Pros and Cons of 5 Popular Garage Floor Coverings

When looking for garage floor ideas, there are plenty of flooring choices for your garage makeover. Even though we only sell what we believe to be the top garage floor roll out mats, we do get questions about other common garage floor coverings as well. We&#;ve put together a comparison of common garage flooring to help you determine what is the best flooring option for your garage renovation.

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1. Painted/Stained Concrete

Pros

• One the most budget-friendly garage flooring options
• Available in an unlimited variety of oil-based or latex-based colors
• Concrete paint is easy to apply &#; no experience or special equipment needed
• Garage floor stains sink into the concrete so less floor prep is needed
• Stain for garage floors won&#;t peel or flake
• Painted concrete and stained concrete are easy to clean
• Impermeable to water
• Mold- and mildew-resistant
• UV-resistant

Cons

• If using oil-based garage paint, you&#;ll need a primer
• Installation of floor paint for the garage can be time consuming
• Staining garage concrete may require professional installation to achieve desired outcome
• Dry times can be long if in high humidity
• Vulnerable to chemicals often found in a garage
• May need a touch up every other year or so
• A sealer should be used with stains to maintain beauty and durability adding an additional step
• Hard to dispose of leftovers; not always an eco-friendly garage flooring alternative

1. Epoxy

Pros

• Reasonably-priced alternative as long as installation is done properly
• Fairly durable &#; dries super hard so it withstands heavy traffic and weight
• Epoxy concrete coatings are waterproof and flame retardant
• Easy to clean
• Stain-resistant and chemical-resistant
• Dries clear like a glass surface for a beautiful finish
• Customizable with a variety of color/blend/metallic choices to choose from

Cons

• Epoxy garage coatings can&#;t be used in locations that are consistently damp or where moisture comes up from the ground and through concrete because coating won&#;t adhere
• It can take hours or even days to prepare concrete before applying
• Surface must be free of dirt, grease or prior sealers and coatings &#; removal of prior coatings can be quite labor intensive
• Prep can include power washing and even acid washing to ready for adhesion
• Any cracks, holes or surface imperfections will be highlighted in finished project
• Two-step process of primer then epoxy
• Effective application is dependent on weather, temperature and humidity levels
• There is drying/curing time between each process and you might not be able to use your garage for up to a week
• Not for every DIYer has the skill level or patience for epoxy; costly to hire a professional installer
• Dries fast so it has to be worked with quickly
• A second coat or sealer is suggested for better durability
• May need to be reapplied as often as every 1-3 years
• Might discolor
• Can chip and crack if heavy objects are dropped on it
• May suffer from hot tire pick up

Note: One of the best options for protecting epoxy flooring and your garage staining investment is to use a Clear Floor Protector made of clear, durable vinyl.

1. Snap Together Tiles

Pros

• Quick and easy installation
• Simple to work around odd shapes
• May be used over imperfect garage floor
• A variety of options to get creative with garage floor design
• Interlocking floor tiles don&#;t require adhesive
• Floating floor tiles are repositionable and you can take them with you if you move

Cons

• Tile garage flooring can get expensive if the space is large
• Seams are not watertight, so liquids can seep underneath
• Mold and mildew might become an issue
• Susceptible to fading with sun exposure
• Temperature changes can cause unsnapping from expansion and contraction
• Curling or tile disconnecting can cause safety concerns, tripping, falling, etc.

1. Vinyl Tiles

Pros

• Vinyl tiles for the garage are easy to install
• Not much prep except cleaning floor and filling large cracks and holes
• Many garage floor tiles, including our RaceDay® vinyl tile, are peel and stick tile adhesion
• Numerous colors and surface textures to customize garage floor
• Repairs can be isolated to 1 tile or a small section of tiles
• Vinyl tiles are extremely durable &#; won&#;t chip, crack, tear or peel
• Tough enough to drive a car on
• Waterproof garage floor protection
• Won't mold or mildew
• Resistant to most common garage chemicals, corrosives and contaminants
• Easy to clean with simple soap, water and a mop
• Slip-resistant
• Insulating
• Sound buffering
• Extremely versatile flooring for other residential and commercialspaces

Cons

• Can get pricey if covering a large space since you&#;re purchasing individual tiles
• Installation is more time consuming and labor-intensive than roll out vinyl flooring options

1. Roll Out Mats

Pros

• Affordable garage floor covering and garage floor protection
• Easiest to install over all the other garage flooring options
• Typical installation time is around 30 minutes per garage roll out mat
• No adhesive needed
• Simply unroll garage flooring rolls
• Easy to trim to fit
• Little to no garage concrete prep necessary
• Can drive on them immediately
• Use one roll out garage mat as a parking pad or butt multiple garage flooring mats together for wall-to-wall coverage
• For a more finished or permanent installation, adhering to concrete garage floor is an option
• Can be moved outdoors for easy cleaning with a hose
• Repositionable and can move with you
• Available in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes
• Extremely versatile to use outside the garage and for flooring for home and businesses
• Vinyl roll out garage floor mats offer even more unparalleled features (see below)

Cons

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from KAIYAO.

