Garage Gym Flooring: Best Options for Parking and Workouts

When it comes to finding the perfect garage floors that can handle your car but also your workouts, we’ve got three contenders that will make you happy. While garages and gyms may seem like two different worlds, these flooring types are ready to bring them together in a harmonious blend. So, buckle up, grab your dumbbells, and let’s explore the pros and cons of these versatile flooring options.

There are a few types of flooring that can handle both car parking and workouts. The best option is to use rubber rolls. Rubber garage and gym flooring are very similar and can handle all the weight and impacts necessary as well as noise damping and chemical resistance. 

In the following sections, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each flooring type. Additionally, we’ll discuss the importance of durability, traction, shock absorption, chemical and stain resistance, and versatility in flooring that serves both as a parking space and a workout area.

The Best Garage Floors For Workouts And Parking

There are three types of garage flooring that stand out as also being useful as gym flooring. While garage flooring has to deal with very different challenges, there are also a lot of similarities. 

Here are the flooring types that are the best combination of garage and gym floors.

1. Rubber rolls: Generally the most expensive but rubber lasts very long and has some significant benefits as both garage and gym flooring over the other two. If you need a heavy-duty floor for both parking and workouts, rubber is the best. You can find rubber rolls that offer amazing value for money here.
2. Epoxy Coating: Epoxy coatings work well for parking cars as well as lighter workouts. Epoxy doesn’t have the noise damping and impact resistance that rubber does but is very durable, looks great, and is resistant to many oils and chemicals. Professional installation is often required though. 
3. PVC rolls: PVC is cheaper than rubber and largely does the same things but just a little worse. PVC also tends to have more chemical compounds released from it when new. 

Those are the best options but you probably want to know why that is the case so you can make the right decision for yourself. Below we’ll go into the pros and cons of all the different types of flooring. 

Factors to Consider When Selecting Garage Gym Flooring for Car Parking

Since we’re trying to combine two quite different uses for a single type of flooring, we have to figure out what features both these activities need. Here are six key features both a garage floor and gym flooring should both have. 

• Durability: The flooring should be able to withstand the weight of vehicles without getting damaged or showing signs of wear. It should also be resistant to impacts, scratches, and abrasions.

• Traction: It should provide adequate traction to prevent slips and falls during workouts, as well as ensure that vehicles can be parked securely without skidding or sliding. 

• Shock Absorption: For workouts, the flooring should offer some level of shock absorption to reduce the impact on joints and provide a more comfortable surface. This is particularly important for activities such as weightlifting or aerobic exercises.

• Chemical and Stain Resistance: Since vehicles may leak oil, fuel, or other chemicals, the flooring should be resistant to these substances and easy to clean in case of spills or stains.

• Easy Maintenance: The flooring should be easy to clean and maintain, as it will be exposed to both workout-related sweat and vehicle-related dirt and debris.

• Versatility: Ideally, the flooring should be suitable for various workout types, including high-impact activities like jumping or cardio exercises, as well as weightlifting or yoga.

As you can see, there are some differences but actually, many features garage flooring should have are shared by gym flooring. That’s good news since that means we can find a few flooring materials that can work well as both. 

By the way, you can put your treadmill in your garage but there are a few things you should be aware of, click here to find them.

Materials for Garage Gym Flooring and Vehicle Parking

There are three materials that stand out as being suitable for both workouts and parking your vehicle. There is one more but that one is better avoided for reasons you’ll see soon enough. 

Rubber as Garage & Gym Flooring

Pros:

• Durable and long-lasting.
• Excellent traction and shock absorption, making them ideal for workouts.
• Easy to install
• Reduces noise and vibrations from heavy impacts (dropping weights).
• Provides insulation against cold and dampness.
• Offers protection for your garage floor against heavy weights and impacts.
• Resistant to oil, chemicals, and stains.
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Can be more expensive compared to other options.
• Can be susceptible to indentation from heavy furniture or equipment.
• While not strictly necessary, in a garage rubber is better adhered to the floor.

Rubber flooring is generally more resistant to oil, chemicals, and stains compared to PVC flooring. Rubber is naturally resistant to a wide range of substances, including oils and chemicals. It has inherent properties that make it less prone to damage or staining from these materials.

On the other hand, while PVC flooring can offer some resistance to oil, chemicals, and stains, it is not as naturally resistant as rubber. PVC flooring typically has a protective surface layer that provides some level of resistance, but prolonged exposure to certain chemicals or oils can still cause damage or staining over time.

PVC Rolls As Workout And Parking Surface

Pros:

• Resistant to oil, chemicals, and stains, although not as much as rubber.
• Easy to install and can be easily removed or replaced.
• Provides a smooth and comfortable surface for workouts.
• Offers protection for your garage floor against heavy weights and impacts.
• Can handle the weight of vehicles.

Cons:

• May not provide as much shock absorption as rubber tiles.
• Can be more expensive compared to other options.
• May require periodic cleaning and maintenance to keep them in good condition.

