The garage floor is just as important as the walls. It depends on the correct technological solution and competent installation whether the floor will withstand the load from the weight of the car. This article discusses ways to make a garage floor with your own hands.
Features of the
The requirements for the floor in the garage are different from the requirements for the base in houses. The garage flooring is mechanically robust. Resistance of the coating to repetitive mechanical stress from heavy vehicles must be ensured through the selection of the correct material and special installation technique. Each contact of a large vehicle can cause mechanical damage. In the garage, shelves are often placed with heavy items that create additional impact on the floor.
Another important feature of garage flooring is resistance to fuels and lubricants … The floor covering must not be susceptible to chemical contamination. A car usually uses many different types of corrosive and combustible materials - antifreeze, special oil, cleaners. The spillage of these substances on the floor should not cause damage to the coating.
The choice of flooring for a garage is significantly different from the material for cladding a living room.
The garage floor must be well protected against fire. Variants of using wood are permissible subject to additional processing of the wood. The application of a special mastic is necessary, as the floor often interacts with combustible materials. If it is not possible to purchase the necessary funds, then preference should be given to another type of material.
It is important to remember that after processing, the surface should not have a strong chemical smell, because ventilation in the garage is difficult.
Moisture resistance Is another distinctive characteristic of a garage floor. Machines cause constant contact of the coating with water and snow. The material must be protected from moisture decay. This is another reason why you should not stop at choosing a wooden structure. The concrete floor is able to withstand increased moisture.
An unreinforced floor can rot and no longer withstand increased mechanical stress.
Constant temperature fluctuations should not adversely affect the floor covering. The material must withstand critical freezing or heating. A water or electric heated floor can be installed in the garage, but this solution is not always advisable. The power source of such a system must be connected to the central heating system of the house. Otherwise, it will be necessary to draw up an independent project, which is not entirely rational for such a room.
On the market of finishing materials for arranging the floor in the garage, the following materials can be distinguished: ceramic tiles, polymers, rubber tiles, wood panels, concrete … Each of the listed materials has a specific set of mechanical characteristics and mounting features.
The choice of material should be made taking into account the characteristics of the room and its functional purpose.
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Wood flooring in most cases they are used for cladding living quarters. However, if properly processed, this material can also be used in the construction of a garage floor. The boards are environmentally friendly and have good thermal insulation. In addition, the wooden floor has an aesthetic appearance and gives the interior aristocracy.
Painting or varnishing the boards will help protect the coating from water and dampness.
The main disadvantage of wood flooring is the inability to withstand a continuous critical load. Such a floor quickly deforms under the weight of cars, and therefore requires frequent renovation. The coating must be changed every five years. It is not recommended to arrange such a floor for those who are not ready to spend extra money and time on the maintenance of the garage. Wood supports combustion well, so in the event of a fire, the chance to save the room is minimal.
It is important to know that the wooden flooring is laid on the subgrade. The laid surface must be additionally primed and painted. Before installation, each panel must be dried and treated with an antiseptic. These measures will increase the service life of the tree and protect it from harmful chemical influences.
Concrete floor became widespread due to reliability and long service life. Such coverage does not require frequent updates, and is also easy to use. After hardening, the cement mortar becomes impervious to water, therefore it is well cleaned with direct jets of water. The coating is able to withstand critical loads without damage.
For the installation of a concrete floor, it is necessary to purchase cement, fine and coarse aggregate, as well as reinforcement to strengthen the coating. All components have a low cost, therefore, owners with a small budget prefer to lay the concrete floor. Crushed stone is chosen as a coarse aggregate, and sand plays the role of a fine component. Reinforcement of the concrete screed is made with a metal mesh with a cross section of about ten millimeters.
The main disadvantage of the screed is that a lot of dust is formed on it during operation. To avoid constant cleaning of the room, craftsmen recommend covering the surface with paint. Cement floors are often used as a sub-surface for subsequent tiling or wood flooring. Laying ceramics requires additional marking and work.
The concrete floor does not conduct heat well, so the surface will always be cold. This can be corrected by installing a heating cable.
