Even though garage flooring typically isn’t a homeowner’s first flooring concern, it can provide some important benefits. You might not give much thought to the aesthetics of your garage floor, but it sees more wear and tear than any other room in the house. Leaking motor oil, transmission fluid, or other fluids can leave a greasy mark on the carpet and give off an unpleasant odour in your vehicle. Snow and/or dirt will definitely start to find its way into your garage at some point.
In addition to being a potential cause of injuries, garage floors that are contaminated might exacerbate existing conditions. For safety reasons and to lessen the likelihood of slips and falls, you may want to cover the floor of your garage if you use it as a workshop. It’s true that you can just lay down some mats to solve this issue, but a more sophisticated floor covering will provide you with complete coverage and a more stable garage floor.
Has the time come for you to improve the garage’s aesthetics? If you want to take your garage from drab to dazzling, a simple makeover of the floor is all that’s needed. A simple concrete ground allows for movement and parking.
However, with some work and time, you can give your garage a whole new vibe. What was previously an unremarkable, out-of-the-way space is now everyone’s first pick for watching sports and hanging out.
Once you start looking into the various garage floor possibilities, you’ll realise there’s more to it than you originally realised. Many homeowners find it difficult to decide on a garage door covering.
The floor of any garage, commercial or residential, must be durable. Because of the constant threat of oil, water, grease, and mud spills, flooring must be easy to clean, resistant to staining, and durable. Garages typically don’t have carpets, linoleum, or wood floors because these materials can’t withstand the constant foot traffic and heavy equipment used there. Floor tiles, whether interlocked plastic or ceramic, are a typical choice for garages.
Epoxy flooring and garage tiles are two common and well-liked options. Each product comes with its own set of drawbacks and advantages. You and your business can benefit greatly from having a thorough understanding of the product’s benefits and drawbacks before making a purchase. In order to make an educated purchase, comparing these options is crucial.
We get it; if you were lucky enough to own three Porsches, your garage woes would be over if you couldn’t fit them all in there. No, we’re not discussing the automobiles you park in your garage; rather, we’re here to assist you in making that space a joyous home for any and all wheels.
You have installed bright lights, put up pegboard, and painted the garage walls. You have almost completed transforming your office into a functional garage where you may save money by repairing the family car or your personal ride. The last piece of the puzzle is a high-quality garage floor, which can be achieved with an epoxy coating, a solid flooring material, or both.
Epoxy Flooring
Floors may benefit from epoxy’s durability and versatility, so it’s no surprise to find it in a wide variety of applications. The system consists of two components, both of which are made of a hard resin. Epoxy is a type of floor coating made from a mixture of polymer resins and hardeners that form a chemical connection with one another and the concrete below.
The end product is a stunningly smooth, seamless, and substantial material with a high degree of shine. The shiny epoxy can make any room feel elegant.
The Pros:
As was previously said, epoxy has a stunning appearance. Plus, it’s simple to alter the look to your liking by including your own colours, tones, and patterns. Add some flake on the floor for a little extra flair. As an added bonus, epoxy is extremely durable and won’t show any signs of wear and tear over time, making it a good option for installations in busy locations like garages and workshops. Abuse can cause chips or cracks in epoxy floors. Another convenient and long-lasting choice is polyurea.
Epoxy floors are highly regarded by consumers due to the protection they provide for the concrete below the coating. When applied properly, epoxy forms a barrier that keeps out moisture that could otherwise cause damage. With proper care, epoxy can last for decades. Because of its smoothness and gloss finish, epoxy is also very easy to maintain. Maintain a clean floor by sweeping or mopping it frequently.
Cons:
The lengthy installation process is offset by the substantial time savings in cleaning and maintenance over the long run. The quality of your epoxy floor installation is directly proportional to how well you prepared the floor beforehand. The concrete floor must be etched or ground thoroughly for the epoxy to bind to it.
Remember that epoxy requires prompt application after component mixing. Each coat applied must dry for a number of hours before being applied to the next. A full day is required for planning purposes. In addition, epoxy is not a good choice if the concrete floor is constantly wet or tends to hold water. Last but not least, epoxy is a smooth surface, thus mats will need to be laid down to give friction to prevent falling dangers. Check out our All-Weather Floors Polyurea if you want to save time and energy on the installation process.
