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Buying a house - I need a functional good looking floor- advice?

clydesdale

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Feb 5, 2006
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93
Location
Brewster, NY
I am not sure what to use for the floor. I think epoxy. But, I could use some advice to get me started. The garage will be used for vehicle repairs, repairs on commericial mowers and general storage. So, the floor has to be durable. Please point me in the right direction. Thanks.
Jeff
 
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thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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Wisconsin
Pay up and get an industrial epoxy slurry. You'll do it once and be done with it. It's more expensive and you may need to hunt for a quality firm who will do it properly and reasonably. I used www.cmscmr.com here in Milw., Wi. Click on CMS and flooring systems. Indestructible and much better than any paint on. Worth every penny.

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thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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Wisconsin
Click on the link and then CMS>PROJECT PROFILES and then the NEXT button at the top of the picture to see the process.
 

thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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Wisconsin
So it's an epoxy floor w/ quartz chips in it vs. flakes basically...

Not like your out-of-the-can DIY, though. Yes it's epoxy, but it's 1/8" thick slurry, not a thin paint on. The base 1/2 is silica sand that bonds with the concrete and the upper 1/2 quartz. Then a final layer dress coat is rolled on. The floor is shot blasted before application.

I was hoping for something that is DIY.

That's OK. Just realize, you'll be DIYing it over the coming years again (and again).
 
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Griot's Garage

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Feb 10, 2009
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Tacoma, WA
For DIY I'd recommend epoxy. Ours is durable, easy to apply, and looks great! We get letters all the time from people that have had it on their floor for 10+ years with no problems at all. If you want to know what is involved with the application process our application instructions are available online here. The paint runs $59.99 per gallon, which covers of 130 square feet in 2 coats, so basically divide your garage's square footage by 130 and round up. If you have any extra paint you can just send it back for a refund.

Let me know if you have any questions.


~derek
 

gcan

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Dec 30, 2006
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Alabama
Looks great and I'm considering a purchase but please say it isn't as slippery as it looks...
 

Jaguar Fan

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Park City for Ski Season; Las Vegas for Poker Seas
I was hoping for something that is DIY.

spend some time browsing thru the past threads; you will find many success stories by us DIY-ers (me included). The professionals here are very helpful, too. After you've spent a half hour looking thru the archives here, why don't you come back & post a few specific questions.

Do not discount the idea of using a Pro out of hand. Yes, you spend more, but a competent pro does a helluva job.
 

ksdaoski

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May 3, 2009
Messages
36
cost??????????
Pay up and get an industrial epoxy slurry. You'll do it once and be done with it. It's more expensive and you may need to hunt for a quality firm who will do it properly and reasonably. I used www.cmscmr.com here in Milw., Wi. Click on CMS and flooring systems. Indestructible and much better than any paint on. Worth every penny.

4134063017_0a71d8954f_o.jpg


4134824706_42afc7609a_o.jpg


4134159335_ae6e51a366_o.jpg
 

thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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246
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Wisconsin
Cost- $2780 for the 21 X 32 garage. Shot blast and finish.

Slippery - Not at all, excellent traction, wet, dry or snow, one of the best things about it. I hadn't put grit in my UCoatit floor originally in my daily driver garage and it was like a skating rink when wet. This floor grips like glue, negative is it doesn't dry as quickly when you wash it because a rubber squeegee doesn't slide across the surface well. I use a foam squeegee which is much better.

Here is a picture of it in my daily garage (other was the hobby garage) last night. Been down for 3 years (winters).
 

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nate379

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Feb 2, 2009
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Palmer, AK
That isn't a bad price.

I got quote from the pros here to do my garage (625sq ft) and they wanted somewhere around $7 a sq ft
 

Shocker

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Nov 23, 2008
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Olympia, WA
Not a bad price at all. But I do disagree with the DIY again and again comment. With proper prep and time put into the job, it will last just as long when using a quality epoxy like Wolverine.
 

thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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Wisconsin
I pulled the number from my Quicken records, but for some reason $3K sticks in my head, maybe I rounded up. It's about double the price of paint with the contractor I used. I had another quote for triple his from another guy. Out of his mind and not as qualified as CMSCMR.

I agree that paint on epoxy can last and do the job with proper preparation. I just think that with the quality of this product, it's worth well more than double the cost. I was lucky that I found this contractor at this price.
 

Cobra4B

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Feb 26, 2006
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Location
Virginia Beach, VA
I fully understand that you get what you pay for, but I can't fathom spending $3000 on a garage floor... that'd pay for 3 weekends at the race track! Or a new set of CCWs for the Z06.

VCT for me :) But I do enjoy looking at all the pretty things people do on here.
 

thelews

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Nov 19, 2009
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246
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Wisconsin
I fully understand that you get what you pay for, but I can't fathom spending $3000 on a garage floor... that'd pay for 3 weekends at the race track! Or a new set of CCWs for the Z06.

VCT for me :) But I do enjoy looking at all the pretty things people do on here.

I agree with you, everyone should spend their money in ways that satisfies them.

I've spent more than three weekends in my garage.

I'm not real good at spending money on expensive meals, but will on things that I use and that last.
 
