Here's why you should look into "dressing up" your boring concrete floors:

• adds value to your home


• makes the area safe and clean

And why you may have held off:

• it takes time


• it takes creativity


• cost issues

If you have seriously stained concrete flooring in your garage, it's time to cover it up and make it something you can be proud of. A concrete floor is actually quite simple to paint and repaint, as you need. An acid stain concrete flooring could be another attractive option for your garage. All you need to do is start with a dry, clean floor. Some professionals recommend that you start with a primer, but that will depend on the paint or other covering you plan to use. And do follow up either approach with a sealant to make the finish last longer.

But before you get out the brushes, take everything out of your garage and examine the floor. Are there cracks or surfaces that aren't even? You may want to make some concrete floor repairs. There are a lot of fillers and sealants out there that will help create an even and smooth surface. Be sure to follow the instructions precisely.

And one of the major issues with creating decorative concrete flooring is that homeowners don't have the patience to wait for the floor to be dry. The best suggestion is to run a dehumidifier in the area for a day or so before you attempt to paint.

Cleaning concrete floors will take a little elbow and knee grease. While there are cleaners on the market that strive to make the job easier, it make take you some time to do if the garage flooring is older or hasn’t been cleaned in a while.

But once you're done all the prep work, then you can design your own painted concrete flooring. If you're handy with crafts, get out a stencil kit and create designs with the different paints that you are using. Or you may want to go for a sleeker look with polishes concrete flooring. Of course, this isn't recommended if you expect children to run around in there; they may slip on the smooth surface. Concrete flooring designs are as varied as your taste and imagination. You can incorporate team logos or animal shapestailor them to your room and let the kids help you decide.

Another interesting approach to your garage flooring ideas is rubber flooring. It is a quicker way to cover up stained garage flooring than painting or acid staining your concrete flooring. All you have to do is remove everything, cut the pieces to size, and attach. Rubber matting will let you create the look of brick or stone pavers, is a non-slip surface, and quite durable.

Applying an epoxy finish or concrete overlay will fix cosmetic problems created by cracked, chipped, or soiled concrete. Either approach will give a fresh new look to your garage flooring and add years to your garage floors life.

With your new decorative garage flooring, you're set to entertain or give the kids a new place to play when the summer sun is gone. Or you have a clean-looking garage floor to park your cars in, or work in your shop on. Install in-floor heat and you've added value and area to your house, as well as a warmer garage to work in. While cost is determined by how much detail and extras you add, there are lots of garage flooring ideas that are a worthwhile investment.