• Less customization than garage tile, epoxy garage coatings or garage paint and stain
• Any large flooring imperfections may show through
• Some sheet flooring is less durable than others (see below)

Why is G-Floor vinyl roll out flooring the best choice?

G-Floor® universal flooring is the gold standard of garage flooring because it's 100% premium polyvinyl through and through. G-Floor is manufactured in the USA and engineered to outperform and outlast other vinyl garage flooring: while competitors utilize layers, fillers, and laminates to save on cost, G-Floor doesn't compromise quality and longevity. While the others may look fine on the surface, fragile filler materials compacted together inside vinyl flooring actually decrease product longevity and break down quickly when wet. With G-Floor, you get the most durable vinyl garage flooring available. G-Floor is purposefully-designed to be lightweight and recyclable and because of its solid, waterproof construction, it won&#;t crack, scratch, peel, split, curl or deteriorate like the others.

 

The G-Floor® Garage Flooring Advantage

• Premium, durable, solid vinyl floor covering &#; no fillers, laminate or thin wear layers &#; providing years of floor protection
• Waterproof flooring&#; single-piece design with no weak points to resist mold, mildew, scratching, denting, cracking, peeling, buckling and curling
• Prevents concrete and subfloor deterioration while hiding floor imperfections
• Resists oil, battery acid, brake fluid, anti-freeze, mud, salt and other common chemicals
• Simple roll-out installation &#; DIY trim to fit; use one vinyl floor mat or multiple vinyl flooring rolls for wall-to-wall coverage
• No adhesive needed (unless you want a permanent installation)
• Easily cleans with soap, water and a mop
• Slip resistant, flame retardant, and sound buffering
• Made in the USA
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

Garage Roll Out Flooring Mats are available in multiple colors, patterns and sizes to totally customize worn out concrete for a quick and beautiful garage flooring update.

When you&#;re starting to consider installing a new floor in your garage or replacing an aging concrete floor, the range of options can be staggering.

We know the feeling. We&#;ve been consulting for years with clients to find just the right flooring for their garages. One size doesn&#;t fit all when it comes to garages.

So, what works for you and your space? We&#;ve compiled a list of advantages, disadvantages, and costs for each major type of garage floor to help you get a handle on the overall picture.

Note that all three options give an incredible look and feel to your garage. They also protect the floor and add market value.

Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

• Coating options include solid color, decorative chip, and metallic coating. On top of that, there&#;s a wide range of colors, styles, and textures.
• Can be applied to any hard surface and adheres very well to concrete. Drying time is relatively short&#;18 to 24 hours.
• Durable and long-lasting, averaging up to 15 years. The professional application provides a five-year warranty.
• Easily cleaned and maintained. Stain-, chemical-, and impact-resistant. Anti-skid surface.
• Disadvantage: It does not adhere well in high-humidity environments.
• Costs: $3 to $12 per square foot. A two-car garage at 500 square feet would range from $1,500 to $6,000 for installation.
• DIY application can somewhat reduce cost but requires moderate expertise, a considerable time investment, and hard hands-on work. Plus, there is no warranty, and you can expect to reapply the coating every few years.

Ceramic, Stone, and Plastic Tile Flooring

• Ceramics and stone are available in a variety of materials, textures, and colors.
• Flexible plastic tiles available in hard plastic, flexible PVC, and vented.
• Can easily be cleaned and provide a non-slip surface.
• Extremely long life in all three options.
• Disadvantages: Stone and ceramic require grout that needs to be replaced often. They are also subject to cracking, breaking, and staining. Plastic tiles can also stain, and they are prone to expansion and contraction during extremes in temperature.
• Costs: $3 to $6 per square foot. A two-car garage at 500 square feet would cost between $1,500 and $3,000 including installation.

Polished Concrete Garage Flooring

• Using concrete dyes, a virtually unlimited range of colors and patterns is possible.
• Polishing can be adjusted to provide a matte surface up to a very high-gloss shiny surface.
• The surface is extremely durable, lasting up to 20 years or more.
• High humidity and moisture are no problem.
• Stain-resistant and easily cleaned.
• Disadvantage: Lengthy curing time of two to four weeks.
• Costs: The typical range is $3 to $8 per square foot. However, especially complex coloring and patterns can cost up to $15 per square foot. This would bring the cost of a 500-square-foot two-car garage into the range of $750 to $7,500.

We&#;ve Got You Covered

As noted earlier, we&#;ve installed quite a few garage floors over the years. With that level of experience and expertise, we&#;re here to help from the selection process to the final installation.

It&#;s time to investigate the options for your home. Contact Pittsburgh Garage for a free on-site consultation. We can help you make your garage dreams come true!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website automotive shop flooring.