Garage Flooring Has Been Chosen & A Back-Saving, Step-Saving New Purchase

Welcome to the 719th Tablescape Thursday!

A few days ago I shared plans to have my garage’s concrete floor prettied up. I was trying to choose between two flooring systems: Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Polyurea.

Garage Before New Flooring Surface

 

After getting estimates for both methods, I’ve decided to go with the Epoxy system which is also finished off with a topcoat of Polyaspartic. I know several of you asked that I share in a future post which flooring I chose and why. The “why” was a combination of facts/information and my gut intuition. The company that will be doing the Epoxy flooring (let’s call them Company A) has been around for many years–since 2010. I think they are actually headquartered here in Atlanta. They have great Google reviews and I really liked this color below that wasn’t available through the other company (Company B) that uses a Polyaspartic Polyurea flooring for garages.

Epoxy Flooring for Garages

 

I really didn’t enjoy the estimate process with Company B. The sales guy, a former Corporate Executive as he reminded me 3 times during his sales pitch, was condescending toward me throughout out much of his presentation. The whole estimate/sales pitch was very regimented–like a set formula he always followed as he flipped through the pages of a notebook he was showing me. It felt like I was sitting through a high-pressure, timeshare sales presentation. He acted really annoyed whenever I interrupted to ask questions. He finally ended his “presentation” by giving me the estimate and saying that it was only good if I signed right then. Oh, and he would need a 50% deposit “today.” Company A doesn’t ask for anything until the job is complete and you’re satisfied…and there’s no game-playing with the estimate/pricing.

So in the end, I decided to go with the company that’s been in business for many years, has excellent reviews, and gave me a no-pressure estimate. They are booked out until the first week of August so I may try to get the garage painted in the meantime–I had originally planned to have that done after the floor was installed. I’ve already gotten one estimate (which was insanely high!) and I’m getting two more this week.

Epoxy Flooring for Garages

 

Crazy About This Cart!

I’ve often thought about purchasing a small cart to keep in the garage. I thought it would come in handy for loading groceries out of the back of my SUV all at once, then pushing them over to the kitchen door–thus saving a lot of trips back and forth. But one of the main reasons I’ve thought about getting one is because when I’m pulling out multiple boxes of flatware to try for table settings, they can be quite heavy and I have no place to set them as I’m trying to decide which one to use. Often I’ve resorted to opening the back door of my SUV and placing the flatware containers on the back seat while I’m trying to choose which one to use or when I’m putting several containers back away.

Thicker Shelves to Replace Thin Shelves of System Build Cabinets

 

If I had a cart, I could wheel it along from cabinet to cabinet, choosing the dishes, flatware, napkins, napkin rings, etc… that I wanted, then push it all over to the breakfast room/kitchen door where I could unload it from inside to set a table in the breakfast room, dining room or on the porch.

Cabinet Storage Ideas for Dishware, Glassware, Flatware and Napkins

 

I ended up choosing this cart after reading a bunch of reviews. I liked the push handle on the end and that it was designed to hold heavy items–like dishes!

 

It looked a bit intimidating when it arrived, but it was actually very easy to assemble.

3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart, Before Assembly

 

If you end up purchasing this cart, here are some tips/things I had to figure out on my own since instructions are never really complete for anything. These thingamabobs pictured below, those are just part of the packaging and not needed when putting the cart together–so they can be tossed.

 

After screwing on the wheels which was very straightforward, the next step is to place the bottom shelf onto the four legs. The diagram in the instructions makes it appear as if that first shelf is higher up on the leg, which is contrary to what the instructions actually say. I looked at the photos submitted by others who had purchased this cart, and they all placed the first shelf where you see in my photo–where the instructions actually indicate. So the pictures/diagrams in the instructions are not great.

Cart Details, Braking System

 

Another thing that really threw me off is you start by placing these black slip sleeves onto the legs and snapping them into place. The instructions don’t mention that they won’t fully meet and no matter how hard you try, they will not fully come together around the leg. I think that’s intentional so when you slide the shelf over the top of the slip sleeve, it probably pushes the sleeve further closed, but it also keeps everything nice and snug which keeps the shelf in place.

Slip Sleeves, How They Fit

 

Another big tip I learned from watching a YouTube video of a guy assembling a similar but different cart is that when you see these double rings on the legs, that’s the spot where the next shelf is really meant to go. So after placing the first shelf nice and low down near the wheels, this is where I placed the black slip sleeves on each leg to support the middle shelf. This tip is never mentioned in the instructions at all, instead, it says to place the slip sleeves at your “chosen height for the second shelf.” But if you’re like me and you would like some guidance, this is actually where the slip sleeves (and the second shelf) were originally designed to go.

