New Slab - Floor Coating

[E55 Bulldog]

Hey everyone, I know this is going to cast a large net but I'm looking for a good floor coating.

I'm building a 30x30 detached garage so the slab will be new and Id like to coat it before I move all my stuff in.

I have gotten a few quotes locally but they are up near $5k. And I really don't have that to spend on a floor coating.

Whats a good coating that I can do myself and not drain my bank account.

And do I need to grind the new floor for all applications, can I rent a grinder?

 

[Shea]

What type of work is your garage going to see?

 

[E55 Bulldog]

all kinds. I'm an automotive hobbyist and do all my own work on my cars.

 

[Shea]

It helps if you are more specific. What stuff are you moving in? Will you be metal fabricating? Welding? Grinding? Or will it be mostly automotive repair, restoration, and etc? Any type of rolling equipment on the floor and etc?

Not trying to be difficult, but these are questions that need to be asked. There are many different types of floor coating systems and it's important that you are matched up with one that best suits your needs.

Acid etching the concrete will work for most coating systems, but it's more desirable to grind your concrete for best results. You can rent the proper equipment from Home Depot or from most local equipment rentals.

 

[raco232]

I’m in a similar situation, as I want to do a floor coating, an epoxy. When concrete gets placed, what kind of a finished is desired when the contractors finish it out?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

I’m in a similar situation, as I want to do a floor coating, an epoxy. When concrete gets placed, what kind of a finished is desired when the contractors finish it out?

Smooth trowel finish, no additives or sealers.

 

[E55 Bulldog]

It helps if you are more specific. What stuff are you moving in? Will you be metal fabricating? Welding? Grinding? Or will it be mostly automotive repair, restoration, and etc? Any type of rolling equipment on the floor and etc?

Not trying to be difficult, but these are questions that need to be asked. There are many different types of floor coating systems and it's important that you are matched up with one that best suits your needs.

Acid etching the concrete will work for most coating systems, but it's more desirable to grind your concrete for best results. You can rent the proper equipment from Home Depot or from most local equipment rentals.

I'm sure from time to time there will be some welding and grinding but that is still a field I don't have a lot of experience in but would like to learn more.
I will have 2 lifts in there and general tools. no fork lifts of anything like that.

 

[ahaugh]

I just built a 30x40 for automotive use and wanted something to protect the floor but not kill my pocket. I used Eagle high gloss concrete sealer one five gallon did two coats rolled on so far Im really happy with how its held up. In the house garage I did the heavy heavy fleck epoxy kit paid a pretty penny for it but would be scared to beat it up due to the cost. Oh and the Eagle 5 gallon deal was $105

 

[ahaugh]

Floor is dirty

 

[Shea]

I'm sure from time to time there will be some welding and grinding but that is still a field I don't have a lot of experience in but would like to learn more.
I will have 2 lifts in there and general tools. no fork lifts of anything like that.

OK, so nothing to out of the ordinary for a mechanics garage then. The easiest to apply coating system that would stand up fairly well to that type of work would be a single-part polyurea. Many of the vendors that participate on GJ offer these type of coatings. It generally consists of an optional primer coat, color base coat, optional color flakes, and a coat of clear.

What makes them easier to apply is that they do not require mixing together of two components and you have a long pot life to work with for the application process.

A coating system that would be more durable would be an epoxy hybrid system. This generally consists of an epoxy primer, high solids epoxy color base coat, optional color flakes, and a coat or two of a high performance clear polyurethane or polyurea. These systems provide for a thicker overall coating that tends to stand up better to impacts and other heavy use. They are very typical of the commercial coating systems that are installed by the professional coating companies.

They are a little more involved to apply since you have to mix components together and you have a limited pot life for the epoxy. It's not hard though and easy enough as long as you plan things out. Many of these types of systems are installed DIY with great success.

You should be able to install either of these systems for less than half the price you have been quoted by install companies.

 

[Armorpoxy]

For a great low cost coating take a look at our SPGX one part polyurea coating at about 65 cents per sq foot. 3 layer Armorclad 100% solids runs about $1.00 per sq foot. Hour of satisfied GJ users.

 

[spudley]

Smooth trowel finish, no additives or sealers.

Does this mean no power troweling? I ask as I'm capable of a fairly decent hand trowel but I have a power trowel available but lack the skill (timing) of using it properly. So I'm thinking if I have to hire a finisher or a crew, maybe I'd be better off diy, saving the $$ and instead spend it on epoxy.
Floor will have light use; wood shop, light auto, farm tractor restoration.
That is unless some GJ'ers with finishing expertise want to come drink beer, fish and lay 20 yds of fun filled concrete (drink more beer) in northern Wisconsin with me next week...

 

[Basketcase]

How did this end up going?

 

[spudley]

How did this end up going?

Great. Poured 19yds Monday morning with a group of friends. Used a guy referred by the redi mix plant to finish. He did a beautiful job, added sealer/curing agent and cut lines late in the day. Asked if $350 was too much. I paid him $500 and told him I still got a deal.

He used his machine as the one I had was a 3' (his was 4'). The 3' belonged to my best friend who unfortunately passed away last year. After telling stories about him (concrete takes a while to set up in the shade), the guy asked if I wanted him to give a final spin around with my buddies machine.

Of course I said. I thought that was pretty classy of the young man.

Oh yeah, drank a wee bit of frothy malted beverage Sunday evening while going on a "planning" boat ride.