Installing Rubber Garage Mats and Garage Flooring Quickly and Easily

Rubber garage flooring and rubber garage mats, in addition to being protective floors, increase traction, add anti fatigue properties, and allow the consumer to quickly customize their garage floors to any area or space. They are anti-microbial, ecologically conscious, and protect the subfloor from impact or moisture. Most importantly, rubber garage flooring and rubber garage mats are affordable to a wide range of budgets, and are a great way to cut down on pricy installation costs. There are two main expenditures when it comes to buying a new floor. The first is the price of the materials themselves, and the second is the cost of the labor it takes to install those materials. As I have already mentioned rubber garage floors are among the most affordable flooring materials money can buy, and, if done correctly, the price of installation can be brought down to almost zero. While these durable, attractive, waterproof products are generally designed to be do-it-yourself projects, there are a few things the novice installer should know in order to maximize speed and efficiency and minimize accidents and careless mistakes that could jeopardize the garage flooring’s reliability and longevity. Here are some general rules to follow when installing your new garage floor.

• Prep the Floors: The designated installation area, as well as the flooring itself, must be thoroughly cleaned of any dirt, dust, or grease before installation begins. Any foreign substances that remain could effect the bonding process of the adhesive and endanger the integrity of the bond itself, which could drastically shorten the life of your floor.

• Let the Rolls Rest: The mats or flooring should be allowed to acclimatize to the surrounding environment. Rubber is a product that naturally fluctuates slightly in size depending upon the temperature and humidity that it is exposed to. Allowing the flooring to acclimate will insure that seams are tight and that the weather will not warp your garage floors after installation.

• Permanent Adhesive: If utilizing permanent adhesive, do not lay more adhesive that you can use within a 30-minute time span. Adhesive begins to dry the second it is laid down, and if you are not careful, large amounts of adhesive and time can be wasted. A good way to avoid this mistake is to look at the project in segments rather than as a whole, and to work at installing the flooring one roll at a time rather than trying to apply adhesive to the entire area then laying the rolls down on top of it.

• Double-Side Tape: If you are installing with semi-permanent tape, when laying the roll down be sure to carefully and deliberately press the rubber into the tape as opposed to dropping or “flopping” the roll directly onto the adhesive. The suddenness of the adhesion could potentially cause air bubbles to form between the tape and the roll, which could turn your semi-permanent solution into a semi-permanent problem.

• Carpet Rollers a Must! Finally, invest in a carpet roller to ensure that every important area of the mat is securely and evenly bonded to the floor. Carpet rollers allow for a level of uniformity that is extremely difficult to achieve without one, and helps create a consistent and flat surface.

Once again, rubber garage flooring and rubber garage mats, are dependable, safe, and affordable floors. The materials themselves don’t break the bank, and installation can be done by almost anybody who is willing to put in the time and effort it takes to do the job right. If you follow the tips outlined above, you can save both time and frustration created by easily avoided mistakes. While each tip sounds simple, they each can be the cause of common problems the beginner can make while installing rubber garage mats, and cutting into time that could be better spent enjoying your new, affordable, DIY garage floors.