Garage Floor Epoxy vs Garage Floor Tiles in Markham: Which One Is Actually Worth It?
- SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring
- 6 hours ago
- 9 min read
Summary: If you're upgrading your garage floor in Markham or anywhere in the GTA, you've probably narrowed it down to two options — epoxy flooring or interlocking garage tiles. Both look great, both last a long time, but they perform very differently when it comes to Canadian winters, daily use, and long-term value. In this guide, SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring breaks down the real cost, pros, cons, and performance of each option so you can make the right call for your home. Spoiler: one handles road salt, snowmelt, and heavy vehicles a lot better than the other.
If you've been staring at your worn-out garage floor wondering what to do with it, you're not alone. We get calls from Markham homeowners every week who are torn between two popular options — epoxy flooring and interlocking garage tiles. Both are huge upgrades over bare concrete. Both come in dozens of colours and styles. But they are very different products built for different situations.
We're an epoxy company, so we'll be upfront about that. But we're also going to give you an honest breakdown of both options because the last thing we want is a customer who ends up with the wrong floor for their needs. So let's get into it.
What Are Garage Floor Tiles?
Garage floor tiles — most commonly interlocking polypropylene or PVC tiles — are modular squares you click together directly over your existing concrete. No adhesives, no grinding, no curing time. You lay them down and you're done. They come in various textures, colours, and patterns and can genuinely transform the look of a garage quickly and easily.
Premium brands like RaceDeck, Swisstrax, and similar options run $4.49 to $7.75+ per square foot for materials alone. Budget options start around $3 per square foot. Installation is typically DIY-friendly — no professional required if your concrete is reasonably flat and clean.
What Is Epoxy Garage Flooring?
Epoxy is a chemical coating system applied directly to your concrete. A professional installer grinds the concrete surface with a diamond grinder, repairs any cracks, applies a base coat of epoxy, and seals everything with a topcoat — typically polyaspartic or urethane — for maximum durability and UV stability.
The result is a seamless, non-porous, chemical-resistant floor that bonds directly to your concrete and becomes part of the slab itself. At SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring, every installation comes with a 10-year warranty and uses industrial-grade materials — not the watered-down products you find at big-box stores.
Cost Comparison — Epoxy vs Garage Tiles in the GTA
Let's talk real numbers for Markham and GTA homeowners.
Epoxy Flooring Cost
Space Size | Estimated Cost |
400 sq ft (Two-Car Garage) | $5,000 – $8,000 |
1,000 sq ft (Large Garage or Basement) | $8,000 – $12,000 |
Professional installation runs $6–$12 per square foot including all prep, materials, and topcoat. DIY epoxy kits run $2–$5 per square foot but almost never last more than 1–3 years without professional surface prep.
One important thing to understand about epoxy pricing — the condition of your concrete matters a lot. Significant cracking, previous paint or coatings, or moisture issues all require extra prep work that affects the final price. Any contractor who quotes you a firm price without inspecting your floor first is just guessing.
Garage Floor Tile Cost
Interlocking garage tiles typically run $3–$7 per square foot for materials only, with premium brands reaching $7.75+ per square foot. Installation is usually DIY, which saves on labour, but a 400 sq ft garage could still cost $1,200–$3,100+ just in materials before you factor in edge pieces, trim, and any leveling work your concrete needs.
The Real Cost Over Time
This is where epoxy pulls ahead. Tiles can crack, warp, fade, and allow salt and moisture to seep through the seams onto the concrete underneath. Over a 15–20 year period, replacing damaged tiles and dealing with concrete deterioration underneath can add up significantly. A professionally installed epoxy floor with a strong topcoat requires almost zero ongoing maintenance — sweep it, mop it, done.
Pros and Cons - Epoxy Garage Flooring
Pros of Epoxy Flooring
Seamless and fully bonded. Epoxy becomes part of your concrete. There are no seams, no gaps, nowhere for salt, oil, or moisture to hide. It protects your slab completely.
Best for Canadian winters. Road salt, snowmelt, and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on garage floors. Epoxy resists all of it. Salt sits on the surface and wipes right off — it never reaches the concrete underneath.
Chemical resistant. Oil, gasoline, brake fluid, deicer — epoxy handles all of it without staining or degrading.
Long lifespan with warranty. Professionally installed epoxy lasts 15–20 years. At SurfacePro, we back every installation with a 10-year warranty.
