8 Inexpensive Garage Flooring Ideas for the Budget Friendly
Few homeowners approach their garage floor with as much attention as the flooring in other rooms get. The garage floor is integral, however, for someone who is going to be working from their garage or utilizing the space regularly. There are surprisingly many affordable, beautiful, durable garage floor ideas, from epoxy concrete floors to interlocking tile.
If you’re looking at a low-budget garage floor renovation and the right way to resurface the room, here are some inexpensive garage flooring ideas that would suit the project.
Idea #1: Interlocking Tiles
Square tiles made from heavy-duty vinyl or rubber can snap together and add a new dynamic to the garage floor. Hide cracks or imperfections in the concrete floor. You can get some all in the same colour or multi-colour.
A garage owner can create patterns and borders when they combine different colours. The only downside to interlocking tiles is if your garage floor isn’t level, they may not appear flat.
Idea #2: Epoxy Concrete Floor
Epoxy is a type of paint with a built-in hardener. An epoxy concrete floor is like applying paint with latex. In applying epoxy, one must patch, clean, and etch the floor if they deem it necessary. From there, epoxy paint is blended with hardener and applied. It’s key to work quickly as the mix is only good for two hours before it hardens.
There are many ways to customize it, such as scattering colour chips and sealing it with a clear coat. The biggest advantage to epoxy concrete floors are that they resist oil stains and wipe clean easily. The epoxy may be the best concrete garage floor there is.
Idea #3: Carpet the Floor
Carpet is not a popular choice for a garage floor. While it may be a little crazy, depending on how messy your garage work is, some carpets are better than others and are more easily cleaned.
Carpets that can be power-washed can battle back against some of the wear. That said, you’re still bound to stain the carpet in time, such as if your car leaks oil or if there’s a spill.
Idea #4: Add Paint to Your Floor
Many of the ideas on this list of garage flooring involve some sort of installation, but if you just decide to paint the floor, the only chore is laying down the paint. This is a massively inexpensive way to add beauty to the garage floor aesthetic. The paint is cheap, but the process of painting can be labour-intensive.
Paint can also make cracks stand out more than usual. However, if you use a concrete filler before painting, you can cover anything that might look ugly. After you’ve primed and painted, while it’s not the most durable garage floor idea, you give it a unique look.
Idea #5: Concrete Sealer
Someone with a tight budget may want to turn to the concrete sealer. Assuming your garage floor is concrete, and not another material, sealing it will add a pretty sheen though it’ll only be in plain gray. It will ultimately make your floor look more attractive, and on top of that, the concrete sealer will prevent stains and ensure your floor is kept in tip-top shape.
Be sure to set your floor up with a solvent-based cleaner if you prefer a wet look and the best floor protection or a water-based sealer, which is a little lesser quality but easier to breathe during the installation.
Idea #6: Concrete Staining
Concrete staining is translucent and soaks directly into the floor, becoming a part of the concrete and showing the natural stone in a delightful light. Staining is done by either rolling it on or spraying it and then working in the stain with a scrub brush.
Unlike sealer, which can provide utility, concrete staining is all about appearances. It won’t chip like a paint can but offers no protection.
Idea #7: Roll-Out Vinyl Flooring
Roll-out vinyl flooring is an affordable garage floor idea you can easily put to use. The vinyl is easy to install and will hide almost anything. It’s all a piece of material that you roll out across the floor and then simply cut off the excess that is not used.
The disadvantage of vinyl flooring is that it’s not easy to repair. Damaged sections have to be cut out and replaced. Additionally, it is not very customizable, and you can’t get creative with the material. That aside, vinyl flooring is still an optimal choice for some garages.
Idea #8: Peel-and-Stick Tiles
A garage floor without significant damage, severe cracks, or height imbalances can be quickly covered and decorated with peel-and-stick tiles. Also made from heavy-duty tile material, you cut and install. It’s a quick installation; you can easily combine colours and create patterns.
Before installing them, ensure the floor is dry. After the fact, if your garage floor does become damaged or cracked, peel-and-stick tiles won’t be able to hide it.