A sparkly garage turns a shabby environment into a shrine for your vehicles. On a practical level, a clean garage floor makes it easier to work on those beloved machines. Upgrading your garage flooring is an easy project that pays dividends for years.
There are at least nine flooring choices for most garages. Your decision depends on budget, style, and use. Start by carefully measuring your square footage. If using tiles, use graph paper to lay out your garage flooring design and verify how many finishing pieces you might need. If your garage has a raised area or steps, determine how you want to use those areas. Here are your options.
Concrete Paint
You could paint the concrete surface for a uniform look. You can apply latex paint with a roller and brushes in one coat. Many people choose a light gray, brightening the room but not showing every speck of dirt.
Unfortunately, paint tends to rub off. A common complaint is that driving over fresh paint leaves tire marks and peeling paint, especially if the tires turn on the painted surface. Nothing lasts forever. Expect to repaint the floor every one to two years for the optimum look. Estimate the cost of latex garage paint at about $0.15 per square foot.
Concrete Sealer
Apply sealer, a tougher alternative to paint, directly over concrete. It can provide a glossy finish. The sealer helps prevent future stains from penetrating the concrete and makes it easier to sweep up debris and dust. Sealers come in acrylic or latex and urethane, which is more durable. The best results occur with new blemish-free concrete. Budget between $0.25 a square foot for acrylic/latex and up to $1.50 for urethane.
Concrete Stain
Applying a stain to bare concrete is similar to using a concrete sealer—but with a hint of color. Some concrete stains - opens in new window or tab. offer a uniform color, while others pick up the concrete’s texture to create beautiful swirls and bursts of color. Usually, a sealer is applied after the stain cures. Expect to pay between $0.25 and $0.50 per square foot for the stain.
Vinyl Tiles
Inexpensive vinyl floor tiles - opens in new window or tab. can be installed in a day. Use a single color, or get creative with a checkerboard design. The advantages of vinyl tiles are ease of installation and a wide selection of colors. Even with a strong adhesive, tiles can loosen over time, especially if your vehicle’s tires turn over the flooring. They also indent when you set heavy items on them. But for light-duty use, this is a quick and easy solution.
Like any home application of tile, plan your design and work from the center out. Following the manufacturer’s directions, spread the adhesive to an even layer with a notched trowel. Align the tiles, leaving no gap, and cut the final edge pieces to fit. Expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot.
Interlocking Plastic Floor Tiles
Choose a rigid plastic if you prefer thick, stiff flooring that is less likely to indent under jack stands or a motorcycle kickstand. Or go with the flexible variety to make the floor quiet, slip-resistant, and easier on your feet. Either material can be purchased with a mesh-like open weave design that allows water and snow to drain off the tile’s surface. On the other hand, the open design makes it difficult to find and retrieve small items that fall to the floor.
Your other choice is a solid surface so that nothing slips through the openings. Both styles have interlocking tabs and end pieces to provide a seamless look. Interlocking plastic garage floor tiles - opens in new window or tab. average $5 to $10 per square foot.
Roll-out Flooring Mats
Buying a flexible vinyl mat in pre-cut rolls is an easy option. Trim a portion to match your garage space. After it’s laid down, a garage floor mat - opens in new window or tab. usually doesn’t shift or move. They come in different colors. The raised designs offer some slip resistance as well. A roll measuring about seven by 20 feet (enough for most single-car garages) costs about $150.
Rubber Tiles
Thick rubber tiles - opens in new window or tab., like the ones commonly used in gyms, also interlock. The rubber absorbs sound, is durable, and hides oil leaks. These are generally thicker than other tile options. Dark black rubber makes the garage appear darker and can make nuts and bolts hard to find. Plan to spend $2 to $4 per square foot.
Porcelain Tile
Surprisingly, porcelain floor tile - opens in new window or tab. is tough and stain-resistant. When properly installed, it’s a durable garage floor surface. Moreover, porcelain is slip-resistant and allows for easy cleanup. The best results require a level surface and grout. Porcelain tiles cost up to $30 per square foot.
Epoxy Resin
Car dealerships commonly use epoxy resin for their floors. The resins are stronger and more durable than paint or stain. Garage floor epoxy resins offer an extensive choice of colors and patterns. You can add grit to make it less slippery. Some offerings come with a contrasting set of colored flakes applied to the epoxy as it cures for a distinctive look.
You can try a DIY application or hire a professional. Regardless, follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. Often, the concrete needs to be scuffed up with sanders and primers. Plan to spend $15 to $25 per square foot.
Prep and Process
No matter which flooring you choose, a garage floor project requires prep. At a minimum, you should remove all existing oil stains with a degreaser and patch existing cracks. Concrete patch comes in a powder, mixed with water, then applied to the crack, and smoothed with a trowel. For a smoother look, fill in deep expansion joints with a liquid concrete leveler - opens in new window or tab..
Oxalic acid solutions can remove any stubborn rust stains. Some applications require the garage to be at a specific temperature before application, and some will emit strong fumes. Make sure there’s adequate ventilation.
Many modern concrete garage flooring slabs are engineered with post-tension cables. The concrete is typically stamped with a notice about the post-tension slab. Do not cover up or fill in this notice when installing new flooring.
Most new flooring requires waiting a few days before driving on the surface. This waiting period is critical to allow the products to cure and bond to the concrete. Plan for this delay, and find a good place to store tools and vehicles during this time. A beautiful new garage floor is well worth the wait.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.