Garage Floor Paint or a Garage Floor Covering?
You've decided to revamp your garage and your first choice is flooring. This is what will make the difference between a tired-looking old room and an area where you want to park your pride and joy, keep equipment and use as storage. You will likely have a search to see the options that are out there and find there may be more than first thought, but there is one key choice, whether to paint your floor or lay a garage floor covering in the form of tiles or rolls.
There are benefits to each, and this article should help you decide which option to go for, taking into account your budget, desired look and use of the area you would like to re-vamp.
We have carried out extensive research to help explain the upsides and downsides of the most commonly used types of paint and floor coverings in commercial and domestic garages.
Garage Floor Paint:
This comes in a variety of guises, typically being either labelled as 'Garage Floor Paint', which is actually a water-based latex or acrylic paint, or an Epoxy Resin. Both effectively have the same purpose, to permanently cover your garage floor with a hard-wearing, tough and resistant coating. However, there are some primary points to note before taking the leap.
Water-based Latex or Acrylic Paint:
Often used for a cosmetic 'uplift' rather than a permanent practical solution, water-based latex or acrylic paint requires a clean surface and is runny enough for a fast application and dry-time. Occasionally these paints contain a small amount of Epoxy to give the impression to the end customer, i.e. you, that they will have the same attributes and characteristics of true Epoxy paint, however this is not strictly true.
Epoxy Paint:
A full Epoxy paint kits contain 2 parts, which when mixed together cure into a solid finish. When applied this creates a higher quality, glossier finish than generic Water based latex or Acrylic Paint. The glossy finish means the surface is easy to clean but can be less grippy when wet than water-based paint or a non-slip floor covering.
Pro's and Con's of using Garage Floor Paint:
Pro's -
- Can give a 'professional' aesthetic if applied correctly
- Cost-effective
- No cutting is required
- Glossy finish can be achieved
Con's-
- Cold underfoot
- Must be applied onto a flat, dry surface
- Any imperfections in the substrate surface will show
- Can be prone to flaking
- Drying times cause a delay in being able to use your garage after covering
- No patterns
- Hard to replace / re-cover if damaged
- Can not be re-used or moved
Garage Floor Tiles and Rolls:
When looking to cover your garage floor there are two ways of doing this, with either tiles or rolls. Available in a variety of thicknesses, colours, materials and patterns you have a wide range of choice.
Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles:
Interlocking PVC garage floor tiles are a simple to lay, protective and anti-slip floor covering which will last the test of time. PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a very hard-wearing, oil-resistant and anti-slip Polymer which in tile form, when interlocked, creates a durable and protective surface over the top of the existing garage floor. Due to the solid characteristics of the interlocking floor tiles, they prevent rising damp and can be laid onto an uneven surface.
Garage Flooring Rolls:
Rolls are a popular choice for covering large garages due to the variety of patterns, thicknesses and materials available as well as a budget-friendly cost. Available in PVC or NR/SBR (Rubber), these are best to be laid with adhesive however can also be loose laid if their application does not need to be permanent. For further information on which Tiles or Rolls are best follow this link!
Pro's -
- Simple to fit, especially if adhesives not required
- Can cover minor imperfections in the substrate
- Available in a variety of patterns
- Helps to insulate your garage
- Can be replaced if damaged
- Can be re-used if adhesives are not required
- Easy to clean and maintain
Con's -
- Tiles Premium finish means higher cost
- Not a seamless finish unless rolls fit the exact area
- Cuts may be required
In conclusion, if you have a new garage with a good substrate and would like a neat, clearcoat finish then paint could be the choice for you. However, if you are looking to revamp a used garage and would like an easy to lay, tough and dependable flooring that still looks good, opt for either tiles or rolls. At Polymax we offer a variety of garage floor coverings in the form of tiles or rolls, click here to see our range.
