Floor coating recommendation for 2,400sq ft new construction machine shop

[Riggerson]

I've done a bunch of reading and it's hard to decide. I've done epoxy and polyurea in the last shops. But not all the machines are enclosed so I'll end up with metal chips on the floor that get stuck in boots and scratch the coatings. The lighter colors end up looking really bad in the high traffic areas. It looks great for 6 months then you have bright coating with dark scratches and can't get all the dirt out of them when you mop. Worst areas are like under the anti-fatigue mat in front of a manual lathe.

So I thought for this new building I would do densifier + ghost shield would be the ticket but then I read it stains if oil is left on the floor. Sometimes a machine will leak a little bit and I'll miss cleaning it up immediately. So I'd rather not go that route if I'm going to end up with oil stains around the machines.

The last thought was to do clear polyurea/epoxy and hope the scratches don't show too much?

Basically I'm looking for a product that is impervious to oil stains and is highly scratch resistant. Or if it's not scratch resistant then something that will hide them.

Floor is 30 day old concrete, power troweled smooth.

 

[RPH]

I went ghost shield route. Working farm shop that will get stained. I used 4 different colors of acid stain in random patterns. When the stain forms, I sure it will. The random patterns camouflage the stains. Yup never notice unless you leak 5 gal and wait month,
Product did exactly what they said it and still does.

 

[FJ4FUN]

Basically I'm looking for a product that is impervious to oil stains and is highly scratch resistant. Or if it's not scratch resistant then something that will hide them.

By far, the most popular Wolverine Coatings' system used in harsh manufacturing environments is their CFLC System for reasons that address the criteria that you have described with one slightly different perspective. The LiquaTile 1143 body coat used in this system is formulated using a proprietary fused ceramic which provides abrasion resistance performance typically achieved only through the use of a third clear (wear) coat such as urethanes and polyaspartics. So, while it is highly abrasion resistant it is not abrasion proof (polymer floor coatings are basically plastic after all) . The main advantage of this relates to your desire "Or if it's not scratch resistant then something that will hide them." but in a slightly different way in that while it won't "hide" the inevitable scratches but, by eliminating the clear coat, it becomes very easy to re-coat and,or repair the floor (or high traffic areas) in the future as needed. In industrial applications, polymer floor coatings are, for the most part, considered sacrificial and their real value is based much more on durability and ease of use/maintenance than cosmetic considerations. That being said, A CFLC coated floor is stunningly beautiful but after time and use the gloss will dull in high traffic areas at which point you may elect to scuff up the floor, wipe down with denatured alcohol and simply apply a fresh coat of LiquaTile. No clear coats to contend with.

These pictures are from a major international auto parts manufacturer that we are assisting right now. As their machines come off-line for rebuild or replacement they are applying the CFLC system to the machine pads. After that they will apply custom colored CFLC to all the walkways and striping as well. Coolant and metal shavings/dust is everywhere, all the time!



They like it so much that they are now applying it to the administrative and lab areas as well... ;-)

 

[Garage Flooring]

Ghostshield is a good choice. https://www.garageflooringllc.com/product/siloxa-tek-8505-concrete-sealer/ Understand there is a punch through, and after time, things will soak in. It also does not improve gloss. Personally, I would consider a couple of coats of clear Polyurea. https://www.garageflooringllc.com/2018/07/26/clear-polyurea-applications/