Garage flooring ideas: upgrade your garage with strong, smart floors
Whether you’re planning a new build garage or upgrading an existing one, garage flooring ideas are a key part of the project. Revamping garage floors might not sound like the most exciting prospect, but the results will be worth it. Garages are busy spaces and require flooring that is durable, good-looking, and easy to clean.
The material and covering you select for your floors will largely depend on how you use your garage. Do you need to store a car or have you converted your garage into an extra room? Perhaps you’re setting up a workshop in the garage. Or maybe your garage is kitted out with shelving as a useful storage hub.
You can stick to simple garage flooring ideas or let loose with metallic tiles, rubber flooring, or bold epoxy resin. Read on for a selection of ideas and some useful advice on how to find the best garage flooring solutions for your needs.
Garage flooring ideas – coating or covering?
Garage flooring ideas can be broadly split into floor coatings and coverings.
Floor coatings
From painted garage floor ideas to tough concrete sealants, a floor coating is less expensive than a covering such as tiles.
A floor coating is a great solution for those looking at cheap garage flooring ideas – if using the space as a workshop or to store the car, for example. However, it can require intensive and time-consuming preparation before you start, and might not be suitable if you have persistently moist floors.
Floor coverings
Meanwhile, a floor covering such as vinyl or tile can refresh your garage floor and make it look like new. It can cover up cracks, dents, and pitted surfaces quickly and effectively – but comes at a greater cost.
If you’ve converted your garage into a gym, an extra bedroom, or a boot room, a new garage floor will bump up the usability and aesthetics of the space.
We always recommend hiring the expertise of a professional builder or floor fitter who will ensure an expert finish.
Add your postcode to the search bar below to find experts who can help to select and install the ideal garage flooring for your needs.
8 of the best garage flooring ideas for your home
1. Seal concrete as a cheap garage flooring idea
It’s easy to see why tough concrete floors are a great solution for the garage.
Concrete is such a resilient material that can easily withstand daily wear and tear. So, it makes perfect sense to choose concrete for garage workshop flooring ideas and car storage.
However, it’s important to make sure concrete floors are properly sealed to protect them against potential oil spills, stains, marks, and grease.
Here’s why:
- Sealing also stops moisture from creeping in, which can cause mould and other problems
- Once your new concrete floor is poured, it can be ‘ground’ or polished with grinding machinery. This creates a smooth finish before sealing
- You might fancy a high-shine finish or staining too – but this will cost extra
- The cheaper option is to seal the concrete yourself – great if you’re looking for inexpensive garage flooring ideas. You can do this quite easily and affordably with a pot of concrete sealant from your local DIY shop
- Just make sure you clean and prepare the concrete floor before you rush in with a sealant or stain. You can remove dirt and debris by scrubbing with a brush and warm, soapy water or use a pressure washer for a more efficient blast
- Do repair any cracks or damaged areas too before you start
But to save you a job – and if you want extras like a high-shine finish or staining – why not get a quote from a local tradesperson?
2. Consider vinyl for garage floor ideas uk
For garage conversions that need a fresh new floor, consider synthetic vinyl. Discover what’s best for your particular job: tiles, planks, or sheet?
It’s a durable option that’s easy to maintain and mostly on the budget-friendly side if you’re on the hunt for cheap garage flooring ideas.
Vinyl is an amazing option for a garage conversion such as a home gym. It’s simple to lay, easy to keep clean, and can be repaired if you discover a tear. This type of flooring is also great for heat and sound insulating properties and can quickly cover up any marks or stains on the subfloor underneath.
Read all about the differences between vinyl and laminate floors in our handy blog. You can put your DIY skills to the test if you fancy laying a new vinyl floor yourself.
To get a top-notch job though, we recommend getting in touch with an experienced flooring specialist in your area.
3. Choose a tough garage floor idea
Seek out specialist, durable floor tiles in rubber or PVC for a smart garage flooring idea.
Interlocking garage floor tiles can transform your garage or workshop. Attractive and low maintenance, they can quickly and easily cover up flaking paint and poorly laid or dusty concrete.
Choose from a range of colours, patterns, and even custom designs for a cool garage floor idea. This sort of floor covering is generally more slip-resistant than rollout matting and more comfortable underfoot than rigid snap-together tiles.
Try non-slip PVC tiles for your electric car charging point. They work equally well with gym equipment in a garage conversion.
4. Try out a resin garage flooring idea
Garage floors need to be industrial workhorses. Whether it’s withstanding the weight of heavy cars, a barrage of scratches from tools and bikes, or the possibility of chemical spillages. Your garage flooring puts up with so many demands.
That’s why tough resin flooring is a superb choice as far as garage flooring ideas go. Epoxy resin is considered a top choice for your new garage flooring – find out how much this will cost in our resin floor cost guide.
