Tire Chains - Damage To Garage Floor?

[John151]

I am working on acquiring my first garden tractor. The plan is to add a snow thrower with wheel weights and tire chains. My garage floor is painted, so I am wondering what damage, if any, the chains would do to the floor.

Are there any common solutions to prevent the damage: 4x8 plan of ply wood, vynil flooring (made for garages), or perhaps a "car pad"?

Thanks in advance!

[SonnyT]

Strips of carpet will work also and you can get it the color of the floor.

[ryanw95]

one of those heavy rubber truck bed liners, if the tractor is parked close to the entry of the garage.

[John151]

Originally Posted by SonnyT

Strips of carpet will work also and you can get it the color of the floor.

Ooh, that is a good idea.

I could possibly even get the fake grass/turf stuff so that when I am jonesin over the winter and I sit on the tractor making engine noises, it will be even more realistic.

[SonnyT]

You may want something a little more substantial than Astro turf.

[Nouveau Redneck]

Most garage floor paint is epoxy based these days, so it's pretty tough stuff.

[Loremaster72]

I've seen old conveyor belting used to protect roads from crawler tracks at shows. I've also seen drywall used as a protective floor covering. It has the advantage over plywood of being smooth (won't scratch the flooring) and won't warp from changes in humidity. A raised edge makes a great trip point. Whatever you use, you may want to make sure you can take it up and clean underneath it, especially if it might get wet. If you can't, it could be a great place for mold to grow.

[John@Reliable]

Originally Posted by SonnyT

You may want something a little more substantial than Astro turf.

some cheap indoor/outdoor carpet, comes in 6' width from most big box stores

[DonF]

If you want to get something that will last, Tractor Supply has 4' x 6' rubber stall mats for around $40.00.

[mikeinri]

Rubber mats sound like a good idea, would stop oil leaks from hitting the floor as well.

My garage floor is plain (non-painted) concrete, the chains mainly leave rust stains.

Mike

[John151]

The rubber stall mat at TSC sounds like a winner. I also have a "carpad" that I purchased years ago and never used (large vinyl pad with raised edges designed to contain and control the water from "snow boogers" falling off cars in the winter). I might put the carpad down first to catch all of the snow and water, and then put the TSC stall mat on top of that.