The Best Garage Flooring Options for Looks and Protection

One of the most popular questions that people have regarding their garage is, "what's the best garage flooring?" The answer really all depends on how you'll use your garage.



Are you using it just for parking your cars? Do you plan on doing a lot of auto repair and maintenance? Are you considering converting your garage into a living space? There are certain garage flooring materials that suit each situation best and it's important that you get the right one that fits your needs. We'll go over the most popular garage flooring options and how they're best used.

Types of Garage Flooring

First, you must know that there are two distinct types of garage flooring options to choose from. Your garage floor undergoes a lot of stress and abuse from heavy traffic to spills of all kinds. Garage flooring will not only help the aesthetics of your garage, but it'll help protect it. The two main types of garage flooring are coatings and coverings. There are multiple styles and materials to choose from within both categories and the best one will depend on a garage-to-garage basis. We'll go over the best options below.

Garage Floor Coatings

Coatings for your garage floor come in a few different materials and are better suited for floors in good condition with no cracks or craters. Coatings need to be applied to a moisture-free surface and require a bit of prep to get the job done. If your garage floor is susceptible to moisture rising up from underneath, then your coating will fail in a short period of time. You'll need to make sure your garage floor is as clean and dry as possible before you apply any coating. If you do have some cracks on your floor and still want to use a coating, then you must repair them beforehand. Below are the most popular garage floor coatings.

Garage Floor Epoxy Paint

Probably the most popular and definitely the strongest option, epoxy paint coatings are a great option for any garage floor. Epoxy floor coatings are resistant to any staining whether it be from oil, gas or anything in between. However, epoxy isn't the easiest coating to apply as there's a time frame that needs to be followed in order to make sure the two parts mix well. When done correctly, it creates a beautiful and ultra durable coating that lasts. You can really use epoxy for any garage situation. It cleans easily and is strong enough to handle heavy traffic. One thing to keep in mind is to make sure you apply it on a cooler day and not a scorching hot summer day.

Concrete Floor Paint

Oil and latex based floor paints are common because they're inexpensive and easy to apply. It's just like wall paint except stronger. There are many color options to choose from that will give your garage flooring a sleek look. However, it's not as strong as other coatings and will need to be touched up every year or so with normal wear and tear. It's a good garage flooring option if you don't spend a lot of time in your garage or you don't plan on working in there for a lot of projects.

Concrete Sealer

Sealers are a tougher version of floor paint. They're applied the same way as paint but offer better protection. The most popular concrete sealers are either latex or urethane. Urethane is the stronger of the two but doesn't stick well to bare concrete - you'll need to add a primer coat or apply it on top of an epoxy or stained garage floor. They provide a nice glossy finish and are usually used in combination with another coating.

Concrete Stain

Concrete floor stains aren't so much of an actual coating. They're more for an aesthetic touch and often paired with a concrete sealer. Stains create a marbled appearance for your garage flooring. Depending on the amount of traffic your garage experiences, you'll need to touch up and reseal your garage floor every two years or so to keep your stain looking good. Using a concrete stain in your garage is ideal for those that aren't going to make a lot of mess in the garage.

Garage Flooring: Coverings

The other types of garage flooring fall under the coverings category. Coverings have a few advantages over their coating counterparts. You won't have to do as much prep work to install a covering and they can be used on floors with cracks because they completely cover them. Installing them is very simple and can be done as quickly as you can move. However, garage floor coverings are typically more expensive than coatings. We'll go over the different garage floor coverings below.

Snap-Together Tiles

Snap-together tiles are just what they sound like - tiles that snap together in place, kind of like a puzzle (except it's not challenging). The best types are made from either rigid or flexible plastic. Garage floor tiles that snap together can be used on floors with cracks and still work as they should. If your garage experiences a lot of traffic or if you have a car lift, floor jack, anything with a kickstand or perform auto work in it, then rigid tiles are the way to go because they're stronger. Flexible tiles provide better protection against moisture seeping through but they can contract and expand more than rigid tiles in extreme weather temperatures. Both come in a wide variety of colors so you can create your own patterns for a unique and aesthetically pleasing garage flooring.

Peel and Stick Tiles

Peel and stick garage floor tiles are for those that have a level garage floor without any major cracks or slopes. The most popular ones are made from heavy duty vinyl. Much like snap-together tiles, peel and stick ones are easy to install and come in many colors so you can create patterns. Be sure to clean your garage floor and let it dry completely before installing them so that they adhere properly. Peel and stick tiles aren't as strong as snap-together tiles, so it's better to use them if your garage doesn't get a ton of use.

Roll-Out Garage Flooring

Roll-out floor coverings are the easiest to apply and have a lot of versatility. You can use them for only underneath your car or you can cover the entire floor with them. They're made from heavy duty rubber and come in many different sizes and colors. They provide a solid amount of protection but kickstands and other sharp objects can damage them. The biggest positive of roll-out mats is their convenience. You can move them whenever and wherever you'd like and there's basically no prep work involved unless you want to give your floor a good sweeping beforehand.

Carpet Garage Flooring

Yes, that's right, you can have carpet as your garage flooring. If you use your garage as an extra living space, then any carpet can work but there's also specific carpet flooring for the garage. Carpet that's made specifically for garage flooring comes in tiles and is easy to install. Just like the other tiles, you can choose from a variety of colors and patterns. The carpet material that they're made from is extremely durable and can resist stains such as oil and gas. It's easy to clean and feels much more comfortable underfoot than the other hard coverings. It's a great way to make your garage feel more homey and comfortable.

Your Garage Flooring is Only as Good as Your Garage

While all these garage flooring options are awesome and useful in their own ways, it doesn't make much sense to go all out with your flooring if your garage is in bad condition. That's where Danley's comes in. If your garage is old, worn out and doesn't keep everything inside at a comfortable temperature, then it's time for a replacement. Since 1959, Chicagoland homeowners have counted on Danley's to build the best garages. Your new garage will be perfect for whatever you want to use it for. You won't be limited in the type of garage flooring you can use because the foundation and ground will be brand new and level. Get a quote online for your new garage project and see why over 100,000 customers trust Danley's.