Low maintenance. No grout lines to scrub, no tiles to replace. A mop with diluted dish soap keeps it looking new.
Higher-end appearance. Flake epoxy, metallic epoxy, and solid-colour systems look far more polished and professional than interlocking tiles in most applications.
Adds home value. A finished epoxy garage is a genuine selling feature in Markham's competitive real estate market.
Cons of Epoxy Flooring
Requires professional installation for best results. Diamond grinding and proper prep are non-negotiable. DIY kits skip this step, which is why they fail. Budget for professional installation if you want it to last.
Cure time. You'll wait 24–48 hours before foot traffic and up to 7 days before parking vehicles. Plan for the downtime.
Slippery when wet without anti-slip additive. A smooth epoxy finish can be slick when wet. We always add a non-slip additive to our topcoats to eliminate this.
Harder to repair locally. If a section gets seriously damaged, spot repairs can be visible. Full damage rarely happens with quality installation, but it's worth noting.
Temperature-sensitive application. Epoxy should be applied above 10°C. In Markham, spring through fall is ideal — though heated indoor spaces can be done year-round.
Pros and Cons — Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles
Pros of Garage Tiles
Easy DIY installation. No grinding, no curing, no professional needed. Lay the tiles down on a clean, flat surface and you're done — often in a single afternoon.
Flexible and replaceable. If one tile cracks or stains badly, you pop it out and replace just that tile. You don't have to redo the whole floor.
Comfortable underfoot. Many interlocking tile options have a slight cushion to them, which is easier on your feet and knees if you spend long hours working in the garage.
Reversible. Tiles can be pulled up and taken with you if you move. Epoxy stays with the house.
Instant results. No waiting for curing. You can drive on the tiles immediately after installation.
Good warranties. Many premium tile brands offer 15–20+ year warranties on their products.
Cons of Garage Tiles
Moisture and salt can seep through seams. This is the big one for Markham homeowners. Salt water and snowmelt find their way through the gaps between tiles and sit on your concrete, causing long-term corrosion and damage — especially in winter.
Can shift, lift, and gap over time. Temperature swings cause the tiles to expand and contract. Over time, seams can open up or tiles can warp, especially with heavy vehicle traffic.
Higher material cost than it appears. By the time you buy enough tiles for a full garage, plus edge pieces and trim, the cost adds up quickly — often rivalling professional epoxy for larger spaces.
Not truly sealed. Tiles sit on top of concrete — they don't bond to it. The concrete underneath is still exposed to moisture, which can lead to mold, efflorescence, and spalling over time.
Less polished look. Tiles look great, but they don't have the seamless, showroom-quality finish that epoxy delivers.
Not ideal for chemical exposure. Heavy oil, gasoline, or chemical spills can stain or degrade lower-quality tile materials over time.
Which Is Better for Canadian Winter Conditions?
This is a question we get constantly from Markham homeowners, and the answer is clear — epoxy wins for winter.
Ontario winters are brutal on garage floors. Every time you pull in the car, you're tracking in road salt, slush, and moisture. Over years, that salt eats through unprotected concrete and gets under anything that isn't fully sealed to the slab.
Epoxy creates a completely sealed, non-porous barrier. Salt sits on top and wipes off.
Moisture can't reach the concrete. Freeze-thaw cycles don't affect a properly installed epoxy coating the way they affect the seams between interlocking tiles.
Tiles can work in mild climates, but for Markham, Vaughan, Scarborough, and anywhere else in the GTA that gets a real Canadian winter, epoxy is the right call.
Which Is Better — Epoxy or Tiles? The Bottom Line
Here's the honest answer: it depends on what you need.
Choose garage tiles if you want a quick, DIY-friendly upgrade you can do yourself this weekend, you rent your home and want to take your flooring with you, or you need a reversible solution.
Choose epoxy if you own your home and want a permanent, high-performance floor that handles Canadian winters, chemical exposure, and heavy vehicle use — and you want it backed by a professional warranty. For most Markham homeowners with a garage they actually use, epoxy is the smarter long-term investment.
Benefits of Professional Epoxy Coating at a Glance
Seamless, non-porous surface with no gaps or seams for salt and moisture to penetrate. Chemical and stain resistance that handles oil, gasoline, deicer, and brake fluid. Slip-resistant finish when installed with a proper anti-slip topcoat additive. UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat that resists yellowing and fading. Easy to clean — sweep and mop, nothing more required. Dramatically improves the look and perceived value of your home. Backed by SurfacePro's 10-year warranty on every installation.