Cart Details, Where Shelves Go

 

So here’s how it looks in its natural habitat. This cart comes with shelf liners. A lot of the carts I saw online didn’t come with those and they had to be purchased separately. The wheels work sooo well! They turn effortlessly on a dime, basically, the way wheels work on high-end luggage. So it’s super easy to turn it around to face the opposite direction when needed.

3-Tier Cart, Easy to Build

 

I placed a couple of stacks of very heavy chargers on the top shelf–just for demonstration purposes. I’ve already used the cart once for loading groceries out of the car, did that this morning and it worked great. One trip and I was done! If you could use a handy cart in your life for moving things around, I purchased this one here: Rolling Utility Cart.

Rolling 3-Tier Cart with Handle

 

Looking forward to all the beautiful table settings linked for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!

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Tablescape Thursday

 

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Comments

  1. Roxanne Bernard says

    I am totally intrigued on how you got your fully assembled Christmas trees through the door and into the garage! If I could redesign my house, I would have a special closet where I could just wheel a fully decorated tree in for storage!!

    • I always take it apart into its 3 sections, then move it one section at a time into the garage where I reassemble it and try to cover it with one of the huge tree disposal bags. Yes, I would love a closet like that!

  2. I love the floor you chose. I just replaced my garage floor with new concrete. I love that it is so much cleaner. My other floor was crumbling. Also, love the cart. Great idea!

  3. Oh, I think one of those carts could be in my future. I have a similar (but not as nice) setup as you do in my garage. I have lots of seasonal dishes but much more of it is seasonal decor/knickknacks, etc. The amount I have should be illegal! There’s so much out there that my husband even decided to have one of those wall air conditioner/heating units installed to keep all my stuff comfortable. HA! Anyway, as I’m getting older I need all the help I can get to lug the decor in and out and in and out. I think this cart just might be the ticket. Thanks, Susan! Oh, and can’t wait to see the finished garage…I love these projects of yours so much!

  4. I’m so glad you chose Company A. It’s always a red flag when a company (or anyone doing work) wants any type of payment up front. Been there done that! Also, sorry about the condescending attitude of that jerk!
    Love the color you chose for your new flooring. I can’t wait to see the finished garage.
    Smart choice on the cart, too. I would have never thought of that. For years I’ve used a little red wagon for moving things, but with the cart you get shelves and it’s up higher and looks so much more convenient. Thanks again, Susan, for another helpful tip!

    • I know, I ran into that many, many years ago when I had my brick mailbox built. That would make an interesting story to tell! lol Thanks! I’m starting to second guess myself, wondering if it will be too white. They are supposed to send me some photos of how it looks installed.

  5. SharonFromMichigan says

    Susan, I think you made a very wise decision to go with Company A. Twenty some odd years ago (when I was a single Mom :)), I was getting estimates from local builders for a new garage. The company I ultimately decided on spent the time to educate me to the entire process of how the garage would go up from a new foundation to whatever bells & whistles I chose. The owner was the one that came to my house for the estimate and he was much older (like grandpa age & I was in my 30’s). He even told me that established companies will not ask for any money up front as they have the equity to purchase all the supplies they will need for the job beforehand. Other companies acted cocky & condescending & seemed like they really didn’t want to deal with a female customer, as I was asked several times if my husband was going to be home! I was so happy with the garage & the workmanship when it was completed that I had that company replace my roof & other items on my house at the time. If companies don’t treat you well in the beginning it’s a huge red flag. I can’t wait to see how your completed floor looks! (Your garage is also so clean – I’m jealous! haha)

    • I so agree, Sharon! That guy was so condescending throughout the entire visit…def a red flag! I’m so glad your garage turned out great! We have to listen to our intuition!

  6. Susan, the cart is another great idea! I have a question I’ve always wanted to ask. When you do table settings, do you only do them for your blog (like a decor business) or do you also entertain and have people and food with each one? Just curious.

    • Really, it’s both. A few times I’ve set a table and used it that weekend when friends were over. They always kid me about my fancy tables but you can tell they love it. Sometimes though it’s just for Tablescape Thursday. I haven’t been entertaining as much in the last few years due to traveling and then when Rona hit. I do miss it!

