To Epoxy or not to Epoxy

[ffjosh]

As soon as my shop is built the first thing I want to do it seal/epoxy/ do something to the floor.

I want to make it last and look good.

I want to epoxy it before I do anything because if I do not do it now I never will.

The wife doesn't want to to epoxy it because of price.
My 2 friends don't want me to because it won't last.

So do you think Im spending too much money on something that won't last?

Any other alternatives?

Its a 24x24

 

[firecracker]

Hi mate I painted my floor 20 years ago and it lasted quite well, but I think I should have gone for a tiled floor so got to move all my gear about to do that now.

 

[retfr8flyr]

I'm not an expert but I don't think there is a lot you can do to brand new concrete. I'm pretty sure it has to age a little first before you can put down epoxy but I'm not sure. The experts will surly post some options for you shortly. What will you be doing in the shop? Your intended use has a lot to do with what flooring you choose.


Earl

 

[bdamico]

search for and read all threads that have porcelain in title -- and to above comment, 28 days give or take

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Sealers over stained concrete look great. Definitely an alternative to battleship gray with flakes.

 

[Shea]

The right multi-coat epoxy system will last you for years and years of service. An example would be a primer coat followed by a 100% solids base coat, paint chips if desired, and then a top coat or two of polyurethane.

The previous posters are correct about having to wait with new concrete. The minimum is 28 to 30 days for it to cure.

 

[ffjosh]

This garage will be used for everything. oil changes to restoring a old hotrod.

How does this hold up to welding and torching?

I really don't mind going with the battleship grey long as its cheaper then the cool stuff.

I also want to do this to keep down on the dust.

 

[Garage Flooring]

With Epoxy, you definitely get what you pay for. There are lots of alternatives to epoxy such as tiles, PVC tiles, roll out PVC and others.

If you do decide to go with an epoxy, check the chemical resistance chart against what your floor is likely to be exposed to. Go with 100% solids system and do the prep.

 

[Falcon67]

My last two shops had epoxy floors - won't have one without it. Easy clean up and nice to work on. Properly applied they will last a long, long time. Keeps the place looking nice. A quality 100% mix will put up with anything you throw at it. My creeper hangs on the wall as a decoration because with a painted floor, who needs one. I can slide under anything when I feel like it.

>My 2 friends don't want me to because it won't last.
They either don't know, are repeating some "truth" they read on the Internet or painted their floors with latex porch paint.

This is my old 20x24 when I moved out after 12 years of abuse, welding, parking race cars with hot slicks, etc, etc, etc. The stains in the middle are from tire rubber stuck to the floor.

 

[regguy1]

I agree withFalcon67
I did a low priced epoxy and it's holding up well.
You can see the installation thread and photos / vidoes of it here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

I have about $400.00 total invested in 780 SF garage.

 

[ffjosh]

My last two shops had epoxy floors - won't have one without it. Easy clean up and nice to work on. Properly applied they will last a long, long time. Keeps the place looking nice. A quality 100% mix will put up with anything you throw at it. My creeper hangs on the wall as a decoration because with a painted floor, who needs one. I can slide under anything when I feel like it.

>My 2 friends don't want me to because it won't last.
They either don't know, are repeating some "truth" they read on the Internet or painted their floors with latex porch paint.

This is my old 20x24 when I moved out after 12 years of abuse, welding, parking race cars with hot slicks, etc, etc, etc. The stains in the middle are from tire rubber stuck to the floor.

thats exactly what I want. I just want to keep dust down and clean up easier.

My friend told me his work uses epoxy for the floors and it is starting chip. Really I didnt think epoxy chipped.

 

[ffjosh]

I agree withFalcon67
I did a low priced epoxy and it's holding up well.
You can see the installation thread and photos / vidoes of it here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

I have about $400.00 total invested in 780 SF garage.

thats a nice floor and lift!

 

[Angelfire]

Search the forum for Porcelain as well. Personally, I think the porcelain will hold up better to welding, etc... vs. the epoxies and such. I hate the idea of having to cover up epoxy before welding or worrying about hot tires on it, etc.. I want a floor I put down and have as little maintenance as possible. Sweep it up once in a while and maybe run a mop over it. May not look as nice to some, but it's what I plan to do when I get around to it.

 

[Falcon67]

thats exactly what I want. I just want to keep dust down and clean up easier.

My friend told me his work uses epoxy for the floors and it is starting chip. Really I didnt think epoxy chipped.

I gave my floors "tooth" and the epoxy held just fine. It does chip if you drop a cylinder head on it though. But the chip is more concrete than epoxy. The paint in the picture is some two part deal I bought at Lowes in 1998, don't even remember what it was. Store brand, and was about $70. Berryman's wouldn't hurt it. Overspray from painting my race car got on it and nothing would take it off or hurt the floor. I never "babied" that floor, did everything on it. Roll cage work, heavy steel,

My advice would be to be sure you prep the floor well and don't try to stretch the mix too far (like me LOL). It's worth the cost and hassle in the long run. A coated floor is very nice to work on, especially hot rod/car work. The race cars leak trans fluid when they sit and all it takes is a wipe with Simple Green and a paper towel to clean up spots. I just re-did the rear brakes on the Mustang and drips of brake fluid, brake dust, brake cleaner spray, etc - just wipe it right up.