Show me your shop floor. Ideas/types

[roundeye]

I have just completed my new shop and have the floor to finish.
After much research, I can't seem to conclude which type of flooring to go with.
Epoxy? VCT? Nothing?
I'm going for the bling look but still want to be able to weld/sand/gring etc in there to build a new rig.
Any suggestions/pics would be appreciated.

[foreman1063]

Polished concrete would be nice but definitely not VCT.

[WillisXJ]

definitely not VCT.

Why?

[foreman1063]

Why?

VCT requires waxing to to look good and does not hold up well to "building new rigs" on it. Dropped steel, spilled chemicals, sparks and general shop abuse would take it's toll on this material, in short order. Would not look bling very long.

[silverback97]

Not trying to hijack but i am also interested in coating my garage floor looking at going the epoxy route. It looks good guys that i know that have it says it holds up good for them. i don't run a fab shop out of my garage but i do torch, weld, grind, and wrench in it.
So what say the PBB.

Hijack over

[Slowzuki]

Slag will burn epoxy.

[roundeye]

Slag will burn epoxy.

I keep hearing this as well.

[Aggie007]

Devoe Epoxy from ICI Paints. Two coats grey, floor chips and a UV clear top coat.
http://www.truckblog.com/gallery/Aggie007/34603.JPG

I have welded in the garage (building a bbq pit right now), driven cars over it, and just about everything else and no chips so far. I have had it for about 10 months.

[Rerock]

I think that's the same stuff I have... either way, the expoy I have I've set on fire (flaming oil dry), weld slag, plasma spatter, dragging axles, dragging vehicles on axles; I beat the crap out of it. Now, there are a few spost where it has worn away, but I think that has more to do with the fact the coating is atleast 6 years old, AND the areas are where oil usually drips from motors. Completely understandable if you ask me. I just wish I knew what this shit is; I'd use it in the next shop!

[silverback97]

^^ Thats what i wanted to hear. I have a 3 car garage, so the main bay would not get the abuse that the single bay would beside tire rotation and oil changes.
Plus its easy to keep clean.

[roundeye]

Devoe Epoxy from ICI Paints. Two coats grey, floor chips and a UV clear top coat.
http://www.truckblog.com/gallery/Aggie007/34603.JPG

I have welded in the garage (building a bbq pit right now), driven cars over it, and just about everything else and no chips so far. I have had it for about 10 months.

I just purchased the Devoe Devran 224HS epoxy. Seems like great stuff. Got a really good price but now have to find those silly lookin shoes.
Hopefully, I can start on it in a week.

[Rockn4x4]

Keep us updated

[actionpaintball]

You want to see what really work and looks good? Post pics 5 years down the road...I have not seen any coating hold up to a shop that is wokred in. Not saying that some coatings may be superior to others-but I haven't seen a single one that I would spend money on...

[Todd W]

I`m interested how it works... I want to coat my garage too before I move the tools in :smokin:

[nate379]

Agreed.

My Dad told me if I really wanted to do something, just paint it with industrial grey like you see in high school shop, machine shops, etc. It's cheap to throw another coat on every few years when it gets ugly.

You want to see what really work and looks good? Post pics 5 years down the road...I have not seen any coating hold up to a shop that is wokred in. Not saying that some coatings may be superior to others-but I haven't seen a single one that I would spend money on...

[roundeye]

Agreed.

My Dad told me if I really wanted to do something, just paint it with industrial grey like you see in high school shop, machine shops, etc. It's cheap to throw another coat on every few years when it gets ugly.

This stinks. I already have the business shop that has peeling paint after 3 years that now needs to be recoated. What a pain in the ass to move everything, shut the warehouse down just to recoat the floor? I'm going with a more permanent solution. I hope. I just have other things to do.

[tfdcruiser]

I just finished pouring the slab on my shop (30x50) I had them do a smooth finish on mine. I was wondering if you can just wax the concrete to seal it and make wiping up oil easy. I know this can be done but what kind of wax do you use and do you need a floor buffer to buff it out? I like the way the epoxy floors look but I don't trust how long they will look like that, plus a 30x50 epoxy floor would be very expensive.

[nissancrawler]

I have 6 year old valspar epoxy on mine. No issues with welding, grinding, plasma cutting, etc. No chips.

[nate379]

I'm going to try Thompson water sealer on mine. It's around $10/gal.

Quote I got for the epoxy was around $6.50-$7.50 a sq ft.... which is more than the freakin slab cost!


I just finished pouring the slab on my shop (30x50) I had them do a smooth finish on mine. I was wondering if you can just wax the concrete to seal it and make wiping up oil easy. I know this can be done but what kind of wax do you use and do you need a floor buffer to buff it out? I like the way the epoxy floors look but I don't trust how long they will look like that, plus a 30x50 epoxy floor would be very expensive.

[nate379]

He was saying that they have to do the same with the epoxy floors, so they gave up with that.

He works in an OSB plant. http://huberwood.com/

This stinks. I already have the business shop that has peeling paint after 3 years that now needs to be recoated. What a pain in the ass to move everything, shut the warehouse down just to recoat the floor? I'm going with a more permanent solution. I hope. I just have other things to do.

[roundeye]

I just finished pouring the slab on my shop (30x50) I had them do a smooth finish on mine. I was wondering if you can just wax the concrete to seal it and make wiping up oil easy. I know this can be done but what kind of wax do you use and do you need a floor buffer to buff it out? I like the way the epoxy floors look but I don't trust how long they will look like that, plus a 30x50 epoxy floor would be very expensive.

I was told you could use an epoxy clear coat that is reasonably inexpensive and you can do yourself.

[mrbucket123]

Over at http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/ they have a bunch of info on epoxy coating for floors. From what I've gathered, if you want something that is going to hold up to a lot of abuse, you need to get a 100% solids epoxy, and a protective clearcoat on top.

There is a vendor over there that sells Wolverine Coatings, and people generally seem to be happy with that stuff. It's what I'd go with if I was gonna do epoxy, but I'm a cheapass so I just break out the degreaser every so often.

Here's a link to a thread with the contact info http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=393643#post393643

[mama tried]

We just did our floor in the shop at work with epoxy in december. its 1" thick to level the floor in a 3 bay shop. shop was built in the 80's. it has held up good to our outriggers and everything else big we throw at it (line trucks, bucket trucks, and all kinds of trailers) but we droped a 3/8 rachet and it chiped it and about 2 weeks ago we where welding and it burned it bad in the middle bay.

[roundeye]

I just finished doing the 2 part Devran Devoe high build epoxy. Turned out OK but I I think I could of done a better job if it were sprayed.
Damn those fumes rule!
:D