Sweet Garage Flooring

Instead of actually installing an entire floor, you may want to go the route of containment mats.  They’re less expensive, to be sure, but you don’t get the effect of covering the entire garage.  Of course, you have to ask yourself, is it really worth it to cover the entire garage?  If you’re only going to be working in one area, or if you just want to protect the garage floor from the oozings of one car, then maybe it would make more sense to just buy a containment mat.  Garage floor containment mats are nice in that they can be moved about and taken out of the garage for easy cleanup.  They’re also very easy to replace should you somehow destroy or damage it.  Generally speaking, a garage floor containment mat is only going to be a good idea if you’re only protecting a small part of your garage floor.  If you want to protect the entire garage floor, you’ll want to do something more comprehensive, such as tiling or possibly a full garage floor mat; one that covers the entire garage floor instead of just a part.

Garage floor containment mats can also be combined, often snapping together so that you could eventually cover the entire garage, or at least a good bit of it.  They are lightweight, making them easy to move around, and very easy to clean.  Just take them out of the garage and spray them off, and then you’re done.  Like any other type of garage floor, containment mats will do a good job of protecting the concrete on which they are placed; it’s just that they won’t be placed on quite as much concrete.  So it really depends on exactly how much of your garage floor you expect to dirty and/or destroy as to which type of garage floor you would want to use.

Another option would be garage floor tiles.  Peel and stick tiles beautify garages, but can also be used in pretty much any other work areas or shops.  They’re easy to install and custom fit.  They also hide stains and cracks in concrete floors, just like mats.  Garage floor tiles can also be used to protect floors so that they don’t get stained or cracked in the first place, which is, of course, the better idea, but hindsight is always 20/20, right?  I suppose after you’ve already dropped the car onto its axles, oil pan, and transmission pan, the condition of the garage floor is the least of your worries.  Not that I would know anything about that.

Garage floor tiles often have a patterned design that will keep dirt and debris from being tracked into the home, again, much like the garage floor mats.  They also provide cushioning and are very durable.  By the time they’re installed, you’ll have a virtually sealed, non-porous surface on which to work.  There are types of garage floor tiles that have sticky backing so that you simply remove the cover and slap them onto the concrete.  These are better if you’re in a situation where you’ll be turning wheel, as a garage floor mat can bunch up, depending on circumstances.  Interlocking garage floor tiles can also bunch up, but it’s not very likely.  They’re designed to grip the concrete, just like tires.

Burning out on either tiles or mats is not recommended, as you run the risk of losing control of the car, ramming the back of the garage, having the garage collapse on the car (ruining your nice new garage floor, as well as your car), setting the car on fire and alighting the entire garage and any nearby structure into a huge fireball of death.  Boom.  No one likes boom.  Well, some people like boom, but those people are either ballistics experts or in jail.  Or they will be in jail.  It really depends on what they’ve already tried to blow up.

Garage floor mats come in various types of patterns and materials.  These garage floor protectors are some of the most varied available, and are also often the best at doing their job, provided they can cover enough of your floor to suit your purpose. It will take you some work and research to decide exactly which type is going to be best for your purposes.

There’s ribbed mats, mats with coin or diamond patterns, and some places sell less expensive matting that has almost no pattern at all.

Most of the time, when you buy garage floor mats, they come in one big size that you just cut with a pair of scissors or utility knife and lay out on the floor.  This is easy installation at its finest.  If you do need to split the mat, you can overlap or connect the mats together for a seamless look, as long as the mats have those types of edges.  No adhesives are required.  They’ll protect the concrete, prevent soil and water contamination, and channel liquid and debris out of the garage for easier cleanup.

Garage floor mats are cushioned for comfort when either walking, standing, or working.  They’re coated so as not to absorb liquids or chemicals, and they have a fresh scent that will keep the garage smelling great.  Garage floor mats are ultra durable, generally lasting years, and provide a slip resistant surface.  They’re anti-static and non-conductive as well.  The mats can even be laid in doubles where extra cushion is needed, such as under a car where you might be laying on your back, or on the sides where you may be doing a lot of kneeling.  Anyone who has done any major work on a car can appreciate the idea of having some type of cushioning under the body part that’s making contact with the hard, cold concrete.

Many places offer free, fast shipping, and prices are generally pretty reasonable, generally under $2 per foot.  It’s obviously much faster to lay out a rubber mat than it would be to paint the entire garage floor or install a epoxy kit, and often it’s quite a bit cheaper as well.

Garage floor mats are probably your best option if you’re planning on doing a lot of work in your garage and want the ability to just chunk it and start over if it gets ruined by something, though they’re durable enough that they’re not likely to be ruined.  There are other types of garage floor protectors, but they also have their downfalls. Although not as durable as epoxy, mats are much easier to install, and although not as mobile as containment mats, regular floor mats are designed to be driven upon and will, by nature, cover more area.