Author	[Modern View]
Brad Buchanan 10-10-2012 12:17:13 74.71.185.165 Report to Moderator	I roll my toolboxes around on this floor so it is not too far O/T. I have a concrete floor in my shop that is smooth enough to dust mop. It has never been sealed so it absorbs spills like atf, oil etc. I have been researching floor coatings and found products ranging from $17 a gal to $400.00 for S/W epoxy. Euclid Chemical sells a product called Duraltex 1705/1805 which is an epoxy primer and surface coat for $450.00 for a 3 gallon set of each. My dilemma is that the epoxy is great for vehicle traffic but I use the same shop for welding and torch work frequently. Would I be wasting my money with the epoxy or would it stand up to that kind of abuse? The local dealer had no answers. I have about 1500 sq. ft. to coat. Info., comments are welcome positive and negative. Thanks, Brad [Reply]   [No Email]
greygoat 10-11-2012 09:13:59 69.179.12.185 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   When my shop floor was new..and before there were any spots on it..I applied a "Rust-oleum" two part epoxy floor covering, which I got from GRAINGERS, via U.P.S. You mix the 2 cans togather and apply with a roller. It is great ! and drips and spills wipe right up ! It's not cheap! But I expected to pay for quality and I got what I paid for!   [Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M 10-11-2012 05:37:02 24.140.0.120 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   I had some old commerical liquid floor wax and put that in part of my garage. Seemed to make it less slippery. Don't know if it helped for gas spills ? It was sealed with cure sealer after being poured and that stuff softens up when gas gets on it.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Pops1532 10-11-2012 05:01:11 98.227.131.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   There are products that will stand up to welding and torch work. I'm not sure of the brands, but be prepared to spend some money. If you're just looking to seal it, try Gym Sealer mixed 50/50 with paint thinner. Let it soak in then apply a second coat. You should be able to get it at any good paint store.   [Reply]  [No Email]
caterpillar guy 10-10-2012 18:01:53 68.188.235.228 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   News paper to soak up the worst of it, then floor dri. There are some products out there that if used as a mop type solution will pull the oil back out, so it will look like it did before the oil.   [Reply]  [No Email]
36 coupe 10-10-2012 16:09:14 66.186.169.176 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   Sodium silicate or water glass has been used for years to seal concrete floors,Cost 15 bucks a gallon last time I bought some.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Brad Buchanan 10-10-2012 20:29:25 74.71.185.165 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to 36 coupe, 10-10-2012 16:09:14   That is an interesting substance. Found info on the sodium silicate itself and on commercial products made with same. When you used it was it a commercial brand name or just the sodium silicate? Brad   [Reply]  [No Email]
36 coupe 10-11-2012 03:00:50 66.186.169.176 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 20:29:25   It had the name Rutland on the can.It is used to glue cardboard boxes,glue wood stove gaskets in place.Also used as a sealer in cooling systems.It will seal masonary blocks and bricks.An old use is preserving eggs.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick2 10-10-2012 15:50:27 174.19.205.113 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   If you live in snow country, don't apply anything. Not good to have a floor that will be slippery if you walk in with snow on your boots.   [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 10-10-2012 16:44:29 50.104.232.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Dick2, 10-10-2012 15:50:27   I Agree, I know a man who slipped on his slick garage floor, chipped a vertebrae. Needed surgery. A little oil on floor won't hurt a thing. If you want it to look all the same, mop oil all over your floor:)   [Reply]  [No Email]
JF in CT 10-11-2012 03:28:13 70.194.3.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to George Marsh, 10-10-2012 16:44:29   I also agree. I have a 3000 sq ft floor that is very smooth. If it gets wet, as is, it is very difficult to stand up on. If I were to use a coating with sand in it then I wouldn't be able to squeege it off when it gets wet. I don't seem to have too much trouble disolving spills when I get them. Someone I know has a coated floor and you risk your life walking over it with wet boots. Jim   [Reply]  [No Email]
dpendzic 10-10-2012 15:00:52 24.184.13.49 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   epoxy will not stand up to torches and welding. If it is not a low modulus epoxy it will tend to spall off the concrete due to expansion and contraction. Also many epoxys are very slippery so they need to be broadcast with sand before they setup. I would recommend an inexpensive sealer so that it could be re coated as needed.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 10-10-2012 14:29:47 66.188.56.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   If you want a "real" epoxy floor then it costs money. There is a product made by Rustoleum I think and it is more like heavy paint. If it costs less then $150 per gallon then it is cheap and it isnt epoxy. I rolled oil based paint on my old front porch, (finished concrete) and it looked okay, but it was only walked on. No heavy equipment or caster from a toolbox.   [Reply]  [No Email]
wisbaker 10-10-2012 14:02:41 207.118.136.97 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   Depends on the quality of product you buy and how well it's installed. When in the Air Force we had a white epoxy we used on hangar floors, we could drag a B-52 across the floor and not hurt the coating, after the Air Force I have seen floor coatings that stand up to forklift traffic so it must of been pretty tough stuff. With the torching you mentioned I think I would look at a sealer to stop oil & antifreeze from seeping in. Of course you'll have to periodically re-seal it. With any epoxy I suspect dropping hot slag on the floor will mess it up.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean Feeney 10-10-2012 12:35:14 174.63.127.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   It will look good for a few months ( After Painting) and will chip and be a maintenance issue from then on leave it be.   [Reply]  [No Email]
David G 10-10-2012 12:28:01 205.215.206.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Concrete floor coating in reply to Brad Buchanan, 10-10-2012 12:17:13   I have seen the epoxy coatings come loose when rolled over by heavy equipment.   [Reply]  [No Email]