Best way to finish garage floor

[ls1 nova]

I moved into a house about 6 yrs ago that had a 32x40 detatched garage(just framed) I finished the garage but the floor drains are the highest spot in the garage(there are 3 of them) What can I do to finish concrete floors(that will withstand welding) and hold up to moving heavy objects across the floor plus drain water????

[Beegs]

This subject has been hammered to death over at: garagejournal.com
Check it out and search away!

[ZMAN1969]

I did U-Coat It in my new garage hold up pretty good but does show scratches - been over a year now but they told me welding splatter is bad- havent tried that yet , cleans easy and is very slippery when wet!
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t35/zman1969/garage12.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t35/zman1969/garage2.jpg

[syborg tt]

Okay here is my advise

I had my floor professionally expoy coated and it's really nice looking. It has one drawback - like very slippery in the winter.

-- which means don't pull in to fast with wet tires ( you'll slide )

So far my wife and both daughters have slipped and fallen on it

but other then that i love it.

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Camaro-RSX/2008_02_25_054_no_outlets.jpg

[Silver69Camaro]

they told me welding splatter is bad

Yes it is! On any epoxy floor (professional or not), you MUST cover the floor beneath your welding...the splatter and sparks will burn and discolor it.

I went with VCT tile for my garage. It looks great, very durable, cheap, easy to install, and simple to repair. Most big box stores sell the 12x12 tiles for $0.70, add $40 for glue and $10 for a notched trowel. I tiled 650 sq ft for less than $500 and only a weekends time.

The best part is the repair. If you chip an epoxy floor (and the concrete as well), there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. For a VCT floor, the concrete stays intact and you just lay down a new tile. Cheap and easy. Engine stands don't seem to hurt it at all, either. But maintenance is the same: Keep it polished and waxed, keep it clean, keep weld splatter off.

A pro finish epoxy is the ultimate solution, but if you don't want to lay down the big bucks go with VCT. You wont be disappointed.

[Mover]

Yes it is! On any epoxy floor (professional or not), you MUST cover the floor beneath your welding...the splatter and sparks will burn and discolor it.

I went with VCT tile for my garage. It looks great, very durable, cheap, easy to install, and simple to repair. Most big box stores sell the 12x12 tiles for $0.70, add $40 for glue and $10 for a notched trowel. I tiled 650 sq ft for less than $500 and only a weekends time.

The best part is the repair. If you chip an epoxy floor (and the concrete as well), there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. For a VCT floor, the concrete stays intact and you just lay down a new tile. Cheap and easy. Engine stands don't seem to hurt it at all, either. But maintenance is the same: Keep it polished and waxed, keep it clean, keep weld splatter off.

A pro finish epoxy is the ultimate solution, but if you don't want to lay down the big bucks go with VCT. You wont be disappointed.


Matt,

That’s a great idea for the garage floor. Can you post pictures?

[bama46fleetline]

the best thing to do is leave it alone

[fesler]

Check out our shop pics and look at our floors, they are etched and they last through the welding, sliding and its just the concreat. Nothing on top so you still have your same floor that will not scratch. they can do over 100 different themes on the floor so you have many options. I can get you the guys that did ours web site if they have one so you can see how its done.

Epoxy will not last if you are going to use your garage, you will see every weld splater on it. I know I have had two shops with epoxy and this time we searched for something new that would last and look sick. We have a big money home builder that we do work with and this is what they do on their floors and its cheaper in the long run.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0007.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0008.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0004.jpg
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0009.jpg

[Derek Miller]

I am all for the etched concrete floor. I am an architect and we use it in a lot of our schools and commercial jobs. It looks great and holds up to a lot of abuse. You just have to make sure the concrete contractor knows that you want this finish, they will be a little more careful with their finishing work.

[brans72]

damn i love feslers floor!! best idea of anyone yet!

[syborg tt]

Okay Fesler - your killing me

Tell me about the 2nd Gen Camaro.

If you choose not to tell me I am going to hire a PI to get the scoop

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0009.jpg

[Silver69Camaro]

Matt,

That’s a great idea for the garage floor. Can you post pictures?

Not yet, sorry. I still vouch for the durability of this stuff though, I've been very impressed. I managed to drop a old brake rotor on it a while back, which would have surely chipped the concrete, but it just gouged the tile a bit. Very impressive.

It's also been in the teens for several days last month, no ill effects.

[tones2SS]

Okay Fesler - your killing me

Tell me about the 2nd Gen Camaro.

