Garage Floor Options

[Dave Gray]

I've been updating my garage lately.

But with each upgrade, then thing next to it that you didn't upgrade looks like crap.

First, I took my old kitchen cabinets and installed them and made a pegboard backsplash, in place of a 2x4 shelving rack that the previous owner had put in.


Then the other side of the room looked like a pile of tools and racks on the ground, so I installed a pegboard wall and redid my workbench.


Unfortunately, those upgrades have highlighted how crappy the floor looks.  It's got peeling paint and additional paint spills and stains.


So, I have a few choices, but am open to others.
Option 1: Do nothing
+ I have to do nothing, because who cares; it's a garage and it's gonna get messy again anyway.
- It looks like ass

Option 2: Re-paint it gray
+ Cheap...the cost of a gallon of paint.
- Looks slightly assy, but better.
- I could paint around everything, so aside from cleaning the floor pretty well, minor work involved.

Option 3: Epoxy Floor

+ Relatively inexpensive...prob $200 for the whole job.
- LOTS of work on my part, which includes clearing out the entire garage, including defrosting a freezer, moving a large dresser, and some stand up cabinetry that might not survive the move.
- Takes several days to install and dry.
- Lifespan of the product isn't all that long....2-10 years.

Option 4: Interlocking Mats

- Costly
+ Allows for replacement of individual tiles if there's a spill.
+ Would still have to move things, but could replace them immediately

Option 5: Peel and Stick Vinyl

I don't know much about this one, but I think it's similar to interlocking mats...just not thick or squishy.
- Costly. 


Have any of you done these?  What would you recommend?

[ArtieChokePhin]

I'd go with the re-paint.   It seems like the most convenient option for you and you wouldn't have to move all that stuff out of the garage.   I didn't know you had an Imperial Storm Trooper living in your garage.  LOL

[Tenshot13]

My garage came with epoxy floors and I love them.  I've only been living in the house since September but I see no wear and tear so far, and it looks great.

[CF DolFan]

The mats look the best so if you can afford it I'd say do that. My next choice would be the epoxy paint. I think that's what I'm going to do with both my garage and my workshop.

[masterfins]

I have a similar decision to make.  Last time I tried using this one-part epoxy garage floor paint, put a couple coats of concrete sealer down to aid the adhesion, and parts of it peeled up the very first year.  Of course my problem is that I live in the northeast and the only time I park my car in the garage is the winter.  So all the snow and salt from the car drip on the floor and ruin the paint.  Where I live there is this company that resurfaces the concrete fills in gaps and refinishes, looks a lot like the epoxy picture you have, and it's very durable, but VERY expensive.  I was thinking of painting along the edges, then putting down a rubber mat over the main section, like an area rug.  They sell these one piece mats in large rolls like a remnant carpet.

[Phishfan]

The questions you need to answer are how much do you want to spend and how long do you want to get out of it. Regular paint will be cheapest but probably won't even last you a year. You can get variants of epoxy paint. As a former painter i could tell a difference in using the two part you need to mix. The interlocking mats seem very cool to me.

[fyo]

I'd go with a real 2-component epoxy. The concrete needs to be cleaned and prepped properly, but the results are amazing (imho) and last for a really long time (certainly more than 10 years). Localized damage can be fixed fairly easily, so unless your prep wasn't good or your underlying concrete has problems, you should have a great-looking solution with a bit of maintenance.

[masterfins]

Why is it that if you accidentally spill some paint on the garage floor it lasts forever, but if you actually paint the floor it peels up within a year.

[Dave Gray]

Why is it that if you accidentally spill some paint on the garage floor it lasts forever, but if you actually paint the floor it peels up within a year.

Holy shit.  You're blowing my mind right now.

[Fau Teixeira]

maybe the trick is to accidentally paint the floor, then it'll last forever

[Sunstroke]

Go with the epoxy...

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Why is it that if you accidentally spill some paint on the garage floor it lasts forever, but if you actually paint the floor it peels up within a year.

Thickness of which the paint was applied. 

[ArtieChokePhin]

Thickness of which the paint was applied. 

Now Biff, I want two coats of paint, not just one

[CF DolFan]

Dave ... have you done this project or at least decided which way you are going?

[Dave Gray]

The suggestions and pros/cons from here were very, very helpful actually.

I haven't made a concrete decision to act on now because it's not a super pressing problem, but I think I'm leaning towards the mats, like you suggested.

I will likely just wait around and maybe a good deal with come along from Costco or something.

I'm the kind of person who would rather spend the money to do something perfectly than to kinda half-ass something I'm not 100% happy with.  I'd rather wait and have it done perfectly than do "good enough" now.  And if the mats will look the best and it's a cost issue, I think I'll end up going with that.  But also, I can do that job at my own pace and not have to empty out the whole garage for days at a time.