My husband and I workout on a weekly basis. He does much more weight training than I do. I tend to do more cardio and stretching exercises than he does. But, between the two of us, we both use our home gym almost every day.

We have a very large home gym setup at our house that we keep in the garage. We currently have an all-in-one system, a weight bench, free weights, various dumbbells, medicine balls, jump ropes and equipment for plyometric workouts. It’s a great little gym.

Keeping the equipment in the garage is a nice way of having a gym at our home and keeping it out of site when guests come over. The only problem with the setup is that the concrete garage flooring is hard, cold and dusty. Not to mention it is a pain in the butt with the dumbbells rolling all over the floor and the loud clanking that the weights make when you drop them down.

We were looking for a product that would cut down on dust, noise and the cold, hard look and feel of our gym. We scoped out various products before we finally made our decisions.

We were lucky enough to come across some heavy duty rubber gym floor mats from a company called Treadall. These mats are incredible. They have changed so many aspects of our home gym and the flooring. The garage/home gym looks great and feels great when we are working out. I highly recommend these gyms floor mats from Treadall to anyone who is looking for a new flooring material for their home gym or any other high traffic outdoor area that needs a little update.

A word of caution about moving these mats. They are roughly four-feet-by-four-feet and weigh around 40 pounds. The size and the weight of each individual mat makes it awkward to move them around, but once you get them in the area you want, installation is a breeze.

The mats have interlocking sides that fit together perfectly. The mats are designed to fit together seamlessly in any surface. Many of the mats have flat edges that allow you to slide against the wall to get a nice, flush fit. I recommend grouping the mats prior to laying them down so you know what sides go where.

Maintaining the rubber floor mats is as easy as it is to install them. Dirt doesn’t stick to the surface, which I originally thought it would because of the textured surface. After we had positioned all the mats and moved the equipment back in place, there was a good amount of dirt on top of the mats. I took our large push broom and brushed it right off. Couldn’t be any easier. The mats have been down for a little bit now, and I have noticed there has been a lot less dust and dirt coming in to the house from the garage. I couldn’t be happier about that.

I am very impressed with the overall look and feel of these mats. Treadall has done a great job with this product. The mats are available in a variety of colors, and can be used in your home gym, your garage, an outdoor area or any other place that needs a quick, easy, makeover that is extremely easy to install and maintain. Visit http://www.gymfitnessmatsusa.com/gym-weight-room/interlocking to find out more.

JNK Products, LLC, is a leading garage flooring company that has sold many brands of garage flooring in addition to quality garage storage and other service products. While JNK Products sells millions of dollars in garage flooring products on an annual basis, Justin Krauss, operations manager for JNK Products, LLC, warns “garage flooring is just like any emerging industry. There are good garage flooring products and there are not so good garage flooring products. There are also some garage flooring products which probably should not even be on the market.”

Many consumers use warranties to separate the great products from the bad ones prior to making an order for their garage flooring area. While reviewing a manufacturers warranty is certainly a helpful and easy way to start, it is also important to view and find out other information, like how long the product has been on the market and how long the manufacturer has been making similar flooring products. A 10-Year warranty on a product that has been on the market for a year may be cause for a potential customer to pause. Another important factor in choosing a garage floor is how you are going to make use of it.

Garage Floor Mats have become an affordable and attractive solution for the garage flooring needs of many consumers. Garage floor mats are typically one of the least expensive garage flooring products on the market while some products offer a high degree of performance. An important thing to consider when shopping for and purchasing garage floor mats is again the purpose. There are basically two types of mats for garage floors on the market.

The first type of garage floor mat is a true garage floor covering like the products made by Better Life Technology® (BLT). BLT mats for garage floors are constructed of a high quality PVC and are available in 4 patterns, 6 colors, widths of up to 10 feet and lengths up to 60 feet. Rolled garage flooring like that manufactured by BLT can be easily seamed to cover an entire garage floor, or a smaller piece can simply be rolled out over a portion of the garage. When choosing rolled garage flooring products, there are several very important factors to consider. If you are hoping to contain liquid or debris, then you will want to make sure that you choose an appropriate pattern like the ribbed pattern. If you are going more for style or looking for more of a traditional look, then you should consider the coin, diamond tread and other attractive options offered by manufacturers. Next you want to make sure that you choose a rolled garage floor mat that is at least 55 Mils thick. Most industry experts agree that PVC is the best choice of substrates for this type of garage flooring.

The containment mat is another type of garage mat that is often confused with the product above. Containment mats are not garage flooring. Thus, they should not be used to cover your entire garage floor. Containment mats are not generally designed to withstand high traffic, snow tires, chains, cabinets, etc. Containment mats are simply designed to be driven onto with the sole purpose of keeping snow, ice, dirt, water and debris off of garage floors. There is a big difference between one containment mat and another, even within the same manufacturer! When choosing a containment mat, it is very important to choose a containment mat that is over 40 mils thick. You should also choose a mat that is shipped rolled (as opposed to folded) such as the new Park Smart® Special Edition Parking Mat.

