Oil saturated floor options

[Salamancametalcraft]

I have signed a long lease on a building.
It was built in the early 60s and I know was a mechanics shop for about the last 30 years. They where the type that drained oil on the floor.
I don’t have the budget to epoxy the floor, specially the condition it’s in.

I have used industrial degreaser and a scrub brush so far, and next step to steam pressure wash it. I am not going to grind or sand it nor sand blast it. I am doing all the work after hours and weekends while working at my soon to be old shop location. I still have to run all electrical, airlines, paint, build fences for shop yard etc etc
I have to move in two weeks.

Is there any options for putting a sealer on it?
I would like something that blocks most absorption, easy to clean and remove dust.

I am a Metalshaping and fabrication based shop.
The shop is 4000 sqft not including back lot
Tools I have are power hammers, English wheel, shaping or fabrication equipment.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

This is just from a degreaser and scrubbrush. I also scrapped up the floor with hand scrapper for for thick areas, which is most of the floor.

 

[ford33]

What is your purpose for sealing the floor? Is there much concrete dust compared to the type of work you do? The other items you mention can be accomplished with good shop practices.

Save your time and money and spend it on other areas of your business.

It's 50 years old and seen a lot over the years. Why do anything to it but sweep and clean it?

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

What is your purpose for sealing the floor? Is there much concrete dust compared to the type of work you do? The other items you mention can be accomplished with good shop practices.

Save your time and money and spend it on other areas of your business.

It's 50 years old and seen a lot over the years. Why do anything to it but sweep and clean it?

I like a clean floor, and would like to mop.
I do keep my floors very clean in my other shop I am moving from and do not like oil or the smell of old oil, or if I have to get on the floor I want it clean.

 

[Armorpoxy]

This floor is going to be extremely problematic to coat unless you shot blast it to get the 50 years of gunk off it.

A better and easier to install choice would be to just go over it with a tile like our www.supratile.com. Zero chance of failure and little if any prep required.

 

[jfrey123]

Blasting or other mechanical prep are going to be required to get any sealer to stick, even the stain types. Everywhere that oil continues to exist is going to be a fail point for any coating.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Here is a photo of a job we did recently with an oil soaked floor that we shot blasted. The results are obvious to expose the concrete so it could be properly coated.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

I called a company yesterday to get a quote on blasting. $7000.
That is not an option as I do not own the building and don’t have the money to invest in it.
There is nothing else I can do after a hot pressure wash?
Not a fan of the race deck stuff.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi, Take a look at our www.supratile.com. These are SOLID PVC heavy duty industrial grade tiles and are designed for commercial use. See some photos attached. You can lay them right over your existing floor. For auto shop use you can use the 4.5mm at a cost of $2.71/sq ft, or the thicker 6.5mm at a cost of $3.51/sq ft (these prices include the GJ discount).

Also see usage for fire houses at www.armor-tuff.com

Please contact us directly at below for more info, samples, etc.

 

[Chim]

My old garage had that stuff, it’s a fantastic garage floor.

 

[Swissfloors]

I have some used modular flooring products from Barrett-Jackson shows that i can sell you at a very low rate but you will need to send me an email and i will send you some pictures of the products in question with a special price. [email protected].

 

[Bretny]

Sounds like you have almost done everything you can with out spending big bucks.

Steam cleaning would be my next suggestion. What kind of de greaser are you useing? Simple green isnt going to cut 30yrs of oil/dirt.
We used this really good degreaser at my last job for cleaning oil/grease off heavy equipment. We also would clean the floor with it. Dump some out and scrub it with a broom. The floor would look almost white again with just a garden hose. Im going to see if i can find the product.

You could also use a floor buffer with the correct pad.

 

[JimNC]

30 years ago I had the pleasure of working on such a project. We used this concentrated purple degreaser (purple power maybe) and a floor buffer with a course bristle brush. Worked well enough, we didn’t coat the floor afterwards.

