; many of our customers install the tiles themselves with no help. All you need to do is line them together and tap them in place, there is no need for any screed or adhesive. They can even be installed over existing or damaged flooring, so repairs don&#;t have to be made before installation.

Easy to Maintain

Cleaning up dirt and dust couldn&#;t be easier with PVC interlocking tiles, all you need is a broom, vacuum or damp mop. At Ecotile, we offer a number of cleaning and maintenance products to assist you in keeping your tiles looking clean. Also, if an area of your floor gets damaged or worn out, the interlocking system makes it effortless to replace individual tiles.

Protect Your Floor

As interlocking tiles are durable and impact resistant, they can be used as a protective layer for your floor in order to avoid any potential damage and costly repair bills. Do you need floor protection for your warehouse or other industrial workplaces due to large amounts of heavy-duty traffic from forklifts, lorries and other vehicles? PVC interlocking floor tiles are designed to withstand heavy weights and vibrations so you can ensure your sub-floor won&#;t be affected.

Built to Last

Ecotile interlocking floor tiles are manufactured to the highest quality, ensuring they are durable and a long-lasting flooring solution. We guarantee them for 10 years and in many applications the lifycycle can be 20 years. Furthermore, because we&#;ve been in business for such a long time you have complete peace of mind that we&#;ll be here when you want to extend your floor.

Recyclable Floor Tiles

We are very proud of our sustainable flooring option as Ecotile interlocking PVC floor tiles are completely recyclable. As they don&#;t use glues, latex or screed, they have the ability to be both reused and recycled. We offer a buy back service when you want to replace your tiles, and then we recycle the tiles we have bought back &#; this is a lot more environmentally friendly than other flooring options!

No Damp Proof Membrane Needed

If you have an uneven, damp or contaminated floor, interlocking floor tiles can be used as a protective layer without the need for a damp proof membrane, screed or adhesive. All you have to do is align them and tap them into place, and you will have a suitable flooring that is shielded against moisture.

Wide Range of Choice and Colours

We have a wide range of thicknesses, colours and textures when it comes to our interlocking floor tiles. With 5mm, 7mm and 10mm thicknesses to choose from, you can create the perfect flooring for any application. Whether you want walkways, kanbans or demarcation zones on the floor, the possibilities are endless with Ecotile.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Interlocking Pp Tiles. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Smart, Modern Appearance

Interlocking PVC floor tiles are not only durable in strength but in appearance too. Their appearance is smart and modern, as well as consistent and enduring so you won&#;t have to worry about excessive wear or paint delamination. After an extended period of time, you may see some scuffs or wear, but this can be easily replaced as interlocking tiles can be snapped in and out quickly and efficiently.

Chemically Resistant

If you&#;re working in an environment that requires frequent use of transport of chemicals, solvents or oil, PVC interlocking floor tiles are the best choice for you. They are resistant to many corroding agents and chemicals, alongside alcohols, salts and petrol.

Reduces Dust, Shock and Noise

As mentioned above, interlocking floor tiles are easy to maintain because they lock neatly together which keeps all of the dust out. They are also shock and noise absorbing due to their solid structure; they have the ability to reduce noise of up to 46 decibels which is a noticeable difference. Their durable structure reduces shock and impact too, so there is less risk of damage from heavy loads.

Slip Resistant Floor Tiles

PVC floor tiles have more resistance and friction compared to other flooring solutions and all of our tiles achieve an R10 slip rating. This means from a health and safety perspective, they are a competent and reliable choice for industrial and workplace floors.

Insulation

In addition to noise insulation, interlocking floor tiles also provide heat insulation too. Due to the tight interlocking style, heat does not escape through any gaps and the cold and damp from the floor below cannot come through. This insulation provides a warm and comfortable surface to work on, so much so employees will feel a noticeable difference.

Fire Retardant

If a fire occurs in your workplace where Ecotile PVC interlocking floor tiles are used, the flames will not spread and toxic fumes will not be emitted. Ecotile does not support combustion and achieves Class 1 spread of flame when tested to BS 476: Part 7 / European Classification: BFL.

Move and Re-Use Interlocking Tiles

Just like tiles are simply replaced if they get scuffed or worn out, they also have the versatility to be moved around easily. It is quick and seamless to amend your design and layout whenever you fancy a change.

Lower Life Cycle Cost

Purchasing Ecotile flooring is an investment due to its lower life cycle cost. As a genuine environmentally sustainable flooring solution, all pre and post-installation material is recycled and old tiles can be reused second hand too, giving our tiles a full life cycle.

Want more information on Futsal Court Price? Feel free to contact us.

Interlocking Floor Tiles by Ecotile