Your garage floor and what it’s made of might not be foremost on your mind, but it remains one of the most important structural aspects of your home. Without a durable and attractive garage floor, your home will not only lose value, but you will also be faced with constant maintenance costs. Fortunately, there are a variety of effective ways to make certain your garage floor lives up to the high standards you might expect of your entire home.
For instance, according to the professionals at Cardinal Concrete Coatings out of Peoria, AZ, epoxy floor coating might be one of the most valuable upgrades you can invest in. Concrete floors left untreated become so porous that stains can quickly move deep below the surface. That means you will never get rid of them. But if you apply an epoxy coating, you can simply wipe away any substance that’s spilled on it.
With that in mind, what are the top 5 options for the optimal garage floor that adds durability and attractiveness to your entire home? A recent report in Better Homes and Gardens states that the job of a garage is to protect more than your car. When repurposed, the garage can become a home gym, a bar, a storage space, or even a workshop for all your DIY projects. Ideal flooring choices will largely depend on your garage’s intended use. They can also vary according to climate, maintenance demands, and installation budget.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular garage floor choices.
Concrete Garage Flooring
Easily the most popular choice, concrete garage floors are resilient and often come with an attractive, shiny finish. They are said to be engineered to withstand high pressure without succumbing to everyday wear and tear. It doesn’t matter if your concrete garage floor is stained, painted, or polished; it remains an affordable option.
Polished concrete can be a time-consuming project, but it will make your floor easy to clean and also stain-free. This is said to make it the ideal material not only for car storage but also mudroom usage, a woodworking shop, and even an art studio. Keep in mind that the hard concrete offers no insulation or cushion, so it’s considered the best choice for moderate climates and attached garages.
Vinyl Plank Garage Flooring
The standard vinyl garage flooring is said to include composite tile, or VCT, and vinyl plank. Luxury vinyl tiles or vinyl planking is a good choice for low-traffic areas. It’s available in a variety of types, which include engineered vinyl plank, or EVP. LVT, in particular, is said to be available in many styles, including “wood-mimicking finishes.” It’s also waterproof and super easy to clean.
However, vinyl plank is not engineered to be climate resistant. A garage that is perpetually exposed to the elements is not a good candidate for vinyl plank flooring. Also, it’s important to note that vinyl is not constructed to withstand the weight of motor vehicles. It’s also susceptible to the tough stains they can leave behind.
Interlocking Rubber Tile Garage Flooring
Because it mimics the typical gym flooring, rubber tiles are the perfect garage retrofit flooring for a home gym or even a playroom for both adults and kids. The tiles come in different colors (not just black). They can also be customized with several varieties of borders and patterns. Rubber tiles will hide any cracks that can typically occur in a concrete floor. But they work best when the concrete surface is as level as possible. Rubber requires little maintenance, is easy to clean, and is typically priced to sell.
Epoxy Garage Flooring
Says Better Homes and Gardens, an epoxy garage floor involves the application of a coat of paint that contains a chemical hardener. Epoxy flooring is therefore durable while presenting a pleasing aesthetic. It’s available in plenty of colors and a variety of finishes, including granite, metallic, and marble. By design, epoxy garage flooring can handle lots of weight and is considered damage-resistant.
What is the only disadvantage of epoxy flooring? It is said to give off an unpleasant, toxic odor during its application. Also, its curing time can take upwards of 72 hours, depending on the type and amount of coating that’s applied.
Stone Garage Flooring
This high-end option includes beautiful-looking stone like graphite, sandstone, and flagstone. It comes in the form of tiles embedded into a layer of concrete or pebbles that are bound with epoxy. They offer a sophisticated look when professionally installed. Be aware that the cost of the product and its installation is higher than other, more common garage flooring options, which in the short run can prove to be a deterrent for many homeowners.
Because the stone flooring will get very cold during the winter months, it’s said not to be ideal for personal use. But it can withstand the weight of parked cars and trucks.
End note
In the end, your garage is no less important than any other room in your home. That means choosing the best flooring option that matches your budget, and your needs and wants.
