The right garage flooring that is high quality and will last the test of time is a big investment. It’s important to know all the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. Epoxy flooring and garage tiles are two of the most popular options. The most important factors for most customers are pricing, ease of installation, aesthetics, durability, and maintenance or cleaning.
Pricing
For $2.29/sq. foot, the TrueLock Diamond garage floor tile, and coin garage tiles are quality garage tile products at a price point designed to compete with the cheap imports. TrueLock HD Ribbed Flow are priced at $2.69 per square foot.
For Premium, 100% Solids Epoxy Kits, pricing ranges from $350 for a 1 gallon kit of primer and a 3 gallon kit of 100% solids epoxy (250 square feet) to $999.99 for a 2 gallon kit of primer + 3 gallon kit of 100% solids epoxy (500 square feet, full broadcast). For High Solids Epoxy, pricing ranges from $60 for .75 of a gallon covering approximately 200 square feet to $959.00 for 15 gallons. For Industrial Orange Peel Epoxy Flooring, pricing ranges from $60 for .75 gallons which will cover just at or under 260 squ. Ft. to $959.00 for 15 gallons.
Ease of Installation
While installing both of these does take some floor preparation, garage floor tiles don’t require such an extensive floor prepping process and meticulous attention to detail as epoxy, so garage tiles take this one.
Installing garage tiles requires a clean, dry garage floor so as not to inadvertently lock in moisture and create a mold problem underneath. Other than that, for island installations, no tools are needed – just snap the tiles together. For wall to wall coverage, you’ll need a straight edge, a tape measure, a pen, and a utility knife or power saw to cut the tiles that cannot be laid down in full and to make them fit the remaining spaces along the perimeter of the room.
Epoxy involves a lot of prep work to ensure that it sticks to the floor correctly. You must first clean and grinding or acid etching the garage floor sufficiently to ensure the epoxy binds to the ground correctly and takes a few hours to do.
Aesthetics
Because of its high gloss finish, epoxy wins the aesthetics comparison. Epoxy gives a light reflective look that brightens up space in a stunning and dramatic way. The resin’s thickness results in sleek garage flooring that can be found in many high-end businesses, for example, showrooms in luxury car dealerships, lobbies in hotels and gyms, even in homes. The look becomes even more beautiful and sleek when you add colors and textures into the mix. If you expect high foot traffic and care about eyes on your garage, epoxy will be your best bet.
However, which look you’re going for is also important. Metallic diamond garage tiles like TrueLock HD Extreme Diamond Garage Tiles are a classic garage look that still feels sleek and high end while staying true to the nature and usage of the space. Coin garage tiles are also a great looking choice. So in essence, this comparison could be a tie, since they both look great and offer a different feel – which one is better for you is dependent upon the particular look you want for your garage.
Durability and Usability
For durability, both garage floor tiles and epoxy provide high-performance coverage, made for long term protection. However, epoxy pulls ahead on this one. Epoxy is a tough resin that is scratch and chemical resistant, lasting up to 20 years. Also, the thicker or higher mil the flooring is, the more permanent and resistant it will be. When it comes to usability, epoxy has no friction as it is a completely smooth surface, so if the type of vehicle/foot traffic that you expect on the flooring benefits from a smooth surface, like a space in which you expect to be using rolling tool box drawers, epoxy will work great – but if the spaces’ usage will require some friction, epoxy might not be 100% ideal.
While not quite as resilient & long lasting as epoxy, garage tiles are still durable, with manufacturer’s warranties from companies like TrueLock being set at 10 -12 years for garage tile flooring like their diamond plate tiles, HD coin tiles and more. Certain textures in garage tiling also have an impact on usability. If you live in a region with high amounts of snowfall in the winter and a ton of sun in the summer, certain textures for garage flooring are ideal, like the TrueLock HD ribbed flow garage tiling, which stays dry underfoot and is easily cleaned while also resisting expansion and contraction in the hot summer months. The HD Extreme Coin Garage Tiles are heavy-duty and can handle the wear and tear of a working garage. The TrueLock HD Diamond tiles are made for moderate usage garages.
Maintenance/Cleaning
For maintenance and cleaning, epoxy wins. It’s ultra-resistant, smooth and easy to clean. For minor spills and/or drippings from vehicles, just wipe up with a paper towel or cloth. Otherwise, just sweep and mop. Dust mopping once a week helps keep the floor immaculate and glistening. For bi-monthly deep cleanings, use non-toxic biodegradable cleansers or ammonia solutions with hot water.
Garage floor tiles are a great choice for a non-permanent flooring solution that can be taken apart and moved should the home and/or business owner need to relocate. As far as usability, it offers extra safety due to low or no slippage and extra friction. It’s fairly easy to keep clean, but not as simple as epoxy. Cleaning garage tile flooring involves vacuuming for grit and debris first, then creating a specific cleaning solution, mopping and air drying. There are specific ways to clean when it comes to tough oil-based stains, paint stains, and requires weekly mopping and vacuuming every couple of days.
