Workshop & Garage Flooring Choices?

[keeney]

I am upgrading the finish of my workshop area and garage floor and would welcome opinions on the flooring types I am considering.

Pros & Cons of Each that I know of so far with quesitons intermixed:

A. Epoxy Coating.
Reasonable Price
Moderately Durable
Some Concern With Scratching When Dragging Tractor Attachments, etc.
Damage from Grinding Sparks and/or Weld Splatter?

B. Rubber Tile
reasonable Price
moderately Durable
No Resistance to Damage from Grinding Sparks and/or Weld Splatter.
I am considering this only for the garage where we park the cars and tractor, not the workshop.

C. Polish the Concrete Already In place
Unpredictable Cosmetic Result (hard to know what the aggregate distribution is in the already in-place concrete)
Highest Durability (nothing to scratch off).

D. High Build Epoxy and Terazzo-Like Systems
Best Appearance
Highest Durability.
Highest Price
Not Easily Available to DIY (special tools, supplies).

E. Ceramic (Porcelain) Tile
OK Price
High Durability
Well-understood DIY Project.
Concern about suitability in workshop - will it be flat enough.

 

[DieselPower]

I have been using 2 part epoxy paint floor coating's for years and am very happy with the results and durability.

I don't think I would even consider E) tiles. I would think they would be to fragile from impact. Every time you drop something on them you stand the chance of shatering a tile.

 

[fyrewil]

What brand of 2 part epoxy are you using? also what kind of life duration are you getting before re appling/ re coating

 

[johnnylight]

I used basement kit for my basement $45 from lowes or home depot -no issues:
EPOXYShield Garage Floor coating by Rustoleum 250 Sq/FT coverage

For my garage I was going to the same until I saw the race car one I'll check on the link and back to ya.

 

[johnnylight]

here it is:Welcome to RaceDeck - garage floors, garage pads, garage tiles, garage flooring, pit floors, pit flooring

 

[wolfe1]

Did you decide on a floor yet?

 

[keeney]

The workshop is going to be through-body porcelain tile.

I have started prepping the floor and have decided that no matter what I put down, I want it to be flatter than the slab was originally poured. I am looking for the right solution to flatten the floor. A self-leveling under-layment pour deep enough to do the job would cost about $2 per sq-ft. I am only paying $1.50 for the tile!

Cheaper methods of flattening include manually trowling or screeding on a less expensive pathcing mud or thin-set, or renting a concrete planer and messing around grinding off the high spots.


The upstairs garage where we park the cars (and the tractor) is still being decided. The tile idea has been considered and I might just see how the upstairs turns out before I decide.

- Rick

 

[jk96]

Don't know if your still considering choices for the upstairs, but here's a pic of half of my building that we rent out for parties. Back half is used as a shop. Both floors are polished concrete.

Floor is concrete sealed and polished with northstar wax. I re-wax once per year. Dust and dirt are removed easily with a dust mop.

jk

 

[wolfe1]

Keeney

Please consider me a resource for tile issues - I sell industrial ceramics for the food / beverage and automotive industries. Will help you if I can.

 

[keeney]

My current design is full-body porcelain matte-finish 12x12 tiles laid on Ditra to isolate cracks and deal with thermal issues over the concrete slab. I also plan to use Spectralock epoxy grout.

Is under $2 per sq-ft a good price for the tile? The samples seem identical if not perhaps slightly thicker than more expensive brands I have also looked at.

One of the things I am working on is getting the slab level before I lay the tile (its more wavy than I want). Any advice on the best (cheapest) way to flatten the concrete slab? The high areas are 1/4" to 3/8" high with the dips being similar depth. The edges all around up against the walls also run about 1/4" to 1/2" high and will make putting cabinets or toolboxes tight against the wall problematic.

- Rick