Carpeted Garage - LotusTalk

skottoman · 12-06-2007, 09:10 PM

So I had a lot of carpet tiles left over from my house, and decided instead of throwing them out, to carpet my garage. Yes, it's a small garage, but my Lotus is a small car.

Wish I had a larger garage, like some I've seen on here, but I've made my own little haven for my Exige. AND! I can replace them easily when/if they get really dirty.

I know lots of you have real garage tiles, but this is something a little different. Any other carpeted garages out there?
Cheers,
Skottoman

fast+forward · 12-06-2007, 09:13 PM

carpeted garage here also..makes oil changes more comfortable

codymac · 12-06-2007, 09:32 PM

Does hardwood count? Don't feel too bad - my garage is a little smaller than yours.

A friend parks his Velocette on a Persian rug in his garage.

eta: For a while, the garage was carpeted with what I pulled up from the hardwood in the spare bedroom. The carpet saw me through two engine rebuilds and 1.5 motorcycle restorations but was looking pretty ratty after that point.

esoteric · 12-06-2007, 09:36 PM

Our garage came carpeted when we moved in. Now it is covered in oil and grease stains. Been meaning to pull up the carpeting to epoxy it but too lazy...
The funny thing is the carpeting was pristine when we moved in because they had used the garage as an office.

Eclise · 12-06-2007, 10:27 PM

My neighbor painted onto his garage floors a paint-like sealant called epoxyseal which he bought from Lowes for about $30 per gallon. The charcoal gray that he bought looks fantastic, and any spills can be simply wiped up (including oil). I plan on doing my garage in the summer.

I currently have half of my garage carpeted, but the oil stains look terrible.

drstvk · 12-06-2007, 10:59 PM

Every time we replace an area rug in the house, the old rug is mine to use in the garage. Right now, my garage has a beautiful green and white rug under the E46 M3, a Berber under the Elise, and I don't know what is under the 90 300ZX.
When the cars are out, it gives a real nice look to the garage.

And skottoman, I love the look of the carpet squares.

Steve

fireball111 · 12-07-2007, 05:38 AM

one thing is for sure that it will cut down on the noise in there alot less ecos nice big thumps up

LotusLust · 12-07-2007, 06:32 AM

do carpet tiles soaked in oil spontaneously combust? that would be some kind of fun

mikelr · 12-07-2007, 07:06 AM

Hey, you know what's nice about the carpet tiles is that you can pull up and replace small sections as they get oil stained or dirty for whatever reason.

Looks great skottoman!

wrh3 · 12-07-2007, 07:11 AM

Yes, my friend did that. He had his downstairs and upstairs garage done in carpet squares and if one got dirty, he would peel it up and put down a new one (didn't happen too often though).

ITA66 · 12-07-2007, 07:17 AM

Had carpet under my race car for years. It makes a world of difference when working under the car. The only real problem is oil spills because it gets caught in the carpet. Eventually it biodegrades/evaporates but can make a mess of your clothes until then. Using the squares should eliminate that problem because you can replace them easily.

Another advantage is that it drastically reduces condensation in the spring when the freezing cold garage/workshop starts sweating from overly humid/warm outside air. Before the carpet I actually had puddles under the race car.

chuck_risen · 12-07-2007, 08:01 AM

Looks nice.

Wouldn't last for me though.

The poor concrete in my garage can barely handle me and my projects.

MattG · 12-07-2007, 08:44 AM

Looks great! I've been considering doing the same thing for the Lotus garage, as the car doesn't go out in wet weather. I like the idea of using carpet tiles so you can replace them, I hadn't considered that (I was going to use a large sheet of indoor/outdoor carpet but I like your approach more).

lotusport · 12-07-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skottoman

So I had a lot of carpet tiles left over from my house, and decided instead of throwing them out, to carpet my garage. Yes, it's a small garage, but my Lotus is a small car.

Wish I had a larger garage, like some I've seen on here, but I've made my own little haven for my Exige. AND! I can replace them easily when/if they get really dirty.

