Walk into ten tiled garages and you'll see two main types of floor: open, grid-like vented tiles and smooth, solid PVC tiles. Both interlock, both go down without glue and both transform a dusty concrete slab. But they behave differently, and picking the right one for how you use the space makes a real difference.
Vented tiles: built for wet floors
Our vented tiles are 40 x 40cm and 18mm thick, made from high-strength polypropylene with a 30 to 40% open surface. That open surface is the whole point. Water, car wash run-off and melting snow drop straight through to the slab instead of sitting on top, so the floor stays grippy and dries quickly.
They're rated to 20 tonnes per m², resist oil and most garage chemicals, and are UV resistant so the colour holds near an open door.
Choose vented if: you wash the car at home, bring wet cars in, run a detailing bay or simply want to hose the floor down.
Solid PVC tiles: built for easy cleaning
Our PVC tiles are 50 x 50cm in 6mm or 7mm thicknesses, with a closed surface. Spills, oil drips and dust stay on top where you can sweep or mop them away, rather than passing through to the concrete. The raised coin pattern adds grip, and PVC takes the chill off a cold slab, which is why it's popular in garages that double as home gyms.
Choose solid PVC if: the space is used as a workshop, storage area or garage gym, and you'd rather sweep than hose.
Side by side
- Size: vented 40 x 40cm (6.25 per m²); PVC 50 x 50cm (4 per m²)
- Thickness: vented 18mm; PVC 6mm or 7mm
- Water: vented drains through; PVC keeps it on top
- Cleaning: vented can be hosed; PVC sweeps and mops clean
- Sunlight: vented needs no glue; PVC in strong direct sun should be glued in that area
- Colours: vented in 15 colours; PVC in six coin top colours plus a heavier 7mm range
What about chequer plate and anti-slip?
If you love the industrial look, our chequer plate tiles give a raised tread pattern in a solid 40 x 40cm tile. For the wettest spots, such as a wash bay or a slope, anti-slip vented tiles add grip ribs to the open surface.
Still deciding?
Seeing and feeling a tile in your own space settles most debates. Order a sample of any vented colour or coin top PVC colour, or call us on 0333 242 2442 to talk it through.
Ready to browse? See all vented tiles or all PVC tiles.