Ultimate Shed Flooring and Covering List – 21 Options & Ideas

If you want to get the most out of your shed (and the money you paid for it), you need to set it on the right shed flooring. With that in mind, here is a guide to shed flooring options.

Understanding shed flooring options

Your shed flooring performs three main functions. Firstly, it provides a strong and stable base for the shed itself. Secondly, it protects your shed from the effect of water coming up from the ground below it. Thirdly, it provides insulation.  

Different shed flooring options have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, shed flooring options with the greatest strength often have the lowest insulation. You can counterbalance this by combining them with other floor coverings. This will, however, add to the price, so you’ll have to think carefully about whether or not the benefit is worth it.

You should also think about the practicalities of installing your chosen floor covering. In particular, check if you need to follow any special process to get the flooring to adhere to your sub-floor. Also, check if it needs to be cured and, if so, what the process is.  

Once you’re clear on how easy or difficult it is to install a shed floor covering, look at its durability, ease (or difficulty) of maintenance, and price. Then decide whether, overall, the floor covering justifies the effort and cost for you in your particular situation.

The main types of shed floor covering

There are all kinds of materials you can use as a shed floor covering. Most of them, however, fall into one of five main groups.

Aggregate shed floor coverings

Concrete paint

Cement Sheets

Marbleized cement

Aggregate shed floor coverings are massively strong. They should therefore probably be your default options if you’re storing heavy items in your shed. Aggregate shed floor coverings provide a lot of protection against water but little to no insulation. They are fairly easy to install and while they’re on the expensive side, they do last a long time.

Tiles

Interlocking tiles

Normal floor tiles

Raised floor tiles

Tiles offer a decent level of strength and protection from water but very little insulation. They can look attractive but are easy to break and can be hard work to clean. The flat surface can be wiped over but the grout will usually need periodic scrubbing.  

Installing tiles requires good DIY skills and/or professional help. They are more expensive than some other options but do last a long time.

Epoxy

Epoxy is strong and water-resistant but has no insulation. It’s attractive, easy to clean, and durable but very expensive. Also, unless you really know what you’re doing, you should leave the installation to the pros.

Wood planks

Wood is fairly strong and provides good insulation. It is, however, vulnerable to water. Wood planks are usually pretty budget-friendly (but this can vary). They are durable, attractive, and fairly easy to clean. Installing them is generally very straightforward, especially if you have two pairs of hands. 

Soft floor coverings

Rubber matting

Horse stall mats

Laminate

Linoleum

Vinyl rolls

Carpet/Rugs/Runners etc

Cork

Sandpaper

These types of materials are great for insulation but have minimal strength and offer little to no protection against water. They’re affordable and easy to install and clean but will generally need to be replaced frequently.