  7. I think youllbe thrilled with your renovated garage space. It’ll be like an additional room when finished!
    Your cart is exactly the style of my four storage unit tall racks I bought from Sam’s and assembled. I did, however, vary my shelf heights for my tubs so that I could stack 31 gal on lower shelves and smaller, 18 gal on upper shelves. I saved my wheels so mine would be stationary, but these racks, as I’m sure your cart is, have been game changers for me. I haven’t priced them lately, but based on your link, they’ve gone up. My 5 shelf, 6’H x 4’W x approx 1.5’D were $100 ea.

    • It is shocking how much everything has gone up! That is cool how you can vary the height for what you need…love that! Thanks, Rita! I just bought new lights today. The ones in the garage have never put out as much light as I would like so hopefully the new ones will. Just have to find someone to install them.

  8. Maureen E. says

    Hi, Susan,

    This may seem like a silly question, but did you look at the black connector things to see if one side is marked “top” or something similar before you put them around the legs? I have put metal shelf units (not carts) together that use this type of plastic connector, and when the connectors were joined together properly, they did close all the way. Also, although the double rings may indicate the ideal spot to place a shelf, it should be possible to put one wherever there are rings, not just double rings, in order to provide more flexibility regarding the height of what you put on the shelves. That’s the way the metal shelf units were, and I used them for storing dishes and other tablescaping items, so I set them at different heights depending on what I had to store.

    Maureen

    • They were labled and they are turned the right way, they just won’t meet no matter what. If you look at the photos at the link for the cart, you can see the black slip sleeves peeking out from under the shelves joints. I thought it was odd how they wouldn’t meet together…but they still worked okay. Not sure why they were designed like that.

      Yup, you can…you can definitely use any of the rings, but I wanted to assemble it using the recommended spot (or at least that’s what the guy in the YouTube video called that spot) since I figured that would give me pretty even spacing.

  9. I purchased a cart very similar if not exactly the same for our church kitchen. We use it all the time unloading groceries, moving heavy pots around, tablecloths etc…thinking I may buy a second one.

  10. Sounds like that executive maybe lost his job and this is his first day in sales? Would love to hear him giving his presentation to a guy to see if it’s different. Like what you picked for the flooring; your garage is going to be all spiffy for the fall season!

    • He said he had retired but who knows. I know, I thought about that, too. I couldn’t imagine him talking to another man that way. Thanks, Mia!

  11. Tamara Nelson says

    I wrote to you but I think you didnt get it. I wanted to know if your interested in selling the green window like greenhouse above the bookcase. I have been looking for one all over. And as since I am handicapped now I cant get out of the house. I just wondering if your interested in selling it. I love when you post what you buy I buy alot of the stuff you post your ideas are great thank you. can you please answer me

    • Umm, that’s strange. I did reply on July 4th…maybe it’s in your spam file? Here’s what I wrote:

      Hi Tammy,

      I can really see how the armband would come in handy with roofing. I’m so glad that was helpful.

      I’m not quite ready to part with the little greenhouse yet, but if I do decide to do that, I will definitely let you know. I think I found it at Marshall’s, in case that’s helpful. I hope you are able to find one online. If I see one online, I will let you know.
      XXX
      Susan

  12. I hate when men talk down to us women Susan, this guy really sounded like he was a corporate high pressure sales person. I know we had one in Myrtle Beach that was like that, even though we told him up front that we would not be purchasing anything. My late husband left there to mad, he had to get down right nasty with the man before the man would stop. All that does is turn people off to you. Sounds to me like you are going with the right company for sure! I love that color for the floor. I also love that cart, I can see that being very handy for you! I wish my garage was attached to my house, but it isn’t. I’d be tempted to get this cart as well. So I will be hauling my groceries in a few at a time. lol Lots of tips you gave on the assembly too. Glad it is working out well for you! Hugs, Brenda

    • I know, I don’t respond well to anyone when they pull the “this price is just for today” thing.
      Thanks, Brenda! I felt all organized today, loading the groceries out of the back of my SUV onto it and rolling them over to the kitchen door. lol Much easier on the hands than trying to carry a lot of bags all at once.

  13. franki parde says

    You are “cookin” kiddo!! Lots of decisions, actions…the end result w/b so worth it!!! GOOd LUCK!! franki

  14. We had vinyl siding installed on the ceiling and walls of our garage. Painting would have been probably a little cheaper,but we will not be bothered with painting it. We should do our floor like yours. I love it!

