Galvanized sheets for floor???

[REFLEXX]

Gents,

Just thinking here. What about using thin galvanized sheets for shop flooring or at least in sections where there would be lots of abuse?

Install would be easy. Just drill some holes in the concrete,and use small screws that will sit almost flush?

Under a fab area in the corner where you weld or might drop steel pieces? Welding slag will not affect it. Equipment will roll easily. very easy to clean with a mop or broom.

Down sides: shock hazard? slippery? will scratch and rust eventually?

The sheets come in 5ft x 10ft, price seems reasonable.

I'm also thinking about some for walls (4ft or 5ft up) for protecting the drywall.

What do ya'll think?

 

[6t7gto]

stainless.
looks good.
harder to scratch.
won't rust.

david

 

[gerry]

It would be slippery than owl stuff.

 

[krooser]

Never seen a steel floor in anything except a big ship...there must be a reason....I don't think it's a very good idea...

 

[bmwpower]

A friend of mine installed a stainless floor in this guy's kitchen. I have to see if I can get some pictures. Not quite the same environment, but...

 

[krooser]

Wouldn't the seams be a problem?

 

[dboat]

Would condensation be an issue at some point? either below or above

however, I do like the idea..

 

[mike944]

I think it would be very slippery.

If you want a floor like that, look into steel tiles. Not decorative steel tiles, but the industrial variety. They're sometimes used in warehouses, and facilities that really punish their floors. They're the longest lasting floor covering under those conditions.

They're a little hard to find, i did a quick google search, and had trouble finding them. I don't know how much they're used these days. I have a warehouse floor in an industrial building i own, that's probably 50 years old, and still in good shape, with steel tile.
________

 

[CraigFL]

In places where it can get oily or greasy, floor construction is with diamond plate. You can get aluminun, stainless or regular steel.

 

[MXtras]

I donno if I would use the sheet on the floor for the reasons mentioned. How about using either Diamond plate or floor grating? OR -

I worked at a large Austrian/German owned machine shop for 14 yrs that had Oak flooring - - no ****! The entire plant floor (185,000SqFt!) was covered with 4"x6" solid Oak blocks stood on end, about 3" thick. When an area of the floor would get damaged from a dropped part or whatever, the effected blocks were removed and replaced - it was unlike anything I have seen before - and it was saaweeeet! Clean up was easy because the **** would end up swept into the cracks between the blocks and once a year or so, the floor gets vacuumed to clean out the ****.

Here's a USA company that sells the stuff - take a look, it's unusual but it is extremely unique and effective. Cost? Donno. It's an option and you would likely be the only Junkie with it - http://www.deltaflooring.com/wood_block.htm

****edit**** Here is an article I ran into about a similar floor - http://www.pa.msu.edu/services/machine-shop/shopfloor.htm

I have always wanted to duplicate that floor. I know it sounds a bit, uhhmm, different, but it really was an awesome floor. The blocks were glued in place and pretty easy to repair or replace and no matter where you were in the plant, if a part was dropped it was relatively un-damaged. The surface could be smooth or textured for traction when wet or oily. There were places that stayed soaked with coolant and got a little funky but that would not be an issue with a home shop.

As far as the splash board? I think the galvanized would be fine - I can't see an issue with it. Thin Aluminum or thin SS would be another option.

Scott

 

[JohnZ]

I spent many years in assembly plants with wood-block floors (same thing, wood blocks stood on end, but creosote-treated); constant maintenance nightmare, especially if the area got wet - the blocks would expand, then buckle up in huge "bubbles", then hi-lo traffic would disintegrate it. Crews worked almost every weekend replacing large sections of wood floor. All plants built since the 60's have concrete floors as a result, and most of the old plants that were built with wood block floors have long since had them replaced with concrete.

 

[stimpy]

the steel mills in gary indiana still have block floors in some of the warehouses , they are durable but when you lay a structural thats just got finished rolling hmmm barbeque anyone??? whe had tin floors in our loft in barn , kept the hay from sifting thru the floor but when it got wet it was an icerink !!!

 

[indyjps]

we have pecan block floors where i work, 1 inch thick stips on end bolted together in sections of about 2-3 foot. its very oily here so most have been "cured" over the years. slowly being replaced by concrete though.

 

[nova65ss]

I installed a door for a guy that glued 4 pieces of stainless where the legs to his lift came down on the ground. They were maybe 3' square 4' at the most. It looked really good and were big enough to roll his jack around and setup jack stands. I thought it was a fantastic idea.

He also showed me where he ran the lift up to far with his Impala SS on it, and creased the roof just behind the windshield when it hit the I beam running across the ceiling. He said his friend put some spacers on the lift to get his camaro on it and forgot to take them off when he put the Imp on. Man was he pi$$ed.

Jimmy