Tile Flooring
Tile flooring can be made of either flexible or rigid tiles that interlock. They are available in a wide range of styles, from specialist textures like TrueLock HDXT Coin garage tiles to more generic ones like ribbed tiles and snap carpet tiles. Diamond plated tiles are an audacious and resilient option if you’re seeking for a striking visual effect. For vehicles, we strongly advise against using PVC tiles due to tyre staining, and instead recommend using hard tiles instead. You should use black PVC under the tyres if you decide to go that route.
The Pros:
Tiled garage floors have a major advantage over epoxy since they are significantly simpler to instal. A smooth installation requires sweeping and checking for large rocks or bumps. Also, we suggest the use of a cheap concrete protector, such as B4 floor prep, for our clientele. Over subpar surfaces like concrete or even wood, tiles can be laid (not a feature epoxy can boast.)
Because of the wide variety of textures and designs available, tiled flooring, like epoxy, are a great option for the aesthetically-minded homeowner or business owner. Although rigid tiles are more stain-resistant, they can be uncomfortable to walk on and are not as flexible, making the floor softer underfoot. Finally, unlike epoxy, interlocking tiles can be easily disassembled and reassembled, making them ideal for customers who frequently relocate or anticipate doing so soon.
Cons:
You may get a great look for your garage floor with interlocking tiles, but they aren’t as seamless as epoxy. In addition to being more difficult to maintain than epoxy, rigid interlocking tiles can be a pain to clean. Rolling over tiles with an irregular profile could be challenging. We advise installing TrueLock HDXT Coin tiles in a workshop with rolling toolboxes, drawers, and other similar equipment. The tiles can expand and compress in the hot sun and are easily stained. To sum up, a textured tile may be more difficult to maintain than an epoxy floor.
The Argument For Floor Tiles
People frequently choose to lie down on the tiled floor for the reasons listed below. Some people assert that after they are installed, floor tiles nearly never need maintenance. They are resilient, unlikely to crack, and simple to maintain. They are simpler to maintain because of their smooth surface and resistance to damage from frost. A tiled floor also doesn’t need to be painted annually or twice a year. A tile floor may cost more to instal, but once it is, your flooring costs will be all but gone.
Why Using Garage Floor Paint Is Better
Unfortunately, this argument’s first premise is untrue. You’ll need to change the grout on a regular basis when it gets soiled and wears out if you want to maintain your garage looking great. The water resistance of a tiled floor is impaired when grout is worn away. Additionally, the tile’s smooth surface increases the risk of slipping when water or oil is spilt, making it less practical in a garage than you may expect. Tile proponents may have a point if they utilise poor paint in their “no painting” defence. Low-quality paint will easily flake and peel in a garage due to the humidity and continual heat.
However, this decision offers a lot of advantages when high-quality garage floor coatings are used.
- In comparison to tiles, a painted floor offers a wider spectrum of spill resistances when coated properly.
- If these materials are used in your garage, you may, for instance, treat your floor to make it resistant to acids.
- A painted garage floor presents less of a slip hazard than a tiled floor when anti-slip coating is added.
- The surface strength of painted concrete is greater than that of tiles. With a painted floor, none of this is essential because tiles crack and require routine maintenance to repair the grout.
- Good quality garage floor paint will persist for years as long as the surface is properly prepared (see below).
The following advice will help you achieve outstanding results:
It’s the flooring, not the paint.
When customers complain about garage floor paint, it is almost never the paint itself that is at fault. If you decide to do so, make an investment in a high-quality concrete mix and instal it properly. After pouring new concrete, you should wait at least 28 days before painting it. The area has to be cleaned and prepared next. Make sure the concrete is totally dry, repaired, swept, and cleaned before you begin painting it if you want it to survive. Scrape off any older paint that is peeling as well.
Select the Proper Paint and Coating for Your Type of Garage Floor
The best paint for your floor should be chosen after you have repaired and prepped your garage floor to the highest standards. The majority of floor paint and coating types should stick to bare concrete if the floor is properly prepped. The majority of paints should still stick to sand or cement screed in a garage, but for a long-lasting finish, prior preparation is crucial.
