Alternative to concrete slab?

[yooperdave]

Have you considered asphalt pavement?

My first choice would be concrete.

Yooper Dave

 

[Dave5264]

Im planning 2 buildings/shops too (for the spring), I cant afford to put a concrete floor in both, its just way too expensive. We have alot of clay in the area, building code dictates the entire area must be excavated 4'-5' down, weeping tile put in and back filled with Gravel before the slab can be poured, Big $. it cost me over $5,000 to put the slab in my last garage (24x28)

So the "Garage" will get the full treatment and the pole building for the tractor and implements will have either a gravel floor or will be left as dirt/clay

Up here, freezing/frost will heave and crack a Slab in a heartbeat if there is Clay underneath...hence the Building code requirement.

 

[mwb]

My vote would be to stick with concrete; if you can't afford to do it now then leave it gravel or stone dust. You (or the next owner) then have the option of doing it right in the future. If you the floor in wood then that limits how you can use the shop for and makes it a lot more difficult to fix. I would think that a wood floor would affect the resale value because the next guy would want concrete.

 

[FxdGrMind]

When I built my 24x36 PB I had 10yrds of pee gravel put in then 13 yrd of concrete for a slab over. On my new PB I'm thinking "Crushed Rock" 3/8" minus and pack it with a rental packer, Should be good to go for tractor and implement storage and yet better than the dirt we have here.... when it's dry it's like "DUST". Besides the CR is "CHEAP"!

 

[Duffster]

I'm thinking about a 24x24 shop/tractor garage, not sure if it will be stick built, a kit, a metal building, etc., still researching & evaluating, but no matter what kind of structure I go with, it still needs a floor.

Most garages have a poured concrete slab, but if possible, I'd like to get away from that. So, I'm wondering, are there any alternatives to a concrete slab?

I'm retired, and have the time, so I was contemplating building a pressure treated wooden floor. But then I thought about spilled chemicals like gasoline, deisel fuel, oil, etc. soaking into the wood and the fire hazard that would present. Does anybody know if theres such a thing as a fireproof paint or some kind of fireproof material that can be applied to pressure treated lumber?

Why not the concrete?

 

[Dave5264]

My vote would be to stick with concrete; if you can't afford to do it now then leave it gravel or stone dust. You (or the next owner) then have the option of doing it right in the future. If you the floor in wood then that limits how you can use the shop for and makes it a lot more difficult to fix. I would think that a wood floor would affect the resale value because the next guy would want concrete.

Agree, as long as he doesnt have Clay, and Freezing is no issue

 

[foggy1111]

I once heard or read of a guy adding bags of portland cement to an existing sand/gravel base in a pole barn. As I remember, he would then use his tiller to mix the portland with the sand and smooth / pack the surface. Then lightly water the mix. Presto....instant floor with dust reducing qualities.

Always wonder how this would hold up. Not too sure it would work in our freeze / thaw conditions here...but may work in the south for a storage barn situation.

I do not plan to do this....but it's a novel concept and it's always made me curious. Has anyone seen this done?

 

[The Dougster]

For whatever reason, the OP has decided against concrete... be it cost or whatever, his original question was regarding a fireproof paint... The answer is, yes, there are fireproof paints/materials... Do a google search for fireproof paint and enjoy researching it...

 

[rambler]

I'd opt for concrete if I could.

2nd place would be gravel.

3rd would be paver blocks.

I wouldn't even consider wood. For the resons mentioned, spills & fires. Yikes!

Fireproof paint is really fire resistant paint - put a puddle of diesel on the paint & light it - the heat will get through.

Wood is going to rot. It's going to be pliable - can't jack on it, etc. Vibrations. Just not a good floor material for the long term, heavy abuse we give to a shop floor.

My opinion.

--->Paul

 

[foggy1111]

For whatever reason, the OP has decided against concrete... be it cost or whatever, his original question was regarding a fireproof paint... The answer is, yes, there are fireproof paints/materials... Do a google search for fireproof paint and enjoy researching it...

Actually, there were two questions posted. 1: an alternative to a concrete slab.....and 2: a fireproof paint.

I rest my case.