Garage floor tiles are also available from a wide variety of manufacturers. The advantage of garage floor tiles over other garage flooring products is that they are generally thicker and can be assembled to create a variety of patterns. While garage floor tiles will take longer to install than a rolled garage flooring product, many garage floor tiles (such as the Daytona® Sport Court® Garage Floor Tile) offer longer warranties. When choosing a garage floor tile, it is important to know that price and quality are not necessarily related. You should consider purchasing a tile that is at least ½” thick polypropylene. It is also advantageous to choose a garage floor tile that combines drainage and solid tiles. The drainage tiles allow water and debris to wash off of the surface, keeping it cleaner and dryer. Make sure the garage floor tile you choose is UV resistant and also incorporates a loop and peg locking system. Finally make sure the tile is rated at 200 PSI or b!
etter.

“There is a lot of talk about garage floor tiles that lock moisture and dirt on top of the floor,” said Krauss. “It has been our experience that this is a horrible mistake. This type of tile has the potential to have three major issues.

“First if the lock is too tight, there can be an issue with buckling when the tiles expand and contract. Second, when the dirt is trapped on top of the system, you can be left with a very expensive, yet very dirty garage floor. Third, moisture trapped on top of the garage floor can cause a potential hazard and increase the likelihood that you may slip.

“I believe that Sport Court® presents the best value for the customer. Sport Court® has manufactured modular garage floor systems for three decades. Their garage floor tiles are priced under $3.00 a square foot, and they offer two solid tiles that can interact with a drainage tile. While we have many many garage floor tiles available to us, Sport Court® is the only garage floor tile we’ve chosen to stock.”

Regardless of what garage flooring product you choose, most industry experts agree that if you are going to choose a non-coating product, then you should always order a sample first. Companies like JNK Products offer free samples of BLT flooring. JNK Products will also send samples of garage floor tiles for a nominal shipping cost. “Ordering a garage floor without getting a sample first is like buying a house you have never seen,” Krauss said.

According to Krauss, the following are ten questions you should ask your garage flooring supplier before making a purchase:

If you were choosing a product, which one would you put in your own home?

Do you stock any garage flooring products in your warehouse?

What happens if my garage flooring arrives and I do not like it?

How long will my order take to arrive, how will it be shipped and where is it shipping from?

Can I have a copy of the warranty?

What tools do I need to install this product and how difficult is installation?

What complaints have you received about this product?

If you are buying garage flooring online, make sure they are a legitimate operation. Thus, if there is a problem down the road, then you will have a legitimate company to work with. Is the company you are dealing with a one person operation and a cell phone or a well staffed company with a warehouse or store front? Just because an online company does not have a warehouse or a storefront does not mean they are less legitimate. It just means you might want to consider checking a little harder.

Tell your salesperson what you use your garage for and ask for their recommendation based on that specific information. I would recommend a different garage flooring product for a garage storage/workshop than I would for just a garage.

When should I expect to receive tracking information and how will I receive it?

For more information about garage flooring contact your local garage flooring dealer, call JNK Products at 877-873-3736 or visit their website at http://www.jnkproducts.com

The process of covering your garage floor is simple. First you need to measure your garage floor and make sure you have made not of any obstacles such as poles or supports. Next you need to decide on what type of covering you need. To make this decision, you need to examine your use for your garage. If you simply park your car in the garage and want to protect your floor from oil, mud, snow and water than a ribbed product would be ideal. JNK Products offers ribbed products that channel liquids out of your garage and contain messy spills.

If your garage is more than just a place to park your car, you have some additional things to consider. Do you stand in your garage for long periods of time? Do you roll heavy equipment back and forth or use hydraulic lifts? If so our Coin grade garage floor may be more suitable to your needs.

JNK Products, LLC also offers a solution for people simply wanting to park their car in a specific place and contain whatever comes off of it. JNK Products offers a lightweight containment mat that can contain gallons of fluid.

Now that you have determined the type of flooring you need in your garage, you can move forward. You can select from a standard group of sizes or have a custom mat cut for your garage. Mats are available in 7.5′, 8′, 9′ ad 10′ widths. Lengths up too 44 feet are available.

Once you have your garage mat, installation is easy. We recommend mopping your garage floor and letting it dry. From there many of the products simply roll into place. Carpet tape or construction adhesive can be used to secure the garage floor covering, but using an adhesive is strictly optional.

JNK Products, LLC is a leading distributor of alternative garage flooring products. Founded in 2001, JNK Products is having a record year and is on track for over One Million Dollars in sales. For more information you can contact JNK Products by phone 877-873-3736 or visit our website http://www.jnkproducts.com

If you’re one of those people who uses their garage for more than just parking your cars, you’ve probably spilled something or stained the floor at one point or another. Can these spots and stains be erased from the concrete’s memory?

