12m x 7m workshop/garage - Looking at floor options.

Steve_mc0 · Feb 2, 2017

12m x 7m workshop/garage - Looking at floor options - Went with Euco Diamond Hard

I've been looking at my options for flooring so i can be ready once the concrete is poured.

12x7m workshop and garage. It'll be used for automotive work with a 2 post hoist. Dropped oils and coolant etc. I'll also be wanting to do metal work, grinding cutting and welding etc.

I came across concrete densifier and sealers and feel like it's a good match. Id be open to acid staining if I could find a nice neutral light grey?

I love the marbled look of what I've seen on the forums here - like the attached pic.

I guess I'd like to know if I'm going in the right direction. Also I'll probably be doing it myself and want to know what i should tell the concreters for the finish so it makes my job easier.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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Steve_mc0 · Feb 2, 2017

Also forgot to mention flakes are out. Don't like the look and it will hide dropped bolts etc.

Also, to do a densifier job do i need to sand or polish the concrete?

I don't want it to be rough but fully polished will be too slippery.

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Steve_mc0 · Feb 2, 2017

Oh and I'm in Australia so locally available products preferred

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bigjon · Feb 3, 2017

I'd give these blokes a call.

http://www.on-crete.com.au

Steve_mc0 · Feb 3, 2017

Already visited them and they tried to talk me into doing flake epoxy etc.

Guy wasnt super knowledgeable and said to go look at youtube

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Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

I've spoken with my concreter and we are going to go with a burnished finish.

He will power trowel it and I'll add a densifier and a penetrating sealer to finish. Depending on the smoothness I may buff it after that.

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SunsetsAndFriends · Feb 5, 2017

Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

DoItMyselfToo said:
Sounds like you answered your own question. Good luck with your project and feel free to post pictures of your progress. I'm sure there are many GJ members who would love to show you support.

Yeah in a way I did, but I would've liked someone who's done this kind of thing before to chime in on it...

I'm still not 100% sure on the process and there's not a whole lot of info on google.

SunsetsAndFriends · Feb 5, 2017

Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

Yeah i think I've read every thread i can find relating to those topics.

No one really says what surface prep they did even though the floor pics are all wonderful looking like the one i posted earlier.

I'm impressed by ghostshield 8505 and the sounds of TLPPC but both of these are USA specific products and nothing like that in Aus.

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bigjon · Feb 5, 2017

Steve_mc0 said:
Already visited them and they tried to talk me into doing flake epoxy etc.

Guy wasnt super knowledgeable and said to go look at youtube

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That's surprising as their website has pics of what your looking for.

Good luck and post some pics of the finished product once competed.

Cheers!

Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

bigjon said:
That's surprising as their website has pics of what your looking for.

Good luck and post some pics of the finished product once competed.

Cheers!

Yeah, I actually went back to my local On-Crete store yesterday and the same guy was there. I was hoping to get someone else.

I've had more of a look around their site and came across this product:
http://www.on-crete.com.au/products/SV45-Polyurethane-30.htm

Which seems to be similar to the TLPPC sold by Garage Flooring LLC, not sure if it's going to hold up to my workshop oil/welding use though?

The On-Crete stuff seems to be a higher "build" coating rather than a penetrative sealer though...

Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

There's another possible option here:
http://www.on-crete.com.au/products/SV36-Petrol-Oil-Resistant-Concrete-Sealer-52.htm

Not sure if this one forms a coating on top or if its a penetrative sealer either?

Radix2 · Feb 5, 2017

Steve, been looking into the same thing, same look.

Here is a good build thread that has the look, he got it from doing the densifier sealer, and then applying one of the typical floor polishes found at the big stores. He mentions Zep brand, but I imagine similar can be found out your way. Says he reapplies periodically as needed. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109088&highlight=Jared&page=12

I am also testing a more all in one version - HD40 which has the densifier and a slight film firming sealer in one. Maybe take a look at that one and see if there is a version you can find?

Steve_mc0 · Feb 5, 2017

Thanks for that link mate, appreciate it. That's the exact kind of finish I'm after. He's got a great build thread going and I am a bit jealous as I see all the cool gear he's setup.

I'm not really wanting to put a topical coating on as from what I read, any welding spatter will burn it. I'd rather let the densified concrete do the protecting.

But am open to suggestions.

Steve_mc0 · Feb 6, 2017

Ok so I have some good news for Aussies looking for a densifier/sealer solution that isn't a topical coating.

