Getting ready to install your own garage flooring? I’m sure you’re looking forward to saving money and ending up with a great looking floor, but you also should consider exactly what will be involved in the installation process. As this is obviously an investment, you will want to choose the method that’ll be both effective and cost efficient. The purpose of this article is to give a quick summary of the install process of each of the various garage flooring types.
Epoxy Garage Floor Paint: The Most Comprehensive Garage Flooring Option
Epoxy is likely to be the best solution for most people. You can consider epoxy paint as an additional stain resistant layer, which bonds straight to the concrete garage floor. Unless you pay someone, it is also the cheapest solution. However, it does take a very long time to install, and conditions have to be perfect. The various stages include coats of chemicals that take time to dry, and there are very specific weather requirements. The floor must also be very clean before you can even begin.
Garage Floor Tiles: Garage Flooring That Can Be Almost As Good As Paint
Tiles are second only to epoxy when it comes to their effectiveness. When installed correctly, they provide a seal that will protect your concrete garage floor from any stains. They are durable and, as a bonus, they can be replaced individually if they become damaged later on down the road. They will take you about as long, or possibly a little longer to install than paint, but they do have one huge advantage: you can take a break whenever you want. Weather also isn’t as much of a consideration since the tiles don’t have to dry, per se, but there may be some extremes in which they will not stick to the concrete. The cleanliness of the floor is even more important for tiles than for paint since, if the floor is dirty at all, the tiles will just stick to the dirt or debris.
Garage Floor Mats: The Alternative Garage Flooring
A big garage floor mat for your garage is the easiest thing to install. Many kits simply require you to cut the mat to fit, and lay it out. The floor does not have to be clean since the mat isn’t going to have to stick to anything. If the floor is already heavily cracked and damaged, a mat may be your best option since it will easily hide everything. This is, however, your most expensive option, and the most likely to be compromised simply by driving upon it as some mats will bunch and gather under car tires.
Compartment Garage Floor Mats: Garage Flooring For One Area
If you only need to cover a particular part of the garage, especially for a limited time, compartment mats will be your best option. A compartment mat is exactly what it seems: a single mat that you lay down in a place that is likely to get dirty, such as where a car will park or where you will be working. They run around the price of a paint kit, and can be cleaned outside of the garage if necessary. If you so choose, they can often even be turned into a complete garage floor covering by snapping them together or overlaying them, but that can become very expensive considering the sheer number of mats you will be buying.
For more information on garage flooring, visit the garage floor information site.