If your garage has any entryways or exits with asphalt flooring, make sure to pick a floor paint that is compatible with asphalt. The majority of concrete floors can gain significantly from an extraordinarily durable and long-lasting epoxy floor paint or PU floor paint covering.
When applying your paint, use caution.
The final paint finish will depend on how the coats are applied. To apply an even coating, have the right tools available, such as a high-quality spray gun, mohair roller, or brush with high-quality bristles. Sprayers must be operated in line with their instruction manuals. We suggest thinnng the initial layer by up to 25% in order to improve application, coverage, and paint penetration into the concrete, resulting in greater mechanical adherence.
Paint v. Epoxy for Your Garage Floors
Painting the floor of a garage is the most affordable option. Garage floors that have been painted have an improved appearance and are somewhat more protected, but you can probably guess that they won’t last very long. Planning on painting once a year, or more often if you want to maintain any level of protection or aesthetic appeal.
Epoxy would be a better use of your resources. Epoxy is more expensive than paint, and you’ll need to prep your garage floor before applying it for the best results. If applied correctly, epoxy can transform your garage into something straight out of a show room. It also provides better protection and lasts much longer than paint. Epoxy is a fantastic option for brand new garages, but it does require some surface prep work first. Epoxy has a powerful chemical makeup, thus it needs to be applied in stages and ventilated properly. Furthermore, if you are worried about people slipping in your garage, you should keep it dry.
Garage Floor Tile Cost
DIY All-inclusive pricing beginning at $820. To hire someone to accomplish this, you should budget three hours. It could take an extra hour or two to instal if there are a lot of cuts. You may need to add $200 to your budget if you pay someone to do it.
This example refers to a two-car garage of 400 sq ft.
Epoxy Paint Cost
If you take the time to properly prepare the concrete, a DIY (do-it-yourself) home kit will cost you between $900 and $1100. The price of hiring a professional to instal the home kit also includes the time and money needed to prepare the garage, which can take up to two days. The cost of labour for a standard installation averages $700.
When installed by a professional and after the concrete has been properly prepared, high-end Commercial Grade Epoxy Paints (aeroplane hangar quality) would set you back around $5,500. The 400 square feet used here is that of a typical two-car garage.
Tile and Permanent Garage Floor Coverings
Tiles for a garage floor have advantages over paint or epoxy, which are merely cosmetic. The cost of a tile garage floor will be more than that of other materials, but a tile floor that has been correctly constructed should last for many years. Using tiles that snap together can cut down on labour costs, while luxurious tiles can give your garage an unrivalled look at a premium price. If your concrete is in decent shape, you can instal floor tiles directly on top of it. The glue used to instal garage floor tiles is the primary distinction between these and tiles installed in other rooms of the house. Tiles for a garage floor don’t need the same kinds of chemicals that are typical for indoor flooring.
Garage Renovations and Uses
In spite of the fact that a garage’s primary function is to safeguard your vehicle, you needn’t keep your car in there at all times. You may find that there are more worthwhile uses for your garage than protecting your 2003 Ford Taurus if you have had it for at least five years and/or live in a milder area. You may turn your garage into a game room by installing a tile floor or staining the concrete, and then placing a small pool table, ping pong table, or card table there. To make the room usable, you may also improve the insulation, windows, lights, and walls. These types of upgrades are usually well worth the time and effort, so you can expect to reap the benefits. One sort of garage that works well for this purpose is a double garage. Parking one or two cars inside the garage during the week allows you to move them to the driveway in preparation for poker night, provided you have the appropriate garage floor covering installed.
Epoxy and interlocking tiles each have their advantages and disadvantages, so pick the one that best fits your needs. The interlocking tiles are a good option if you’re looking for something that’s easy to instal, long-lasting, and portable. On the other hand, epoxy is a perfect choice for consumers who want a beautiful, long-lasting, and easy-to-clean floor but aren’t afraid of a more extensive installation process. Polyurea offers the benefits of epoxy without the hassle of installation. Polyurea is typically more robust and resistant to chemicals.
