Tiles are a fairly well used garage flooring option. They will provide similar protection of the concrete garage floor as paint, but can be quite a bit simpler for the average homeowner to install. This article will address some of the disadvantages and advantages of garage floor tile to provide the reader with an idea of if tiles will be their best option.

The Cost Of Garage Floor Tile

Garage flooring is going to be one of your cheaper and easier home improvement tasks. Garage floor tiles, however, can up the price considerably. Buying a kit that covers a single car garage could set you back anywhere from $200 to over $500, features and brands depending. The only thing that comes close, price wise, is a garage floor mat, so compare the prices between tiles and mats before you decide which one is best for you.

When Should Garage Floor Tile Be Used?

When looking around, keep in mind that there are a couple of types of garage tiles. Peel and stick are the more popular, and generally are cheaper, but there is also the interlocking type that use traction and their combined weight to stay put. The peel and stick ones typically last a bit longer, but the interlocking ones are easier to install and can be used in just about any garage. Since they have to stick to the ground, though, the peel and stick ones can be used only in garage where there is little to no cracking and not much heavy staining.

Garage Floor Tile Installation

Excepting mats, depending on which one you use, garage floor tiles are probably the easiest solution to install. Peel and stick tiles are just what they sound like, and interlocking ones snap together. Nothing is difficult about either install. though when using the peel and stick ones, you have to be absolutely sure that the floor is spotless as you wouldn\’t want the sticky backing attaching itself to dust and dirt. Since the interlocking garage floor tiles just click together, the install is similar to a mat, and you generally just have to lay it out on the floor without worrying too terribly much about how clean it is. Of course, their inherent design as well as any dust or dirt can cause them to move and crunch when you don\’t want them to.

Garage Floor Tile Maintenance (Or Lack Thereof)

For most garage floor tiles, maintenance is similar to what you would do on a linoleum floor. Since they are designed to be sprayed off, and generally do not absorb chemicals, cleaner is not often necessary, and generally a wet mop is all that is needed. Abrasive garage flooring cleaners obviously should not be used since those are usually made for concrete. Instead, if soap is needed, your average floor cleaner will usually do the trick. Be sure to read the directions of your particular product, though, as some types of cleaners may affect the finish on your garage floor tile.

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Many times, etching is overlooked when people are applying garage floor paint. However, etching is necessary if you want your garage floor coating to be the best that it can be. Contrary to what some would say, most garage floor coatings are usable without any etching at all, but not only will the epoxy paint not last nearly as long, you will also be losing some of the best features.

When It Comes To A Garage Floor, What Is Etching?

A definition of etching is basically cutting into a surface. An example that is not garage flooring would be glass etching. This etching is usually done for beautification reasons, though a better grip generally results as well. When speaking of garage floors, most do not etch specifically for decorative purposes, though the texturing that results is sometimes considered preferable to a slick mirror finish.

Is There Any Reason That I Should Etch Before Applying Epoxy Garage Floor Paint?

You don’t have to etch your concrete garage floor when applying epoxy, but there are some very good reasons why you will probably want to. For one, the increased traction that epoxy can provide comes from etching, and it will be absent if the floor is not etched. This can cause slips, falls, and other assorted chaos, and driving on such a slick surface can also be irritating. If the intention is to do a lot of work in your garage, etching is definitely the way to go.

What If My Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Kit Says Etching Is Not Required On The Label?

Realistically speaking, etching really isn’t ever necessarily required for any garage floor coating. Keep in mind, though, that if your kit’s directions tell you to etch your concrete before applying, then you probably should if you want to get any amount of life out of the product. This is because, if your concrete is not etched, the epoxy paint will not be able to create a seal, and will also peel much faster. Although there’s not a definitive time limit on when epoxy garage floor paint will start peeling naturally, you’ll definitely be cutting its lifespan considerably if you choose not to etch. Some kits even advertise that they don’t require etching, but don’t be fooled. This is usually just hype, those coatings don’t last very long, and even they generally say that, to get the most life from your epoxy garage floor paint, you should etch the concrete first.

At What Point In The Painting Process Should I Etch My Garage Floor?

Many of the more expensive epoxy garage floor coating kits will come with some sort of “etch and clean” chemical, and will come with explicit directions. When purchasing your epoxy garage floor paint, you will get the best value from the ones that include everything you need, as opposed to buying the chemicals separately. Whether in a kit, or purchased separately, etching should generally be applied to the garage flooring as the first step. If the etching product does not also clean, then cleaning your concrete garage floor will be what comes next.

