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-   -   Tip: Shop Floor Covering Options (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=53558)

C-GRVT 01-26-2010 03:05 PM

levelling?
 
For those that have experience with epoxy, has anyone had to level an uneven concrete floor before the final finish? What works?
Bill Brooks
Ottawa
Canada
RV-6A finishing

SMO 01-26-2010 11:38 PM

I have Race Deck
 
There are three significant reasons I like the Race-Deck floor:

1 - It is much warmer than concrete (important in the winter for us Canucks)

2 - It is much easier to stand on - less fatigue - than concrete

3 - It doesn't damage any of the drill bits, dies, etc that I have dropped on it


The negatives I have found are:

1 - When the sun hits the dark pieces it expands to the point of "bubbling" the floor, but contracts again when in the shade

2 - It is not easy to clean, white especially shows the dirt

I would definitely use this flooring again in a workshop, don't think I would use it in a hangar.

Crossbow 01-27-2010 06:14 AM

I have also thought about using some sort of interlocking floor material in my shop since it has a concrete floor. However, I have decided not to use any such product because it is expensive, gets torn up, and it is not easy to clean.

Instead, I just use old carpet because it is cheap (in my case, it has been a free item every time), helps reduce fatigue, and disposable should it become too damaged and/or dirty to use any further.

Scott Hersha 01-27-2010 06:43 AM

I got a response from RaceDeck and it came to $2.99 per sq ft. The same product at Lowes is $4.22 per sq ft. I think it looks great, but with just over 1000 sq ft in my hangar, it is pretty expensive. I've built 10 T-hangars (so far) at HAO and may use it in my own hangar as a demo, but doubt very many of my buyers will do the same. I had my old hangar epoxied about 8 years ago and it still looks good. That cost about $1000 back then to have someone else do it.

Scott
RV-8 FB

llavalle 01-27-2010 07:32 AM

Anyone thought about ceramic or porcelain tiles?

One of my neighbors has ceramic tile in his garage and it sure looks nice. It's pretty durable too. You just have to make sure you put sealer on the grout. You can get Class 5 tiles for less than $2/ftsq.

Another option would be quary tiles.

The only downsize I can see is the installation labor but I'm a DIY guy (hey... building a plane ;) ) . I have the time.

weekendflyboy 01-27-2010 08:23 AM

Doug's DIY lift
 
Doug build your own lift.
Harbor Freight sells a nice hoist that they run on sale for $79.00 often.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...&r=7366_160664

Also checkout this DIY garage lift. He also has a really neat blog.

I'm also very happy with my epoxy on my shop floor. I would now have went back and applied the second coat. I used the Benjamin Moore industrial epoxy.

RV7Guy 01-27-2010 08:56 AM

Tile
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by llavalle (Post 400401)
Anyone thought about ceramic or porcelain tiles?

One of my neighbors has ceramic tile in his garage and it sure looks nice. It's

I'm fortunate to live at an airpark with a residential and commercial side. Several of my neighbors have done Satillo tile in their hangars. One is 7500 sq. ft. It is beautiful. On the commercial side a couple of 10,000 sq ft hangars have been tiled. Very nice.

I'm not sure if I'd tile if I were building though. It can chip and the grout can stain.

Epoxy is the most durable and impervious to stains.

Fun discussion!!!!

hydroguy2 01-27-2010 09:33 AM

Epoxy floors are nice. Another option is Acid staining. We use Columbia Industrial paint at the Hydroplant. It holds up very well, except the rocks and sand embedded in shoes wear the high traffic areas after a few years.

Being financially challenged, I had 2 choices:
1. Build a "state of the art" shop
OR
2. Build an airplane.

So I picked #2 and am building in my wood heated dirty pole barn. No paint on the floors or the walls. here's an old photo, it's dirtier and fuller now.

Living on a gravel road will scar anything coating you put on the floor.

It's 8*F outside right now, but I just shoveled a path to my 70*F barn...Baffles here I come.;)

Bill Ervin 01-27-2010 09:45 AM

Anything is better than raw concrete!!!

I've thought about using the industrial linoleum tiles (think supermarket floor) lots of colors to chose from and depending on where you buy them, less than $1 sq ft. (if you do it yourself)

Cleaning is easy if you seal them after install and they have a rough non-skid version as well.

lorne green 01-27-2010 09:44 PM

Bill
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by C-GRVT (Post 400221)
For those that have experience with epoxy, has anyone had to level an uneven concrete floor before the final finish? What works?
RV-6A finishing

A product out in the Canadian market for leveling/smoothing existing concrete
floors is a product called FlexFlow. This product is in powder form and is mixed with water
with a power mixer to a pourable consistancy. It's a cementious acrylic polymer and is designed to bond
to cement and secure plywood subsrtates. It feathers to 1/8" easily and finds it's own level once poured.
Great product, find it (and other products like it) at building suppy locations and ceramic tile outlets.
Retails for around $50 per 50 pound bag. Epoxy coat after four weeks.


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