Garage Flooring Is Expensive. Do This Instead.

Summary

In this video, the creator explores the results of using ultra-cheap carpet tiles to cover their garage floor. Despite warnings from negative reviews, the tiles turned out to be more durable and stylish than expected. However, there were challenges like uneven cuts, glue issues, and the struggle with cleaning sawdust. The biggest problems arose from shedding dog fur on the black tiles and the tiles pulling up in high-traffic areas due to pet damage. Ultimately, the creator reflects on the experience, realizing that the issues were less about the tiles and more about their mischievous pets.

Takeaways

• 😀 The user bought the cheapest one-star reviewed carpet tiles for their garage floor, despite warnings from others.
• 😀 The carpet tiles cost only 79 cents per square foot, saving the user thousands of dollars compared to traditional garage flooring.
• 😀 Upon opening the product, the user was surprised at how thin the carpet tiles were, but they considered the flexibility as a potential advantage.
• 😀 Several tiles had quality control issues, such as uneven cuts, making the installation process time-consuming.
• 😀 Despite the installation challenges, once the tiles were laid down, the user found that they looked great overall.
• 😀 The user uses their garage as a workshop, which involves heavy wood cutting, sanding, and creating a lot of sawdust, which was a concern for the carpet tiles.
• 😀 The carpet tiles did get dirty quicker than concrete, but they could be cleaned with a vacuum, though they would still show dirt, especially sawdust.
• 😀 Dog hair was a major issue with the black carpet tiles, particularly because the user has two shedding dogs, which left noticeable fur on the tiles.
• 😀 The user realized that choosing black carpet tiles for the garage was a mistake, and they would have preferred a solid gray option for better fur visibility.
• 😀 Heavy objects, like a table, left imprints in the carpet, but the marks disappeared over time. Some tiles also began to peel up, losing their stickiness.
• 😀 The user anticipated replacing the tiles due to their cheap price, and replacement was easy, with the glue staying intact when tiles were removed.
• 😀 The peeling of the carpet tiles was mostly due to the user's dog scratching the floor, highlighting the challenge of having pets in a garage with carpet tiles.

Q & A

Why did the creator choose cheap carpet tiles for their garage floor?

The creator chose cheap carpet tiles to save money during their garage overhaul. They were looking for a durable, long-lasting, stylish, and inexpensive flooring option, and the 79-cent tiles seemed like a good deal despite mixed reviews.

What was the major concern about using carpet tiles in the garage?

The creator's main concern was the mess, particularly the sawdust generated from woodworking. They were unsure if the carpet tiles would be easy to clean and durable enough to withstand the debris from their projects.

What were some of the negative reviews about the carpet tiles?

Negative reviews mentioned issues like the tiles being thin, poorly cut, and lacking square edges. Some reviewers also complained about the tiles being nearly paper-thin or of low quality, leading the creator to wonder if they were making a mistake.

How did the installation process go for the carpet tiles?

The installation process was challenging. The tiles were unevenly cut, which required the creator to recut many of them. The glue backing was also difficult to work with, often peeling off during installation. However, with persistence, the creator managed to lay the tiles down successfully.

What was one of the first problems the creator encountered after installing the tiles?

The first problem the creator encountered was the buildup of sawdust on the carpet tiles, which made them appear dirtier compared to a concrete floor. They had to vacuum regularly to keep them clean.

How did the dog hair affect the appearance of the carpet tiles?

The creator's dogs, which shed twice a year, left a significant amount of fur on the carpet tiles, especially the black ones. The fur was more visible on the black tiles, leading the creator to regret choosing that color combination.

What would the creator have done differently in terms of tile color?

If given the chance to redo the project, the creator would choose a uniform gray color for the tiles, as it would better hide the fur and dirt. They also considered going for a dark gray and light gray pattern for a more balanced look.

What are the two biggest problems with the carpet tiles that the creator experienced?

The two biggest problems were the accumulation of dog hair on the black tiles and sections of the carpet pulling up due to the glue backing losing its adhesive properties in high-traffic areas.

How did the creator address the problem of sections of carpet pulling up?

The creator used extra tiles they had ordered to replace the damaged sections. They found that the tiles were easy to peel up without pulling up the glue, and the replacement process was straightforward, though it required careful handling.

What was the final conclusion the creator reached about the carpet tiles?

The creator concluded that the carpet tiles were not necessarily the problem but that the real issue was the dogs' behavior, particularly their tendency to scratch the carpet. Despite the challenges, they decided to keep both the dogs and the carpet tiles.