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Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
19
Thelews has a nice floor. But I would stay with good epoxy vs the quartz floor. I have seen many floor crack when a hammer is dropped. But they are not slippery and they look great but not for dropping stuff on!
 

gcan

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Dec 30, 2006
Messages
152
Location
Alabama
Sorry for not being specific, I am wondering if the epoxy paint Groit's has listed is slippery?
not trying to be negative but it looks like colored ice which is great looking into the garage from outside but could be a pain in the rear, if you know what I mean, while working iin the garage
 

AlphaGarage

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Apr 16, 2008
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Every Garage, AnyTown, USA
What is a quartz floor and what is vct, they sound like some sort of tiles?

"Quartz" is essentially colored sand, it's combined with a liquid floor coating, usually an epoxy. It can be put down pretty thick, which helps if the floor is in rough shape, plus that helps with durability. Generally the quartz is broadcast (spread) "to rejection" - which means the wet epoxy is completely covered with the quartz until it starts to pile up. After the epoxy cures the excess quartz is swept away and a final clear coat is applied.

The quartz comes in a lot of colors, and some installers can craft logos and other designs by "painting" with the quartz.

Not too many DIY projects use quartz. The quartz is essentially sand, and sand is pretty heavy so the shipping charges can mount up quickly, plus application can be tricky. Unless it's broadcast to rejection, spreading the quartz is a challenge. It can clump up and easily form small bumps and hills, not easy to get right until you've done a few.

Vinyl flakes, such as out DecoFlakes, are much easier to broadcast evenly and result is a great looking finish.

"VCT" is vinyl composition tile, those tile floors often seen in grocery stores. They can be easier to install and relatively cheap, plus if you want some checkerboard type pattern that's an easy way to go. One mistake people make is thinking that VCT will hide and cover floor blemishes like cracks and bumps. They will be covered, at least initially, but eventually the floor's profile will transmit through the VCT.

Another downside is that they require periodic polishing or waxing, although there are sealers available (like our BondTite 1107) to make maintenance much easier.
 

356vintage

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Apr 23, 2009
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127
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San Mateo, California
I did my last two floors with Groit's floor epoxy. Once about 12 years ago in Seattle, Washington and my most recent (9 year old floor) in San Mateo, California.
The only mistake I made in Seattle was not to put any sand or non-skid material in the epoxy. It was slippery, especially after parking our everyday driver in the garage, water dripping onto the floor, well you get the picture. It was just plain dumb not to do it.
My current floor has been down for 9 years plus and it is holding up very well. I prepared the floor by having a company come in and shot blast the surface. That was a mistake because the blasting took too much of the top layer of concrete and created what they call "corn rows" of surface grooves. The reason I went with the blasting is because I used a concrete additive that prevents water penetration. I thought I needed more adhesion, which I'm now okay with because the several coats of epoxy filled the corn rows fairly well. I've dropped wrenches and tools on the floor with only minor chipping. Since I don't really drive a wet car into the garage, I didn't use any grit on the entire floor, I like the smooth feel when walking over it. However, I did broadcast some clean fine sand lightly at the door entries about 4 feet inside. After the sanding, I applied the final coat. It turned out great and today is still very nice, no slipping, none. Haven't heard many other reports about the epoxy that Griot's sells, but I will attest that it is fairly easy to apply (follow directions), prep the floors properly, allow to dry/cure and enjoy. I like the floor without the flakes, looks more like a dealership service area.
But that's just me.
 

thegarageguy

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Oct 24, 2007
Messages
1,489
Location
NJ
$4 and change per sqft is very cheap. Though from the explanation, sounds like it was top coated with epoxy only. No Urethane or Polyaspartic top coat. If that is the case you may find you floor turning colors, fading and hard to maintain the new look.

We run against these floors all the time on commercial quotes, never on residential. Sometimes its a worker from a larger company selling and installing left over material and doing it on his off hours. Can't compete against them.

Also, there is a big difference between "painted" quartz sand and ceramic coated quartz sand. The ceramic are uv resistant and do not fade therefore can be used outside as well. Painted sand is much cheaper.

We normally do the 1/8 inch slurry quartz floors for $6 with epoxy top coat, $7 with polyurethane top coat and $8 with Polyaspartic top coat. Of course surface conditions and sqft may change the bottom line price.

In a garage we will not offer a floor without a poly top coat because the need of chemical resistance to vehicle fluids.

Let us know how your floor holds up as far as color fading and staining.
 
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bazzateer

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Oct 8, 2009
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Watford, Great Britain
$3k for a 21' x 32' floor covering!!! That's about £1,800 !!! When my 22' x 30' is ready for floor finishing I'll be DIY-ing a painted (possibly epoxy based) finish and don't expect to pay more than about £2-300. In fact the concrete slab will probably come in around £1,800-2,000.

Some of the prices I see quoted from the USA and Canada seem incredibly high to me, then again income is probably proportionally higher as well. Now all I need to do is find a job that pays USA rates but keep costs down to UK levels!.......................

The above is not meant to be a criticism of anyone by the way. More an thinly disguised expression of jealousy!
 
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