Why not use luxury vinyl for garage floor?

rbobby · Mar 11, 2026

I am building a new home with a large 2000 sq ft garage. I live in warm weather area and garage will be mildly temperature controlled. I would ideally like the look of tile floors like a luxury car dealership showroom. But seems like tiling could be troublesome and expensive due to various issues per my research. So my questions is why not try luxury vinyl? They look like wood or tile, is solid core and waterproof, super easy to install, and can be had for under $2/sq ft. I think this is even cheaper than epoxy. I figure I'd try it and what's the worst that can happen? It fails in a year or two and I redo the whole thing in epoxy.
Has anyone tried this in their garage? Tell me why I'm an idiot?

Old tool guy · Mar 11, 2026

Be careful if you turn the steering wheel on lvt, the adhesive probably isn’t strong enough to keep the tiles in place.

mikedodge · Mar 11, 2026

A lot of vinyl flooring won't hold up being driven on it'll either wear or stretch. Then you're stuck with cleaning the adhesive off and smoothing out the floor if you want to paint it or seal it later.

Shea · Mar 11, 2026

rbobby said:
I am building a new home with a large 2000 sq ft garage. I live in warm weather area and garage will be mildly temperature controlled. I would ideally like the look of tile floors like a luxury car dealership showroom. But seems like tiling could be troublesome and expensive due to various issues per my research. So my questions is why not try luxury vinyl? They look like wood or tile, is solid core and waterproof, super easy to install, and can be had for under $2/sq ft. I think this is even cheaper than epoxy. I figure I'd try it and what's the worst that can happen? It fails in a year or two and I redo the whole thing in epoxy.
Has anyone tried this in their garage? Tell me why I'm an idiot?

Actually, there are quite a few garage floors on this forum with porcelain tiled floors. Most were done DIY as well. I will post some links to articles and tile projects for you to review. You may want to search the forum as well.

A Porcelain Tile Garage Floor Long-Term Review | All Garage Floors

We discuss the long-term durability and ease of maintenance of a porcelain tiled garage floor subjected to extreme cold weather, use, and abuse.

allgaragefloors.com

Dispelling the Myths of Porcelain Tile for a Garage Floor | All Garage Floors

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about porcelain tile for a garage floor. Does it crack, withstand jacks, get slippery when wet, and more.

allgaragefloors.com

Another Porcelain Tile Project

I'm back to finish the outfitting of my new garage. Thread link below. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442443 The space is a 23 deep x 24 wide with an in ground lift. It will be climate controlled year round and used as a workshop. The slab was poured in August 2020...

www.garagejournal.com

And here is a luxury tile product by NewAge that you may not be familiar with. They use an engineered stone composite core that makes them much more durable than standard vinyl tiles.

NewAge Defies all the Rules with their Luxury Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles

Learn how durable NewAge LVT garage floor tiles are in our review. Plus, what we discovered with floor jacks, stain testing, and installation requirements.

allgaragefloors.com

Dig Doug · Mar 11, 2026

rbobby said:
I am building a new home with a large 2000 sq ft garage. I live in warm weather area and garage will be mildly temperature controlled. I would ideally like the look of tile floors like a luxury car dealership showroom. But seems like tiling could be troublesome and expensive due to various issues per my research. So my questions is why not try luxury vinyl? They look like wood or tile, is solid core and waterproof, super easy to install, and can be had for under $2/sq ft. I think this is even cheaper than epoxy. I figure I'd try it and what's the worst that can happen? It fails in a year or two and I redo the whole thing in epoxy.
Has anyone tried this in their garage? Tell me why I'm an idiot?

Are you talking about a LVP Luxury Vinyl Plank

snap together & floating floor?

I would Not install a glue down tile ! Carpet Square yes

the fix later on with a tile would be a pain !
As you need to have the floor completely smooth - meaning several days of labor to peel up tile and remove the glue from the concrete

Denwood · Apr 2, 2026

Use a floating LVP tile like the HD lifeproof stuff (waterproof) that has a backing. This will prevent slip. Not sure how well it would do with solvents, brake fluid etc. I did this work table from it after seeing how crazy tough it has been in my basement. It is waterproof and has a 30 mil wear layer.

I have EPDM roofing membrane under Racedeck drain tiles (to contain snow melt) and after 10 years of being driven on with the Racedeck tiles over top, it’s still in excellent shape. I think LVP would work fine, as long as the floor is completely flat. If the floor is not smooth and flat, the interlocking joints would be damaged for sure driving on it. Like ceramic tile, substrate is everything…

PugetDude · Apr 3, 2026

LVT planks wouldn't last long in a real working garage.
They might be fine in a "man cave"

mike93lx · Apr 3, 2026

rbobby said:
But seems like tiling could be troublesome and expensive due to various issues per my research.

What are your concerns here?

