Garage flooring options

[rivarama]

As spring approaches (hoping for a warm week end at some point) I am thinking of making my garage look a little nicer.
The walls are currently made of unpainted airblocks, which I want to paint white, while the floor is looking a little rough - coarse concrete.
I am trying to decide on options to make that floor looks and feel a little nicer.
So far I have identified 2 options: 1) painted with a couple of coats of heavy duty garage floor paint or 2) install heavy duty interlocking garage pads.

Although the first one has the advantage of being easy to install (2 layers of paint + curing time) and fairly cheap (prob £75-100 worth of paint), I am afraid it might not be hard wearing enough and might peel off when I drive the cars in/out. Esp as the floor isn’t made of super smooth concrete.

Option 2 seems to be a bit of a PITA to install, and definitely the most expensive options of the two £400-600 (30sqm to cover) - it looks fairly robust and hardwearing.
They seem to go for £4 a 50cmx50cm block on eBay.

Not sure whether you guy have a view on either - or - can think of something else.

Pics of your flooring would be a plus ;-))

 

[VMSRTI]

I went with an epoxy two pack coating a few years ago and very happy with it. Easy to clean and has held up really well.

 

[JonW]

I went the paint route, and regret it.

The paint has held up fairly well, and it’s definitely better than bare unsealed concrete. However, it has ripped up a bit under the wheels....

If I was starting again, I would do tiles.

 

[rockits]

I'm going through the same quantary at the moment. I'm currently favouring the PVC interlocking tiles although the most expensive option. Probably about 1k cost for my space.

I have unfinished concrete at the mo the same. To paint it you would need to seal it first either with an epoxy resin, floor levelling compound or some other sealant. You can then paint and expect the paint to stay down and last.

I'm just thinking the tiles will be best all round option as will insulate the garage a bit, you can also choose different colours or patterns. I can also fit them around the scissor lift.

I used Leyland Trade grey floor paint for my old small until and it worked well also lasted well.

I know Ecotile are my neck of the woods as done some work for them many years ago. They seem to be a good brand and company that has been around a while.

Anyone else know of any recommended PVC interlocking tile brand/suppliers?

Do you work in the garage or is it just to store a car/cars?

 

[lifes2short]

if you go down the route of painting use a high quality 2 pack, anything else will simply get pulled up by the tyres eventually

Watco Epoxy Gloss Coat - Epoxy Resin Floor Paint | Watco

Watco Epoxy Gloss Coat Solvent Free: An extremely tough, decorative industrial epoxy resin floor paint, with diamond hard wax and ceramic.Ideal for heavily trafficked warehouses and industrial floors

www.watco.co.uk

 

[Oneball]

I used 2 pack epoxy for mine, after sealing with a concrete sealer, about £150 all in for a 6m x 6m garage.

Works well, can get damaged but due to chipping the concrete rather than the paint.

I wouldn’t use a normal floor paint and tiles were too expensive in my mind.

 

[TimR]

Wow...that looks shiny ! Must have had good crete to start with.
I went both. One side 2pak epoxy. Metal working and such this side as clean up is much easier. Its hard wearing and do it right once..
The other side I used the interlocking tiles. its a faff to install but warmer under the feet in winter if standing at the bench longterm. It requires "housework' to keep it looking its best. I went with recycled...I probably wouldnt do it again for a working space as it is more designer than utilitarian IMO...

 

[Oneball]

Wow...that looks shiny ! Must have had good crete to start with.
I went both. One side 2pak epoxy. Metal working and such this side as clean up is much easier. Its hard wearing and do it right once..
The other side I used the interlocking tiles. its a faff to install but warmer under the feet in winter if standing at the bench longterm. It requires "housework' to keep it looking its best. I went with recycled...I probably wouldnt do it again for a working space as it is more designer than utilitarian IMO...

I laid the floor slab, I’m not 100% happy with the finish but it’s pretty good, the epoxy does fill quite well.

It is surprising how cold the floor can be in the winter. The air temp in the garage can be into double figures and the floor will really cold.

 

[SJX]

In the garage i used an enamel that they use on floors in steel works, its great for me as when gets stained or dripped in overspray i just touch it up. Downside it is a bit slippery when wet but you can throw sand etc onto it as paint hardens. I did find if i drove cars straight in when tyres were hot it could pull up a little, but now have alloy plates down, which makes getting cars in correct position easy.
I did a downstairs toilet in a gulf theme (sad i know) and used orange and blue interlocking garage tiles for floor. They are quite high maintenance to keep looking nice and fresh and wouldn’t suit me in garage for that reason.

 

[Ryandoc]

Watching this with interest. I’ve started the slow upgrade of my garage. Walls painted and hung my two F1 wheels a few weeks back.

I got a quote for racedek flooring a few years back for double garage it was about £1100 I think

 

[Ryandoc]

This is a few years old

 

[lifes2short]

It is surprising how cold the floor can be in the winter. The air temp in the garage can be into double figures and the floor will really cold.

didn't you put any Kingspan/celotex insulation boards down first

 

[Oneball]

didn't you put any Kingspan/celotex insulation boards down first

No, but haven’t had insulation before, I think the very smooth finish allows more conduction when you’re lying on it.

 

[lifes2short]

must admit fitting floor insulation is a bit over the top for a garage, I had a load of spare Kingspan sheets and laid them under my garage/workshop slab.

I assume you guys know that you need to make sure you have at the very least a DPM in your existing concrete slab otherwise you will get a lot of moisture rising up from the concrete floor and slowly rusting the undersides of your cherished motor.

 

[Scaf]

My garage is painted and has held up quite well, but when I can justify some funds I will put rubber tiles down - makes working on the car (without the benefit of a ramp) much more comfortable).

 

[Ianed0]

Here's a shot of mine when i finished it sometime ago, easy to put down, it was cutting all the edges & PVC skirting board that took the time

 

[iainw]

I am in the same quandary. I was really keen on epoxy- I like the shine. But really having trouble sourcing a good tradesman to do it. Don’t anyone even mention DIY. It’s not happening.
If anyone has any recommendations in South Wales (unlikely I know) I would appreciate it

 

[ChrisQP09]

I worked for a firm called Flexi-tile and can vouch for the quality of them. Have a google!

 

[lifes2short]

Don’t anyone even mention DIY. It’s not happening.

come on have some faith in yourself, if I can do it and i fooking hate painting with a passion i'm sure you can do it

 

[mjheathcote]

Laid PVC Ecotiles with matching PVC skirting (to cover the expansion gap) 10 years ago.
Do it once, do it right.
Not cheap was well over a grand for approx 30 square metres, installed myself.