I have a large area in my basement that I have finished with a projector, bar, pool table, etc.
It was previously carpeted, but a clogged gutter and 5 inches of rain led to part of that getting wet and stinky from water seeping in through the poured concrete walls so part of that has been cut out for a while during the renovation.
The gutter problem fixed, but it's always possible something similar happens in the future given that one end of the basement is below grade.
I have to decide on what to do for flooring. I can risk carpet again, but the waterproof options are tile or epoxy.
For epoxy there are some complications. I have done my 3 car garage with 100% solids before as well as a utility room in the basement so I know how to do this, it's just that I am not sure if the logistics will work.
The walls and ceilings are finished. There is a projector in here and speakers. I have leather theater chairs and a pool table. It is all one open space I can push those to other areas and do this in two sections but the questions I have are:
Can I successfully etch and pressure wash (small electric pressure washer) while someone (or 2) runs a shop vac and ***** up the water with plastic sheeting on the walls - all without destroying my walls and baseboards? Has anyone done this?
If I mask off a seam across the floor, how does that end up looking in the final product? My seam here would be in a pretty obvious place.
How can I best protect against UV exposure? (It's a daylight basement)
If I tile... that's a whole lot of tile. Any comparative thoughts on that... epoxy vs. tile?
__________________
Regarding my previous installs if anyone is interested... 12 years old now.
I am generally happy with my garage install. It was the Epoxy du jour on the forum at the time, I think it was sold at Costco (EpoxyGuard/Epoxy Master?). The issues it has are:
1) yellowing at garage doors (no top coat - just didn't know about the UV issues)
2) chemically eaten by both a Round Up concentrate spill, and paint thinner mixed with old gas that drained out of a restoration project.
3) it doesn't hold up to welding splatter - burn/scorch marks.
I am more happy with my utility room install finished product. I think it was the same stuff, but I ended up having to use 2 coats because the first one bubbled/cratered pretty bad - maybe because I put it on too thick or rolled it too much and trapped air. The only issue with it is that same dang bottle of Round Up leaked on it. It fared better, but swelled and turned a pinkish white.
I also helped a friend put NorClad on his garage and it was my least favorite of the outcomes. It was much more slippery when wet than mine and started having hot tire pickup (along with some of the concrete chunking) soon after install. That is all very possibly some install error or site specific issue, but we were careful and even put down primer for his - which actually made me fearful of using primer going forward.
It was previously carpeted, but a clogged gutter and 5 inches of rain led to part of that getting wet and stinky from water seeping in through the poured concrete walls so part of that has been cut out for a while during the renovation.
The gutter problem fixed, but it's always possible something similar happens in the future given that one end of the basement is below grade.
I have to decide on what to do for flooring. I can risk carpet again, but the waterproof options are tile or epoxy.
For epoxy there are some complications. I have done my 3 car garage with 100% solids before as well as a utility room in the basement so I know how to do this, it's just that I am not sure if the logistics will work.
The walls and ceilings are finished. There is a projector in here and speakers. I have leather theater chairs and a pool table. It is all one open space I can push those to other areas and do this in two sections but the questions I have are:
Can I successfully etch and pressure wash (small electric pressure washer) while someone (or 2) runs a shop vac and ***** up the water with plastic sheeting on the walls - all without destroying my walls and baseboards? Has anyone done this?
If I mask off a seam across the floor, how does that end up looking in the final product? My seam here would be in a pretty obvious place.
How can I best protect against UV exposure? (It's a daylight basement)
If I tile... that's a whole lot of tile. Any comparative thoughts on that... epoxy vs. tile?
__________________
Regarding my previous installs if anyone is interested... 12 years old now.
I am generally happy with my garage install. It was the Epoxy du jour on the forum at the time, I think it was sold at Costco (EpoxyGuard/Epoxy Master?). The issues it has are:
1) yellowing at garage doors (no top coat - just didn't know about the UV issues)
2) chemically eaten by both a Round Up concentrate spill, and paint thinner mixed with old gas that drained out of a restoration project.
3) it doesn't hold up to welding splatter - burn/scorch marks.
I am more happy with my utility room install finished product. I think it was the same stuff, but I ended up having to use 2 coats because the first one bubbled/cratered pretty bad - maybe because I put it on too thick or rolled it too much and trapped air. The only issue with it is that same dang bottle of Round Up leaked on it. It fared better, but swelled and turned a pinkish white.
I also helped a friend put NorClad on his garage and it was my least favorite of the outcomes. It was much more slippery when wet than mine and started having hot tire pickup (along with some of the concrete chunking) soon after install. That is all very possibly some install error or site specific issue, but we were careful and even put down primer for his - which actually made me fearful of using primer going forward.
