slab protection during building construction

[motormitch]

I have a 70'x55' slab being poured for my new shop next week. This will be a metal building with 18' high walls. The concrete will be high polished and the building erected 3 weeks later. My builder told me that the sky lifts and other heavy equipment used to put up the building will most certainly mar and scratch the concrete surface with tire marks and small things like screws getting caught under the tires. He told me that if I wanted to acid stain the concrete for a nice finish, I should put something down to protect the slab. He said whatever I used would need to hold up to serious abuse like wheels turning with heavy loads on fork lifts and sky lifts etc.. Any suggestions on something to use that will not bankrupt me? The building has already almost done that

 

[darkk]

Erect the building first...

 

[motormitch]

The problem is the damage caused during the building erection. They have to high polish the concrete right after pouring and before the building is erected. I am looking for advice on covering materials and approaches.

 

[Higgins]

Find another builder???

A number of yrs ago, we had a project with a similar requirement. But the room wasn't as large as yours, and were not using sky lifts! But lot of scaffolding!!

They put down a pink foam pad and taped together! Then they put down Masonite taped together. Then plywood on top of that and screwed together!

Trades were told they better not find any nails / screws laying around! Or Else! Floor was fine once it was unwrapped!!!

AL

 

[motormitch]

Sounds pretty expensive. I was considering plywood that I could use for other purposes later, but the cheapest I could finds was 1/4" and that isn't useful for much.

 

[CNGsaves]

Find another builder???

A number of yrs ago, we had a project with a similar requirement. But the room wasn't as large as yours, and were not using sky lifts! But lot of scaffolding!!

They put down a pink foam pad and taped together! Then they put down Masonite taped together. Then plywood on top of that and screwed together!

Trades were told they better not find any nails / screws laying around! Or Else! Floor was fine once it was unwrapped!!!

AL

^ ^ ^ This. I sure would NOT let that "builder" proceed if he openly tells you they will not be careful with your floor!!

Recently a YMCA here had a major addition added. Crew used an electric scissorlift and they put down the padding and sheets of plywood one after the other in a "protective road" as they traveled across the existing basketball court. They were so careful not a scratch was done to floor.

Gotta get written understanding that builder is responsible for any damage to floor, IF you continue with this reckless builder. Good luck!

 

[dieselgarage]

http://www.pro-tect.com/products/floor-protection-pro-tect.html?gclid=CMb_k4qvn7YCFUqoPAodmzEA-Q

 

[motormitch]

In fairness to my builder, I contracted him to build a 70x55 metal industrial style building and usually that type of construction doesn't involve floor protection since it is viewed as a "warehouse" style building. He was very upfront about the impact that skylifts and forklifts would have on the floor when I mentioned that I was thinking about staining and using a clear sealer instead of a colored epoxy coat. He suggested that I research what materials could be used and offered that his guys could lay it out for me at no additional cost, but that the cost of the materiel was not covered in his bid. Which is totally true and when we agreed to the price I was thinking about just epoxying the floor or possibly going with tile if I could find a great deal.

 

[motormitch]

On pro-tect's web site, the traffic guard product looks like a prefect fit if I can get away with the 13 mil version. Don't know anything about it so I have no why to judge.

 

[mo2872]

How about heavy cardboard boxes layed out and taped down? Could get those second-hand easy enough, I'd think? When doing ours, we used that heavy brown paper, but we weren't using heavy equipment.

 

[bullnerd]

They are building a clean room at my work.Floor is done with epoxy.Then covered with these plastic corrogated sheets,taped together, looks like cardboard but plastic.The other contractors, electric, HVAC, etc, have been driving all over it with the sky rides,no damage.

 

[mo2872]

Thought of another while out at lunch, how about junked carpet and pad?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Remember that acid-stain is translucent. Any marks made in the floor will show. They will either bother you or add to the look. This is dependent upon your level of OCD.

You might try a rental house to see if they can help with a temporary cover or offer to buy 6 or 8 sheets of plywood to be moved around with the machines.

 

[jeff000]

Sounds pretty expensive. I was considering plywood that I could use for other purposes later, but the cheapest I could finds was 1/4" and that isn't useful for much.

The wood will be of no use after being driven on for a while. And if there is dirt and stuff under the wood then it'll be worse off almost.

Tell the contractor to keep the floor clean and to tell the trades to check all the tires for screws and nails before driving.

There is no reason to do anything more, I understand you want as perfect a floor as you can, but these machines won't damage the floor if the floor is clean. We drive lifts on finished laminate floor, high polish tiles, etc and leave no damage.

 

[zporta]

Cardboard or plastics won't protect much. If you have a heavy peice of equipment turning and moving over screws and nails it will tear that up. Especially if its 4 wheel steer.

I would think a layer of plastic with plywood on top would be your best bet if you can't get the floor polished after the fact. Maybe find someone who would want to buy the plywood after the project is complete

 

[Higgins]

I worked with an Interior Decorator on a salon project. The cement was acid washed, stained, and sealed to a semi-flat look! Then the interior was built out! All the workstations were mobile, with electric and water from overhead!

They put down a pink foam pad and taped together! Then they put down Masonite taped together. Then plywood on top of that and screwed together! The big issue is no quick or sharp turns. That just destroys the plywood!

They ended up using a small bucket lift and that worked OK!

Trades were told they better not find any nails / screws laying around! Or Else! Floor was fine once it was unwrapped!!!

AL

 

[Rob_b]

Might I suggest using "moving pad" style blankets with a layer of 3/8 - 1/2" plywood over it. You can rent the blankets from U-haul or a rental place.

 

[Herb67SS]

One of the toughest fabrics around is Tyvek house wrap. It's not that expensive and combined with Masonite or plywood over or under it, you could have some fair protection. Screws and nails will or could penetrate anything under a piece of heavy equipment. Best protection there is to sweep the surface 2or3 times daily with a broom and magnet. Most metal building contractors have wide magnets for that purpose.

Prevention is your best protection. Ask them to PLEASE pick up their screws several times a day.