If you choose not to tell me I am going to hire a PI to get the scoop

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0009.jpg

I agree Marty!!!
I'll go halfs on you for the PI!!!:thumbsup:
Any info would be great Chris on that 2nd Gen Camaro.:cheers:

[vstol]

I would be interested in the web site of the company that etched your floor. I have surfed the web and all I can find is etching for preping the floor for the floor coating.

[907rs]

I would be interested in the web site of the company that etched your floor. I have surfed the web and all I can find is etching for preping the floor for the floor coating.

Google "concrete acid stain". Our company has done quite a bit of it.

[vstol]

What product does your company use and is there any maintenance after it’s completed?

[protour73]

I asked that very same questions, when he first posted the new shop photo's!!!!!.....although I didn't threaten him Marty!! :D LOL

Okay Fesler - your killing me

Tell me about the 2nd Gen Camaro.
If you choose not to tell me I am going to hire a PI to get the scoop

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Img0009.jpg

[g356gear]

I would steer clear of any of the epoxy coatings. I had mine done professionally with a high quality system. Like others have said it is suuuper slippery when it gets rain water or snow/ice on it. I think everyone in my family has wiped out on it at least once. Other issue is that no matter how many hours of prep you out in, and let it cure (4 weeks in my case) it likes to lift under hot tires. My floor is 2 years old and it has several bad spots where tires from my wife's sport utility have lifted the product. If I did it again, I would polish and stain it hands down. There are some other 24hr products out there that might be an option, but bare concrete I think is the best choice for a garage that gets used daily.

[vstol]

I am currently looking into etching the floor but what about just using a sealent like thompsons water sealent to keep the dust down?

[DFRESH]

Has anyone used the "Racedeck" flooring? I believe they are some sort of industrial tile (not sure of composition) and it looks nice. Not sure about durability issues or rolling a floor jack around on it--let along welding.

Doug

[nvr2fst]

Has anyone used the "Racedeck" flooring? I believe they are some sort of industrial tile (not sure of composition) and it looks nice. Not sure about durability issues or rolling a floor jack around on it--let along welding.

Doug

Dont waste your money, Race deck will set you back twice the cost of epoxy coatings. I have a similar product in one of my trailers (Rib deck) and it is a Bit!#* to clean because of the embossed patterns in the tile. It can handle any weight but dont even consider welding, grinder etc. It will melt the composite plastic tiles in a minute.
I agree with Fesler, etched stain is the way to go, it will outlast epoxy 4fold. You can add a non slip additive in a sealer coat on top of the stain etched floor. However I have had the sealer topping flake over the years but the stain looks like new. We have a ton of salt/snow issues here most likely causing the chirting effect in my sealer only.
I also had a client that hired a contractor to apply to his workshop floor a bedliner coating same as you see in trucks. The product was made by Rhino I believe, it turned out pretty cool but havent seen the floor since we closed on that project.

[GregWeld]

I get asked this all the time.... "why don't you paint your floor"..... My response is always the same.... "this isn't my house - this is my SHOP... I want to come out here and work". I didn't even want a "sealer" on my floor - I live where it's wet all the time - I really like staying on my feet... Concrete is hard on your tush.

Unless you're building a "show garage"... just leave 'em alone. That way you can drag heavy stuff all over the place... you can weld and cut... you can spill oil... and when you get all done -- you can do all that and you don't care...

It really is all a matter of what you want to get out of your "shop" -- you want it to be a shop -- or a showplace... if it's a showplace -- do the epoxy - cause they look GREAT...

[NorwayCharger]

I´ve had epoxy floor and some industrial acrylic covering.
On my new shop i had industrial tile that contains granite.
They have been used a lot for the last six mounts, still looks like new.

[BonzoHansen]

I used u-coat-it epoxy and am very happy. I followed the directions to a tee, scrubbed the crap out of it and etched it. I used grit in the clear, no slip issues here. I did it almost 4 years ago and have found it very durable.

Like Matt said, "...on any epoxy floor (professional or not), you MUST cover the floor beneath your welding...the splatter and sparks will burn and discolor it.".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/House/th_IMG_3764Small.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/House/?action=view&current=IMG_3764Small.jpg) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/House/th_IMG_3772Small.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/House/?action=view&current=IMG_3772Small.jpg)

That floor made my garage much easier to clean up, much easier to find stuff I drop on the floor and made the garage much brighter.