One of the finest places to start when
adding design and color to your garage is with the floor. Garage
floors with standard concrete slabs
are functional. They can, however, be stylish and even comfy with a little
effort.
There are numerous possibilities for sprucing up a garage floor, and most homeowners are unsure which path to take. To begin thinking about a new garage floor, divide the options into two categories: coatings and coverings. There are four viable alternatives to evaluate.
Paint And Epoxy Are Two Coating Options
Floor coverings are applied in a thin
coat with a roller or brush and adhere directly to the concrete floor slab, falling into one group. The
most common alternatives in this category are paint and epoxy.
Tile And Mats Are Two Options For Flooring
The other central floor covering
category is building materials placed on the garage floor and can be relocated
or removed as needed. Nothing prevents you from laying carpet or another covering on your garage floor. However, if you
want a surface that can withstand the demands of daily garage living, you must
use a product designed exclusively for garage floors. This category includes
things such as floor tiles and floor mats.
Floor
Epoxy
Because both apply with paint rollers and brushes, epoxy floor coatings are frequently considered a type of paint. However, the materials are very different in terms of chemistry and performance.
Paint hardens due to the evaporation of
its solvent, which is commonly water or an oil-based liquid. On the other hand,
proper epoxy coatings harden by a chemical reaction involving a resin and a
hardener (catalyst). Before you begin a garage floor epoxy project, you must
first pick which type of epoxy is best for you.
Genuine
garage floor epoxy coats the floor with a durable, appealing
layer. This product, however, should not be confused with "epoxy
paint," which is a one-part latex paint product with a little quantity of
epoxy added to improve the toughness of its surface. The overall performance of
epoxy paint is often inferior to that of an actual epoxy coating.
Paint For The Floor
If your garage floor soils with oil,
grease, or rust, you may quickly resurface it with concrete floor paint.
Concrete floor coatings are available in latex or oil-based formulations. They
are also constructed with a satin, nonslip coating to withstand heavy traffic
and resist damage from solvents, salts, and other acidic compounds.
Some latex floor paints contain a small
quantity of epoxy resin intended to harden the finish and make it
stain-resistant. Make sure the color you choose is labeled for use on concrete
floors, as these products outperform regular paint when applied to garage
floors.
Tiles For The Floor
Of course, you can use the same durable
vinyl floor tiles used in other living rooms to cover a garage floor. But for
garage use, the most common alternative is a variety of firm or semi-rigid
plastic, rubber, & wood composite tiles. These products have interlocking
edges & form a slightly raised floor that is strong enough to support vehicles.
According to professional concrete contractors the
floor tiles are an excellent solution when a concrete slab is badly discolored
or broken in a difficult-to-repair condition, and the tiles will smooth out any
unevenness in the slab.
Here are some tile ideas:
- Plastic garage floor tiles
are available in several styles and are frequently PVC or polypropylene
plastic.
- Rubber tiles are similar to the
interlocking tiles used in sports facilities, children's playrooms, and
similar locations. Most manufacturers offer a wide choice of accessories
to polish the edges and door thresholds. They are long-lasting and
comfortable to walk on, making them perfect for homeowners who spend much
time in their garage workshop.
- Wood composite tiles, such
as those used as an underlayment for carpet and other floor coverings, can
also be used as garage flooring. These 2-foot-square panels can withstand
large loads, making them suitable for garage floors. The tongue-and-groove
edges snap together, and a transition strip is necessary where the
flooring meets the garage door.
Mats For The Floor
Rolling out rubber or polyvinyl plastic mats is the simplest
way to cover a garage floor. Like garage floor tiles, Carpets are put over
mildly soiled or damaged concrete floors with no prior work required.
Some mats seem like carpets, while
others are textured and look like cushioned sports mats. In general, mats made
of easy-to-clean materials that are thick enough to be durable underfoot are
the best choice for a garage.
Concerns Regarding Repair And Preparation
Garage floor coatings and covers should
not be a way to keep damaged slabs "out of sight, out of mind."
Unless properly repaired & prepared, a cracked & broken slab will cause
problems with most finishes, mainly paint and epoxy.
Existing
concrete
oil and grease stains will always leak through a floor
coating. Furthermore, no garage floor coating or covering will remove moisture
issues. Before installing any garage, floor coating or covering should address
any damage, stains, & moisture issues.
Problems With Repair And Preparation
Should not view garage floor coatings
& covers as keeping damaged slabs "out of sight, out of mind." A
cracked or broken slab will cause problems with most finishes, mainly paint and
epoxy, unless properly repaired and prepared.
Existing oil and grease stains in concrete will almost always leak through a floor coating. Furthermore, no garage floor coating or covering can eliminate moisture problems. Should address any damage, colors, or moisture issues before installing garage floor coating or covering.
Why Should You Use GTAcrete?
Our primary goal is to be known as
Austin's most trustworthy, direct, quality-driven, and best asphalt removal
company. As a result, we continually strive to be outstanding. Our services
include:
- Asphalt clearing and repair.
- Considerable clearing and restoration.
- Parking garage striping.
- Asphalt seal coating.
Landowners and authorities understand
the need to maintain their asphalt and cement. As a result, this is a fantastic
opportunity to make a move against the incredible sun openness that Central
Texas experiences. Making a move now will undoubtedly prevent costly repairs
later on.
GTAcrete has the potential to be the top
asphalt removal company. Similarly, we are professionals in concrete, parcel
striping, and seal covering. As a result, you can rest assured that your
parking lot is safe from the harsh Texas elements. GTAcrete provides the tools
and expertise to handle any parking lot issues. Contact now
and get the free assessment according to your budget from one of our
professional advisors.
For more information read the Why
You Need Commercial Asphalt Paving All You Need To Know.