There is a large catalog of options available for you to choose from when upgrading your garage flooring. Tile, polished concrete, and epoxy coating are the three most popular.
They all have the key characteristics you’re looking for: they look great, they protect the garage floor, and they help prevent slips and falls. They also all add value to your home, making it even more attractive to prospective home buyers.
Epoxy Coating: Professional or DIY
Professionally applied epoxy coating is long-lasting and offers a variety of color and style options. It also offers easy cleaning as well as resistance to stains, chemicals, and impact. Its short curing time of 18 to 24 hours means you’re back in your garage in no time at all. Its one shortcoming is that it doesn’t adhere very well to concrete in high humidity environments.
There are a number of do-it-yourself kits that offer limited cost savings. But a DIY approach requires time, effort, the necessary tools, and protective wear—not to mention renting the expensive machine required to prepare the floor. On top of that, there’s no warranty and it’s more than likely that you’ll be applying a follow-up coating every few years.
Professionally applied epoxy coating starts at $3 per square foot and depending on styles and other options could run as high as $12 per square foot, with installation included. That means an average 500 square foot two-car garage would cost from $1,500 to $6,000.
Tile Flooring: Ceramic, Stone, and Flexible Plastic
Ceramic and stone flooring tiles come in a wide variety of textures, styles, and colors. They are also durable and long-lasting. However, they can break, crack, and stain. They also require grout that will need to be replaced over time.
Plastic tiles are strong, durable, and come in a variety of options, from hard plastic to flexible PVC to vented tiles. There is no cracking, and they are slip-resistant even when wet. Cleaning is a breeze. However, they do pick up stains and can present challenges in extreme heat and cold with expansion and contraction.
Tile flooring costs start at $3 and go up to $6 per square foot, including installation costs. That means an average one-car garage at 250 square feet would run from $750 to $1,500.
Polished Concrete Flooring
Polished concrete floors have a wide range of color and pattern options. The polishing options range from high gloss to matte. They are stain-resistant, notably durable, easily cleaned, and can last 20 years or more. They also withstand high humidity and moisture. The one snag is that this type of flooring requires a lengthy curing time from two to four weeks.
The costs run from $3 per square foot to $8 per square foot. Detailed patterns and a large number of colors in a flooring design can reach up to $15 per square foot. For the entire project, a two-car 500 square foot garage can cost as low as $1,500 up to the very highest level of $22,500. But these floors can truly be works of art.
That’s our round-up of the garage flooring options available along with the anticipated costs. While you could consider a DIY approach, it really is best to let the professionals take care of things.
As you consider the full range of options for your garage, we can provide estimates and exact prices for every option. Contact New Hampshire Garage for a free on-site consultation.
