Keyboard Shortcuts
ctrl + shift + ? :
Show all keyboard shortcuts
ctrl + g :
Navigate to a group
ctrl + shift + f :
Find
ctrl + / :
Quick actions
esc to dismiss
Likes
Search
Re: Vinyl Tile Flooring
|
Hi David,
?
I too built my 2400SF shop with the intent of using part of it for automotive and metal work. ?I installed a two post lift with a 13,000lb capacity. ?I was a heavy equipment mechanic, starting very young, until I changed course and became a firefighter. ?I continued to do mechanic work for family, friends, and myself for the past 50 years while earning a paycheck as a firefighter.
?
The two post lift was one of the best tool investments I have made. I do enjoy changing my oil while standing up.
?
As for the floor, I too considered a variety of options including epoxy, vinyl, OSB, and even carpet tiles. ?James Hamilton, AKA Stumpy Nubs, has the carpet tiles on his shop floor. ?Carpet would not be a good choice under the lift.
?
I've dealt with the oil staining first by applying a sealer to the concrete. ?This has greatly minimized the ability for virtually anything to stain the concrete. ?Second, I keep used cardboard on the floor immediately below the vehicle in the "splash" zone. ?This has allowed me to keep the area under the lift virtually stain free. ?Nothing is perfect. ?I dropped a front hub from about 4'. ?It left a small crater in the concrete floor. ?I could fill it, but it would be even more obvious. ?No matter what floor I might have installed over the concrete, this would have left a mark. ?My point is similar to Mac. ?It is a shop floor. ?Make reasonable efforts to keep it nice.
?
You are still faced with keeping the floor stain free while the new concrete cures. ?I assume, from the photos, that your floor is quite new. ?If so, you will need to wait until the concrete cures before you can seal it. ?You would need to do this anyway if you planned to coat the floor with anything intended to adhere to the concrete.
?
I wasn't willing to wait until the concrete cured enough to apply epoxy before moving in. ?And I decided I didn't want to have to move everything a second time to apply the epoxy, and then wait until that cured in order to move everything back.
?
Finally, over the years, I have worked in several fire stations with epoxy floors. ?This stuff is tough, but like anything else, it wears. ?If not applied correctly, it will not adhere to the concrete. ?In one case, the new fire station had it applied, only to have it fail if various random places. ?The contractor had to scrape and grind it all off, and start over, only to have it fail a second time. ?Ultimately, the floor was polished concrete and sealed. ?The general consensus was the concrete had not cured enough and moisture in the concrete caused it to bubble up over time.
?
Good luck with your floor and your shop. ?I certainly enjoy mine.
?
By the way, how will you heat your shop?
?
Alex B.
?
?
?
|
to navigate to use esc to dismiss