Shop floor options

[Jason Thaxton]

I am in the process of building my shop and am wondering what you guys think. Should I paint the concrete with epoxy? Another Option Ive thought of are the excelon armstrong tiles that they sell at the box stores. I can get them for around 50 cents a square foot they are 1/8 inch think and are used in industrial situations quite a bit. They come in any color and glue down over concrete. The reason I thought of using them over paint is if tools fall off the bench they wouldn't chip the edge. opinions please

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Jason,

I would probably paint my floor and then install anti-fatigue mats anywhere I would be standing a lot. John Miliunas has them all over his shop. In my opinion it is the cat's meow!!!

The tiles would help for tool drops and it would help with your comfort as well.

[Ken Garlock]

Hi Jason. The question of floor painting comes up about every 2nd month it seems. People are probably getting tired of hearing it by now, but I am a strong supporter of the Sherwin-Williams Tile-Clad 2 part epoxy. We have it in 3 car, and 2 car garages; and also in my shop. It is tuff stuff :eek: Drop a hammer - it doesn't care. Drop some glue - just let it dry and scrape it off the next day with a putty knife, the paint doesn't care. Is it expensive, a little. Two one gallon cans, part A and part B, cost about $80+. Consider what you pay for high quality paint, 35 or 40 dollars a gallon? I have had it on the above floors since Dec. 2002, and it is going strong. At this point, I don't expect to repaint my shop floor for many years.

[Dan Forman]

What sort of prep does the floor need before using this product? My basement shop floor badly needs some sort of treatment. It was painted before, but the paint is now about half gone. Just bought the house last year, so don't know what was used.

Dan

[Mike Vermeil]

If the tiles are what I think they are, I really like that idea. Standing on concrete all day stinks.

A word of advice if you decide to go with one of the epoxy systems: don't use the fleck-tone finish. You'll never be able to find anything small that you drop!

[jack duren]

what purpose does a painted floor serve?....jack

[Jason Thaxton]

looks, ease of sweeping no concrete dust ect. I really lice the idea of the armstrong excelon vct tile but its going to cost a little more.

[jack duren]

like christmas light on a house?...jack

[larry merlau]

jason i too agree witht he mats for standing, us older folks knees dont like that concrete all during the shop time. as for coating the floor the epoxy in my opinion would be cheaper on the long haul and last longer..also agree with no specks.. if you could put wood down instead you would be better of for your joints.. just 3,5 cents worth

[Mike Vermeil]

what purpose does a painted floor serve?....jack

Another major benefit is that the paint reflects much more light than does bare concrete, thus increasing illumination in the shop - especially on the lower portions of anything sitting on the ground. It's definitely more than just decoration.

[Ken Garlock]

What sort of prep does the floor need before using this product? My basement shop floor badly needs some sort of treatment. It was painted before, but the paint is now about half gone. Just bought the house last year, so don't know what was used.

Dan

Hi Dan. My floors were 5 month old concrete from when the house/shop slabs were poured. The only prep was an acid wash and through rinsing. If you have old paint to remove, you might consider renting a floor polisher with an abrasive pad in an attempt to remove as much of the old paint as possible. Perhaps some else has a better solution. I definitely would try to get as much of the old paint off the floor as could.

Any good ideas out there on how to remove the old floor paint :confused: :confused:

[Terry Hatfield]

I too will sing the praises of mats and epoxy. I did my floor with Epoxy Shield and it's held up great. I used horse stall mats I got at my local farm supply to cover just about evvery place that I stand for any length of time. They make a huge difference for an old fat guy.

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/nnwc.jpg">

Terry

[jack duren]

ok a question terry so i can quit being a pain ;) . not that i havent considered it but does the paint eliminate moisture draw on things set on the floor. i set an upper for a customer on the floor in the shop for a couple days and after moving the cabinet i noticed it had "blackened" portions of the wood. with paint will the moisture problem not be a problem?....jack

[Terry Hatfield]

Jack,

The floor needs to be dry...and I mean dry before any painting can be done.

I would imagine the paint would help with the moisture problem but I'm not for sure. My slab has never had any moisture issues at all. Even when it was naked.

t

[jack duren]

the floor is dry and temperature controlled but...if something is layed flat like a 2'x3' board it will draw moisture to the board. so the epoxy mentioned doesnt "breath" i take or does it?.....jack

[Terry Hatfield]

the floor is dry and temperature controlled but...if something is layed flat like a 2'x3' board it will draw moisture to the board. so the epoxy mentioned doesnt "breath" i take or does it?.....jack

I don't think it does, Jack. I remember the instructions saying to tape a piece of plastic to the bare floor and leave it overnight. If there was moisture present then you had to wait until there wasn't to do the epoxy. Sounds like there would be moisture under the plastic on yours.

Is it always that way or is it more of a seasonal thing? Perhaps waiting until Summer would be a good thing? Sorry to be no more help that this. I just don't know the correct answer.

t

[Dev Emch]

Hey Terry...

I like that raised panel work on your workbench. How about posting some dirty pictures on the internet.... pictures of your workbench with raised panels.

Thanks...

[Terry Hatfield]

Hey Terry...

I like that raised panel work on your workbench. How about posting some dirty pictures on the internet.... pictures of your workbench with raised panels.

Thanks...

Thanks Dev!!! There are pics of the bench and the construction of it on my site if you need more but here's the front...

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/new_bench_lf.jpg">

and the rear...

<IMG SRC="http://www.terryhatfield.com/new_bench_rr.jpg">

t