When you&#;re considering options for your garage floor, you&#;re faced with a wide range of choices, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let&#;s examine the pros and cons of these flooring options and dive into the costs.
View Details
Note that every one of these options looks great, adds value to your home, helps prevent slips, and protects your garage floor.
1. Professional or DIY Epoxy Coating
This is our number one seller because it is durable, long-lasting, and offers a wide range of color and style options. It&#;s resistant to impacts, chemicals, and stains and is easily cleaned and maintained. It can be applied to any hard surface and works particularly well with concrete. It has a short curing time of 18 to 24 hours, so you&#;re not inconvenienced for any length of time. The one downside is that it is not suited to high humidity environments, because the humidity hinders its sealing with the concrete.
Epoxy coating also lends itself to a do-it-yourself approach that can offer some financial savings. However, it takes time while you develop your expertise and experience through trial and error. It also requires the purchase of materials, tools, protective wear, and renting an electric floor maintainer to prepare the floor. In contrast to a professionally applied epoxy coating, there is no warranty. You&#;ll also likely need to apply a follow-up coating every couple of years. For these reasons, we do not recommend DIY epoxy coatings.
2. Ceramic and Stone Tile Flooring
This type of flooring looks incredible and comes in a variety of materials, textures, styles, and colors. It also has an extremely long lifespan. However, ceramic and stone is prone to staining, breaking, and cracking. The tiles also require grout that must be replaced from time to time. It makes for a gorgeous floor but not without its challenges.
3. Flexible Plastic Tile Flooring
This is one of the strongest and longest lasting tile systems. There are also quite a few options within this category including hard plastic, flexible PVC, and vented. It is non-slip, even when wet, and can easily be cleaned. Unlike stone tiles, there is no cracking, but it does pick up stains. There are also challenges around extremes of heat and cold due to expansion and contraction of the tiles.
4. Polished Concrete Flooring
The use of concrete dyes allows for a wide variety of color and pattern options, then polishing achieves the exact level of shine you&#;re seeking. It&#;s much more durable than stone or ceramic tile and doesn&#;t require grout. It easily cleaned and withstands high humidity and moisture. The one major downside is that it has a lengthy curing time of two to four weeks.
5. Garage Flooring Costs Compared
The cost ranges for each major type of garage flooring aren&#;t all that different, at least at the low end of the scale.
- Epoxy coating starts at $3 and runs up to $12 per square foot.
- Tile flooring also starts at $3 up to $6 per square foot.
- Polished concrete runs from $3 to $8 per square foot, with demanding coloring and/or patterns up to $15 per square foot.
With a starting cost of $3 per square foot, an average one-car garage at 250 square feet would be $750. A two-car garage at 500 square feet would be $1,500.
These ranges include professional installation. A DIY approach can save money. However, it takes extra time and at least a handyman&#;s level of competence. Plus, you&#;ll need to re-coat every few years.
We feel it&#;s best to work with a professional with years of experience and all the tools of their trade to get everything done to your complete satisfaction. You can also rest assured that they will provide a garage floor that you&#;ll be proud of and that will last.
Now is the time to begin considering types of flooring and what works within your budget. We can provide the exact prices for your garage for every flooring option you&#;d like to consider.
Contact Boston Garage today and request a free on-site consultation. We&#;d love to help you make your garage dreams come true!
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from KAIYAO.
Is it time to redo the floor in your garage? If it&#;s cracked, crumbling, stained or all of the above, then it&#;s probably ready for a refresh. In this article, the team at Creative Door&#; discusses the pros and cons of seven of the most popular types of flooring for garages.
1. Concrete paint
Concrete or masonry paint is a specialty paint with binders that contract and expand with the concrete surface.
- Pros
A layer of concrete paint is one of the most affordable ways to boost the appearance of your garage floor. It also adds a layer of protection against spills and scratches. You can stay classic with a slate gray or opt for something bolder like a blue or white.