Ceramic tile has a high cost and requires a lot of time and labor for installation. When installing the floor in an unheated room, use porcelain stoneware. Such tiles are frost-resistant and can withstand cooling to a critical temperature. Fragments are fixed with special construction glue. The porcelain stoneware floor must be laid with an even surface without a difference in height.
The latest garage flooring solution - self-leveling epoxy floor … This type of base differs from its counterparts in increased wear resistance. The floor is resistant to chemicals, so it will maintain a perfect surface throughout its entire service life. The coating does not require special care and does not create unnecessary dust during operation. The polymer floor is of high quality, durability and reliability.
Decorative elements can be added to the liquid composition, creating an unusual pattern on the floor surface. Color pigments will not degrade the quality of the material. The surface does not fade in direct sunlight, retaining its original color throughout its entire service life. With high-quality installation, such a coating will look like liquid glass.
Epoxy floors are airtight, so it is recommended to place them in high humidity conditions. Polymers are resistant to sudden temperature changes.
A significant disadvantage of epoxy coating is its high price. The self-leveling floor requires a concrete sub-base. The cost is due to the environmentally friendly composition. The floors do not emit harmful chemicals, which is a guarantee of safety for the health of residents. The service life of such a floor with a minimum amount of time and effort for cleaning can reach 50 years.
Modular PVC Tile Flooring are distinguished by safety and long service life. This floor covering consists of several layers. A layer of fiberglass is laid on a solid base to maintain the rigidity of the product. This is followed by a color layer. Depending on the cost of the slab, the pattern on the surface can be anything. So, some owners order PVC with interesting 3D effects. The final layer is protective.
Masters advise purchasing polyvinyl chloride plates. Such a floor has high technical characteristics and does not require special skills for installation. Installation of tiles is not much different from laying ceramic mosaics. The damaged fragment is easy to dismantle and replace without the need to remove the entire layer.
Thanks to a wide range of sizes, modular tiles will fit well in small spaces.
The peculiarity of PVC tiles is the presence of special protrusions on the edges of the parts. Due to these protrusions, the panels adhere to each other. The coating does not require the use of construction glue for fixing. The pieces of the puzzle are securely fixed to each other. The seams of such a floor are practically invisible.
A good alternative to the polymer floor - corrugated steel panel decking … The surface is able to withstand prolonged loads from oversized transport without deforming under the weight of the load. The metal floor does not create unnecessary dust, so it is easy to clean. The ribbed coating achieves maximum surface roughness. Metal can withstand impacts from heavy objects without cracking or deforming.
Steel floor has significant value. Increased impact resistance allows for maximum coating life. Such "heavy-duty" floors are more wear-resistant than their polymer counterparts. Laying a corrugated floor does not require special skills, but it is impossible to freely cut the pieces of the puzzle.
It is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the floor in advance and order the tiles taking into account the dimensions of the room.
Garage flooring made of asphalt chips provides good grip of the tires with the surface. Crushed stone or brick chips are used both for cladding the surface around the building and for laying the floor inside. It is important to understand that asphalt can only be laid correctly using a roller. The base is pre-filled with gravel, which must be compressed. The use of construction equipment will allow you to get a flat and reliable floor in the garage.
The main advantage of such a coating is resistance to chemical attack. Asphalt can withstand extreme temperature changes. It is important to understand that such a coating cannot be laid during the cold season. Otherwise, the coating will crack under the influence of temperature fluctuations. The prime cost of this coating is small, but it is better to entrust the installation to road specialists. Such a coating will reliably serve for many years.
Surface preparation
As a rough covering, the easiest to install and most affordable is a concrete floor. The priming of the cement-sand screed is easy to do with your own hands. The concrete material can be used as the main floor if there is a need to save money. A rough finish can be obtained in several ways. Among them - the laying of a reinforced concrete slab and pouring a cement screed.
The first way to organize the base requires special construction equipment. It is impossible to lay a concrete slab on your own - its weight will not allow you to complete the work without the help of a team of specialists. Laying the slab will require high material costs, but it will save time.
Pouring a concrete screed is quite cheap, but time consuming. It takes a lot of time to properly lay and treat the surface.
