Comparing Garage Floor Coverings to Paint

By Gabriel Flores

In new construction garages, garage floor coverings are all the rave. Although one might think of paint as the most obvious solution, there are many garage floor covering options available for consideration. When you are making the decision about the look and feel you want for your floor, pause to reflect on the reasons paint may be out shined by a garage floor covering. In this article we will discuss a variety of garage floor coverings available to you outside the standard painted floor.

Garage Floor Coverings Means Simple Installation

There are mats available in sizes for both the entire garage or for smaller contained areas. The mats that are used in specific areas of the garage are called garage compartment mats since they do only cover one actual compartment. The garage floor mats, rather they cover the entire floor or just one or a few compartments, are easy to install compared to tile or paint. For the entire garage floor one would simply cut the mats down to the proper size. Although compartment mats cannot usually be cut, they come in a variety of sizes and can be snapped together to form a liquid proof seal or even stacked upon each other. If one had the inclination to cover the entire garage floor with the compartment mats it could be done, but at a cost considerably higher than the approximately $100 for a paint kit. Keep in mind also that the compartment mats move easily, regardless of many manufacturers claims to the contrary, and car tires cause them to bunch and bend.

Garage Floor Coverings Means Simple Replacements

Coverings are also a lot easier to replace. A damaged or stained epoxy garage floor coating means either living with it, or replacing it, which may include sanding down to the concrete. A garage floor mat can just be tossed in the garbage, or recycled. Convenient but, again, expensive. Both paint kits and mats claim that they cannot be stained and are not easily damaged, but what is advertised and what actually happens may or may not be the same. Tile are also easily replaced, provided you can get replacements that match and that your old ones are not too faded.

Garage Floor Coverings Can Provide Comfort

In comparison to a bare concrete garage floor, epoxy paint is probably a lot nicer to walk around on, which is what they advertise. However, compared to garage floor coverings that are made of thick rubber, epoxy will probably feel like concrete. This also applies if you are laying or sitting down to work on a car. The ideal solution would be a comfy mat on top of a painted floor but, again, money is often the limiting factor.

Could You Afford A Garage Floor Covering

For many cases, garage floor mats are going to be a cheaper solution. If you are planning to cover your entire floor, right now, and are able to apply a paint kit yourself, then epoxy will be cheaper. In any other case, it will not. Paying someone to apply epoxy is expensive, but there aren't many people that can't throw down a garage floor mat without help. - 29952

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