When you’re converting your garage into living space, you’ve got a lot of great flooring choices. How you plan to use the space will play a role, of course. Here’s a look at the most popular options for flooring in garage conversions and what type of conversions they work with.
Acid-Stained Concrete
This is a great choice if your garage is going to serve a dual purpose such as a combination garage and game room or man cave. Acid staining produces a granite-like appearance, and it’s resistant to car fluids and dirt. On the downside, it’s still bare concrete and very hard.
Epoxy Floors
This is a nice look for garages turned into workshops or game rooms. It can handle car traffic too. The flooring is very durable and easy to clean. Motor oil and most other car fluids won’t harm it. It cleans up great. Adding a layer of decorative chip beneath the top coat takes the appearance from good to great.
Floor Tiles
These are made from PVC, polypropylene and other polymers. Tiles are available in a wide array of colors and sizes, and you can be very creative with the design by using multiple colors. Surface designs include coin-top, diamond-top, ribbed and more. The edges interlock for easy installation and removal. There’s no adhesive – the floor floats. Floor tiles are ideal for weight rooms, game rooms, man caves and workshops. They work well if you’re converting your garage to a home office and want it to have a masculine, athletic feel. Parking a car on it is not a problem.
Carpeting
The main concern is moisture. If the garage door is removed and the space framed in, carpet can work. Look into indoor/outdoor carpet because it is more resistant to moisture and mold. Carpet works well for any garage conversion including a bedroom, family room or apartment. Your choices for style and color are nearly unlimited.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is affordable, cleans easily and handles moisture well. It comes in hundreds of colors and designs including those that look like wood flooring, tile flooring or natural stone flooring. It works well in any conversion, especially game rooms and workshops. Perimeter-glue the vinyl for easier removal when you’re ready for something new.
Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring is a better choice than solid wood flooring. Engineered flooring handles humidity change well, so it won’t swell or buckle the way solid wood will. It can be floated over concrete or glued down. In most cases, there’s no good reason to glue it. A floating floor is much easier to repair or remove. Your wood options and color choices are outstanding. Traditional woods like maple, oak and cherry are available along with exotic woods like teak, bamboo and Brazilian cherrywood. Wood flooring goes great in garage conversions to an office, gourmet kitchen, living room, apartment, den, library, cigar room or upscale man cave.
Ceramic Tile
This is a timeless flooring that works well anywhere. With tiles available in so many different sizes, shapes and colors, you can customize the look of the floor. Tile flooring handles water and most chemicals. It stands up well to foot traffic, but not well to vehicle traffic. Tile floors are popular for garage conversions to large kitchens and game rooms.
Natural Stone
This high-end flooring is beautiful and durable. You probably don’t want to drive your truck onto it, but if the conversion is going to be living space only, then it can work. Natural stone makes great flooring for a man cave, home office, cigar room, kitchen, den or billiard room. You may want to add a throw rug or two for warmth and contrast.
See our pages on many of these flooring types to get more information. We include pros and cons of each type and give pricing information too.
