Almost always, garage floors are just the default unfinished concrete. However, other garage flooring options can suit whatever durability or aesthetic you want for your garage floor. The three main options, epoxy, concrete, and tile, offer a lot of different pros and cons; it can be overwhelming. Here’s all the information you need on the different garage flooring options so you can make the best decision for you.
Concrete
Concrete is the baseline of garage flooring options. It’s what most homes come with by default when they’re built. They are very strong structurally, but it does have their limitations.
Though they look nice originally, especially when they come sealed or polished, concrete is a naturally porous material. It easily absorbs oil, water, and other chemicals and spills. This makes a concrete, easily stainable garage flooring option. Not only is concrete naturally porous, but it’s also naturally rough and prone to dusting, where fine dust sits on its surface.
Concrete garage floors also expand and contract with temperature changes. Though it might not seem like a problem at first, the constant expansion and contraction can lead to cracking and pitting in the garage floor over time, ruining its look. So, though concrete is a structurally strong option, it does wear down quickly over time.
As far as maintenance goes, concrete garage floors require resealing every couple of years to protect the surface of the floor. Even then, oil stains can be permanent without immediate treatment, and they can accumulate dust from surface breakdown.
Epoxy
Another popular garage flooring option is epoxy. Epoxy is a synthetic thermosetting plastic that is coated all over a concrete garage floor. It’s applied in three layers: a primer, a basecoat, and then a topcoat. After it cures, it hardens into a tough, seamless surface.
While epoxy is the term most homeowners are familiar with, many garage flooring options have evolved to use more advanced materials, such as polyaspartic coatings.
Polyaspartic coatings are known for being stronger than traditional epoxy, curing much faster, and offering UV stability, which helps prevent yellowing or discoloration over time, especially in the Arizona heat.
Unlike concrete garage floors, they are not porous and seamless. The chemicals in the epoxy bond to concrete that is properly prepped beforehand, not only creating an aesthetic look in your garage, but also adding a layer of durability to your garage floors. When using polyaspartic coating, the preparation of the surface is what prevents the surface from peeling or adhering over time. The layer of polyaspartic coating on your typical concrete floor is resistant to chemicals, everyday abrasion, and impact. They can typically last ten to twenty years when they’re installed professionally.
The maintenance requirements for a polyaspartic or epoxy garage floor are almost non-existent. Besides having to touch it up after its ten-to twenty-year lifetime, it may just require the occasional sweep and mop to keep it looking nice and clean.
However, epoxy garage floors do have their drawbacks. The installation time for an epoxy floor can take up quite a bit of time, with all of the preparation and curing. Extended UV exposure can also cause a bit of yellowing, though topcoats can make this less of an issue. With a polyaspartic coating, you avoid a long installation time and yellowing from UV exposure.
Tiles
Garage tiles are a garage flooring option typically made from PVC, rubber, and polypropylene materials. Unlike epoxy, garage tiles just sit on top of the concrete and interlock with each other like a puzzle. There is a wide range of designs and styles that you can choose to match whatever look you want for your garage. They are also easily removable if you’re looking for a temporary option.
While good for normal use, garage tiles can easily be stressed by heavy loads, and they can also be cracked by jack stands or other sharp objects. They aren’t as consistently strong and durable as epoxy floors. Maintenance is relatively easy. However, dirt, dust, and liquids can make their way between the seams of the tiles. You will occasionally need to lift the tiles up to clean messes underneath.
Installation is fairly simple because there’s no concrete prep required. One could DIY it or hire a professional to snap them together within a couple of hours. After the tiles are all properly installed, you can use the garage immediately.
Which Garage Flooring Option Is Best for Your Needs?
Each of these garage flooring options has its pros and cons. But making the right decision is the most important. For those who want a basic, no-upgrade, cheap option, concrete is the way to go. For those who have a high-traffic garage and want a solution that is long-term, polished, and low-maintenance, epoxy garage flooring is what you need. For those who use their garages for hobby work and are looking for a temporary or flexible solution that they can install themselves, garage floor tiles are perfect for you.
Why Choose Us?
At Garage Solutions of Arizona, we offer epoxy flooring services. Our professional installation services will make sure your garage floor looks the best it ever has, for longer. Even if you decide an epoxy floor isn’t for you, we offer a wide variety of garage organization solutions to keep your garage put together. Contact us today to get a free quote.