If you’re looking to upgrade your garage’s appearance, you might consider garage floor tiles to add a pop of color, fun patterns or elevate the space’s atmosphere. But there are more substantial benefits to using tiles as your garage flooring option.
Incredibly versatile, tiled garage floors come in various forms and appearances with their own set of advantages. With that being said, there are plenty of specifications when choosing the best tiles for your garage, including the material and locking mechanism.
Let’s learn more why tiles are a fine flooring option and see how different types of garage floor tiles compare to each other.
Garage Floor Tiles Benefits
Installing a layer of tiles over the top of your existing garage floor, especially concrete, will protect the floor from damage caused by general wear and tear. Instead of transmission fluid, oil and debris eventually wearing on the cement and leaving permanent damage or hard-to-remove spots, the tiles absorb those fluids and add a layer of protection for your garage door floor from permanent damage.
Hand in hand with protecting what is important, the garage floor tiles offer an added layer of protection for your loved ones too. In opting for floors with texture, you reduce the risk of falls by shifting the floor to a non-slip material. Additionally, in choosing an option that is padded or cushioned, you provide comfort for feet walking through space and standing for long hours a day.
Because homeowners can usually install garage floor tiles, the choice remains a cheaper alternative to more labor-intensive options. These tiles are an easy way to elevate the garage’s appearance without having to spend a ton of money on a professional or materials that might end up cracking soon after installation anyway. The exact price will depend on the manufacturer, but you have multiple options ranging in cost and installation ease.
Ripping up your garage’s original flooring to install something more appealing is a major feat, if not relatively impossible, in most cases. Instead, tiles offer a way for homeowners to introduce color and style to their garage floors without committing to thousands of dollars in renovations. In addition, there are more options with tiles and their mass amount of colors, textures, materials, patterns that can help make your garage unique and special.
Garage Floor Tile Types: Interlocking vs. Peel and Stick
Before getting into the different materials, it’s important to decipher between the two types of connecting methods for garage floor tiles.
Interlocking floor tiles come in various materials, and as the name suggests, the tiles are locked into one another. Typically these work by having pegs and holes on the sides that fit into one another. These pieces will alternate in connecting until each tile is interlocked with another.
Peel-and-stick floor tiles are typically a cheaper alternative, and they rely on an adhesive on the back of the tile to stick to your original garage flooring. This type of flooring is best for thinner options because there is not enough space for the tiles to connect via pegs like the interlocking method. Though residue may be left behind when removing or placing tiles, it is easy to remedy.
Garage Floor Tile Materials
1. Hard Plastic Garage Floor Tiles
One of the most popular tiled flooring options is hard plastic tiles. Another word for these tiles is rigid, and they are typically made from PVC. They’re an excellent option for durability and the ideal tiling for any garage doubling as a parking lot or workspace. While at face value, the flooring may not seem all that durable, it is!
It will protect your sub-flooring from liquid and debris buildup that threaten its integrity. Highly supportive and even used by mechanics, rigid tiling is a great option for both aesthetics and practicality.
Swisstrax and Racedeck offer some of the best interlocking tiles made from recycled plastic.
Best for:
Any garage looking to elevate style while protecting original flooring, but primarily work garages that are prone to spillage and marks from vehicles or workmanship.
2. Wood Garage Floor Tiles
Wood-styled vinyl tiling is a great option for garages turned into additional living space or, at the very least, ideally ones where you don’t plan to park your cars. Of course, you may park your vehicle on top of wood vinyl tiles, but any marks from the vehicle will be easily spotted and make maintenance more difficult. For this reason, another option may be better suited for your vehicle’s flooring.
The tiles add a touch of warmth and style to a space that is otherwise usually quite cold and stiff. So if someone is spending long hours in the garage or you’re considering converting the garage to more livable space, wood garage tiles are the way to go!
Best for:
Garage spaces that are not intended to be used for parking vehicles but rather ones that are being used as livable spaces. It is also not the best option if the garage is a workplace as it has an increased slip hazard and will be uncomfortable to stand on for hours at a time.
3. Rubber Garage Floor Tiles
Rubber tiling is a unique option that offers flexibility and comfort for users. Ideal for garages with workspaces or even ones converted to living space, rubber tiles are porous and provide relief for those walking across it constantly or standing chronically.
Even schools and daycares often incorporate colorful rubber tiles into rooms children tend to sit or play on for hours at end.
Rubber tiles are great for playtime and durable to a degree, helping to protect your base floor and supporting bodies all day long. But with that being said, rubber tiles are not invincible. For example, parking vehicles over rubber tiles may render them ineffective due to the heavyweight and harsh fluids that leak from the car. In that case, you will need to opt for PVC-specific tiles to accommodate better.
Best for:
Depending on the type, rubber or soft tiles can be suitable for any garage. If your garage is being used as an extension of living space, rubber tiling is an excellent option for an added layer of comfort for the entire family. If you still plan to park vehicles in the garage or use it as a hybrid space, consider PVC tiles instead. With their similar benefits but increased durability, it is a much better choice.
4. Carpet Garage Floor Tiles
Perhaps an option you hadn’t considered, but an equally valuable one nonetheless, is carpeted garage tiles. This flooring can be useful for various situations, especially if you’re looking to turn your garage into an extension of the home.
Now, in this case, we’re not talking about plush thick carpet, but relatively short and course carpeted tiles that you might find in an office setting. Inexpensive and easy to install, this option remains a popular one for at-home gym set-ups and casual living situations.
Best for:
This option is best for garages transitioning to a living space rather than ones where dirty work is the priority. This can include family rooms, home gyms, art studios, and other light-activity purposes that are not prone to fluid leakage due to constant work.
5. Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles
Vinyl garage floor tiles are an excellent option for elevating a garage’s style while remaining cost-effective. Vinyl tiling offers a flexible choice for homeowners that is simultaneously durable and widely available.
Best for:
Vinyl flooring is best for those that want luxury without an intensive price point. While not the most cost-effective option of all garage door tile types, vinyl flooring is a valid option if you desire an elevated space. Vinyl flooring is waterproof. However, any liquid left to sit on the surface results in an increased slip hazard. If you’re not planning to work extensively in the garage, but instead, you plan to use the pace as an extension of the home, consider vinyl.
So, What’s Best for You and Your Garage?
The answer to that question lies in your intended use for space. For example, if you plan to use the garage space for work, you may want to opt for an easy-to-clean that provides comfort for standing all day, such as soft plastic or carpet tiles.
If you don’t plan to use the garage to park the cars but instead want to set up a space for family time, wood and vinyl are suitable options. From there, you can look at different price points and compare what works best for your needs.
Prices range significantly, so after deciding what material you would like, you can compare price points. Luckily, these options are temporary, so you can switch things up from time to time without worrying about massive renovations. If you’re looking for something to elevate your garage’s space, tiled floors are a great option!
