Benefits of Garage Flooring

A cement garage floor starts out as a hard and dark surface. Over time, stains tend to form (often with motor oil that drips from your parked cars) and settling of your home may create unsightly cracks. Installing a garage flooring product with improve the look, feel, and function of your garage. All of the garage flooring products presented here will cover your existing stains and cracks. Garage flooring comes in a variety of types, designs, colors, and textures. All garage flooring products are designed for easy clean-up and to resist staining. Most users find garage flooring much more comfortable under foot than bare cement floors.

Garage Flooring Types

There are three basic types of garage floor products:

Roll-out flooring: Garage roll-out flooring, sometimes called garage mats, comes in long rolls similar to carpet rolls. The garage floor is cleaned and prepared; the flooring is rolled out, and adheres to the floor under its own weight or with adhesives. The flooring is then trimmed to fit your floor.

Tiles/squares: Garage tiles or squares are installed on the cleaned and prepared garage floor. Most manufacturers have their own interlocking system of connecting a tile to the tiles adjacent to it. Because each connection system is unique, you cannot install garage tiles from different manufacturers.

Spread on floor coating: This method of garage flooring is increasing in popularity. The floor is cleaned and prepared with a layer of sealant. It is then painted onto the floor.

Materials

The materials vary by type of flooring products:

Roll-out flooring: Roll-out flooring may can be made from vinyl or polypropylene.

Tiles/squares: Garage tiles are usually made from polypropylene and copolymer

Spread on floor coating: Floor coatings are made from epoxy. Multiple coats are sometimes applied. When the final coat is applied other materials may be added to provide color variation, texture, or a slip resistant surface.

Brand

It is important to compare the different types of garage flooring to determine which is right for your home. Once you settle on a type, selecting a brand will be easier. Some of the larger brands may manufacture more than one type of flooring (for instance, roll-out and tile), but this is the exception. Most of the brand manufacturers specialize in one of the three types of flooring. If you are planning to install the floor yourself, compare the manufacturers for the direction and support provider to the self-installer. If you are planning to have a professional install your garage floor, find out if the brand you are considering can refer local installers who are familiar with their products.

Click here to see  our selection of our Top Garage Flooring Brands

Get Help or Do It Yourself?

Each of the three types of garage flooring can be installed by as a do-it-yourself project. Tiles are probably easiest. Roll-out flooring requires precision cutting, similar to installing a vinyl kitchen floor. Spread on floor coating requires thorough preparation and an eye for detail.

Style

Garage flooring comes in many colors and styles. Most lean toward the industrial, but spread on floor coatings now come in a number of simulated stone variations. Light flooring colors will brighten a dark garage and make the most of your natural light. Tiles and roll-out flooring are manufactured to be either smooth or textured. Texture can be added to the final layer of spread on floor coating. One advantage of using garage tile flooring is that you can buy two or three colors from the same manufacturer and design your own pattern.