I know lots of you have real garage tiles, but this is something a little different. Any other carpeted garages out there?

Hi Skottoman -

Looks really nice! I once used a remnant of shag carpet under my cars about four Lotus ago. Wish I'd done what you've done...much better solution and great looks.

Now you need a little "garage art" to complement the carpet. Decorate that nice clean wall...

mikelr · 12-07-2007, 08:56 AM

Wayyy to much order in your garage Bob!

skottoman · 12-07-2007, 10:09 AM

Thanks! I would decorate more, but it really is small. I'm trying to make it as cool as possible for the size...

I do have a lot of extra tiles. They are thick rubber backing. In the event they get dirty, oily, or I just want to put my initial in the middle of the floor, I can always re-arrange them. They are pretty cheap too. I have a lot, but I bet a box could be had for $250.

I got them from some place that sells clearance 'lots' of leftover industrial carpet squares. (The new significant other didn't like them in the house, so I had to get 'real' carpet in there)

Cheers,
Skottoman

Phoenix SRT · 12-08-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITA66

Had carpet under my race car for years. It makes a world of difference when working under the car. The only real problem is oil spills because it gets caught in the carpet. Eventually it biodegrades/evaporates

Oil biodegrades/evaporates? I never heard that one.

lotusport · 12-08-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikelr

Wayyy to much order in your garage Bob!

Notice that the work bench is getting a little crowded (you should see it today!), but I can still find nearly everything....

Quote:

Originally Posted by skottoman

Thanks! I would decorate more, but it really is small. I'm trying to make it as cool as possible for the size...

Neat thing is, most "garage art" is flat against the wall, so it doesn't displace any space unless you want the wall real estate for shelves, etc.

ZAMMY1 · 12-09-2007, 03:46 AM

we were jokingly talking about getting one of those "roombah" robot sweepers for our garages.
i guess if we caught it 'stealing' hardware, we'd have to shut off its power source!
also, "a tidy garage is a sign of a troubled mind.."
Hoo boy! i'm very untroubled!

sam

Z-dculus · 12-09-2007, 08:50 AM

looks great!

12-06-2007, 09:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
skottoman 'Justa' Exige 190 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotts Valley, CA. Posts: 902	Carpeted Garage So I had a lot of carpet tiles left over from my house, and decided instead of throwing them out, to carpet my garage. Yes, it's a small garage, but my Lotus is a small car. Wish I had a larger garage, like some I've seen on here, but I've made my own little haven for my Exige. AND! I can replace them easily when/if they get really dirty. I know lots of you have real garage tiles, but this is something a little different. Any other carpeted garages out there? Cheers, Skottoman __________________ 2006 AR N/A Exige-Touring pack-Starshield-TopspeedPro1 exhaust-DeSnorked-Green filter-RTD ToeBrace-Shims Removed-CF Diffuser-CF Splitter-CF Wing-CF Scoops w/custom grills-Black Exige sticker-PC680 battery-S111 battery holddown-Rear Lotus badge-Carpet buttons-Painted shift knob-Painted Console-EBrake Gaiter-SilverStealth bulbs-Front S111 towhook-Polk speakers-Toyo R888s-Lamin-x turn signal tint 2008 BMW X3 with some mods 2006 Cayman 'S'

12-06-2007, 09:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
codymac short angry bloke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: where the east tapers out and the west begins Posts: 9,260 Images: 19	Does hardwood count? Don't feel too bad - my garage is a little smaller than yours. A friend parks his Velocette on a Persian rug in his garage. eta: For a while, the garage was carpeted with what I pulled up from the hardwood in the spare bedroom. The carpet saw me through two engine rebuilds and 1.5 motorcycle restorations but was looking pretty ratty after that point. Attached Images __________________ torque (tôrk) n. - an excuse for the lack of momentum. - let's bring back CanAm & Group B! - have you hugged your Exige today? I'm currently working on my performance driving merit badge. There's always somebody faster, sometimes it's me. Last edited by codymac : 12-09-2007 at 09:03 AM.