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I’ve done quite a few articles on garage floor coverings and coatings, but I realize that a lot of people can’t afford to buy such things on a whim. Unfortunately, it’s those people that don’t have a lot of money that tend to change their own oil, which is probably the easiest way to stain your garage floors. Personally, I once had a Subaru that had this wonderful plastic cover whose bolts went up behind the bumper cover, going over the drain bolt. They were nice enough to leave a hole to get to the bolt, but unfortunately the oil did not drain in the direction that they must have intended, because I generally ended up with an overhead oil sprinkler. Great fun.

Preventing Stains

Now, I probably should have just paid for a garage floor mat to park it on or, if nothing else, a small compartment mat just for changing the oil, though there may not be a compartment mat big enough to contain this kind of mess. Regardless, the end result was a very gross, very stained floor.

Clean That Spill Up ASAP!

It does matter. Don’t just let the oil or whatever sit on the concrete garage floor. Soak it up with a rag or something, and cleaning the stain will be a lot easier. The longer it sits, the darker and bigger the stain will be. Concrete is porous, so it will absorb just about anything, but it absorbs it pretty slowly, and used motor oil is kind of thick. If you can afford it, use some sort of crystals to soak the oil up. Generally all you have to do is drop the crystals onto the stain, and they will absorb much of the oil, but not always all of it. Let it sit for the prescribed amount of time, then sweep it up and throw it away. Many people swear by kitty litter, and I’ve tried that, but even though it wasn’t the clumping variety, it still clumped, so I basically ended up with an oily mountain range on my still nasty concrete

Using Garage Floor Stain Remover

I’ve had, and heard of, mixed luck with garage floor stain removers. They seem to be hit or miss, and I haven’t heard of any cure-all. Even the best ones tend to leave a slightly visible blemish on the concrete, so I don’t know if that’s really worth it to you. They generally run around ten bucks for a bottle that’s meant to treat a smallish area, so if you have a big oil spill in your garage, you might need to find a bigger bottle.

If You Just Can’t Remove That Garage Floor Stain…

If nothing else, you can always buy a garage floor covering whenever you do get the money. These can be expensive, though. Sometimes you can use an epoxy garage floor coating once the floor is cleaned to the kit’s specifications, but you’ll have to find one that supports this. There’s also the option of just buying a set of snap-together garage floor tiles, or one of the many garage floor mats out there, and not worrying about the staining, or even future stains as both garage floor tile and mats are generally stain resistant. However, if you end up with a really big stain that just won’t go away, don’t use the peel and stick type of tiles since the sticky stuff won’t last very long placed up against oil. The stain may not want to come out at your behest, but it will have no problem eating the bottoms of garage floor paint or other garage floor coverings.

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It’s not difficult at all to apply an epoxy garage floor coating, but if your body isn’t up to it, it can be a chore. The first thing you should ask yourself, if you plan to install your own epoxy is: can I bend over for hours on end? If you cannot, then plan either to have someone apply the epoxy garage floor coating for you, or maybe consider a different flooring option altogether.

Follow Directions When Applying Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating!

Assuming you do decide that you want to lay your own epoxy garage floor coating, here is a quick rundown of all the steps you will need to follow. Keep in mind, regardless of what this or any guide on the web says, always follow the directions specific to your epoxy garage floor coating kit. Anything found here or anywhere else should just be considered a rough guide to give you an idea of exactly what it is you will be doing. The last thing any friendly article wants to do is lead you to messing up your garage flooring.

Picking Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Kit

Deciding, then picking up the epoxy garage floor coating kit of your choice is your obvious first step. As this is something that really can’t be damaged in transit, buying epoxy online is a really good way to pinch some pennies. If you’ve never done anything like this before, definitely try to get a kit that has a DVD for instructions. They generally don’t cost any more than those without, it’s just an added feature that some companies put in their kits. If color is important to you, be picky. With all of the options out there, there’s no reason to settle, especially since an epoxy garage floor coating will probably last decades. Most people don’t put their garage flooring on their grand tour of the house, but there’s no reason to be embarrassed by it.

Getter The Garage Ready For Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

After you’ve got your kit in hand, it’s time to clean the concrete garage floor. Most epoxy garage floor coating kits can be installed over the top of an existing coat, if one exists. Again, refer to the instructions for your kit. If that’s not an option, or if your existing paint is damaged, sanding down to the concrete garage floor might be a better idea.

Laying Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

Most kits start their instructions with mixing. Once you have cleaned your concrete garage floor, that will probably be the next step. Again, follow the directions, or you can easily mess up the entire process. The instructions are generally quite easy to follow, but you do have to pay attention. Take the time to read them a few times before you even start; it’s worth it. Once the epoxy part is down, you’ll be applying the color flakes, should you choose to use them and your kit have them. Although they are far from necessary, they do add a bit of random color. After all of this has dried, the next step is the top layer, or the paint itself. After that, if you’ve done everything right, your garage floors should be nice and shiny!

Check out Sweet Garage Floor for more information on installing an epoxy garage floor coating.

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