Floor Options for Welding/Restoration Work

[EliseHome]

Hello Everyone,

I've called several specialists who do staining, grinding, polyurea, epoxy, and tiles, and I'm getting differing views.

I want a great floor, but it won't be a showroom, as I'll be working there on a restoration project which will involve wrenching, welding, using a cutoff tool, etc. I cannot find the exact answer to my question, but here it is:

Which option both looks nice and is tough enough to handle this sort of work?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Stephen

 

[Angelfire]

With regards to welding, nothing will hold up to significant welding slag, concrete included. Many folks protect whatever surface they have with a welding blanket or similar when welding. For just spatter, grinding, etc...your best bet would be either concrete or porcelain tile.

 

[EliseHome]

With regards to welding, nothing will hold up to significant welding slag, concrete included. Many folks protect whatever surface they have with a welding blanket or similar when welding. For just spatter, grinding, etc...your best bet would be either concrete or porcelain tile.

Thanks...OK, so I can either polish/stain the concrete or go with porcelain tile? I will use a blanket whenever possible, as you say, for slag. So that would eliminate epoxies and RaceDeck-like tiles. it would also eliminate polyaspartic coatings, it would seem.

 

[Angelfire]

Just my opinion, but yes, porcelain or a stain will be your most resilient surface. Lots of folks will chime in I'm sure on the benefits of epoxy or the plastic tiles. As I see it, I don't like the idea of having to put down protection over the floor for everything I do. When welding, it's understandable as not much holds up to slag. Epoxy and the plastic tiles sure look nice but for me personally, I am going with porcelain trying to get the best of all worlds. I'm forever dropping stuff when working so went with a through body porcelain. IF something falls and chips it, it'll be minimal in appearance.

But seriously here, this topic has been discussed at length in this forum. Grab a beverage and start the search. You'll find there are proponents for all the various floor types. I just happen to gravitate to porcelain. There are others that will argue that epoxy is the best. Read and decide for yourself based on your situation, what you feel is best and go from there.
Cheers.

 

[motofool33]

you say stain, so how do you seal the stain ? other then an epoxy?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Acrylic sealer will work too.

 

[A_Pmech]

In over 10 years I've never put down anything to protect my epoxy floor in my machine shop. It's doing fine.