PVC is basically a cheaper version of rubber flooring. It looks very similar, does a lot of the same things but just not as well. If rubber doesn’t fit in your budget, PVC is a good choice but don’t make a mistake, rubber is better. 

Also, rubber flooring will last longer so in the long run, the difference in initial costs is evened out. 

PVC and PP Tiles For Parking and Workouts

Many garage flooring tiles are made of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or Polypropylene (PP). These tiles are meant to be used as garage flooring but not necessarily as gym flooring. Let’s see how they stack up. 

Pros:

• Durability: Polypropylene tiles are highly durable and resistant to wear, making them capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic and exercise equipment. They are designed to handle the rigors of gym environments.

• Impact Resistance: These tiles provide good shock absorption, which is beneficial for activities that involve jumping or high-impact movements. They help reduce the strain on joints and provide a more comfortable workout surface.

• Easy Installation: Polypropylene and PVC tiles often feature an interlocking design, allowing for quick and straightforward installation. They can be easily assembled and disassembled, making them suitable for portable or temporary gym setups.

• Traction: The surface of PP and PVC tiles typically provides adequate traction, ensuring slip-resistant footing during workouts. This is important for maintaining safety and stability while performing various exercises. However, they’re not as grippy as rubber or PVC rolls.

• Customization Options: Polypropylene tiles are available in different colors and patterns, allowing for customization of the gym floor’s appearance. This can help create an attractive and motivating workout environment.

• Maintenance: These tiles are relatively low-maintenance and easy to clean. They can be swept or vacuumed to remove dust and debris, and any spills or stains can be wiped away with a damp cloth.

Cons:

• Limited Cushioning: PVC and polypropylene tiles do not provide as much cushioning as rubber tiles or dedicated gym flooring options. If your workouts involve a lot of jumping or high-impact movements, you may find that these tiles offer less shock absorption, which could potentially lead to more strain on your joints.

• Noise and Echo: PVC and PP tiles can produce more noise and echo compared to rubber or specialized gym flooring. Or rather, they absorb less of the noise and vibrations than rubber or PVC. The harder surface of these tiles can cause sound to bounce and reverberate, resulting in a louder workout environment.

• Temperature Sensitivity: PVC and PP tiles can be affected by temperature fluctuations. In colder environments, the tiles may become stiff, which can make them feel harder underfoot. In hotter environments, the tiles may become softer or slightly more flexible. While this may not be a major concern for many gym setups, it’s worth considering if your gym space experiences extreme temperature variations.

• Potential Odor: PVC tiles, especially when newly installed, may emit a slight odor. This odor is typically temporary and fades over time, but it may be noticeable initially.

• Limited Impact Resistance: While PVC and PP tiles are generally durable, they may not be as impact-resistant as rubber tiles or specialized gym flooring options. Heavy weights or dropping equipment onto these tiles could potentially cause them to crack or chip.

The last point here is really key. While these tiles make a great, cheap garage floor, they’re not suitable for workouts where weightlifting is involved since it will likely cause damage to the floor. 

Epoxy Coatings

Instead of a layer on top of your garage floor, floor coatings can be a solution. And if you want a surface for both working out and parking, Epoxy is the best way to go. 

Pros:

• Provides a smooth and seamless surface.
• Easy to clean and maintain.
• Resistant to oil, chemicals, stains, and impacts.
• Durable and long-lasting.
• Can handle both workouts and parking.
• Enhances the appearance of your garage.

Cons:

• Requires professional installation, which can be costly.
• Surface preparation is crucial for proper adhesion and may require extensive cleaning and etching.
• Application process can be time-consuming and requires several days to cure.
• Not as cushioned as rubber or PVC, so it may not provide as much comfort or noise damping during workouts.
• Can be slippery when wet in some cases. 

For light weightlifting workouts, epoxy coatings will do fine. For super heavy weightlifting, it’s missing some of the cushioning and noise damping that rubber or PVC does. However, you could solve this with a few foam/rubber tiles. Just put the tiles in the spot where the weights hit the floor when working out and remove them after. 

Use a Removable Layer

Many garage flooring tiles made from synthetic materials are made to be resistant to rolling loads like from vehicles, however, their resistance to impacts like dropping heavy barbells is questionable. It will likely be fine for a while but in the long run, they might crack. 

And epoxy might scratch if you drop weights on it that aren’t covered in rubber. Dropping heavy metal things on an epoxy floor is going to leave marks. If your dumbbells and weight plates are covered in rubber, it’s not a big deal but bare metal weight plates will scratch epoxy. Another drawback of epoxy is that it doesn’t dampen much noise and vibrations so weightlifting can get loud. 

If you want an epoxy/PVC tile floor but also keep them nice and keep the noise down, just using a thin rubber roll on top is a good way to do this. Thin rubber isn’t too heavy so you can unroll it when working out, and rolling it back up after you’re done. It just has to be as big as your workout area.

Doing this won’t look as clean as having a single flooring material, especially since you can’t lay it under your gym equipment, however, it’s an easy fix that adds some benefits.