Which floor is best done in the garage: a comparative overview of options
Choosing flooring in a garage sometimes becomes a challenge for a car enthusiast. Here it is important not to make a mistake, so that in a year you do not have to reinstall the floor that has become completely unusable. And the reasons for its damage are mass. This includes increased loads on the weight of the car, and the impact of aggressive fuels and lubricants, and complex temperature and humidity conditions.
Which floor is best done in the garage
Among the flooring there is plenty to choose from. What does the construction market offer for these purposes?
Concrete
Most often, the owners of garages do not hesitate and opt for the traditional option - concrete. This option is inexpensive, durable, withstands harsh operating conditions. Cracks and potholes that sometimes occur on a concrete surface due to frost heaving and mechanical damage (for example, if a hammer falls on the floor) usually do not cause much discontent among motorists.
Video: concrete floor installation
However, a serious drawback is its ability to excessive dust, which settles on all surfaces of the garage, including the car. In addition, all sorts of chemical contaminants are quickly and easily absorbed into the concrete, forming indelible ugly stains. Even worse, sometimes these spots cause an unpleasant odor.
It can be considered that the concrete floor has many significant drawbacks. However, this is not so, all of its disadvantages can be completely leveled if you cover the top layer with paints or sealants.
Painted concrete floor
Special paint will make the concrete floor easier to use, more durable and, importantly, give it a certain aesthetics. After painting, it ceases to emit dust and suffers less from mechanical damage. This method of decoration is used in the garage most often. And not only because of its cheapness, but also because it is easy to apply paint on your own, using any paint and varnish tool: brush, roller, spray.
Bulk
In order to refine the usual concrete floor in the garage, modern bulk mixtures are also the best fit. These compositions are usually two-component, containing a polymer resin and a hardener. When applied in liquid form to the surface, an absolutely even, wear-resistant, impact-resistant and frost-resistant base is formed. All these advantages will manifest themselves fully only with a certain thickness of the base - at least 5 mm.
Self-leveling floors boast not only their practicality, but also their beauty. Their aesthetics are up to standard. This is a perfectly smooth, glossy or matte finish that can be painted in different colors. Along with monophonic coatings, bulk coatings with a pattern are becoming very popular.
Ceramic tile
Strong floors in the garage can be obtained by lining the concrete base with ceramic tiles. Of course, the first tile that comes across is not suitable for this. If you decide to save money and use the tiles left after the repair in the kitchen, then very soon you will find disappointment.The ceramic coating is covered with a network of cracks, and when frost sets in, it simply falls off the base.
Only some types of ceramic tiles should be used:
- Porcelain tile is an alloy of granite chips with clay and some other fillers. This material in its appearance and characteristics is very similar to natural stone. Accordingly, porcelain tile has high strength, frost resistance, resistance to chemical aggressive environments.
- Clinker tiles are ceramics that have undergone prolonged firing at high temperatures. At the same time, the resulting material receives properties such as exceptional strength and frost resistance.
- Floor tiles - frost-resistant tiles designed for outdoor use, is also suitable for the garage. Pick up a product with a non-slip surface - it will protect you from accidental falls.
PVC plates
This is a modern floor material in the form of separate modules. It is made of durable, chemically resistant polyvinyl chloride. Excellent frost resistance allows them to be used both in heated and unheated garages, as well as on the street. The surface of the PVC does not slip, you can pour water on it with buckets (when washing the car) and not be afraid to fall during careless movement. It absorbs vibration, is resistant to stress and mechanical damage.
PVC plates are easy to install. To do this, you do not need to use adhesive compositions - the plates are equipped with special locks that allow you to collect the coating, like a designer. If necessary, all this is also easily disassembled into its components and laid out in another place.
Wood
And for motorists who prefer everything eco-friendly, we recommend that you make wooden floors in the garage. They are absolutely safe, they are not a source of dust and harmful substances. This solution is not as popular as the previous methods, but it also has the right to life. Worn out boards are easily repaired or replaced with new ones. And the total cost of plank floors is mere pennies.
Of course, wood floors also have disadvantages. The most important of them is a short service life. After 4-5 years of operation, even with perfect waterproofing and proper care, boardwalks will begin to rot. But, as we noted above, damaged boards can be easily replaced with new ones.
The above flooring is not all that can be used in the garage. We have given you only the most popular solutions. There are others. For example, the cheapest option is a regular earthen floor, and one of the most expensive is made of natural stone. However, all this is extreme. Choose the floor, focusing on your wallet, but do not forget about the quality. Remember that not only its own durability, but also the safety of your car will depend on a quality, correctly laid coating.
Balakhonov Lubomir 
Oleg 
Yuri
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