Recommendations for this shop?

[propbasin]

Hello everyone,

I'm redoing the floor in at this marina. Lots of old oil stains. Few areas where it's chewed up by battery acid. The area is 2200 sq ft.

Trying to decide on epoxy, poly, or polished concrete. Floor will take a beating. Oil spills, tractors parked in there with gravel in treads, scrapes from cherry picker wheels, etc. I also have those garage doors open all the time in the summer...so sun is an issue.

I'd like to keep the whole operation under 5 or 6k. If I can pay someone to do it for me, I will. If I can rent a grinder and do it all myself, I will.

My questions are:
1. What surface would you guys recommend?
2. How do I get those oil spots out? I've read you can't just diamond grind...you gotta tsp soak it all and scrub it...then diamond grind after. Some of the contractors I've spoken with say that's nonsense. I don't know what to believe.
3. If I pay someone to do a) epoxy, or b), polished concrete...what is a fair price.
4. If I do it myself...what products do you recommend? I've got some spots I need to fill in too.

I'd like it to mop up easy...but I'm not gonna be buffing it every day like at Lowe's. I also don't want it to look like sh/t after 2 years since I already got ambitious and moved a ton of stuff out. That is to say, I'm not doing this again for ten years no matter how it turns out! So I got one shot here.

Did my best to read around, but it's info overload.

Thanks a lot,

Mike

ps. I'm in Chesterfield, Michigan outside Detroit if anyone knows anyone.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Looks like a real "beatitup" shop.
I'd grind it, if oil spots are still prevalent, oil-stop primer, then HELLFIRE all the way.
Nice smooth, chem-wear resistant finish on or about $1.00 psqft.

Want something hard-working but more eye-attractive? Nohr-S Polyurea.

Good luck.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Hello everyone,

I'm redoing the floor in at this marina. Lots of old oil stains. Few areas where it's chewed up by battery acid. The area is 2200 sq ft.

Trying to decide on epoxy, poly, or polished concrete. Floor will take a beating. Oil spills, tractors parked in there with gravel in treads, scrapes from cherry picker wheels, etc. I also have those garage doors open all the time in the summer...so sun is an issue.

I'd like to keep the whole operation under 5 or 6k. If I can pay someone to do it for me, I will. If I can rent a grinder and do it all myself, I will.

My questions are:
1. What surface would you guys recommend?
2. How do I get those oil spots out? I've read you can't just diamond grind...you gotta tsp soak it all and scrub it...then diamond grind after. Some of the contractors I've spoken with say that's nonsense. I don't know what to believe.
3. If I pay someone to do a) epoxy, or b), polished concrete...what is a fair price.
4. If I do it myself...what products do you recommend? I've got some spots I need to fill in too.

I'd like it to mop up easy...but I'm not gonna be buffing it every day like at Lowe's. I also don't want it to look like sh/t after 2 years since I already got ambitious and moved a ton of stuff out. That is to say, I'm not doing this again for ten years no matter how it turns out! So I got one shot here.

Did my best to read around, but it's info overload.

Thanks a lot,

Mike

ps. I'm in Chesterfield, Michigan outside Detroit if anyone knows anyone.

First things first. As you clearly understand but I will restate, you are going to need to grind and clean this floor.

The problem with Polished concrete is it is not going to prevent the oil stains.

The two issues you have with coatings:

1. You need to make sure you get all that oil up.
2. The use you described may damaged coatings overtime

If I could get the floor clean, I would be tempted to do one of two things.

A -- Two coats of clear polyurea. That will give the floor a nice shine and be relatively strong. I would use tabular alumina in the topcoat of clear for wear and traction.

B -- After you grind it, grind it again with a finer grit to get the concrete smooth again and use a penetrating sealer like 4500/8510. That does not change the look of the concrete but helps to keep oil spills etc from soaking in -- big concern would be making sure you get the floor smooth again.

If you can't completely get the oil out, I would suggest doing an oil stop primer followed by an industrial epoxy

 

[astroracer]

What are you using the shop for when this floor is all beautiful again? Same old beat it up shop? Wheeling around cherry pickers and driving in tractors with gravel in the treads?
Just my opinion but beautifying a working shop floor is a waste of time and money... And any coating will never last because of the history of the floor...
My shop floor looks like hell. I keep it clean when the opportunity arises but otherwise it's scarred, oil stained and gouged just like yours...
Just want you to look at this realistically, that's all.
Take the wife to Hawaii on what you'll save...
Mark