Drilling through epoxy

[aalleexx]

Wanting to frame up walls inside a red iron metal building. What would be the best way to attach bottom plate to floor with epoxy coating and flakes? I have everything to start my floor except undecided on topcoat over the flakes. Should the walls come before the flooring or is there a good way to attach walls after the flooring is completed? Thankful for any suggestions.

 

[sberry]

It would be a lot easier to floor without the walls in the way?

 

[aalleexx]

That's what I'm thinking but don't know if epoxied floor would be messed up by drilling thru it. I guess a hammer drill would be needed.

 

[JimNC]

Not sure why, but I’d probably drill the anchor holes, coat the floor, then install the anchors and build the walls.

 

[Kaizen]

Of course the epoxy will be messed up. It will have a hole in it. Do wall after.


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[aalleexx]

I was referring to excessive chipping or breakage around the holes in the epoxy that might spread out from under the wall.

 

[kgordon]

It wont chip or crack outside of the hole. Working on a large project now, 3 coat epoxy floor and drilling hundreds of holes for pipe stands in it. Epoxy, then tap con or wedge anchor bottom plate.

 

[Kaizen]

I was referring to excessive chipping or breakage around the holes in the epoxy that might spread out from under the wall.

Only time that would happen is if that section was not adhered well. The half inch hole will be covered by a 2x4? So you have 1.5 inches covered on each side. No problem


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[Armorpoxy]

Drilling through epoxy shouldn't affect it nor cause additional cracking.

We sell to tons of warehouses and after the floor is done they install pallet racks and drill hundreds, if not thousands, of holes in the floor to set anchors to affix the racks to.

Drill away is our opinion!

 

[CombatNinja]

The only way it will mess it up is if you don't let it fully cure and then try to use real large bit . Then it sort of flings around like saltwater taffy and you have totally jacked up your floor. Ask me how I know...

You could go halfway and attach your bottom plates and then just epoxy right up to them, then finish studding out the walls when the floor is complete. That way you still have freedom of movement and the whole space is open but the plate won't have to go over the top of the epoxy.

It really depends, in my humble opinion, on what this space is supposed to be in its end state. If you are trying to make a beautiful floor for vehicle display or hanging out, be advised that framing walls after the floor is in is almost guaranteed to scar it up. You will get some marks in it no matter how careful you try to be. If it is just a working shop and the floor is going to take a lot of abuse anyway, frame after the fact.

 

[aalleexx]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I really like CombatNinja's idea about the bottom plates first.
Does anybody see any disadvantages to doing it this way?

 

[CombatNinja]

The more I though about it, the more convinced I became that this is what I would do if I was in your situation.