  15. Valerie Allen says

    I’m interested in buying a retractable garden hose; I don’t remember you having a post about them, but understand they’re gaining alot of popularity on garden sites. I just wondered if you have one and your opinion of it. Thanks if you have the time to answer; also, love the epoxy floor coming up! Im anxious to see how it looks – I love the color/pattern, too!

    • I don’t have one but I should probably buy one. The garden hose I currently use is one that won’t freeze up in the winter, so it’s super flexible. I’m not sure how easy it would retract.
      Thanks, Valerie! Can’t wait to share some after photos once it’s done!

  16. I think you definitely chose the right company! I just hate when salesmen treat us women like we don’t have a brain. Once long ago in a mattress store the salesman told me to put on my big girl pants and make a decision. I walked out, of course!

    • I know…me, too! Unreal that he said that to you, Cynthia! Arggh! Glad that you went elsewhere. Can you imagine him saying that to a guy–would never happen.

  17. carol springsteen says

    Needed to replace my H and AC and I loved the company I was with but they sent out a guy like you described and I went with another company BUT I called the company and told them why I was switching and he needed to be replaced. No one wants to deal with people like this.

  18. Mary Anne Carlin says

    The floor is going to look amazing! And OMG – the Company B guy!! What a jerk. He did you a favor by making the decision easy. Haha. That cart is a perfect solution. I have assembled tall storage shelves that have those same black thingies that fit around poles with those same single/double lines. You’re right – instructions are never complete enough! But we figure stuff out anyway. Yay us!

    • You know, that was the funny part. I was afraid I was going to end up agonizing over which company to go with but he ended up making my decision a lot easier! lol Yes! And thank goodness for YouTube! That is normally where I go when I need more direction. There seems to always be a video on there where someone has assembled the same thing or something very similar.

  19. Carol Norton says

    Love the floor! I need one, so I’ll file it away.

    This is off-topic, but I just got the Pottery Barn email flyer, and the star napkins, and a bunch more, are on Clearance: $8.99. (with free shipping.) There’s still a lot of red, white and blue summer left.

    • Wow, that’s a great deal! I can’t believe the star napkins are still around since I’ve had mine for several years. They must be very popular since they keep bringing them back. I do love them! Good time to shop for next year with those great prices.

  20. Good choice! Someone purchased one just like this for our church and it saved many trips (and backs) for all our members! Can’t wait to see your final result.
    PS I had to start using a rollator (many years after having Polio) and I often use it to move small things around–your idea of putting things on wheels is a great one.

  21. I SO love your whole dish storage, and now cart, setup! Anything that makes storing and hauling easier, is the best! 🙂 Thanks for all the tips and inspiration all these years. And thanks for hosting. I always look forward to Thursdays and all the great ideas for entertaining. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

  22. Tina W Reynolds says

    Such wonderful ideas! I continue to dream of an attached garage. With my detached style, I am re-commissioning my grandson’s outgrown red wagon to use for moving the recycling bins and for groceries! I just showed the photo of your cabinets to my husband. I told him that all of my “excess” holiday dishware and accessories could move out to just such cabinets if we ever lived in a place with a nice, clean ATTACHED garage! LOL! Your reward for a tremendous amount of work will be when you can stand back and admire and enjoy your new floor!

  23. I love your storage space! It must be so helpful to be able to see (and find!) everything you want to use! The cart is a brilliant idea.

    I also want to thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas and inspiration and providing a space for others to do so as well!

    Have a great day!

  24. Thanks so much for hosting! Have a great weekend!

  25. Gwen Long says

    Just a quick FYI. I put in an epoxy floor in my garage many years ago and learned the hard way, that whatever floor you choose, make sure it is nonslip. When you pull your car in after wet weather it can be extremely dangerous as the car leaves puddles. I am hoping most companies today, take that into consideration when installing a floor. I do like the color you chose. In my current garage, I have indoor/outdoor carpet tacked down with 2-sided carpet tape. I am very happy with it as I only have to vacuum it occasionally and it has been in for 17 years now.

  26. Kathleen says

    Susan, I think the epoxy is such a smart choice. I’ve researched garage floor covering and what you chose is the most durable. I have a question that perhaps you might get answered for me during your install. My garage floor has lots of large cracks that have separated. Will the epoxy covering fill the cracks to stabilize the floor? I fear the epoxy will crack. The cracks occurred during earthquakes caused by fracking. We had $30,000 damage to our home and couldn’t repair the garage floor because there was no coverage for earthquake damage. Thanks, Susan.

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