Floor coating decisions...options, opinions....need advice!

[McClellan Made Blades]

Hey Dawgs!
I'm doing some shop renovations and wanted to put a coating on the floor, the concrete has a broom finish which isn't easy to keep clean, I thought about the Rust-o-leum epoxy finish, but have heard and read many bad reviews. There are other choices but they are very expensive, if any of you have ideas or experience with a good floor coating that's easy to keep clean, I'd love the advice, the Rust-o-leum is about my only choice right now. But I'm not happy with it, from what I've read about it. Thought about something like Rhinoliner, (or something similar) but don't know if it will apply very well, and I think it goes down with a textured finish, which wouldn't be easy to keep swept up. I'm open for any and all suggestions, preferably the ones that don't cost 600 bucks, as a couple I saw on-line,
Thanks Guys, Rex

 

[Jeff Pearce]

Try this. Link it is what I had installed in my shop two years ago it still looks like new. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/products/hc_shieldcrete_epoxy_concrete_floor_coating/

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/products/pro_industrial_highperformance_epoxy/

Here is a picture of the floor

 

[BRad704]

I agree about the texture being hard to clean. One of my best friends is a fireman, and they did a textured epoxy in the bays at the firehouse, and he said the only way to get leaves out is either vacuum or blower. A broom just grinds the leaves into dust.

I used the Behr 2 part epoxy coating (with no texture additive) and used 2 kits on my 2 car garage. I have been "fairly pleased" with the actual floor, despite some bad spots from my poor prep work. For $150, I really can't complain too much.

 

[JAWilliams]

Jeff that is awsome!!!! I have been trying to figure something for my shop floor that would be easy to clean up.

 

[McClellan Made Blades]

I agree about the texture being hard to clean. One of my best friends is a fireman, and they did a textured epoxy in the bays at the firehouse, and he said the only way to get leaves out is either vacuum or blower. A broom just grinds the leaves into dust.

I used the Behr 2 part epoxy coating (with no texture additive) and used 2 kits on my 2 car garage. I have been "fairly pleased" with the actual floor, despite some bad spots from my poor prep work. For $150, I really can't complain too much.

Brad,
THAT is exactley what I was looking for! How difficult was the prep? There are some I've seen that recommend an acid etch! Mine is so rough I doubt it needs more roughing, I'm not so sure if I would have done the concrete again if I would have went with a small sized crush-n-run, like they use on drive ways, it can be made rock hard, but it's constant maitenance, and I'd rather be making knives than filling in holes! My shop is 864 sqft, that's a lot of $$$ but I think I'm going to do it one section at a time, right now I've got one side completley empty, old ratty walls replaced and getting ready to paint. Where did you get the Behr? If I can do half of my shop for
$150, I think that's reasonable, provided it lasts, and is easy to clean. The side I was using, I practically gave up trying to sweep the floor, it seemed impossible to make any progress. Thanks for the tip, I think this one is the WINNER!!! Rex

 

[Deltashooter]

Rex,
The MOST important thing to do before you paint your floor is to make sure that it’s very very very clean. No nothing is on it, dirt, oils, stains, or water.
And I would have to second the Behr, it’s not cheap, but it’s good. The only place to get it is Home Depot.

Todd

 

[BRad704]

Rex,
The MOST important thing to do before you paint your floor is to make sure that it’s very very very clean. No nothing is on it, dirt, oils, stains, or water.
And I would have to second the Behr, it’s not cheap, but it’s good. The only place to get it is Home Depot.

Todd

What he said... All of it... ESPECIALLY the prep part!!! If you get the Behr from HD and want to talk before you get started, call me anytime... 901-335-3724

I had painted some doors and trim on my floor when we moved in, and just peeled up the parts that were loose. BIG mistake! Take your time, rent a concrete sander and go over everything, then degrease everything, then, yes, you will do an acid etch on the floor. Its not a big deal, really just pushing the acid mix around with a broom, but you have got to get great coverate to make sure this stuff sticks!

I have a few places where the old paint was, that the new stuff is peeling away due to poor prep.

Also, get extra bags of the chips, and OVERchip the floor. I thought I was doing good, but didnt overchip and have weird lines in my floor as seen in the pic below. You have to work in 3x3' squares, and put the chips down ASAP.

I am going to redo the entire thing next year in a differnt color. This is "Giant Sequoia" and its too pink. I will redo it in regular dark brown with lots and lots and lots of chips.

Got the wife to help... Note the white paint lines that I didn't get up...

You can see a line of less chips running under the car. That is where my 3x3 squares met, and I didnt get the chips on fast enough in those spots...