- Cons
Concrete paint will eventually peel and is susceptible to scratching and chipping. Road salt and harsh chemicals, in particular, can wear away at the paint. So plan for occasional touch-ups or repainting.
Paint only provides limited protection but can be used in combination with a sealer.
2. Concrete Stain
When applied to concrete, a concrete stain chemically reacts with the surface to change its colour.
- Pros
Unlike paint, there&#;s no risk of a stain fading, chipping, or peeling. Moreover, it doesn&#;t hide the features of the concrete, resulting in a more distinctive look. There are a variety of earth tone colour options available.
- Cons
A stain is a purely aesthetic coating that doesn&#;t help protect the floor. However, it can be used in combination with other coatings such as urethane to protect the floor against spills and abrasions. Also, note that if your concrete floor has imperfections, a stain can call attention to them. Stained floors also require more upkeep than painted floors.
3. Urethane coating
Urethane is a sealer that protects concrete, stone, and wood with a flexible, non-toxic coating. The term is used interchangeably with &#;polyurethane&#; when talking about floor sealers.
- Pros
A urethane floor coating produces a smooth, shiny surface that has a lot of aesthetic appeal. Its elasticity helps to make it resilient and long-lasting, even in cold regions and areas in which temperatures fluctuate. It&#;s highly impact-resistant and can withstand chemical spills.
- Cons
Urethane is more prone to scratches than other flooring options. And it&#;s important to note that it doesn&#;t bond to concrete as effectively as other products. It&#;s best to apply it over top of a layer of epoxy.
4. Epoxy coating
One of the most popular flooring solutions is an epoxy coating, which is essentially hard plastic.
- Pros
Durable and long-lasting, epoxy coatings are resilient and endure the weight of cars and foot traffic as well as weather fluctuations. It&#;s scratch-resistant, spill-resistant, and easy to clean.
- Cons
Epoxy tends to be a more expensive option than a sealant, stain, or paint. It also requires more intensive preparation and can take more than a week to apply. Finally, it can present a safety risk, as it&#;s slippery when wet.
5. Garage floor rolls
Garage floor rolls are usually made of vinyl or rubber and are custom-ordered to fit the size of your garage.
- Pros
Garage floor rolls are the easiest type of flooring to install, as they don&#;t even require an adhesive. If the fit isn&#;t perfect, you can trim the roll with a utility knife. Garage floor rolls are easy to clean and are designed to handle the weight of a vehicle. This option also allows you to preserve your original garage flooring.
- Cons
Rubber and vinyl surfaces can be slippery when wet and are susceptible to shrinkage, cuts, and gouges. Many products are only guaranteed for about five years.
6. Interlocking plastic tiles
Like garage floor rolls, interlocking plastic tiles are made to order.
- Pros
Rigid snap tiles are easy to install, can withstand heavy loads, and require little maintenance. There are a variety of finishes available, including perforated tiles to drain spills and snowmelt, as well as multiple colour options
- Cons
Although plastic tiles are less maintenance, they're a more expensive flooring option than epoxy, paint, or staining.
7. Interlocking vinyl tiles
Vinyl (or VCT) tiles provide a softer, more elastic surface than plastic tiles. They&#;re attached to the floor with an adhesive.
- Pros
Low cost and durable, vinyl tiles are popular for use inside the home. However, they're also a great choice for converted garages. They offer an attractive look and smooth finish and are available in a variety of colours.
- Cons
These tiles are best suited for heated garages or locations with milder temperatures, as extreme cold may affect the adhesive that secures the tiles to the floor. The seams aren&#;t watertight, so fluids can seep under the tiles. And as they&#;re fixed in place, this can make cleaning up spills a challenge.
Does Your Garage Door Also Need An Upgrade?
Choose a high-quality garage door that will protect and complement your new flooring. The experienced team at Creative Door&#; can help you find the right garage door for you. Contact us to learn more about our products and installation services or visit one of our eight branches in Western Canada.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit automotive shop flooring.