Comparing Garage Floor Coverings to Paint
Garage floor coverings, such as mats or garage floor tiles, are quite popular in modern garages. Although paint is probably a more comprehensive solution, there are many reasons why people would want to use a garage floor covering instead. In case you were trying to decide which way to go with your floor, we’ll cover a few of the reasons why someone might choose garage floor coverings over paint. For the sake of this article, garage floor coverings will include anything that is not permanent, like paint would be.
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
With ease of install also comes easy replaceability. If you damage or stain an epoxy garage floor coating, you’re either stuck with it, or sanding it down and replacing it. With a garage floor mat, you just toss it and replace it. Again, convenient, but expensive. The manufacturers of both mats and paint kits seem to feel like their products cannot be stained but, of course, marketing and reality may yield two different results. Tiles can also be easily replaced since you can just pull the ones that get damaged, but the new ones might not match if your garage flooring is a few years old.
Garage Floor Coverings Are Nice To Step On
Epoxy kits claim that they make walking through the garage less jarring, and I’m sure that in comparison to a concrete garage floor, that is true. But garage floor coverings made of thick rubber are going to be a lot better at absorbing shock. This is true whether you’re walking around, or laying on them to work. That’s not to say you can’t get a garage floor mat and set it on top of a painted floor, of course.
Garage Floor Coverings Are Less Expensive…Sort Of
Epoxy paint is dirt cheap, there’s no doubt about that. If you need to cover your whole floor tomorrow, and you have no problem doing the work yourself, then epoxy away. However, if you have to pay someone to apply the epoxy, a big garage floor mat suddenly starts looking very attractive.
Check out Gabriel’s sweet garage floor for more information on garage floor coverings.
