Poured concrete floor alternative in shop

raptor · Dec 17, 2001

My wife and I were getting my dad's Christmas present this weekend at one of those concrete figure places. Part of their display was in a 30' x 40' shop/garage, and instead of a concrete pad, they had used pavers (interlocking concrete blocks). It looked like a pretty neat idea. The owner said the floor had been in place over ten years, with heavy equipment regularly parked on it, without any problems.
I thought I might do the same thing when I finally build my shop. I'm on a tight budget, and could add pavers as money permits.
Is there anything important I'm missing about using this for flooring?

Thanks

Terry

TerryinMD · Dec 17, 2001

Terry,

The final cost of using them!! They are not cheap. Keep in mind, that you saw them at a place that probably manufacturers them!! If you take into account the cost of the surface preparation materials, the final cost may be more than pouring concrete.

Terry

No I didn't studder.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

AndyR · Dec 17, 2001

Although poured concrete is probably a bit cheaper, pavers are much more of a one man operation and allows you to put in more pipes and such without ripping up the floor (too much). I am planning on using them in the lower level of my workshop for just that reason. Plan is to start with a vapor barrier and then 6-8 inches of stone dust (hopefully with radiant coils in it) then the pavers. It would be nice to have some insulation underneath the stone dust but I wonder if it would compress over time.

Andy in NH

HR_Mutt · Dec 17, 2001

raptor
The cost of the product and very important!...All the work necessary for a good installation. We got the video from Hometime.com and it's pretty complete. We have not continued with it yet. There are a couple threads on TBN about people who have installed them.
regards
Mutt

jimgerken · Dec 17, 2001

Re: Pavers are expensive...

What if they were free? How would it work out for use in a shop negating the cost? I ask because I have access to a stave-block silo to dismantle. The staves are about 3" thick, and 10 by 30 inches roughly. One side is smooth. Feedback??? Makes you think a bit doesn't it?

gerard · Dec 17, 2001

Re: Pavers are expensive...

I'd be very careful about using a concrete brick product not designed for use as a flooring. Pavers are pavers are pavers and are designed for the kind of compression they'll be exposed to by vehicles being driven over them. My brother had a walkway done and the landscaper used regular wall bricks. They started flaking and breaking apart within two years. (Of course they were exposed to water and the freeze/thaw cycle which an inside application wouldn't be). Anyhow before using silo bricks I'd do some more research. Free isn't such a good price if you go through all the effort to have them bust up in a few years!!

Joe_W · Dec 17, 2001

One thing to consider is if the gaps between the pavers will catch small wheels like those found on creepers. I have a couple of cracks in my driveway, that make it almost impossible to maneuver the creeper over the cracks. Also if you have a liquid spill of any size, it will sink in between the joints, and depending on what the liquid is, that could cause problems.
Joe W.

raptor · Dec 18, 2001

Good point Joe! Pavers appealed to me, because I can do the work myself. Think I'll have a concrete floor poured when the time goes though. Thanks for the input all.

Terry