Here’s why you might be thinking of cleaning your garage floor:
* you want to change the room into a livable space
* in order to lay down new flooring
* just to improve the overall appearance and safety

With housing costs skyrocketing, it only makes sense to look to what you already have for more living space rather than purchasing a newer and bigger home. And if you already live in a warmer climate (or don’t mind scraping the car windows in the morning), why not park the cars outside and make your garage into a new living area?

Cleaning garage floors is the first step to your remodeling and redecorating process. You’re going to need to remove the offending stains that just won?t fit into the kid’s new playroom or your new poker room. And how do you do that?

First of all, you want to know that cleaning the garage floor is essential if you’re thinking of painting on the surface. Simple scrubbing and cleaning may not be enough. You might think that the surface is ready — simply paint on a coat of paint and see great results. The stain or grease leaves a layer in between the floor and the paint that creates a lack of adhesion in many cases. And if you still park your car in the garage, the tires will probably peel the paint off.

To really clean the garage floor, you’ll need solvents and proprietary cleaners. You can find these kinds of products in hardware and paint stores. Be sure to follow the instructions completely to ensure that all of the stains and dirt are removed.

Pressure washers are great for cleaning garage floors too. These washers power water onto the surface at about 1200-2000 psi. These are a great option when the garage floor is extremely stained or it has been stained for a long time. If you can’t find a pressure washer, a steam cleaner can be just as effective. In either case though, you may want to incorporate a detergent to help break up the grease and other stains.

Cleaning garage floors is also necessary to ensure that the tiling adhesive of or other flooring options will stick. While the adhesive will indeed stick one surface to another, any stains that remain can slowly break down these bonds and create problems with the actual flooring, so you want to be sure to clean the garage floor as thoroughly as possible.

You also want to look into cleaning the garage floor in order to prevent slips and falls in the area. Grease spots can cause slips; you don’t want falls on the hard concrete, to say the least.

While no one wants to start cleaning garage floors, it is a necessary step on your way to a more beautiful housing space — even if you still use it as a combination garage and workshop.

Painting the floor is currently the status quo option for upgrading the garage. Epoxy coating and painting leaves an impressive look if the application is executed to near perfect standards, but that rarely ever occurs (ahem, sad personal experience). Done on a professional grade level epoxying and painting does provide a bang, but for a buck. Having to pay for the labor to paint the floor the right way if you aren’t the do it yourself type can be a budget buster. Epoxying is also time consuming, upwards of ten days in some cases, thus making it every sense of the word a project. To add insult to budget and time constraints peeling will diminish the value of the investment and the maintenance needed will again add to an already swelled budget. Bottom line the epoxy process is reliant on ultra skilled labor and even environmental conditions such as moisture. These factors make it too much of an installation wildcard with a high probability of dissatisfaction. Over all grade: C+

Tiling the old garage floor is a common solution in lieu of painting. You need glue, trowels, knee pads, and sometimes even patch to smooth out inconsistencies on the floor surface. Laying tile is labor intensive, not to mention expensive if contracted out. The risk of eventual cracked or peeled up tiles combined with the maintenance it takes to keep the tiles looking up to par make for a difficult sell to the busy home owner. Not a favorite with us. Overall grade: C-

A product that definitely takes the stress and expense out of beautifying your garage floor is Better Life Technology’s G-Floor roll out flooring. G-Floor is solid polyvinyl (no sub-par laminated compositions in this stuff) and its available in 10ft. widths, the perfect size for the garage. Installation is easy, consisting of only dropping G-Floor into place, cutting the edges if required, and better yet no messy glue is needed-further expense avoided. With G-Floor’s full coverage sheet installation, imperfections, cracks, and old stubborn grease stains that were constant eye sores are gone. Another benefit of G-Floor’s full coverage composition is it’s ability to prevent contaminants emitted from your car from reaching the concrete, soil, or water levels of your home. G-Floor actually possesses a natural vapor/moisture barrier making it easy to clean, reducing the tracking in of grease, grim, and the filth that leak out of our cars, eventually finding their way into our homes. Better Life Technology began producing garage flooring after co-owner, then obedient husband, Brett Sneed ruined his wife’s white carpet with slush dragged in from the garage. Ever since then cleanliness was the catalyst and still is the driving factor in product development at Better Life Technology. Cleaning your G-Floor is as easy as wiping away car secretions with an everyday vinyl cleaner. Another technique that can be employed to get your G-Floor spotless is simply dragging it out of the garage for a good old fashioned hose off.

G-Floor is designed in a variety colors and tread types that are functional as well as aesthetically appealing, blue raised radial being the darling here at FlooringNews.com. Besides looking good G-Floor is comfortable for feet which can really be beneficial for the ever more popular multi-use garage. Yet another attribute in G-Floor’s corner are its inherent insulating and noise reducing properties, a plus for any household.

For its overall practicality of installation, affordability, and slew of advantages G-Floor gets the FlooringNews.com stamp of approval. G-Floor is a premier flooring solution for the garage and is definitely highly recommended. Our overall grade: A