[jazzee]

I've got a garage where the floor was never sealed and when I leave impervious stuff on the floor, like a plastic storage container, there's a dark spot that is slightly damp to the touch. In the winter when it rains a lot, large portions of the floor turn dark and moderately damp (no standing water) and when it dries a dust starts to accumulate on top so I have to frequently sweep it. There are also salt stains that are coming up. My floor also sank about a 1/2" on one side leaving a 1/8" crack down the middle. I recently had it slab jacked to make it level again.

I was about to go through the hassle of applying a densifier/sealer to reduce the vapor transmission from about an estimated 10 to 3 and then apply an epoxy coating but then I ran across these Racedeck tiles. While the costs of the tiles is much higher than doing the coating (for do-it-yourself) I'm beginning to think it may be a better long term solution, especially if my floor cracks some more.

My main concern is putting the tiles over the floor without sealing it as I am not sure if moisture and dust build-up under the floor over a long period will eventually cause problems. Of course I could look at the tiles as a sealer in themselves, with the densifier, the water transmission is stopped about 1/8-1/4" below the cement service, whereas with the tiles the transmission is stopped on the surface. Still, it appears the tiles leave a gap of air space underneath. Without a way for the vapor to evaporate I'd be scared the tiles would start to float a little!

What does everyone think? One of the attractions of the tiles is that it will probably take less time, than cleaning, sealing, and coating the floor. Less mess. Easier repair. Etc. Etc. If I still have to clean and seal it, then time wise it will be a wash but I don't want to end up with problems in the long term.