Benefits of Interlocking Garage Tiles at a Glance
Fast, DIY-friendly installation with no professional required. Individual tile replacement if damage occurs. Comfortable, slightly cushioned surface underfoot. Reversible — can be removed and relocated. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns. Instant use — no cure time needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are garage tiles cheaper than epoxy?
On material cost alone, budget interlocking tiles can be cheaper. But once you factor in installation, the full coverage cost for a 400+ sq ft garage, and long-term maintenance, epoxy is generally more cost-effective over its 15–20 year lifespan.
How much does it cost to epoxy a 20x20 garage floor in Markham?
A 400 sq ft (20x20) garage professionally epoxied in the GTA runs $5,000–$8,000. This includes diamond grinding, crack repair, base coat, flake or solid colour broadcast, and a polyaspartic topcoat. Final price depends on your concrete's condition.
Is epoxy flooring 100% waterproof?
Epoxy is highly water-resistant but not completely waterproof under extreme hydrostatic pressure. For everyday garage use — spills, snowmelt, cleaning water — it performs exceptionally well. Basements with active moisture issues may need a vapor barrier first.
What is the best garage flooring for winter in Canada?
Epoxy flooring. It creates a fully sealed surface that prevents road salt and snowmelt from reaching your concrete, resists freeze-thaw damage, and provides a non-slip surface when installed with an anti-slip additive.
How long does epoxy garage flooring last?
15–20 years with proper care and professional installation. SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring backs every installation with a 10-year warranty.
Can garage tiles handle road salt?
Tiles resist surface salt, but salt water seeps through the seams between tiles and sits on the concrete underneath, causing long-term damage. Epoxy eliminates this problem entirely with its fully sealed surface.
Do I need to prep my concrete for garage tiles?
Tiles need a relatively flat, clean surface. Major cracks or uneven concrete should be addressed first. Epoxy requires more extensive prep — diamond grinding and crack filling — but that prep is exactly what makes it last 15–20 years.
Is epoxy flooring cheaper than tiling in the long run?
Yes. Epoxy's low maintenance requirements, long lifespan, and zero grout cleaning make it more cost-effective over time compared to tiles that may warp, crack, or allow moisture damage to the concrete beneath.
Does SurfacePro offer a warranty on epoxy flooring?
Yes — we offer a 10-year warranty on all professional epoxy flooring installations across Markham and the GTA. We use industrial-grade materials and proper diamond grinding prep to stand behind every job.
How do I get a quote for garage epoxy flooring in Markham?
Call or text us at (437) 477-7366, WhatsApp us at the same number, or email info@surfaceproepoxy.ca. We offer free on-site consultations with no obligation across Markham, Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, and all of the GTA.
Conclusion
Both epoxy flooring and interlocking garage tiles are legitimate upgrades over bare concrete — and both can look fantastic. But when you're a Markham homeowner dealing with real Canadian winters, road salt, heavy vehicles, and the expectation that your investment should last, epoxy is the clear winner.
It bonds to your concrete permanently, seals out salt and moisture completely, handles chemicals and heavy traffic without complaint, and when installed by a professional with proper prep, it lasts 15–20 years. SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring installs every floor with industrial-grade materials, diamond grinding prep, and a UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat — and we back it all with a 10-year warranty.
Tiles are a fine short-term or rental solution. But if you own your home in Markham and you want a floor that performs, protects your concrete, and still looks incredible a decade from now — epoxy is the investment worth making.
Ready to Upgrade Your Markham Garage Floor? Let's Talk.
Stop looking at that tired concrete floor. SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring serves Markham and all of the GTA with professional epoxy installations, real surface prep, and a 10-year warranty you can count on. We'll come to you, assess your floor, and give you a straight, honest quote — at no charge.
Call or Text: (437) 477-7366
WhatsApp: (437) 477-7366
Email: info@surfaceproepoxy.ca
Website: www.surfaceproepoxy.ca
📍 Serving Markham • Toronto • Vaughan • Richmond Hill • Scarborough • Pickering • Ajax • Whitby • Mississauga • Brampton • All of the GTA
SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring — Markham's Garage Floor Epoxy Specialists. Industrial-Grade. 10-Year Warranty. Built for Canadian Winters.
Last Updated: February 2026 | Published by SurfacePro Epoxy Flooring
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