Old Cement Floor In New Shop

If it’s peeling you can probably use a pressure washer, otherwise you will need to resort to chemicals.

Some people prefer an epoxy, but you will really have to prep the floor good since it probably has
oil on the floor.

I didn’t do anything to the concrete floor in my shop.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I, like Gary left mine bare. A painted concrete floor with just a little sawdust on it is extremely slippery.

-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.

Hi! If you live close to a rental center? I would rent a concrete Grinder. It is like a floor buffer but uses an abrasive block. You can go over the floor very quickly and then just scrape the balance and then sweep up.
As for the finish? I just ordered this product. http://www.protectyoursurface.com/main.html (contact sales rep that I dealt with, Dave Sonda, A really nice guy over the phone.)
I don’t know how good it is! I do like the the prep and the drying time. They say that you simply wash the floor and after dry, apply with a roller and then its a 2 hour dry time. Its a little pricey.(in my opinion, but what do I know) They do offer a senior citizen discount. (LOL) “I did get that” It is a commercial product and they have several special purchase options.
I did tell them that I would write a review here on the site after I use it. They also said that they would look at advertising here on the site. So someone in advertising, Get busy! (LOL)
If anyone has used this product? Please feel free to jump in.
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

I just noticed that Costco had a great deal on garage floor coverings. It is a roll of gray rubber molded with a “diamond plate” pattern for traction. It was $150 for 7’x17’. Two or three of these would probably cover your whole garage in about ten minutes. Easy to install, durable, easy to clean and sweep, etc.

I’m not sure if your local Costco would carry it but you might want to check. It looked pretty good.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Blake’s option is probably the cheapest. You are either going to have to use chemicals (paint stripper) or mechanical means (grinder, scraping or sanding) to get off the peeling paint.

I have a double garage on the main level and another, which I converted to my shop, in my walk-out basement. I painted the floors of all three with an epoxy paint that you can at any of the big box stores. It is a little pricey- about $50 for a single garage. The prep consists of cleaning the floor, putting on a solution to etch the concrete and rinsing it off, which is probably the most involved step since I flooded the floor and swept it out several times. After it is dry you simply roll on the paint. If you look at my workshop you can see the painted floor in a couple of the pictures.

It does get slippery when sawdust fines get on it. But it does lighten up the shop and it is a breeze to clean up. I have spilled poly, shellac, glue and stain on it and it cleans up without any problem.

The biggest problem for the floor is moisture. My upper garage was painted about 5 years ago and still looks like it did when I painted it. But my shop floor has started peeling in area because, being on the lower level, has a higher moisture level underneath the concrete.

My next floor will be something like Blake is describing but it consists of interlocking plastic tiles. It is a lot pricer- about $5.00 a square but it should never need replacing and you can park a car on it without any problem.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

My brother layed epoxy for a few years here industrially.
They shot blasted the floor prior to putting down the epoxy resin.
Mine is stlll down after 20 years and no sign of spalling or flaking.
I have some outside in the minus 40 plus 100° weather and nothing there either.

The shot blaster rents for about $150.00/ day. It uses steel bearings and you gather them up again with a magnet and reuse them. I’m thinking an average 2- 24 garage would take about 30 – 60 minutes.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Personally the shops floors I’ve liked the best, have been wood floors. They do get banged up in a shop, but I think they are easier to stand on for long periods of time. My next shop will have wood floors.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

To anyone that read my above post. HOLD THE PHONE!!
The paint came today and the instructions are not as listed on their site. Prep different, may dry in 2 hours, but 24 hours before walking on?????? or a second coat?? The name of the product is Dura-Coat.
Please wait for me to do a review on their product after I have put the coating on. (Sorry!)
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

the prep is 100% of the result. Clean with a power washer, degrease with simply green, wash again, wait for bone dry then follow the instructions on the epoxy. DON’T use Muriatic acid…

-- making sawdust....