Shiftless · Apr 3, 2026

PugetDude said:
LVT planks wouldn't last long in a real working garage.
They might be fine in a "man cave"

Yes
We need to know what kind of work or activities are planned for your new 2000 sq. ft. Garage.
Floor jacks rolling around, various fluid leaks and spills, heavy machinery and welders ?
Or sofas, golf simulator, big screen TV’s, pool table and a kegerator?

Denwood · Apr 4, 2026

PugetDude said:
LVT planks wouldn't last long in a real working garage.
They might be fine in a "man cave"

That’s what I thought when putting epdm roof membrane under racedeck free flow tiles. Working shop with a hoist...EPDM is still fine. Just a pucker or two due to some brake fluid spills. I think the “right” LVP over a smooth slab is worth testing.

pbon · Apr 23, 2026

Does vinyl plank stain from tires like pvc?

dcg9381 · Apr 23, 2026

Shea said:
And here is a luxury tile product by NewAge that you may not be familiar with. They use an engineered stone composite core that makes them much more durable than standard vinyl tiles.

NewAge Defies all the Rules with their Luxury Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles

Learn how durable NewAge LVT garage floor tiles are in our review. Plus, what we discovered with floor jacks, stain testing, and installation requirements.

allgaragefloors.com

I have a similar product installed in my home. It's called Geo-Wood. It's pretty good, never worry about de-laminating engineered hardwood, etc.

It installs like hard wood flooring.. I'd never use it in the garage, you're going to get water down below it for sure. Hot tire marks, your spouse cranking the wheel before the car is moving...Nope.

I like delta-dye and clear polyurea is easier than epoxy and can make you garage floor look super special.

njk4o5 · May 7, 2026

somebody must have used the cheap $1.50/sqft on sale stuff from home depot in their garage, come on and post how it is holding up. So far we only have people who think it wont work and no one who tried it

Mark_17 · May 7, 2026

njk4o5 said:
somebody must have used the cheap $1.50/sqft on sale stuff from home depot in their garage, come on and post how it is holding up. So far we only have people who think it wont work and no one who tried it

I worked in the tool rental department at the home depot. The bench in my work shop was done in LVP and the gas/grease/brake clean would pretty quickly destroy the LVP.

I can't speak to how it would hold up in a garage that is just used for parking but I wouldn't do any work on it.

rust in the eye · May 7, 2026

When did vinyl become luxury?
A vinyl plank floor will last a hot minute in a garage.
How is it a guy building a 2k Sq Ft garage only has a $2/ft budget?
New construction? What about polish and seal the concrete?

Dewaynep · May 14, 2026

I can speak for the NewAge LVP flooring. It is pretty amazing stuff. We have it in 2 showrooms that we slide grand pianos across on caster wheels. It is holding up amazingly well after 5 years. It's not $2/sqft, but it is worth the price, in my opinion. It would hold up well in a garage with mild work being performed which is what I would imaging your garage would be if you were considering LVP. You can order a sample pack and try to destroy it like I did. I was unable to do anything permanent to it with hammers, jacks, etc...

JohnX14 · May 14, 2026

Porcelain tile would look great and last, if installed properly. Best choice, IMO. I didn't do it, but I may in the future. I opted for the quick and easy Racedeck original. I do some woodworking. No metal work and minimal automotive work.

No way LVP will last, not even the best. I have a commercial glue down LVP in about half of my basement. (Earthworks product)

Racedeck makes a plank flooring. It isn't as durable as their other products, but would be fine for light usage. I put it in a friend's house. His garage serves as a pool cabana in the summer, and parking for cars in winter. No work being done there.

Crowbarman55 · Sunday at 9:08 PM

Why not Racedeck? If money is the reason. Pay once cry once.

Carchie · Tuesday at 12:03 AM

rbobby said:
I am building a new home with a large 2000 sq ft garage. I live in warm weather area and garage will be mildly temperature controlled. I would ideally like the look of tile floors like a luxury car dealership showroom. But seems like tiling could be troublesome and expensive due to various issues per my research. So my questions is why not try luxury vinyl? They look like wood or tile, is solid core and waterproof, super easy to install, and can be had for under $2/sq ft. I think this is even cheaper than epoxy. I figure I'd try it and what's the worst that can happen? It fails in a year or two and I redo the whole thing in epoxy.
Has anyone tried this in their garage? Tell me why I'm an idiot?

Don't do it. Luxury vinyl can't handle the heavy point loads from car tires or jack stands, and moisture trapped underneath will ruin the adhesive and cause mold. Stick to epoxy or polished concrete for a garage.

logical · Tuesday at 7:22 PM

Carchie said:
Don't do it. Luxury vinyl can't handle the heavy point loads from car tires or jack stands, and moisture trapped underneath will ruin the adhesive and cause mold. Stick to epoxy or polished concrete for a garage.

The guy asked the question in his one and only post 2 months ago and hasn't been seen since the day after.

Why not use luxury vinyl for garage floor?

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