There are many advantages to installing a garage floor coating or garage floor covering. Bare cement can get stained or discolored easily, and is often very difficult to get completely clean. By installing the right covering, a homeowner can extend the life of their garage floor by quite a lot. A properly coated garage floor will look new and clean longer, as most coatings are much easier to clean than bare cement. If the right floor covering is used, the garage floor will be more resistant to damage such as cracking or chipping of the cement.
The least expensive and easiest to install of all garage flooring options is garage floor paint. These are paints specifically designed to be used on bare cement. They are typically applied with a large roller, and can even be done by homeowners with minor painting skills. One downside to these products is their durability. If the garage is used for storing vehicles that are moved regularly in and out of the garage, the paint can become stripped from the friction of the tires. Moving large objects over a painted floor can also scratch and ruin the painted surface. Garage floor paint also needs to be reapplied every four years or less, as it fades and stains easier than other options.
The most expensive and difficult to install option are garage floor tiles. These tiles are usually made from polypropylene or polyvinyl, although linoleum and other options are available. They come with either already applied adhesive for an easy peel and stick job, or with some kind of interlocking tab system that doesn’t require the tiles to be attached to the floor. They are easy to install, and easy to replace or remove, especially the interlocking kind. They are also easy to clean, and resist staining fairly well. Garage floor tiles usually cost as much as an epoxy floor coating, but more than garage floor paint.
The best option for garage floor covering for the homeowner with some experience in floor coatings is the garage floor epoxy coating. Epoxy floor coatings are strong, durable, stain resistant, and look good for a long time. They are usually rolled on in a two part process, which can be tricky, but most homeowners with painting experience can handle the task. They create a shiny and rubberized looking floor surface, like the flooring often seen in showrooms. Some epoxy kits contain paint chips or other additives that are sprinkled over the wet surface of the epoxy to create an interesting look. Epoxy coatings are easy to clean and hold up to traffic well, but can be dangerous if wet. Epoxy flooring becomes extremely slippery when wet, so extra care must be taken if the garage is used for wet projects.