The screed must not be poured on sloping areas. A slope in the laying of a cement surface is not allowed. In this case, a reinforced concrete slab must be used as a rough surface. If there is a desire to install a warm floor in the garage, then the presence of a screed is required. A wooden structure on logs is suitable for laying a floor in a bathhouse or living quarters, but it will collapse under the influence of a load from a car.
Before direct pouring, it is necessary to remove the top soil layer from the surface. Then the surface is coated with clay and covered with a layer of aggregate - crushed stone, sand and gravel. After that, a layer of polyethylene waterproofing with a thickness of no more than 200 microns is lined. For these purposes, roofing material is also suitable. The film is overlapped, its edges are fastened with construction tape. Raise the edges of the film at the junction of the walls and floor.
A reinforcing mesh is mounted on top of the waterproofing. Reinforcement will help to provide the necessary strength and rigidity of the future surface. Then you can start pouring the concrete screed. During installation, the surface must be leveled with special spatulas - this will facilitate sanding after the cement has dried.
The floors must be left for at least 4 weeks to cure completely. The laid surface is covered with a protective film and is periodically wetted during the drying process.
After drying, the concrete base must be thoroughly cleaned. The main disadvantage of concrete is a weak top layer. A clean coating wears out quickly and becomes unusable. The screed absorbs oils and other chemicals well, which negatively affects the coating. Therefore, the masters recommend not to complete the construction of the garage floor at the stage of filling the screed. It is better to lay a tile or metal covering on the resulting base. So the concrete will be protected and will last much longer.
Installation
To make a wooden floor with your own hands, you must first treat the boards with a special protective agent and leave for several days. The moisture content of the wood flooring before installation must match the humidity in the room. To achieve this result, wood panels must be laid out around the perimeter of the room. If the beams lie on top of each other, then the wood may not receive the required moisture content. This can cause deformation of the floor after installation. To eliminate defects, repairs will be required with a complete replacement of the damaged board.
You can lay the wood on a pre-cleaned primed concrete screed. Bars-lags are installed on a screed with a step of 100-200 cm. In order for the boards to hold, they must be fixed with dowels every half a meter. The pitch of the intermediate logs is 400 millimeters. The wooden base must be covered with a layer of waterproofing.
A small gap must be left between the protective film and the wall to ensure ventilation of the floor.
On top of the insulation, you need to lay boards - the finish coat of the wooden floor. The panels are nailed perpendicular to the joists in order to properly distribute the load on the structure. In order for the coating to withstand a heavy load, the boards must be at least 4 centimeters thick. Antiseptics and paint are applied to the finished surface. These techniques help keep the coating free from chemicals.
Ceramic tiles are also laid on a rough concrete base. The wear class of the ceramic material should be around 5. Before laying the tiles, the screed is primed twice and cleaned of dust. The construction adhesive for fixing the mosaic is prepared in advance and left for some time.
This procedure is necessary to increase the adhesive properties of the material. The adhesive is applied both to the ceramic fragment and to the concrete surface.
The width of the gap at the joints of the tiles should be the same throughout the masonry. The joint is adjusted with a plastic cruciform spacer. The evenness of the surface is checked with a laser level. It is important to ensure that the adhesive does not get on the front surface of the ceramic. Contamination must be removed on site: the surface is difficult to clean from cured glue. It is enough to wait about 3 days for the tiles to dry completely.
The joints must be treated with a special grout. The product contains cement. Due to the insensitivity of the binder to water, the seams are reliably protected from the effects of moisture. The mixture must be applied with a silicone spatula; excess material must be removed. The time for complete drying of the solution in domestic conditions reaches 30 minutes. After that, the tiles must be sanded with a wet sponge and left to coat for another two weeks.
The concrete screed plays the role of a rough surface for the installation of a self-leveling floor. In order to properly finish the perimeter with an epoxy mixture, it is necessary to achieve a perfectly flat screed surface. Any cracks and imperfections must be repaired as the polyurethane mixture is translucent. The mixing of the flooring solution is carried out in a room with a temperature of at least 10 and not more than 25 degrees.
