White floor?

brookscooper · May 3, 2010

So I'm in design stage for the new garage shop. The existing one which it will replace received a light grey epoxy coating when I bought the place.

It's been a champ as far as hardness, spill resistance, etc.
It however is awfully good at hiding bolts, nuts and jesus clips.

I'm thinking of GLOSS white for the new slab.

Any opinions? Will this make me insane?

This is a working shop, not a museum so I'm most interested in - good light reflection, good dropped parts location, etc. - functional stuff.

I worry that over time the sheen and color will bother me and that it will be hard to keep clean.

Is this a decision I'll regret in 6 months?

Given that it's new concrete in new construction I'll never have a better chance to get a perfect finish.

The idea of re-doing it in 6 mos / year with all the disruption that will entail is super-duper uninteresting.

I await your wisdom.

Twizzstyle · May 4, 2010

I haven't done my floor yet (epoxy should go down this weekend) but for a long time I pondered pure white for the exact reasons you list. I still think it would look awesome, and the lighting would be superb.

I ended up going with a taupe, which is pretty light still, and has a "warmth" to it... not as cold and sterile looking as gray. The main reason I didn't go with the white was that it seems like it would show dirt, dust, scratches, knicks, etc more than the taupe.

tncatadjuster · May 4, 2010

They are beautiful when new, have not gone back to check them afterward. I can't imagine why not. Go for it. :beer:

rugerlady · May 4, 2010

White is a really nice looking floor, It will show every bit of dirt though. A very light Gray may be an option.

Captain · May 4, 2010

brookscooper said:
This is a working shop, not a museum . . .

As long as you keep that in mind, then you will be very happy with your light floor.

I went with a cream coloured epoxy, and it's great. Always looks neat and clean, even after 18mths use.
Easy to vacuum and the occasional mop brings it back nicely.
The original sheen tends to flatten off with a bit of dust, but you'll be happy with the finish as that is what makes it easier to keep looking OK for longer.

I agree . . . go for it. :thumbup:

brookscooper · May 4, 2010

Well all right then! Thank you for the comments.

I'm planning the walls to be eggshell / taupe-ish to reduce the "operating room glare" problem of all white every where. I'll probably keep the floor full on white to maximize dropped hardware re-acquisition.

Thanks for the comments.

AlphaGarage · May 4, 2010

We've had a few projects use white, but not many. I'll see if I can rustle up any photos.

andris · May 5, 2010

I'm one of the customers Fred is referring to. I have a working race shop in a rented building and had basically the same requirements as the original poster. I did the install myself and only did a primer coat and a coat of white - no clear topcoat, no cracks filled, etc. For me, this was just about having a white, durable floor at low cost. It isn't a show garage, so I was fully expecting scratches, scrapes, burns, chips, etc. over time. I have been abusing the floor daily for about a year and a half and it has been great. Some of the gloss is of course gone, and the areas directly in front of my big grinder and tube notcher are pretty scuffed up from standing on metal dust, chips, and abrasive, but no part of the floor has failed, worn through, or peeled. The only chips I have encountered are from dropping something very sharp and heavy on a corner that chips through to the concrete. I regularly drag engines and transmissions across the floor with little consequence and I roll around jacks and the engine hoist with bare steel wheels without a thought. A clear topcoat would certainly make it even better.

The first picture is from when the floor was almost new, and the remaining pictures are more recent and show its current condition. These aren't "floor pictures" but some I found that happen to show the floor. The picture with the transmission is what the floor looks like "dirty".

One more note - I have never mopped the floor. I wipe up an area with some simple green if it gets something spilled on it, but 90% of the floor has only seen a broom. I have left brake fluid, gasoline, oil, etc on the floor for days and just wiped it up later. I'm sure a good mopping and some floor polish would bring plenty of the gloss back.

Andris Laivins

andris · May 5, 2010

Also, if you click my username and view all my posts, you will find a couple detailing the install.

Andris

Mustanger · May 5, 2010

White...interesting. Not something I had every thought of but I understand reasoning completely. Assuming you wouldn't want to put flakes down for the same reason you don't like the colored floor you have now? Just thinking maybe you could go with some off-colored chips…

brookscooper · Apr 13, 2011

Well that's it then.

Christine and Fred indicating that they've had customers do it and other posters agreeing it's not insane - my shop will be gloss white floor.

I really like the thought of light reflecting up under the vehicle on the lift, etc.

I know it will require more cleaning but I'm willing to take that chance.

Thanks all.

Demo begins 4-25 on the existing shop, excavation to follow! I'm taking good pictures so I'll post a whole process thread once we are further along.

HSURDDY · Apr 13, 2011

andris said:
I'm one of the customers Fred is referring to. I have a working race shop in a rented building and had basically the same requirements as the original poster. I did the install myself and only did a primer coat and a coat of white - no clear topcoat, no cracks filled, etc. For me, this was just about having a white, durable floor at low cost. It isn't a show garage, so I was fully expecting scratches, scrapes, burns, chips, etc. over time. I have been abusing the floor daily for about a year and a half and it has been great. Some of the gloss is of course gone, and the areas directly in front of my big grinder and tube notcher are pretty scuffed up from standing on metal dust, chips, and abrasive, but no part of the floor has failed, worn through, or peeled. The only chips I have encountered are from dropping something very sharp and heavy on a corner that chips through to the concrete. I regularly drag engines and transmissions across the floor with little consequence and I roll around jacks and the engine hoist with bare steel wheels without a thought. A clear topcoat would certainly make it even better.

The first picture is from when the floor was almost new, and the remaining pictures are more recent and show its current condition. These aren't "floor pictures" but some I found that happen to show the floor. The picture with the transmission is what the floor looks like "dirty".

One more note - I have never mopped the floor. I wipe up an area with some simple green if it gets something spilled on it, but 90% of the floor has only seen a broom. I have left brake fluid, gasoline, oil, etc on the floor for days and just wiped it up later. I'm sure a good mopping and some floor polish would bring plenty of the gloss back.

Andris Laivins

The pictures are showing as the dreaded red "X"

White floor?

brookscooper

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Twizzstyle

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tncatadjuster

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rugerlady

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Captain

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brookscooper

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AlphaGarage

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andris

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andris

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Mustanger

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brookscooper

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HSURDDY

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