12-06-2007, 09:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
esoteric Turns corners & heads EZ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,651	Our garage came carpeted when we moved in. Now it is covered in oil and grease stains. Been meaning to pull up the carpeting to epoxy it but too lazy... The funny thing is the carpeting was pristine when we moved in because they had used the garage as an office. __________________ Daily driven '05 Elise, Seibon CF front clam with custom paint, Stage II exhaust, hardtop, Starshield, Pioneer ICE, dry CF door sills & panels, dry CF binnacle, color matched center console and surround, Sachs suspension, Moroso oil pan, EBC greenstuff brakes, Team Dynamic wheels w/ R888's I don't believe in shooting stars but I do believe in loot & cars. PhlypSide quote - Tell people you prefer your cars to be like your women: "lightweight, fast, low maintenance, and easy on the eyes."

12-06-2007, 10:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
drstvk Mt. Diablo Hiker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Danville, Ca Posts: 401	Every time we replace an area rug in the house, the old rug is mine to use in the garage. Right now, my garage has a beautiful green and white rug under the E46 M3, a Berber under the Elise, and I don't know what is under the 90 300ZX. When the cars are out, it gives a real nice look to the garage. And skottoman, I love the look of the carpet squares. Steve __________________ 05 BRP Elise 08 BMW 335i 97 E36 M3 / 01 Dodge Durango 90 300ZX / 85 Toyota Cressida (with velour seats) and son's red 08 EvoX (The Acura type S met a brutal end)

12-07-2007, 05:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
fireball111 EXIGE ADDICT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toledo Ohio Posts: 509 Images: 1	one thing is for sure that it will cut down on the noise in there alot less ecos nice big thumps up __________________ I will always love LOTUS, but I was meant for a Corvette 2002 Black Z06 Corvette The Lotus isn't the only sports car in the world. There is plenty of stuff that will beat it in different aspects. But that doesn't mean they are going to look good doing it.-SweetDaddyD http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3...0c6cfa5dt2.jpg

12-06-2007, 09:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
fast+forward Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 217	carpeted garage here also..makes oil changes more comfortable

12-06-2007, 10:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Eclise Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,206	My neighbor painted onto his garage floors a paint-like sealant called epoxyseal which he bought from Lowes for about $30 per gallon. The charcoal gray that he bought looks fantastic, and any spills can be simply wiped up (including oil). I plan on doing my garage in the summer. I currently have half of my garage carpeted, but the oil stains look terrible.

12-07-2007, 06:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
LotusLust Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: da woods of tn Posts: 3,662	do carpet tiles soaked in oil spontaneously combust? that would be some kind of fun __________________ Storm Titanium, LSS, touring, hard top. my other car is a ...oh yeah i remember the other car...a spyder club111 member. i tried to buy a lower spot and become member #13 but was spurned! "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" -benjamin franklin

12-07-2007, 07:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
mikelr <[^,^]> Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newburgh, New York Posts: 650	Hey, you know what's nice about the carpet tiles is that you can pull up and replace small sections as they get oil stained or dirty for whatever reason. Looks great skottoman! __________________ 00' S1 Exige (7.14lbs/hp) 94' S4 Esprit 07' Ram Quad cab 3500 hauler

12-07-2007, 07:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
wrh3 Car Guy Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 1,048	Yes, my friend did that. He had his downstairs and upstairs garage done in carpet squares and if one got dirty, he would peel it up and put down a new one (didn't happen too often though). __________________ Bill '07 BMW M Coupe, '05 Lotus Elise (Traded) www.billswebspace.com/lotus www.syntheticfirst.com