Filling is performed in several passes. If desired, coloring pigments are added to the composition. To eliminate air bubbles, they are passed over the surface with a needle roller. The procedure for laying such a coating is simple and does not require specialist supervision. For complete drying, the jellied floor needs at least three weeks.
Waterproofing
The concrete base can allow groundwater to pass through. During use, wet spots will begin to appear on the floor without a protective layer. It is impossible to remove them from the surface. To prevent the coating from getting wet, it will be necessary to remove the finishing layer and lay waterproofing. The floors should also be protected from external influences of moisture. For example, when snow melts from a tire surface or when washing a car.
The first step in installing waterproofing is to fill the gravel cushion. Small rounded particles act as drainage, therefore, they provide water drainage from the surface. Moisture does not stagnate and does not rot the floor. The thickness of the pillow should be up to 100 millimeters. After laying on the surface, it is necessary to repeatedly walk with a roller to compact the layer.
Next, the gravel is covered with sand. This is necessary so that excess moisture does not accumulate on the concrete base of the foundation. Sand is capable of absorbing moisture and prevents concrete corrosion. The sand backfill layer should be up to one centimeter and be well compacted. Before laying the concrete slab or pouring the screed directly, it is necessary to lay polyethylene.
The waterproofing material is also installed after the concrete is poured and the reinforcement is laid. Polyethylene helps to reduce the evaporation of water from the concrete mass. This technique helps to increase the life of the base. A reinforced concrete pad with a layer of insulation should dry for several weeks. The subfloor can only be laid after the base is completely dry.
The screed slope should vary between 1.5 and 2 percent. The slope is directed towards the garage door. Thanks to this design, excess water will spontaneously drain from the garage floor surface.
Among waterproofing materials, roofing material, protective films and membranes are used to protect garage flooring. The coating is fixed with hot mastic. The adhesive provides additional protection against water attack. Walls can also be coated with a protective mixture to a height of 20 centimeters from floor level. Liquid rubber can only be applied to surfaces without visible defects.
Polymer film has a fairly low price, and you can fasten it together with a simple tape. For regions with predominantly low temperatures, craftsmen are advised to install penetrating insulation. It is important to remember that the layers of waterproofing can be raised to the wall to a height of 15 centimeters.
Heating
Insulation should be chosen in accordance with regulatory documents. The recommended temperature in the garage should be up to +5 degrees. As the temperature rises, room air condensation increases. High humidity can negatively affect the safety of the vehicle.
Masters recommend installing a thermoregulation device on the supply line to the heating device. This will allow you to set the desired temperature in the garage during operation.
You can insulate a wooden floor with boards from 5 centimeters thick. The step between the base logs should not exceed 50 centimeters. Otherwise, the floor will deform under the load from the vehicle. A concrete floor without logs can be insulated with a simple wooden deck. For the device of such a base, larch panels are suitable. Wood has the ability to retain heat, so this kind of flooring will significantly increase the temperature in the room.
The thickness of the concrete screed over the insulation should be about 100 millimeters. The insulating material under the screed must be resistant to deformation. Requirements for additional reinforcement are always imposed on the ground of the base and the foundation of the garage.
Among heaters, hygroscopic samples are produced. Such coatings protect against moisture penetration on both sides. However, even such a coating requires a waterproofing device.
In the modern building materials market, you can purchase the following heaters:
- Expanded clay … This material has a low cost. Its installation requires preliminary excavation of the pit, because the thickness of such insulation can reach 45 centimeters. Expanded clay is a free-flowing mixture, therefore, it will need to be leveled during installation. For these purposes, beacons are used.
- Styrofoam … This type of insulation is laid on a concrete slab and serves as a good base for pouring the screed. The density of such material should be at least s-25, and it is better to take the thickness of the slab about 10 centimeters. It is not recommended to leave gaps between the insulation panels.
- Styrofoam under the plank base significantly different from the analogue for a concrete screed. The density of such sheets can be any. The dimensions of the plate can be 50x500x1000 millimeters. Craftsmen recommend purchasing an additional vapor barrier material to protect the tree from excessive moisture.
Advice
The choice of material largely depends on the financial capacity of the owners. Craftsmen recommend arranging a concrete base for all types of topcoats. Concrete is a good base, it resists critical mechanical loads better. A slab or screed will serve as a good floor even without final finishing. There is currently no cheaper and more reliable option.
