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After months of delays from breaking my knee & leg, having a baby, and general life, I finally got the motor installed in the MX-5. I had been debating for a while on sprucing up the garage and this was the perfect time to do so. I explored many options and found that Swisstrax & Racedeck were highly recommended in many car and garage groups on social media. I debated for a while and talked with quite a few people who swore by both, but ultimately decided on the Swisstrax flooring.
I measured out my garage (5.35m x 3.0m / 17.55ft x 9.85ft) and used the online configurator to design the flooring in the style I wanted. After playing with the configurator for a bit and looking at the various styles, I settled on a more classic Jet Black and Pearl Silver style. You will notice that the black is off a hair from the center, as a side has to be cut in order to fit wall-to-wall. I could have cut each side to fit perfectly in the center but decided not to, as I would like to take them when I move and have the option to easily replace a single side for a larger garage.
While the price is quite high for plastic flooring, I had heard good reviews and thought I would give it a try. I placed my order with Frank Landwehr of B.W.D. Sanierungs-Systeme GmbH (they cover Germany and Austria only), which was extremely helpful in answering any and all questions that I had. I asked and he graciously provided a discount code for anyone that would like to order within the region – just include “KeeDis29117” in your request.
The shipment arrived and was all set for me to start clearing out the space to install.
It was a nice and warm Easter weekend, so I took my time and did a deep clean of all tools and parts as I moved everything out of the filthy garage that has been heavily used the past six months.
I took everything out except the work bench and swept and wiped up any grease and oil residue that had been left behind.
Laying down the tiles was quite quick and easy – just start in the closest right side corner when looking into the garage and work outwards. Some people recommended using a mallet to smack the tiles into place, but I just set them in their respective grooves and walked along the edges. Laying down the entire flooring (including cutting) only took around an hour.
I had various recommendations for cutting the tiles around the sides. I tested a small corner with a miter saw and a wood blade and it worked well enough. If you do the same, I recommend wearing sleeves and goggles – if the plastic catches on the blade, it goes flying and doesn’t feel so good. I was told to use a PVC or blade that is meant for plastic, but they were expensive for a single job and figured I could get away with another method. While the cuts are not perfect, they are definitely good enough (and are hidden anyways).
I did leave a tiny bit of space between the wall and the tiles, but just a few millimeters – I believe the instructions call for 7mm or .25 inches.
To answer some questions:
- I did find that it helped level out my flooring a bit, as the shelves were stable and I didn’t have to use cardboard or wood under some legs.
- Rolling the floor jacks, engine stand, and crane were extremely easy and was difficult at all.
- The floors are no longer slick in the rain and snow.
- I installed them at around 21C (70F) and now at -3C (26.6), the floors have not flexed, cracked, or changed in either way.
- They wash off well and pull up with a screwdriver to clean underneath.
Now, for some tests:
I used a ¾ piece of tile that I had left over from installing to conduct all tests. To test for staining, I buried an extra piece of clean tile in the dirt at 10C (50F) and it rained and snowed overnight.
After pulling the tile from the ground, I tried to bend and crack the tile, but it did not give and maintained its integrity. Most of the dirt and packed mud underneath wiped away easily – the rest that stayed fell right off with a bit of water.
To test for oil and all, I poured some of the used motor oil and transmission fluid mix over the top and left it for a few days. Again, this wiped off easily – the only thing to worry about was the underneath – it will get under the tile and will need to be pulled out to clean the grooves. I did not want to drench the tile, as I didn’t want it spilling into the environment, nor all over the clean garage.
To test for weight bearing, I was going to use the Miata, but it weighs as much as my newborn, so I borrowed my wife’s Tucson to put some weight on the tile and show some flexion. I have jacked my car in the garage without any issues of slipping or bowing/damage to the Swisstrax.
If you have any questions or comments on Swisstrax, feel free to let me know in the comments below or get in contact through email!
Disclaimer: The Apex Drag has no affiliation with Swisstrax and receives no benefit from publication. However, B.W.D. Sanierungs-Systeme GmbH in Germany has provided us sponsorship for any flooring solutions orders (not limited to Swisstrax) placed within Germany or Austria.