Conclusion
Garages typically don’t have carpets, linoleum, or wood floors because these materials can’t withstand the constant foot traffic and heavy equipment used there. If you want to take your garage from drab to dazzling, a simple makeover of the floor is all that’s needed. Epoxy is a type of floor coating made from a mixture of polymer resins and hardeners. When applied properly, epoxy forms a barrier that keeps out moisture that could otherwise cause damage. Epoxy is extremely durable and won’t show any signs of wear and tear over time.
The quality of your epoxy floor installation is directly proportional to how well you prepare the floor beforehand. The concrete floor must be etched or ground thoroughly for the epoxy to bind to it. Tile flooring can be made of either flexible or rigid tiles that interlock. Interlocking tiles aren’t as seamless as epoxy and can be a pain to clean. Rolling over tiles with an irregular profile could be challenging.
A tile floor may cost more to instal, but once it is, your flooring costs will be all but gone. A painted garage floor presents less of a slip hazard than a tiled floor when anti-slip coating is added. The surface strength of painted concrete is greater than that of tiles. The majority of floor paint and coating types should stick to bare concrete if the floor is properly prepped. Epoxy is a fantastic option for brand new garages, but it does require some surface prep work first.
If applied correctly, epoxy can transform your garage into something straight out of a show room. It also provides better protection and lasts much longer than paint. Tiles for a garage floor have advantages over paint or epoxy, which are merely cosmetic. Using tiles that snap together can cut down on labour costs. High-end Commercial Grade Epoxy Paints (aeroplane hangar quality) would set you back around $5,500.
You may turn your garage into a game room by installing a tile floor or staining the concrete. To make the room usable, you may also improve the insulation, windows, lights, and walls. Polyurea offers the benefits of epoxy without the hassle of installation.
Content Summary
- Even though garage flooring typically isn’t a homeowner’s first flooring concern, it can provide some important benefits.
- You might not give much thought to the aesthetics of your garage floor, but it sees more wear and tear than any other room in the house.
- For safety reasons and to lessen the likelihood of slips and falls, you may want to cover the floor of your garage if you use it as a workshop.
- Has the time come for you to improve the garage’s aesthetics?
- If you want to take your garage from drab to dazzling, a simple makeover of the floor is all that’s needed.
- Many homeowners find it difficult to decide on a garage door covering.
- The floor of any garage, commercial or residential, must be durable.
- We get it; if you were lucky enough to own three Porsches, your garage woes would be over if you couldn’t fit them all in there.
- You have almost completed transforming your office into a functional garage where you may save money by repairing the family car or your personal ride.
- The last piece of the puzzle is a high-quality garage floor, which can be achieved with an epoxy coating, a solid flooring material, or both.
- Epoxy FlooringFloors may benefit from epoxy’s durability and versatility, so it’s no surprise to find it in a wide variety of applications.
- Add some flake on the floor for a little extra flair.
- Abuse can cause chips or cracks in epoxy floors.
- With proper care, epoxy can last for decades.
- Because of its smoothness and gloss finish, epoxy is also very easy to maintain.
- The quality of your epoxy floor installation is directly proportional to how well you prepared the floor beforehand.
- The concrete floor must be etched or ground thoroughly for the epoxy to bind to it.
- Check out our All-Weather Floors Polyurea if you want to save time and energy on the installation process.
- Tile FlooringTile flooring can be made of either flexible or rigid tiles that interlock.
- Finally, unlike epoxy, interlocking tiles can be easily disassembled and reassembled, making them ideal for customers who frequently relocate or anticipate doing so soon.
- You may get a great look for your garage floor with interlocking tiles, but they aren’t as seamless as epoxy.
- In addition to being more difficult to maintain than epoxy, rigid interlocking tiles can be a pain to clean.
- We advise installing TrueLock HDXT Coin tiles in a workshop with rolling toolboxes, drawers, and other similar equipment.
- To sum up, a textured tile may be more difficult to maintain than an epoxy floor.
- The Argument For Floor TilesPeople frequently choose to lie down on the tiled floor for the reasons listed below.
- Some people assert that after they are installed, floor tiles nearly never need maintenance.
- A tiled floor also doesn’t need to be painted annually or twice a year.
- Why Using Garage Floor Paint Is BetterUnfortunately, this argument’s first premise is untrue.
- The water resistance of a tiled floor is impaired when grout is worn away.
- Tile proponents may have a point if they utilise poor paint in their “no painting” defence.
