Garage Flooring Finishing
Apply an Epoxy Floor Finish, Vinyl sheet Goods, or Rubber Tiles
Oct 14, 2008
Back in the day, most residential garages housed the family car, a workbench, the lawnmower, and some cardboard boxes full of goofy Halloween decorations that just didn't fit anywhere else. Today, many garages are family rooms, man caves, or wood and craft workshops.
So what are some of these flooring options? Here's a few that are popular today for customizing the space while increasing the equity and value of the home.
Epoxy Garage Flooring Finish
Note: When working with these products, wear protective gloves and safety glasses. Also, ensure that the work area is well ventilated.
A garage floor epoxy finish (epoxy paint system) is one of the most popular today, and for good reason: it's easy to clean, it resists oil stains, and it beads water just like a freshly detailed car. No need to hire a professional flooring contractor either. This is a great DIY project. Here's the basic steps -
- Prepare and wash the area. This ensures starting from a clean slate.
- Acid etch the concrete surface. This step provides a deep cleaning and gives the epoxy a good surface to bond to.
- Got cracks? Repair them by filling them with a concrete/mortar repair compound.
- Prepare the epoxy paint. There are two components: the epoxy paint and a hardener (sometimes called a catalyst). Mix well and set it aside for a half hour to let the process begin to work its magic.
- Apply the epoxy. This is just like painting a sheetrock wall; cut in the corners and then roll the open field.
- Sow the color flakes as the sections are painted. This means distributing them evenly by hand.
- Apply the top coat. Just like before, mix well and let it rest for a half hour. Anti-skid granules are added now if desired.
- Allow the manufacturer's recommended curing time before using the garage.
Vinyl Garage Flooring
Vinyl sheet goods; it's not just for the interior of the home. Vinyl has several things going for it. It's anti-static, which is an advantage in the dry winter months. It's anti-slip by design. Installation is easy; simply clean the concrete surface and either butt sheets together or overlap.
Vinyl also provides a moisture barrier. If the garage is being used as a shop, an additional advantage is that is that the vinyl sheet is slightly cushioned, relieving back and leg pain caused by standing in front of a lathe, table saw, or drill press for extended periods of time.
Rubber-Based Flooring Systems
Rubber is a good alternative to vinyl. It comes in tiles as well as sheet goods. This is important when the homeowner is getting creative with patterns. Although it varies by manufacturer, rubber is more cushioned and shock-absorbing than vinyl.
Rubber floor tiles are usually installed using a locking system. Installation is simply a matter of doing a layout similar to what would be done with a ceramic tile floor, and then simply starting, adding, and locking. Any trimming are easily done with a straightedge and a utility or an X-acto knife.
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