The garage is probably one of the most overlooked places in the house - after all, all you need it for is keeping your car, right? Well, that's the idea behind a garage, but nowadays, we can see more and more people who decide to change it up a bit, and use it as an entertainment room, a home gym, or even a living room. No matter what your plans are, you need to have the proper knowledge - and that can sometimes be hard to find.
Also Read: Garage Door Installation
While there are a lot of places on the internet where you can find tips and guides about garage doors and all the elements that go with it (for example, garage donation provides helpful information, advice and products), not many people focus on the garage flooring - and especially not on the rubber tiles. Well, that's about to change, as we gathered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding them to provide you with answers.
Question: How Do I Install Rubber Garage Flooring?
Rubber flooring is one of the easiest options to install when it comes to the garage floor - even if you have no experience, you can easily do it by yourself or with a little bit of help from your friends. When it comes to installation methods, there are a few options you can choose from:
No Cut Kit
With this installation method, the tiles are chosen to fit the size of your room, which means that there is no need for you to cut them. Usually, there would be three types of tiles involved - border, corner, and center ones. You don't need to use any tools.
Here is how to install no cut tiles:
- Clean the subfloor - it should be free of dust, grease, dirt, or any other material that shouldn't be there.
- Start your installation in one corner with the corner tile, and continue by adding border tiles outward along the adjacent walls.
- Add the corner, border, and center tiles where you think they need to be placed.
Wall to Wall
In this method, the tiles are not a perfect fit for the room, which is why you will most likely need to cut them to get them to fit the room. The tools you might need include a utility knife and a straight edge.
Here is how to do it:
- Clean your subfloor - make sure that it is free of dust, grease, dirt, or any other material that shouldn't be there. Keep in mind that if you are going to glue the floor down, the subfloor should be free of any moisture.
- Start the installation - lay the interlocking tiles along the chalk lines, and snap the locks together as you do. Keep in mind to leave the perimeter of the room open until the field is installed.
- Once you cover the field, go back and cut the tiles along the walls. Consider leaving a small gap between the wall and the tiles, just in case of expansion or contraction of the tiles when the high temperatures hit.
Question: How Do I Keep My Tiles in One Place?
When you install the rubber flooring tiles, you probably want them to stay in one place and not move around as they please. Usually, there are two things you might do to keep them from moving. Those are:
- loose lay - if your garage flooring tiles are loose laying, all you have to do to install them is lay them down. In most cases, the rubber is so heavy that it can stay in one place on its own, without the need for an extra adhesive. One of the benefits of this type of rubber floor tiles is that you can easily pick them up and move them when needed.
- double-sided tape - for some more difficult conditions, you should consider using a double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter of the garage's floor - it is extremely easy to do. If you are worried about not being able to move the tiles with you when changing houses, you can forget about that - they are just as easy to remove as the loose laying ones.
Question: How Much Do I Have to Pay a Professional for Rubber Tiles Installation?
If you don't feel comfortable or skilled enough to install your garage rubber flooring by yourself, you can always ask a professional to come in and install them for you. How much will it cost? The price will depend on many factors, such as the quality of materials, the size of the room, the thickness of the tiles, the state of the subfloor, and the area of installation. The materials cost between $3 and $8 per square foot on average.
When it comes to labor fees, they will also change depending on your garage. However, usually, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1 and $4 per square foot, or between $16 and $100, if we're talking about hourly wage.
Question: How Do I Maintain Rubber Flooring?
When it comes to rubber flooring, regular cleaning is important - vacuum your garage floor regularly, as this will help pick up larger particles that might have been brought in on your car or your shoes. If you are thinking about a more intense clean, use a pH neutral cleaner. Don't use any harsh detergents or solvents, as they might break down the rubber compounds, leaving a film on your floor and making it look bad.
Another thing you can do to keep your rubber garage floor tiles looking new is using clean water and a damp mop a few times a week - remember to change the water once it gets murky.
If your tiles have some tough stains on them, you can use a wet cloth dabbed with mineral spirits to remove them. Once that is done, wipe the place with a fresh rag in order to remove any mineral spirit that might have been left.
Question: How Durable Are Rubber Tiles?
When it comes to durability, there are a lot of factors that influence it, such as regular maintenance - tiles that are regularly cleaned, checked for damages, and repaired when needed, are probably going to last a lot longer than those which are neglected. If you are going to take care of them properly, they might last you for ten years or even longer.
Summary
Rubber garage flooring tiles are highly versatile, easy to maintain and can last for years. They are, therefore, worth considering when choosing flooring for your garage. So, consider your skills, decide if you can do it yourself, get the necessary materials and go for it!
