The garage is every bit as much a part of your Ottawa home as your living room. Isn’t it about time you showed this space the attention it deserves? You can transform a dark, boring space into something more than a functional area. It only takes a little effort. The best place to start is with your Ottawa garage floor. There are two basic options, coatings and coverings. Coatings are divided into paint and epoxy and coverings into tiles and mats.
Garage floors coatings
Unlike the other coverings, coatings will take more preparation. Any cracks or breaks will still be present, so they will need to be filled before the coating is applied. The same with oil and other automotive stains. The concrete must be thoroughly cleaned and dry before applying any covering.
Epoxy
Epoxy seems like a form of paint in that it is applied with rollers and brushes, but it is a very different chemical composition from paint. Paint is water or oil-based liquid, and as the solvent evaporates, it hardens. Epoxy hardens through a chemical reaction between the resin and a catalyst hardener. Epoxy will leave you with a more durable and attractive floor coating.
Don’t be confused with the term epoxy paint. This is part latex paint and a small amount of epoxy added for hardness. This will not be as durable a product as true epoxy.
Paint
Concrete floor paint is an excellent option to cover stains from automotive products. The paint is either latex or oil-based and includes a non-slip finish. As mentioned, there is usually a small amount of epoxy included in this product to make it more skid-resistant. Just be sure you purchase paint that is designed for use on garage floors.
Garage floor coverings
Tiles
There are several resilient vinyl tiles available on the market today. It is strongly suggested that you go with rigid or semi-rigid plastic, rubber, or wood tile for garage use. These come with interlocking edges for easy application and lots of strength to support a vehicle. If the existing concrete floor is badly stained to the point it can’t be resolved, tiles are a good choice. The tiles can also add some evenness to the floor.
- Plastic – Usually made from PVC or polypropylene, they have accessories available for thresholds, etc.
- Rubber – These are frequently used in gyms, playrooms, or similar areas. They are resilient and comfortable. So if you plan on letting the kids play while you are busy crafting, this is a good choice.
- Wood composite – While mainly used as an underlayment for carpeting, they can also be a good choice for garage flooring. They are very strong, and the tongue-and-groove edges make assembly easy.
Mats
This is another easy fix, especially for badly stained floors. The mats are made from rubber or polyvinyl. They are either like rugs, some are textured, and some are much like the mats you find in a gym. They are easy to clean and relatively durable.
Contact Garage Perfect today!
The best place to start is with a garage flooring specialist. Contact our company, and we will be happy to have a representative discuss your options and arrange for a visit to give you an estimate.