Most durable floor coating for welding, casters, etc...???

[Aaron Franck]

I've been reading and lurking for a while now, while I design my shop. I haven't found the answers I'm looking for, so I'll just ask.
I'm going to build a 50' x 70' shop w/8' poured concrete walls w/8' stick built walls on top, for 16' ceiling height. (It's being built into the side of a hill) I'm doing in-floor heat in a 6" thick slab.
The shop will be used for metal fabrication. My work can be seen at: http://aaronfab.com
What i am looking for is either a floor coating or concrete coloring that will with stand heat from sparks from grinding and welding, steel casters from 4-post lift, movement of heavy machinery on steel pins, etc. I know this is a lot to ask from a floor, but i'm just looking for the best possible starting point, I can work around any issues. (Poly casters, tin down for sparks, etc.)
I appreciate any ideas or answers or questions that will steer me toward the best conclusion.

Aaron

 

[jct]

Visit your local concrete supply company and ask about densifiers and surface hardeners. If liquid spills aren't a frequent concern, that may be satisfactory.

 

[ersatzs2]

I have an 'Epoxy Coat' floor on high pressure concrete. The two data points I can offer:
1) I have wheel dollys with iron casters and I can push a 3000 pound car around without marring the floor, however strictly speaking I guess that's just 750lb per corner, divided by four casters per dolly so maybe not that impressive.
2) Mig spatter made a bunch of burn marks all over the area, so I don't do that anymore

 

[nate379]

Have no problem with MIG spatter on my Lowe's coating, but I did melt a spot when I was torch cutting and the hot steel stayed on the floor. Oh well.. floor isn't going to stay nice forever if I actually use the garage and not try to make it a museum.

 

[Aaron Franck]

Ersatzs2 - What kind of "epoxy coat" did you use?

Has anyone used mix in concrete color and if so, how did it work for you?
Any welders out there, that have experiance with floor coatings or colors?

 

[AV8OR]

That big of a shop why don't you divide it up into fabrication in one area and a nice part of the shop where it is tiled etc? Keep the fabrication area just concrete and the tiled area for showing your work or assembly.

 

[ml504]

I decided on using Ashford Formula on my 40x60....the people I spoke state that it gets better (more sheen) the more you use it....we will see!

Hope to be putting it down in a couple weeks. Best part was it was free (leftover from a large job).

 

[ersatzs2]

Ersatzs2 - What kind of "epoxy coat" did you use?

Has anyone used mix in concrete color and if so, how did it work for you?
Any welders out there, that have experiance with floor coatings or colors?

http://www.epoxy-coat.com/ If you do a search there are tons of old threads. It is a very very nice finish and pretty easy to apply. However if you are going to weld on the floor I think you want bare finished concrete. I saw a floor recently that looked like the kind of polished concrete you see at Sam's club or Home Depot, really nice and apparently impervious to anything...

 

[Aaron Franck]

ml504 - I like the sound of that Ashford Formula, neat product, wonder what it costs. Free is always good.
Has anyone used "white cement concrete"? Or stained or colored concrete?

 

[rbmedic75]

Aaron what did you end up using and how do you like it so far. I am building almost the same shop only im doing 12' high concrete walls no wood studs on top lol. trying to find the same answer. its a fab shop, welding grinding beatting bending daily but I want to dress it up some too. I have split it in half (half for fab and half for assembly and 2 post lift)

 

[bazzateer]

Polished concrete is what you need.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

If you want color, have your redi-mix supplier add it into the mix on-site.

For a welding shop I would recommend the densifier, we have an extra strength version better than Ashfords and definitely less money.

Links below.

http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/concrete-densifier-plus-5-gallon-p-144.html

http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/concrete-pigment-per-pound-p-180.html

 

[Notch1988]

Does the densifier change the appearance of the concrete? If so, do you have any before/after pictures?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Does the densifier change the appearance of the concrete? If so, do you have any before/after pictures?

The densifier will brighten "color" slightly.
For instance, if you apply it to acid stained concrete, the color will come alive. It will not change the appearance of normal concrete.

 

[HotShoe]

I second the polished concrete suggestion.

My boss spent $$$ to get his floors epoxied and it doesn't hold up at all to weld spatter, grinding, etc. There are several spots of nice burn marks from hot steel and sparks. I was going to epoxy coat my personal garage but I'm hesitant due to this experience.

Still searching for the working shop solution.

 

[ersatzs2]

sounds like you have the answer in spades but just to add one more opinion: My epoxy-coat floor is great in most respects: I can drag heavy stuff and drop wrenches or parts without damage. But welding spatter instantly burns through. I actually put wheels on my welding table so I can roll it outside to weld for this reason.

 

[FoundationArmor]

Scratches, heat, abrasion, staining - it goes with the territory. Epoxies are strong but when it comes to this type of circumstance, an aliphatic polyurethane coating with scratch resistant additives is the best solution. Typically, these types of coatings are going to be stronger than an epoxy, offer better bonding strength, and will last longer when being exposed to heat, scratches, surface abrasion, acids and chemicals.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Aliphatic urethanes are great.
However a polyaspartic is a little better.

Unfortunately, the weld splatters will mark nearly everything.

Polished floors will do well in most categories but are not maintenance free.




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[rsanter]

Do not coat the concrete.
Put a dye in the concrete truck before a pour or put a stain on the concrete after.
For you a basic polish is the best and if you want to can put a densifier and then a coat of wax and that's all I would do

Bob