Euco Diamond Hard - It's used in big box stores such as Home Depot (USA) and Masters/Bunnings (Australia), and I found a local supplier of it.

http://www.tremco.com.au/products/euco-diamond-hard.aspx

I've spoken to them and a 20L tub is approximately $190 and will cover 85 square meters (about what I need).

The sales rep said it would have no problem resisting water/oil/coolant spills such that would be found in an automotive workshop.

She also said because its a penetrating sealer, there's no coating to damage when welding and the surface would be harder because it's a densifier as well.

The looks of the concrete is completely unaffected and she told me I would be best with a smooth troweled finish - she said not to overly burnish the finish with the helecopter trowling machine as you require some porosity left in the concrete for the sealer to soak in.

Once the concrete has cured for 20-30 days I can apply the Diamond Hard sealer and either leave it as is, or use a buffing machine to add extra sheen/shine to the surface.

Application can be done with a garden sprayer or simply poured on. Best to agitate with a broom or mechanical scrubber machine. Because my area is not a huge warehouse the broom method will work fine. She said to remove any pooled liquid on the surface before it sets by washing. Very similar to other products I've been looking into.

Datasheet:
http://www.tremco.com.au/fileshare/Data Sheets/euco diamond hard - data sheet.pdf

Safety Sheet:
http://www.tremco.com.au/fileshare/Safety Data Sheets/Diamond Hard SDS.pdf

SunsetsAndFriends · Feb 6, 2017

Steve_mc0 · Feb 6, 2017

Listing this link for future reference - dropped onto a great thread about Diamond Hard.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38470

Diamond Hard promotional brochure:
http://euclidchemical.com/fileshare/ELit/Brochures/Reactive Sealers Brochure B61.pdf

Radix2 · Feb 7, 2017

Steve_mc0 said:
Ok so I have some good news for Aussies looking for a densifier/sealer solution that isn't a topical coating.

Euco Diamond Hard - It's used in big box stores such as Home Depot (USA) and Masters/Bunnings (Australia), and I found a local supplier of it.

http://www.tremco.com.au/products/euco-diamond-hard.aspx

I've spoken to them and a 20L tub is approximately $190 and will cover 85 square meters (about what I need).

The sales rep said it would have no problem resisting water/oil/coolant spills such that would be found in an automotive workshop.

She also said because its a penetrating sealer, there's no coating to damage when welding and the surface would be harder because it's a densifier as well.

The looks of the concrete is completely unaffected and she told me I would be best with a smooth troweled finish - she said not to overly burnish the finish with the helecopter trowling machine as you require some porosity left in the concrete for the sealer to soak in.

Once the concrete has cured for 20-30 days I can apply the Diamond Hard sealer and either leave it as is, or use a buffing machine to add extra sheen/shine to the surface.

Application can be done with a garden sprayer or simply poured on. Best to agitate with a broom or mechanical scrubber machine. Because my area is not a huge warehouse the broom method will work fine. She said to remove any pooled liquid on the surface before it sets by washing. Very similar to other products I've been looking into.

Datasheet:
http://www.tremco.com.au/fileshare/Data Sheets/euco diamond hard - data sheet.pdf

Safety Sheet:
http://www.tremco.com.au/fileshare/Safety Data Sheets/Diamond Hard SDS.pdf

Thanks for the info. It looks like What we are looking for. About the only problem I see with it is it does not seem to be ok with strong salt solutions. We use salt on the roads here in the winter, so you occasionally get salt drips off of snowy cars...

I hope some of the guys that used it years ago would post how things are going!

RPH · Feb 7, 2017

If salt protection is important then look at Ghostshield 8505. Designed for garage use. You have to use a densifier before though.

Steve_mc0 · Feb 7, 2017

If Ghostshield 8505 was available in Australia I would be going ahead with that instead of Diamond Hard. Luckily no frozen roads in Brisbane...

Diamond hard appears to be good with preventing oil/brake fluid/coolant from soaking into the concrete which is my main concern.

RPH · Feb 8, 2017

Didn't see the Aussie component. That does make a difference. Have to work with what you can get.

Steve_mc0 · Apr 23, 2017

So I went ahead with Euco Diamond Hard coating on my floor.

Here's some pics.

If you want to read more about my build there's a full thread here
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351439

12m x 7m workshop/garage - Looking at floor options.

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