So, you’re a garage owner!? Ready to cover your garage floor with garage floor mat? You’ve heard everybody is talking about DIY G-Floor and you want to try it on your own. Well, just follow these steps and apply them in your own garage. Just a few hours later you will be a proud owner of garage covered with garage flooring mats.
Well, let’s start!
Before you begin with the installation you’ll need to measure the floor so you can order the proper amount of flooring material. Also, prepare the installation kit (tape measure, utility knife, T-square, long straight edge, carpenter square and a pen) which ensures you have all the proper tools you’ll need to complete the installation.
And the fun part can start – you’re now ready to begin the installation. 🙂
Step 1. Clean the garage floor
First, sweep the entire floor making sure it’s clean, dry and free of any debris.
Small object, while not likely to damage g-floor, can leave an unsightly blemish. Examine the floor for a large uneven crack or defects. Hairline cracks are not going to be a problem. Fill any holes or cracks as needed. If you’re installing over an older floor, there is maybe oil or grease from a vehicle. Clean oil grease or chemicals up properly before installing G-floor. G-floor is made of a 100% vinyl – there’s no lead no asbestos or paper filler products in manufacturing of G-floor.
Step 2. Unroll G-Floor
With unrolling, start at the garage door and unroll toward the back of the garage. As the roll gets smaller, the curling effect, if there is any, will end up along the back wall, and not at the front opening area. If any cutting has to be done, it’s better to cut the small end of the role.
Use a broom to push out any air bubbles from underneath the flooring. G-floor’s flexibility might be affected by the air temperature. Allow G-floor to relax and fall into place before trimming or cutting.
Now, there are two important points regarding cutting g-floor regardless of which installation procedure is followed. First – always cut along a side wall, so any imperfections in the cutting process are less noticeable. This leaves the precision cut edges from the factory at the center of the garage for a clean, professional look.
Second – when cutting the coin pattern, the diamond pattern or similar patterns, the design can actually be a guide. If you cut across the top of the coin or the top of the diamond, that pattern repeats itself every two inches and provides a built-in guide. Here’s another very important point – don’t assume the garage is perfectly square. Be sure you measure at several points along any wall before cutting. Widths can vary by an inch or more, front to back – don’t find that out after you’ve made a long cut.
Step 3. Joints and cuts
Manufacturers usually recommend that, as you begin you find the center of the garage you’re working on and place one seam along that center line. This usually assures that a vehicle tire will not end up on the seam. This is also a good time to locate a support pole or a floor drain. One place you don’t want a seam is that area in front of the door that leads into the home or the office. You’ll want to be sure you have a clean run up G-floor in this area.
There are two basic installation procedures recommended by the manufacturer of G-floor, each has to do with how the seams are treated. No matter what procedure is selected, always remember that any cutting should be done along the wall keeping the precision cut seams from the factory together for a total professional look.
The first method is the most common and is call the overlap method. As the name suggests, when multiple roles are installed, one piece of a floor simply overlaps the other. The overlap can be anywhere from 1.5 to 6 inches. This allows you to pull up a section and replace it easily.
For a more installed look you may wish to select the butt joint method where rolls come together and do not overlap.
When this method is selected, place two edges together that will precision cut from the factory . This will assure a perfect match along that seam. Be sure that the pattern also matches and is aligned along the seam. Any trimming should be done along a side or a back wall. Once the floor is in place fold back the edge of each of the roles and wipe them with a clean cloth. Attach tape along the edge of one of the roles leaving about 2 inches of tape exposed. Allow that role to fall back into position. Next, allow the second role to fall back into place making sure the seam and the pattern on the rolls are aligned. Be careful not to stretch or pull on G-Floor, allowing it to relax into place.
Ups, I lied – there is also one another method on how to treat seams. 🙂
These method uses center strip.
With center strip, dealing with seams is also an easy job. Just tuck first piece of rolled material in one side of the center strip and when finished tuck the other peace of rolled material on the other side of the center strip. While the g-floor center strip is more visible, it’s much easier to install (see pictures).
Step 4. Trimming
Trim garage flooring mat around polls and corners using the utility knife.
It is recommended that you leave about a quarter inch gap when trimming along the wall to allow for expansion or contraction. Always be sure g-floor is relaxed and in place before doing any cutting or trimming. No matter what installation procedure is selected, always secure the threshold at the opening up the garage using two-sided tape or spray adhesive.
This completes the installation. It took about a couple of hours to put it down and should last you for years. 🙂
You can find more information on how to take care of your new g-floor below. 🙂
And good luck, g-flooring DIYer. 🙂
Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iCOPONKasU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JNCe_Fj8KY
- http://www.garageflooringllc.com/images/durango_coin1.jpg
- http://cdn1.tmbi.com/TFH/Step-By-Step/display/FH08SEP_GARFLO_09.JPG