 

[Protech]

Here is an easier option and certainly more affordable. Use a fast acting bacteria specifically made for hydrocarbons (Imco GTS 860). This bacteria will penetrate the concrete and keep degrading the oils until there are no more. You will need to keep the floor wet until the action is completed. Then etch with a biodegradeable etcher(Imco Biodegradeable etcher) it doesn't fume like regular muriatic acid - you can easily use this indoors and will also bring up any oils with providing a "profile" for any coating to adhere to. Lastly use a product like Densicrete to seal the surface. It will also drive out oils, salt etc. This will densify the concrete, seal it and prevent any powdering etc.

Degreasers don't have the penetrating power to remove oils in your situation and an epoxy will probably blister regardless of brand.

To remove oils via shotblasting you would need to remove quite a bit of materiel and as you found out is quite expensive.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

I used an industrial degreaser I got it pretty clean now, I am going to hot pressure wash it this weekend tho.
I do not want to use any vinyl tiles, I appreciate the sales advise from companies.

It’s a fabrication and shaping shop. I don’t want showroom floors. I have done a lot of looking on the net, a lot of info pointing to epoxies or floor tiles, not really sure why there isn’t an low budget option to something.
There are seldom hot tires coming into the shop, sparks flying rusted metal being cut out, dollies sometimes fall on the floor, heavy items being dragged, mills and lathes running etc. if it last a year, and I have to do a light topical coat over the pathways I am fine with it.

Is there a low budget sealer that will work?

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

Here are a few shots of one of the two units, I am moving from both into a stand-alone building that I am leasing.

I am good with the floor in these pics. It doesn’t absorb right away, it can be mopped and push Broomed easily.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

The hot pressure washer is doing wonders.
My gf has been helping me get the building ready, and fell in love with the pressure washer. It’s one of those oddly satisfying things watching the concrete become clean she said.

 

[Bretny]

This is the stuff. Spray with a pump sprayer and scrub with a push broom.

 

[JimNC]

The hot pressure washer is doing wonders.
My gf has been helping me get the building ready, and fell in love with the pressure washer. It’s one of those oddly satisfying things watching the concrete become clean she said.

You know that they make a floor cleaner attachment for the pressure washer that’ll clean an 18” path a lot faster than using the wand. Cost a few hundred bucks, can probably rent for $30 a day. Works faster and limits overspray.

 

[clubairth]

Maybe something like this?

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[theoldwizard1]

I have had excellent luck with 2 different products. Grease Lightening and Drive Up. Apply 100% strength to the area, brush in lightly and let sit over night (best if NOT used in direct sunlight). Rinse off with a standard hose. Let dry, maybe even 24 hours. Repeat. If after 3 times it still have deep stains, get out the grinder.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

You know that they make a floor cleaner attachment for the pressure washer that’ll clean an 18” path a lot faster than using the wand. Cost a few hundred bucks, can probably rent for $30 a day. Works faster and limits overspray.

I was wanting to get one. The machinery rental place said the high powered hot washer wasn’t able to attach to it.

 

[Salamancametalcraft]

The main shop is pretty good. Worked my way out the back.
It almost looks like they had asphalt down, but it was old oil.

It’s not going to be perfect. I have a tendency to go further and deeper as I go and really holding myself back. The lease is for 3 years, if I can stay longer I will, 3 years from now I may be buying my own building, moving out of state or staying at this shop.
I appreciate all the input by everyone and if I came off abrupt in some post I apologize.

Sealing the floors today and moving on with building the back gate, fixing back window, electrical and so on. Machines are being moved this sat as well as current projects and another being delivered next Monday.

Thanks again.

 

[rsanter]

The hot pressure washer is doing wonders.
My gf has been helping me get the building ready, and fell in love with the pressure washer. It’s one of those oddly satisfying things watching the concrete become clean she said.

So your girlfriend is pressure washing your shop.....
Keep her