Floor covering

As the construction of the new garage/workshop progresses the question of the floor comes into the equation. The floor will be concrete but I do not want bare concrete, I could paint it or cover it with tiles or roll of PVC flooring but I am wonder what the best option is, sealing the concrete is probably the first move. Area is around 30 square meters so cost is also a consideration.

Any thoughts?

Bob

Quality floor paint and wooden duck boards.

Regards Ian.

I used second hand carpet tiles to cover the concrete and then "heavy duty rubber grass mat" (search for that on e-bay) as removable rubber duct boards in front of the machines.

I was introduced to the rubber grass mat years ago, it was used to cover the wheelhouse floor of our survey ship. You can stand on it for hours and hours on end without foot strain. The holes also swallow up all the swarf and chips so you are not standing on that either. In my opinion it is the best workshop floor covering you can find.

Not in favour of duck boards or anything that needs to be lifted to sweep underneath, as for carpet, swarf just gets stuck in it so that's out.

Bob

"Not in favour of duck boards or anything that needs to be lifted to sweep underneath, as for carpet, swarf just gets stuck in it so that's out."

Well, looks like you're back to bare concrete (and cold feet) as anything on floor level is going to embedded with swarf. PVC/Urethane/rubber tiles are superb for creating swarf patterned surfaces but are replaceable.

Regards Ian.

Well I have B&Q self adhesive vinyl tiles (the thermoplastic Marley type)on my workshop floor been down for 19 years and no swarf stuck in them, just a couple of dings where something heavy has fallen on them. I just have a 3x2ft rubber mat where I stand at the lathe

Edited By JasonB on 28/09/2014 13:30:24

Bob,

9 mm OSB (Sterling board) will keep your tootsies warm and stop any dusting. I covered mine with cheapo market stall Cushionfloor, but some people have painted it with garage floor paint. The Cushionfloor can pick up hot swarf but not badly enough to bother me.

If I was going to paint any floor subject to hard use, the two pack epoxy variety is a must in my mind. I've used it in exterior dog kennel / runs and it's bombproof.

Eug

Edited By Eugene Molloy on 28/09/2014 13:36:22

Bob & all... I much prefer a good quality floor paint such as the epoxy type as previously mentioned especially if I was starting with a new workshop & garage. I like rubber matting in front of the machinery. The type that has a round hole pattern which I've bought off eBay. When you drop small screws or components they don't disappear never to be seen again but seem to get captured in the holes! The rubber mats are also good in cold conditions in helping to keep you feet warm & reduce fatigue when standing for a long periods of time. Make the workshop look professional too!

Regards

John

Bob,

Have a look at the range of rubber matting that Machine-Dro sell.

Extremly good matting at extremly good prices.

Cheaper than e-bay as well!!!

Len.

Agreed, sharp swarf also "sticks" to other soft stuff like rubber mats. If you can afford it, a layer of plywood with a couple of coats of floor paint is hard to beat. It's warmer on your feet than concrete and easy to keep clean.

I am leaning towards a couple of coats of a 2 part epoxy paint and 18 or 25mm WBP ply in front of machines painted with the epoxy paint, one sheet should give me enough for work bench and machines.

Bob

Bob, if you do not like all the good advice offered then your best bet would be to paint the concrete.

I don't have a wide experience of this but seem to remember that floor paint is recommended only after a year or so has elapsed since pouring the concrete. Perhaps I am out of date.

Think twice about introducing a trip hazard, i.e. duckboards, just in front of the lathe or any machine, or anywhere in a workshop; you might be walking whilst re-reading your micrometer in disbelief and bingo - it can't happen until it does.

I have managed for years on second-hand carpet; remember that so long as it is free, what is revolting at first can be a design feature a week later. Swarf embeds and is no bother, then you can look out for more off-cuts or rejects a couple of years later.

A severe change of pattern might mean that, to suit, you have to change your overalls from say blue to green or even take to wearing a brown warehouse coat for a while. Admittedly this off-sets the tight-as-a-tick-ness.

I have an indoor workshop, I have always used old carpet, I have rubber backed mats by machines sat on top of said carpets, sure I get swarf on deck but never found it a problem as I vacuum regularly and always clean machines and workshop at end of days work, if carpet gets too worn I replace it with another old bit, nice and easy on my feet

Mick

By no means the cheapest way, but I have found my flooring to be easy to walk on, easy to clean and helps with the insulation of the building. It takes the weight of my machines without any problem, including a 1.25 tonne milling machine.

My workshop is a detached garage with concrete floor. First I put down a damp-proof membrane which ran up the side walls a few inches. Then a made a perimeter of 2 x 2 battens and divided that up into 4ft x 4ft sections with more 2 x 2s. The resulting spaces I filled with 2" thick polystyrene. This was then overlaid with 3/4" flooring grade T & G chipboard and the whole covered with industrial grade vinyl sheeting.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Originally I painted my concrete floor with industrial floor paint, after a few years the paint was very worn and concrete dust was becoming a problem.

I sealed all the worn areas and covered the entire floor with these interlocking tiles, I have found these very durable and comfortable, in my view worth the effort and money.

Nigel

My garage/workshop is the same size as yours, Bob. I, too, wanted to keep costs down and carefully laid ceramic tiles. They look the dog's danglies, but, my Heavens, are they slippery when wet! DON'T lay tiles unless you can get some non-skid ones. Unless you don't mind doing all your machining with a cushion strapped to your rear end! I have an off-cut of carpet in front of the lathe/bench/mill for warmth, anti-skid and swarf collection.

Good luck,

John

Edited By John Hinkley on 28/09/2014 20:02:45

leave the concrete to breathe for a while before sealing or else where is the water going to go?

I sealed mine with floor paint then laid t&g chip board 18mm water proof grade and covered the bits I walk on with carpet / rubber floor mats. Comfy, warm and if you dopr a tool the edge (usually) survives, apart from when it hits the machineon the way down- don't ask !

Carpet also keeps lost screws etc close at foot.

Ian

John, Tiles, now there's a thought, I use a non slip tile in the wet room (Dotti R9) after much research. Cost for the garage is not too bad at about £400.00 for tiles, could even put underfloor heating in but that may be too much luxury! Price goes up a bit when I add in adhesive and my tame tilers bill so probably closer to £1200.00 inc tiles.

Ian, As for chipboard, OSB, or MDF not my cup of tea, they all suffer when wet or damp even when they are moisture resistant (do not think there is a water proof grade), my choice is always WBP (water and boil proof) ply and if I get really picky marine ply but as they say pays your money...........

As far as costs go paint is the lowest but it will need doing again as it does wear, which has to be factored in.

Bob