When it comes to garage flooring, how do we even start measuring options? What are the different types of garage flooring and which is best for your budget, style, and function?

If you are looking for the most bare-bones approach possible, we’d recommend you just go with straight concrete flooring. However, we get the sense you’re here because you want more than that. To start, there are two categories of flooring: coatings and coverings. The names are relatively self-explanatory in that coatings such as paint and epoxy are applied directly to the floor while coverings such as tiles and mats lay on top of the floor.

Let’s start with coatings. For a simple, chic look that is easy to apply, choose a color paint that you like and simply roll it onto a clean floor. The benefit of this approach is that you will cover up any floor stains at a very low cost without much effort on your part. That said you get what you pay for here. The paint will get marked up and crack over time, especially with hot cars rolling over it, so you may want something more reliable. That is where epoxy comes in.

Epoxy is a much tougher material that will be able to withstand wear and tear better than paint, while also giving the floor a shiny, presentable appearance. The downside is that applying epoxy is more labor-intensive and expensive. It is also somewhat dangerous to do yourself so you may want to hire a professional. The benefit, however, is that you only have to do it once and it will last a long, long time. The most important thing to keep in mind when laying your coatings, whether paint or epoxy, is to apply them onto a clean, dry floor to allow them to fully stick.

If you decide to forgo a coating, you can merely cover up the concrete with some material instead. This is an especially good option if the concrete beneath has cracks that you are seeking to cover up. When using a coating, you would need to repair these cracks first, but with a covering, you can just leave them be. The downside to coverings is that they tend to be more expensive than coatings, so keep that in mind when making your decision.

There are two types of coverings: interlocking tiles and floor mats. Interlocking tiles are made of a stiff plastic material, which can withstand the kinds of spills and heat that come with having cars rolling over them. They only take a few hours to install and then they are set. Cleaning interlocking tiles is very easy. Floor mats are even easier to install than interlocking tiles; simply roll them over the floor. They may not necessarily look as interesting, but they get the job done by covering up the garage floor and protecting it from abuse.

So there you have it. These are the best flooring options for your garage. If you have a large budget, we’d recommend going with a covering whereas if you don’t have as much to spend a covering will be your best bet. As to which one you pick, it really comes down to personal preference and looks. Take your time to consider the options and pick which is best for you.