What is your garage used for, and what do you plan to do with it in the future? Is it just there for parking things in, or have you plans to actually work in your garage? Regardless, an epoxy garage floor coating or covering of some sort is essential but, if you intend to work in it, then you will want to be more specific. Garage flooring is, after all, an investment, and you might as well invest in the right thing!

Protection From Chemicals

If you are working in your garage, you will spill chemicals; that’s just the way it is. Motor oil, of course, is the first thing to come to mind, but it’s not alone. The manufacturers of most garage floor coatings and coverings seem to have thought of this, though, since pretty much all garage floors out there will deflect almost every type of chemical. However, if you would also like to manage the spilled chemicals, most garage floor mats and tiles actually channel the liquids, generally out of the garage. This is great because it makes a standard water hose into an awesome cleaning tool. Be careful that you don’t pollute the ground, though, as the chemicals flow out of the garage. Contrary to popular belief, diluting dangerous chemicals does not make them any safer to the Earth.

Resisting Wear And Tear From Cars

Epoxy garage floor paint has always caught flak in this area. Cars, especially in the summer, can have very hot tires by the time they are parked, and epoxy paint has long had a reputation of peeling when it comes in contact with hot car tires. In fact, there’s a term for the effect; it’s called “hot tire pickup.” Most companies who make epoxy paint say that, with their newer, more modern blends, this issue has been addressed. Practical experience, though, sometimes tells us otherwise, but keep in mind that what others say may also be the result of a botched install. Regardless, neither garage floor coverings or garage floor tiles exhibit these issues, though a mat will sometimes gather under car tires, especially when steering. That, too, is supposedly a thing of the past, though.

Deflecting Less Predictable Damage

Epoxy paint does not fare well here, either, due to chipping. When a dropped tool hits a garage floor mat, the result is usually a bouncing tool. However, if it hits paint, there will be a chip, and likely much cursing. Of course, an floor with epoxy paint is a lot stronger than a non-protected concrete garage floor, but anything solid is still going to be prone to this type of damage. Garage floor tile sometimes has the same problem, depending on the tiles’ consistency, but unlike epoxy, you can merely exchange the affected tiles for new if needed.

Outlasting The Elements

The ability to survive the elements depends a lot on, well, the elements. Epoxy will protect the concrete itself the best, there’s no doubt, but only if it’s not defeated by moisture. Make sure you test your concrete for excess moisture before considering epoxy. Tiles don’t do much when it comes to protecting from the elements, but they do help your concrete retain heat, which is good during the wintertime when concrete tends to split and crack. A garage floor covering, like a mat, will do even less, but it will still be better than no protection at all.

Visit Sweet Garage Floor for more information about every kind of garage floor out there.