- However, this decision offers a lot of advantages when high-quality garage floor coatings are used.
- In comparison to tiles, a painted floor offers a wider spectrum of spill resistances when coated properly.
- A painted garage floor presents less of a slip hazard than a tiled floor when anti-slip coating is added.
- The surface strength of painted concrete is greater than that of tiles.
- Good quality garage floor paint will persist for years as long as the surface is properly prepared (see below).The following advice will help you achieve outstanding results:It’s the flooring, not the paint.
- If you decide to do so, make an investment in a high-quality concrete mix and instal it properly.
- Select the Proper Paint and Coating for Your Type of Garage FloorThe best paint for your floor should be chosen after you have repaired and prepped your garage floor to the highest standards.
- The majority of floor paint and coating types should stick to bare concrete if the floor is properly prepped.
- If your garage has any entryways or exits with asphalt flooring, make sure to pick a floor paint that is compatible with asphalt.
- When applying your paint, use caution.
- The final paint finish will depend on how the coats are applied.
- Paint v. Epoxy for Your Garage FloorsPainting the floor of a garage is the most affordable option.
- Epoxy is more expensive than paint, and you’ll need to prep your garage floor before applying it for the best results.
- Epoxy Paint CostIf you take the time to properly prepare the concrete, a DIY (do-it-yourself) home kit will cost you between $900 and $1100.
- The price of hiring a professional to instal the home kit also includes the time and money needed to prepare the garage, which can take up to two days.
- Tile and Permanent Garage Floor CoveringsTiles for a garage floor have advantages over paint or epoxy, which are merely cosmetic.
- The cost of a tile garage floor will be more than that of other materials, but a tile floor that has been correctly constructed should last for many years.
- If your concrete is in decent shape, you can instal floor tiles directly on top of it.
- The glue used to instal garage floor tiles is the primary distinction between these and tiles installed in other rooms of the house.
- Tiles for a garage floor don’t need the same kinds of chemicals that are typical for indoor flooring.
- Garage Renovations and UsesIn spite of the fact that a garage’s primary function is to safeguard your vehicle, you needn’t keep your car in there at all times.
- You may find that there are more worthwhile uses for your garage than protecting your 2003 Ford Taurus if you have had it for at least five years and/or live in a milder area.
- You may turn your garage into a game room by installing a tile floor or staining the concrete, and then placing a small pool table, ping pong table, or card table there.
- To make the room usable, you may also improve the insulation, windows, lights, and walls.
- One sort of garage that works well for this purpose is a double garage.
- Parking one or two cars inside the garage during the week allows you to move them to the driveway in preparation for poker night, provided you have the appropriate garage floor covering installed.
- Epoxy and interlocking tiles each have their advantages and disadvantages, so pick the one that best fits your needs.
- Polyurea offers the benefits of epoxy without the hassle of installation.
FAQs About Garage Floor
Is sealing a concrete garage floor necessary?
The concrete on a garage floor doesn’t need to be sealed as frequently as a driveway does because it’s protected from the elements. However, because of the common usage of concrete in garages, accidents involving oil, antifreeze, and other household chemicals can lead to cracking and moisture infiltration.
Can a garage floor be tiled?
Putting in tile, especially ceramic tile, can increase the resale value of your home significantly. Due to its many advantages, garage tiling is considered by many homeowners to be an excellent investment.
How can I prevent salt damage to my garage floor?
The easiest approach to prevent salt and water damage to your concrete floor is to use a mat. These mats are useful throughout the winter months, and can be rolled up and stored away till next year. They shield your floor from damage admirably, too.
The thickness of a garage floor.
Depending on the subgrade, a normal garage slab depth is four inches (100 mm). If there is a lot of heavy equipment or a lot of stuff being stored on shelves, you may want to increase the thickness to 6 inches. A thickness of at least four inches is recommended for the concrete slab. Heavy equipment requires a thicker surface.
What is the ideal thickness for a garage floor?
The minimum thickness for the concrete slab is four inches; if heavy machinery will be placed on it, it should be thicker. The concrete recipe is specified by regional building codes. Standardization is accomplished by the use of a metric called “compressive strength,” which is essentially just a measure of how much water is included in the recipe.