...

Go Back   Lateral-g Forums > Technical Discussions > Man Caves
User Name
Password



Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-22-2014, 04:24 PM
Stielow's Avatar
Stielow Stielow is online now
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,428
Thanks: 28
Thanked 1,839 Times in 503 Posts
Default My new shop

OK guys I usually don't ask for help but I'm at a loss on my new car shop on what to do with the floor. My last shop had U-Coat it floor paint and it lasted about a year then started to pull up.

My shop is 45 by 45 and I'm finishing half of it so 45 X 23 approx. It is 10 year of concrete in great shape 6 inches thick.

So do I:
  • Epoxy coat myself
    Hire a guy to do the Epoxy coat
    Tile
    Stain
    Seal coat
    Leave it raw

I want it nice but I don't want to kill my budget.
Attached Images
 
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-22-2014, 04:33 PM
OBeer-WAN-Kenobi's Avatar
OBeer-WAN-Kenobi OBeer-WAN-Kenobi is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 383
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

My .02 is that I'd love to have some sort of tile. It's a pain always having to worry about fluid spills and soaking them up so they don't stain the floor. Tiles just clean up so easily and they look great. I'm sure epoxy is similar in respect to clean up but the nice thing about tiles is that if you break one you can just replace it instead of having to fill that chip in your floor caused by a large falling metal object.

So, my vote is for some sort of tile and to get enough extras that you can replace anything that get's damaged in the future.
__________________
'69 RS Camaro
'99 SWB Silverado LS "Beater"
'01 GMC Sierra 2500HD LQ4 (Turbo build)
'04 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4X4


My '69 Camaro Build Thread
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-22-2014, 04:38 PM
gray776's Avatar
gray776 gray776 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hermiston, OR
Posts: 107
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Well I did my garage with the rustoleum 2 part epoxy. It looks very nice and holds up well to most things, except for welding, etc. It certainly hasn't had a problem with adhesion. I like the look and certainly fits the budget as well as easily can be recoated.

I had a friend do a commercial epoxy floor, and while it was maybe slightly stronger, they had to redo it a few times because it never matched(gloss/color/etc) and still doesn't. It wasn't cheap.

I don't have any experience with anything else other than raw, which I certainly wouldn't do.

BTW, I introduced myself at B-J over the weekend, but you were busy with the Z28. Enjoy watching your builds.

Jason
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-22-2014, 04:46 PM
SSLance's Avatar
SSLance SSLance is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 2,668
Thanks: 72
Thanked 337 Times in 211 Posts
Default

My two choices would be to leave it raw or have a reputable commercial company epoxy coat it. You'll just be disappointed in any of the other choices, especially if you use the shop for anything other than just parking in.
__________________
Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-22-2014, 05:27 PM
Ketzer's Avatar
Ketzer Ketzer is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Eads, TN.
Posts: 1,404
Thanks: 300
Thanked 141 Times in 98 Posts
Default

My opinion, only a clean assembly area or parking only area would be epoxied. Done by a pro with a warranty. I've tried several DIY products and unless you really baby them, they don't last. Once they get a gouge or two, they are shot and you are disgusted.

An area for actually building, grinding, welding, moving jacks and stands around a lot, would be bare concrete or maybe just a clear sealer like I did in my shop. (works great, touches up easy)



Jeff-
__________________
You remind me of the timing on a turbo engine...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-22-2014, 05:37 PM
Sieg's Avatar
Sieg Sieg is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pacific Northwet
Posts: 7,896
Thanks: 33
Thanked 87 Times in 36 Posts
Default

Mark - After 36+ years in the flooring business and knowing how you USE a shop I'd leave it natural.

If you want to keep it looking nice with all the money you'll save on applying a formal finish go out and buy a 17" commercial polisher/buffer, scotchbrite pads, floor squeegee, and a ph neutral cleaner. Deep clean it once or twice a year and in between you can damp mop and spray buff it with a low build sealer/polish.

Find a good janitorial supply house in your area and go talk with them about equipment and products.

Just damp mopping and spray buffing with the buffer will result in a clean looking floor with a nice natural patina.

With any formal finish I've seen (residential & commercial) you'll have staining, chipping, scratching, lifting due to contamination or moisture, and burning from welding. In your case you have an existing slab and contamination, likely no company with experience will warranty the coating......maybe if the acid wash and bead-blast it first. They look nice but for how long and how much effort.

Besides I've never paid attention to the floors in your pictures and I was in the business.

Here's a site for quick online reference (No experience with them) http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/ja...lFloorMachines
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-22-2014, 06:24 PM
Revved's Avatar
Revved Revved is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 532
Thanks: 4
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Default

I left mine bare because I've worked in enough shops were it was painted and it never lasts and would drive my OCD crazy! My wife has tried to talk me into it so many times. When I had the foundation poured I had them smooth it but not polish it so it doesn't get slick when wet. Yes, you will see stains....I'm good about cleaning things up as soon as they happen but it is a working shop.

Going back to the working shop theory I would also not do tile. It will become an issue rolling anything on a jack. Jack wheels will mar it and leave marks. Anything will small wheels (Engine dolly, roller stool, creeper) will catch in the grooves and if not bend wheels it will just be an annoyance.

Does anyone know how flooring like Racedeck holds up to the pressure of floor jacks or tranny jacks with weight on them?
__________________
-Sean
Comp Performance Group
Business Development Manager

1970 Chevelle I built years back as a Lat-G Feature https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=43116
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-22-2014, 06:54 PM
Motime's Avatar
Motime Motime is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Denver, NC
Posts: 66
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts
Default Stain

I stained mine. It's inexpensive and easy to install. Most fluid spills clean right up. It does not stand up to brake fluid and other caustic chemicals though.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-22-2014, 07:57 PM
Vegas69's Avatar
Vegas69 Vegas69 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,663
Thanks: 86
Thanked 210 Times in 119 Posts
Default

My buddy was telling me about some snap together type garage tiles. I have no experience with them but here's an example.
http://www.greatmats.com/garage-flooring.php
__________________
Todd
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-22-2014, 11:20 PM
GregWeld's Avatar
GregWeld GregWeld is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Scottsdale, AriDzona
Posts: 20,642
Thanks: 504
Thanked 1,076 Times in 384 Posts
Default

I'd stain it.....

The only area I'd ever paint would be if I had a museum.... I've yet to see one that holds up, commercially applied or otherwise. The Audi dealer just built a new building with an incredible service area... they tiled the whole thing.

I wouldn't do that either because of the way I use my floors. The floor can be a lay out area -- it might be jackstands -- or the lift -- I spill oil -- I weld on it... Mine is raw. The only thing I wished I had done was to seal it when it was still brand new.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Lateral-g.net