For most people, all we know about garage flooring is what we learned from our parents, which is not much at all. This article seeks to demystify the process of covering your garage floor, explaining why concrete is no longer the only option for garages in 2015, and looking at what the best material is for your garage floor. So let’s look at all the different types of flooring available.
Five Types of Flooring Materials for Garage Floor
Paving paint
This is a relatively simple yet highly effective option that is sure to make your garage floors a little less aesthetically disturbing than the plain old concrete. Paving paint looks fantastic when applied, but a quick word of warning – it will require some significant upkeep to keep it looking new. The pressure, heat, and weight from car tyres, as well as oil, fuel, and fluid spills when combined with general wear and tear will have your garage floors looking pretty unsatisfactory if left unchecked. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for moisture from wet cars, pieces of dirt and debris, and just general cracks and imperfections that may occur. Going all Picasso on your garage floor is definitely an option that’s worth exploring, but make sure you consider the upkeep involved before getting started.
Garage mats
If you’re a little time-poor, this might be the option for you. Garage mats can simply be installed over your existing garage floor with minimal time and effort, with some pretty decent results. It might be an idea to clean your garage floor thoroughly before rolling the mat out, however.
Trimming and adjustments can be made relatively easily with a pair of shears, or even a decent set of scissors. Again, the biggest thing to look out for here is damage from automotive fluids, pressure, and heat, but as an added bonus, garage mats actually provide a decent level of protection.
Polyurethane coating
If you’ve got a garage floor that’s going to see a lot of use, consider using a polyurethane coating. Polyurethane is often used in industrial garage floors that need to stand up to heavy damage coming from chemicals, large vehicles, and hundreds of footsteps. Another advantage is the visually appealing sheen that will have your garage looking like a million bucks.
One thing that may scupper the polyurethane dream, however, is the price – polyurethane can be quite expensive. Another disadvantage is that polyurethane may be a little difficult to apply and usually doesn’t adhere well to concrete floors. Oh, and don’t forget the dangerous fumes! But if you can get around that, there is a lot to be liked about a polyurethane-coated garage floor.
Floor tiles
One new style that is definitely coming into fashion in the world of garages is floor tiles. You have a few options here in terms of what tile you want to go with – laminate, modular plastic, ceramic, and stone, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Laminate tiles are a decent option but can be delicate and difficult to install. Modular plastic tiles constructed with materials like polypropylene or PVC are easier to install, and are available in a wide selection of colours and textures, although perhaps not as visually appealing as you would like. If you’re really looking to go all out, consider ceramic or stone tiles, which make a striking addition to high-end garages.
Epoxy floor coating
Just like coating the garage door panel to give the surface extra protection, you can coat your garage floors, too. The glossy finish can be treated with a range of unique colours and patterns. This gives it your own personal flavour. Another advantage of epoxy floor coatings is that they are quite durable. You can expect your epoxy floor coating to be highly resistant to the common types of damage that will come as a part of the normal garage floor wear and tear, such as general chipping, scuffing, and scratching.
An added advantage that comes with epoxy floor coatings is that they’re highly resistant to chemicals, oil, and water, which is often the sort of thing that garage floors come into contact with! If you have some skills with epoxy you may want to consider doing it yourself, however, if you’re a little short of an expert you may want to consider getting an experienced professional in. At the end of the day, it’s your garage floor, and you need to get the best out of it.
Finding out what sort of floor covering is right for your garage can be a difficult one. On the plus side, there are a few options available. Consider what you’re looking for out of a garage floor covering before you make an investment, do the legwork, and then experience the many benefits of having an expertly covered garage floor.