henderson.mila•29d agoTop Commenter

My big garage floor debate: epoxy vs. those interlocking foam mats

So I finally got my dream garage space last month, a nice 20x20 in Portland. I was torn between doing epoxy flooring or just buying those cheap foam mats from Costco. I went with the foam mats because I thought they'd be easier on my knees when I'm under the car. Big mistake! A single drop of oil from my old Miata soaked right in and now there's a permanent dark spot that smells like a mechanic's armpit. I'm probably gonna rip it all out this weekend and just go with epoxy. Has anyone else made the wrong flooring choice and regretted it for a specific reason?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul23329d ago

Yeah, did the oil actually soak through the foam or just sit on top? I used to think foam mats were fine too, thought they were cheaper and easier to deal with. But after seeing your story, I'm definitely changing my mind. That permanent stain and smell sounds like a nightmare, especially if you work on your car a lot. Epoxy seems like the smarter move now since you can just wipe up spills and it holds up way better. Makes me glad I went with a painted floor instead, even if it was more work to put down.

masondixon29d ago

Not to mention foam mats trap moisture underneath and rot your concrete over time.

kevin_hernandez8327d ago

Wait, are you telling me my Costco membership doesn't make me invincible to bad garage decisions? I was THIS close to buying those mats myself until I saw this. That oil stain sounds like it's now part of the foam's identity, like a weird permanent birthmark (or a biohazard, whichever comes first). At least with epoxy you can see the oil and wipe it off instead of it becoming a family heirloom stain.