Cover Your Garage Floor With An Option That's Softer Than Concrete

Most garage floors start life as concrete, which is affordable and hard-wearing. Unfortunately, it will soak up oil, gas, and other spills and may eventually crack or crumble. Not to mention it's hard on your feet, especially if you use part of the space as a workshop or hobby area. There are a number of flooring options to consider for your garage, and one that is softer than concrete while remaining durable is rubber. It's often called pour-in-place rubber because that's how it's installed.

A rubber floor has several other advantages in addition to softness. It absorbs impacts, and the surface doesn't chip like concrete. It also shrugs off many of the chemicals typically found in garages, and it is easy to look after. Once poured, rubber flooring forms an attractive, seamless mat, even if the garage has awkward corners, and according to suppliers, there are almost limitless possibilities for color and pattern. Finally, there's the safety aspect. It is slip-resistant, making it one of the garage floor upgrades that offer the best return on investment.

Several suppliers claim their rubber flooring can be finished in one day and ready for use in two, but the garage floor needs to be cleaned and primed before installation, so the whole job can take up to four days. That's pretty much in line with most alternatives, although some can take longer.

While, in theory, you can install rubber garage flooring as a DIY project, the quantity that needs to be mixed and applied, and the process of ensuring it is flat, make it a job for professionals. That impacts price. Although it depends on existing floor condition and your location, rubber flooring can cost between $13 and $25 per square foot, compared to around $6.50 to $10.50 for concrete. That said, if your garage doubles as a workshop or exercise space, it could well be worth the investment.

By contrast, polyaspartic coatings, which are rated as one of the easiest ways to resurface a garage floor, typically cost around $4 to $9 per square foot. These resin-based coatings are durable, but they are significantly harder than rubber and don't absorb impacts as well. Interlocking rubber tiles are another popular option, and one that's much easier to install yourself, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $9 per square foot. However, they aren't a tailor-made solution, and making them fit the space can get frustrating. Their seams can leak and collect dirt, and if the floor isn't perfectly flat, the edges can lift, creating a trip hazard.