Nevertheless, it is better to additionally coat the screed with paint so that it remains smooth for a long time.
The solid base guarantees a porcelain stoneware finish. It is important to remember that compliance with the laying technology requires the intervention of qualified specialists with construction equipment. This option is suitable for those who are ready to shell out a sufficient amount for the flooring in the garage. The porcelain stoneware coating looks aesthetically pleasing, the craftsmen recognize it as the most durable. The price of laying the material pays off with a long service life.
When choosing tiles for masonry, preference should be given to polymers. Ceramic mosaic with a complex pattern is inappropriate in this room. The cost of such a tile is several times higher than its rubber and plastic counterparts. Preference should be given to rubber fragments, which are no less easy to install and operate. Polymers do not require special treatment of seams. The joints of some coatings are invisible, which creates the illusion of a monolithic coating.
A warm water or electric floor is not the best solution for a garage. Materials that are easy to use and relatively cheap should be chosen. It is important to understand what characteristics the future coating should have and how often it will be replaced. Wood floors are good for those who value sustainable products, but be prepared to change panels after 5 years of use. Stone look tile looks expensive, but not appropriate. It is important to select a coating with sufficient roughness.
Beautiful examples
Before making a choice, you can familiarize yourself with other people's preferences. This will help you avoid mistakes or help you create an interesting flooring option.
Polymeric fragments with small relief create the effect of a repeating pattern. This option is perfect for flooring in a small garage. The dark rubber coating is well combined with the light wall coating. The neat seams of the tiles are smeared with a dark composition that does not stand out against the general background of the floor. An important feature is that the tiles are seamed into the seam without displacement, so there is no visual curvature of the space.
Another use of rubber panels is to alternate colors in a checkerboard pattern. The combination of red with white or black looks bright, but at the same time minimalistic. This solution is perfect for owners of large garages. Wide colored fragments give the room a zest.
For such a floor, it is necessary to use wall cladding in neutral shades. Light paint or plaster will be a great addition to a bright base. The room is filled with air and light, which is not typical of the typical idea of \ u200b \ u200bdecorating a garage. The seamless connection of the tiles creates an interesting flow effect.
Stone fragments with white seams look massive and graceful at the same time. Clarity and accuracy of execution is the hallmark of this room. The pleasant brown color goes well with light walls. Ceramic masonry is duplicated by the wall covering.
Ceramics on the walls not only serve as a visual extension of the floor, creating the illusion of depth. The tile protects light walls from dirt. The surface is easy to clean and does not require any extra effort. Wooden shelves and cabinets match the color of the floor. The image turns out to be veiled, without unnecessary clutter.
The floor paved with concrete mosaics looks unusual. Mixing masonry creates a play of shapes. This technique enlivens a gray room, adds some elegance to it. The alternation of ordered masonry with a chaotic arrangement of fragments does not create dissonance. This is achieved by using a material of the same color.
Such a floor will withstand even the most critical load, because it is close to the street design. The pavement will match the rough wall cladding. It is important to understand that such a floor will always be cold, since the stone does not conduct heat well. This garage is great for storing your car, but it can be tricky to operate in cold weather.
The plank floor is suitable for connoisseurs of the texture of natural materials. The panels create the perfect finish. The room is pleasant to work with because it is filled with light. Such a garage is more suitable for a workshop device. The boards are covered with varnish, which not only protects the surface, but also gives it a beautiful shine.
The budget wooden floor retains the natural smell of wood. As you can see, the joining of wood-based panels is almost seamless. The boards are laid parallel to each other. The geometry of the room is not disturbed and due to this arrangement of the logs it visually lengthens. This option is perfect for a small garage.
A distinctive feature of this interior is an epoxy floor in rich color. Due to the technology of laying and the characteristics of the coating, the floor acquires a glassy shine and solidity.
When installing such a bright floor, the color of the walls should be light. White paint is a great solution. When a delicate coating is reflected on the floor surface, light reflections saturate the room with light.
For information on how to make the perfect garage floor, see the next video.