12-07-2007, 07:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
ITA66 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 138	Had carpet under my race car for years. It makes a world of difference when working under the car. The only real problem is oil spills because it gets caught in the carpet. Eventually it biodegrades/evaporates but can make a mess of your clothes until then. Using the squares should eliminate that problem because you can replace them easily. Another advantage is that it drastically reduces condensation in the spring when the freezing cold garage/workshop starts sweating from overly humid/warm outside air. Before the carpet I actually had puddles under the race car. __________________ '05 SY Elise w/ touring, Ohlins, 15/16 Rotas/Toyos, Kirkey aluminum seat, vacuum brake booster removed. '02 Subaru WRX, 6-speed conversion, Vishnu stage 0, mufflerless, lots of suspension mods. '89 Volvo 240 wagon, 305k miles and no rust! Past:'90 Miata, '83 Rx-7 ITA road race car, CRG shifter kart, first gen Rx-7 (x5), '87 Rx-7 Turbo II, '85 VW Golf GTI, '63 Dodge M37 Military truck, '75 Jeep CJ5 '66 Ford Fairlane

12-07-2007, 08:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
chuck_risen Director of Engineering Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I live in Glen Ellyn IL, a suburb of Chicago. Posts: 922	Looks nice. Wouldn't last for me though. The poor concrete in my garage can barely handle me and my projects.

12-07-2007, 08:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,676 Images: 11	Looks great! I've been considering doing the same thing for the Lotus garage, as the car doesn't go out in wet weather. I like the idea of using carpet tiles so you can replace them, I hadn't considered that (I was going to use a large sheet of indoor/outdoor carpet but I like your approach more). __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop / http://eliseinfo.com Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

12-07-2007, 08:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
mikelr <[^,^]> Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newburgh, New York Posts: 650	Wayyy to much order in your garage Bob! __________________ 00' S1 Exige (7.14lbs/hp) 94' S4 Esprit 07' Ram Quad cab 3500 hauler

12-07-2007, 10:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
skottoman 'Justa' Exige 190 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotts Valley, CA. Posts: 902	Thanks! I would decorate more, but it really is small. I'm trying to make it as cool as possible for the size... I do have a lot of extra tiles. They are thick rubber backing. In the event they get dirty, oily, or I just want to put my initial in the middle of the floor, I can always re-arrange them. They are pretty cheap too. I have a lot, but I bet a box could be had for $250. I got them from some place that sells clearance 'lots' of leftover industrial carpet squares. (The new significant other didn't like them in the house, so I had to get 'real' carpet in there) Cheers, Skottoman __________________ 2006 AR N/A Exige-Touring pack-Starshield-TopspeedPro1 exhaust-DeSnorked-Green filter-RTD ToeBrace-Shims Removed-CF Diffuser-CF Splitter-CF Wing-CF Scoops w/custom grills-Black Exige sticker-PC680 battery-S111 battery holddown-Rear Lotus badge-Carpet buttons-Painted shift knob-Painted Console-EBrake Gaiter-SilverStealth bulbs-Front S111 towhook-Polk speakers-Toyo R888s-Lamin-x turn signal tint 2008 BMW X3 with some mods 2006 Cayman 'S'

12-09-2007, 08:50 AM	#20 (permalink)
Z-dculus Derriere Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US OF A! Posts: 2,311	looks great! __________________ 2006 KG-Sport Pack, LSD, TC, SS, RAC Monolites, Sector CF Roof, Carbon 3 Element Diffuser, V3 Panel eliminator (p-coated), Odyssey PC680, Boomerang , HIDs, CF Console, Multivex, Lotus Stage II, CF Zoom Rear View, Sector LidBone, Darth Holder (thanks Kestrel!), Sector 4Tress Harness Bar/CRD Mount, couple exige trim pieces- KGB Authenticated 2009 VeeDub Jetta (new kid on the block) 1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic -(relegated to 'project car' status)

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12-09-2007, 03:46 AM	#19 (permalink)
ZAMMY1 ZAMMY Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: washington, pa, (near PGH.) Posts: 1,557	we were jokingly talking about getting one of those "roombah" robot sweepers for our garages. i guess if we caught it 'stealing' hardware, we'd have to shut off its power source! also, "a tidy garage is a sign of a troubled mind.." Hoo boy! i'm very untroubled! sam