What to Consider When Updating Your Garage Flooring

Over time, garage floors can become worn, damaged and stained from daily use, dropped tools, spilt liquids and oil, and general wear and tear. Choosing to restore and update your garage flooring will help breathe new life into it, creating a durable and good-looking floor that will last for a long time.

When choosing the best flooring solution for your garage, you do have options. Let’s explore some of them, and help you pick the best solution to fit your needs.

Factors to consider when choosing garage flooring

There are a few factors to consider when deciding how to update and restore your garage floor, including:

• Durability: Chips, cracks and oil stains can be of concern for homeowners that spend time in their garage. Your garage flooring needs to be able to withstand these if you want your flooring to last the distance.
• Cost: Choosing a garage floor can be overwhelming when you have multiple options available. One way to combat the confusion is to work with a budget. This will help you choose the garage flooring option that’s cost-effective over the long term. You should balance this against factors like workmanship, products, warranties, and after-care support.
• Maintenance: There’s always a chance you’ll spill chemicals, engine fluids or other liquids, so choosing a garage flooring solution that’s easy to clean will pay off in the long run.
• Aesthetics: Just because it’s a garage, doesn’t mean your floor needs to be boring and plain. Think about the flooring option that will provide you with a finish that is not only practical but also attractive. You don’t have to opt for a single standard colour; for example, you could choose multiple colours or request flake, glitter or glow-in-the-dark designs.

Now that you know what to consider when updating your garage flooring, let’s dive into some of the different options you can choose from.

Four popular types of garage flooring

1. Carpet

Outdoor and automotive specific carpet (also known as indoor outdoor carpet) is an option you can consider for your garage, particularly if you aren’t likely to do a lot of tinkering with engines. Generally, it’s constructed from polypropylene or synthetic fibre.

Pros

• Easy to install yourself
• Comfortable to walk on, with noise absorption qualities
• Insulates the floor

Cons

• Will not last long if you use your garage for projects or dirty work
• Spilt liquids and oils will stain or mark it, and can be much harder to clean up
• Needs to be glued down, so can damage the underlying concrete if you decide to remove it
• Will tend to harbour a lot more germs compared to other options

2. Vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring is made out of synthetic materials such as PVC vinyl and fibreglass. It comes in large, continuous, flexible sheets that are rolled out and cut to fit your garage floor; in strips with a wood grain finish that look like timber planks, or in tiles.

Pros

• Sheet vinyl is relatively easy to install
• Offers design flexibility since it’s available in different colours and styles
• Individual planks and tiles can be lifted and replaced if damaged

Cons

• Poor durability, especially long term. You may also need to find a vinyl welder to complete any repair work and they can be difficult to find
• Planks and tiles need to be professionally laid using the right glue to avoid lifting
• Cheap products shrink in cold weather, and are difficult to lay in cold weather
• Can be an expensive choice, depending on the quality and style

3. Garage floor paint

Garage floor paint is a common choice for homeowners, mainly because it's a quick and easy way to cover marks and provide colour. It involves the application of a special paint to your garage floor, and you can choose from latex acrylic paint or epoxy paint.

Pros

• Readily available in your local hardware store
• Requires minimal skill to apply so you can do it yourself

Cons

• Requires regular recoating; because of its low durability, it will look dull quickly and is susceptible to chips
• Exposure to water, chemicals and other common garage items will mark it, meaning you’ll end up back at square one with a worn, marked garage floor
• Doesn’t fix chips or cracks
• Flooring will most likely delaminate within less than 12 months after application — especially if done by yourself without any professional help

4. Epoxy resin flooring

Epoxy resin flooring is a coating that comprises a mixture of resin and a hardener applied over top of your concrete garage floor. Proper preparation of the concrete floor before application provides the smoothest, hardest, and most durable coating to your garage floor than any other option mentioned above.

Pros

• Highly durable, with a much longer lifespan than other flooring options
• Additives are available to increase slip and UV resistance
• Available in a variety of colours and finishes to suit any tastes and requirements
• Easy to clean - spilt liquids and chemicals can be wiped up immediately to reduce likelihood of stains
• Is resistant to most chemical products
• Hassle-free for many years when applied correctly

Cons

• Requires preparation; the underlying concrete should undergo grinding to create the right surface profile for the epoxy to adhere to. Professional installation of an epoxy floor is recommended, and DIY epoxy floors can lack the quality of finish you’d get otherwise
• Some finishes may cost more than a plain epoxy coating, because of the work needed to get the desired finish
• The floors still need to be maintained. You will need to sweep and mop it regularly in order to extend the lifespan of the floor.

So, what type of garage flooring is right for you?

Looking to update your garage flooring? When considering which flooring solution will give your garage floor the protection, durability and aesthetics you need, there are certainly a number of options to choose from. However, long term, an epoxy resin coating will give you the best outcome for your investment.

Here at Tough Floors, we understand the importance of balancing durability, aesthetics, maintenance, quality and cost. We’ll provide advice along with a fast “no surprises” quote so you understand the full process and what result we can achieve for you. Contact us today to find out more - we’re here to help.