It’s more expensive than sealed concrete or paint, for example, but the results are worth it. You’ll get a durable, chemical-resistant surface that looks visually smart too.
Take resin floors up a notch with an epoxy flake flooring system. With the added appeal of decorative flakes, the result is a bespoke epoxy floor that’s easy to clean and super strong.
5. Freshen up with painted garage floor ideas
Why not transform your concrete garage floor with a fresh lick of paint? It can be a cost-effective way to freshen up garage flooring and create a durable surface by filling in small cracks and keeping dust at bay.
Do be aware that painting a concrete floor isn’t the same as painting a room in the house. For starters, you need to use a special epoxy paint for the job.
But with proper prep and application, garage floor paint ideas, such as epoxy paint, are tough and beautifully glossy.
Here are some pointers:
- You can’t use normal paint as it won’t stick to the floor
- Instead, most concrete paint is made up of epoxy (around 40%) mixed with solvents to make it more spreadable
- Most thin-coat epoxies (as they are known) are two-part formulas you mix before rollering on (one-part epoxies come premixed)
- Floor preparation is key: if your concrete floor is power floated you might need to diamond grind or vacu-blast it to create a rougher surface for the paint to stick to
- If you have a self-levelling screed, it’s best to remove it so the paint can stick better
- Work fast to apply epoxies before they harden. You can’t drive on the surface until it’s cured completely – which can take up to a week
- For extra durability, consider applying a second coat of epoxy paint or a coat of urethane sealer
- You may need to re-coat every three to five years
- The total cost of painting concrete floors will depend on the state of your floor and the nature of the job
Read our cost guide to painting concrete floors. We recommended getting a professional on board to do this job.
6. Seek out snap-together floor tiles for garage flooring ideas (DIY)
Rigid floor tiles (made from plastic that’s stiffer than PVC or rubber) are another option for garage flooring ideas.
These are super tough and designed with industrial standards in mind that can take heavy loads. Spot on for garage workshop flooring ideas, car garages, and garage gym conversions.
Try a variety of colours and styles, including gridded and perforated versions that drain spills. They are also easy to clean and more chemical resistant than softer plastic tiles or mats.
This sort of modular flooring is easy to install, clicking together when you lay them out in a line. Do be aware that they will make a clacking noise underfoot.
7. Perk up your garage flooring ideas with polished concrete
Polished concrete floors are smart, striking, and unavoidably modern. You probably won’t want to bust the budget on a polished concrete surface if you’re using your garage simply to store your car or for a messy workshop.
However, for garage conversion rooms like a modern garden room, utility room, or kitchen garage extension, we think polished concrete floors are worth every penny.
Far from cold and slippery underfoot, polished concrete can be finished so it’s non-slip. They even support underfloor heating for the cosiest mood and can be coloured or tinted to showcase your personal design style.
Polished concrete is definitely one job best left to the professionals. Read our cost guide to polished concrete floors and discover the beauty of this contemporary choice.
8. Foam tiles for gym garage flooring idea
So you’ve converted your garage into a home gym – there’s now no excuse to work on those fitness goals!
And while you may have all the gym kit and equipment ready to go, don’t overlook the garage gym floor.
High-density rubber mats or interlocking foam tiles work well here. The cushioned floor will protect your screed from any dropped weights.
Not only that, they offer great sound insulation should things get noisy!
Seek out easy-to-clean mats and tiles for a hygienic workout hub that’ll be a pleasure to use every day. Time to work up a sweat!
Useful garage flooring checklist
- Look at how you’re going to use your garage – and decide if you need a floor coating or a floor covering
- If your garage floor is in good condition, a floor coating such as concrete paint or sealer can be effective
- Floor coatings are less expensive than a floor covering – perfect if you want cheap garage flooring ideas
- Look for coatings that protect against chemicals, stains, and moisture penetration
- Be aware of damp concrete before you choose a floor coating. Concrete floors that are persistently damp mean the paint or sealant are likely to chip or flake. Test for moisture before you take the plunge
- If you have dirty or damaged floors, coatings can require intensive – and quite time-consuming – preparation before you start
- Garage floor coverings are perfect for hiding cracks, pits, and blemishes – they can cover up a damaged floor and make it look like new
- Coverings fare well if you have ground moisture too – they won’t peel or de-laminate as some coatings can
- Try vinyl, interlocking tiles, and rubber matting – they are all super quick garage flooring ideas that can transform this hardworking space
- However, do be aware that garage floor coverings are pricier than a quick lick of paint or a sealant
Find an expert tradesperson for your garage flooring project
Whether you decide on a floor coating or covering for your garage, you’ll want to get it right first time.
For that reason, we always recommend hiring an experienced professional who will know the materials and preparation required for an expert job.
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