Garage flooring is much more stressful than residential flooring. Among other things, the base materials are constantly in contact with chemicals, gasoline and all kinds of oils. In the garage, in addition to the car, garden tools, equipment and other tools can be stored. Therefore, this flooring must be hard-wearing and durable.
Varieties of materials
When choosing garage flooring, quite often people prefer a concrete base. Its pouring is carried out on top of well-compacted sand and gravel using metal fittings. If additional processing is not performed, then the top layer will be short-lived.
To give it strength and reliability, you can use several methods, including: installation of ceramic tiles, arrangement of self-leveling polymer floors, treatment with a reinforcing compound, as well as modular coating options.
Characteristics of concrete surface hardenedspecial formulations
If your garage flooring is a concrete base, then its surface can be treated with special compounds. This option is the cheapest floor solution. In order to extend the life of the surface, hardening compounds can be added after pouring the screed until it hardens. The mixture is rubbed into the top layer, which significantly increases wear resistance. In this case, the surface acquires certain properties, namely increased strength and reduced dusting of the screed. But such a surface will need to be updated periodically.
Features of ceramic tiles
Garage flooring can be done using ceramic tiles. However, for this, it is necessary to purchase its industrial technical variety, which has a degree of wear resistance of the 5th class. If we are talking about an unheated garage, then the products must be frost-resistant. In newly erected buildings, tiles cannot be used as a finishing material, as the building will shrink. This material has a low coefficient of expansion, as a result of which the surface will be covered with cracks.
In order to ensure higher adhesion of materials, the substrate must be coated with a primer before laying. It is important to leave seams between products ranging from 2 to 12 millimeters. The grout composition must be resistant to chemicals and gasoline. Otherwise, you will run intothe problem of premature coating failure.
If the floor covering for the garage was made using mechanically resistant tiles, then such a surface can be used 2 weeks after laying. Maintenance of the base is quite simple, and its durability will depend on the quality of the seams and the products themselves.
Description of cement self-leveling floors
Not so long ago, cement self-leveling floors were not adapted for use in garages and industrial workshops. Modern compositions have among the ingredients additives and fillers, high-aluminate cement, as well as Portland cement. They are presented for sale in the form of dry mixes, which should be diluted with water before use. If you make the mixture too thick, then it will not spread, otherwise the quality of the finished coating will be reduced. The solution in a semi-liquid state is poured into a thin layer on a cleaned and leveled surface. The optimal thickness is a figure of 1.5 centimeters, this will be enough for a garage.
You can use the surface after it has gained strength. Self-leveling floors provide high strength, level the surface and have the qualities of adhesion to the rough surface.
Characteristics of poured cement floor
Considering the types of garage flooring, you can choose a self-leveling floor made on a cement basis. Among its characteristics, readiness for operation after a week andability to level the surface. The compressive strength of the material is 40 MPa.
Characteristics of resin floors
According to the compositions used, polymer floors are classified into polymethyl methacrylate, epoxy and polyurethane. Polymer mixtures after application form a waterproof continuous layer. One-component and two-component mixtures are applied to the base, the moisture content of which does not exceed 5%. Do not start work if the ambient temperature has dropped below zero.
As a preparation, it is necessary to use a primer. Beginning crafters are advised to choose an epoxy product, as it is easier to apply than polyurethane, but has less wear resistance. After hardening, you will get a surface that is attractive and anti-slip. If, when laying polymers, the composition is placed on the wall by 10 centimeters, then the floors can be subjected to wet cleaning using a hose.
It will be possible to use polymer floors in 15 days. The compressive strength of the material varies from 70 to 90 MPa. Their service life is limited to 45 years, which makes consumers choose this material quite often.
Modular floors
Modular Garage Flooring is fairly easy to install and comes with industrial grade PVC tiles. They are designed for floors that are subjected to heavy loads, characterized by heat resistance and chemical resistance.reagents. Such tiles should not be laid with adhesives, but with special locking joints.
Why Choose Modular Floors
The above described PVC garage floor covering has outstanding performance. Consumers choose this material more often than others for the reason that it is ready for use immediately after completion of laying work. The surface acquires an anti-slip effect that persists even after water has entered. It absorbs vibrations and noise, and during use it shows resistance to stress and wear. Even on inclined planes, this garage flooring is indispensable. Rubber flooring can be installed fairly quickly. The surface is resistant to burning, alkalis and acids.
Roll Coating
As an alternative solution, you can choose roll flooring. The garage, after completion of work with its use, will acquire conditions suitable for increased loads. This material is corrugated vulcanized rolls, the length of which is 5 meters. The layer thickness is 4.5 mm. This solution is based on isoprene synthetic rubber, which is produced by high temperature vulcanization.
The technological process used makes it possible to ensure the strength and solidity of the rubber web, guaranteeing the coating high performance. The material may be subject towater, inorganic alkalis and acids, as well as non-concentrated solutions, without losing their properties.
