Considering putting something on the concrete floor of the double car
garage that serves as my shop on weekends. My main intent is to
lighten up the gray concrete to increase the perceived light level
(old eyes like lots of light). I've repainted the ceiling, that
helped, now considering the floor.

The floor is smooth concrete, a couple of minor surface cracks, but
otherwise pretty clean. Looking at either a vinyl covering (lay out
like a carpet) or one of the exp oxy finishes. Obviously, non-slip is
a prime concern. Table sawing on ice skates does not sound like a
repeatable endeavor.

Has anyone done this? Any thoughts/product names appreciated.

Regards.

Tom

Tom Banes wrote:

Considering putting something on the concrete floor of the double car
garage that serves as my shop on weekends. My main intent is to
lighten up the gray concrete to increase the perceived light level
(old eyes like lots of light). I've repainted the ceiling, that
helped, now considering the floor.

The floor is smooth concrete, a couple of minor surface cracks, but
otherwise pretty clean. Looking at either a vinyl covering (lay out
like a carpet) or one of the exp oxy finishes. Obviously, non-slip is
a prime concern. Table sawing on ice skates does not sound like a
repeatable endeavor.

Has anyone done this? Any thoughts/product names appreciated.

Regards.

Tom
What color or your walls? concrete is already reasonably light in color
in it's natural state.

Dave

"David" wrote in message
. ..
Tom Banes wrote:

Considering putting something on the concrete floor of the double car
garage that serves as my shop on weekends. My main intent is to
lighten up the gray concrete to increase the perceived light level
(old eyes like lots of light). I've repainted the ceiling, that
helped, now considering the floor.

The floor is smooth concrete, a couple of minor surface cracks, but
otherwise pretty clean. Looking at either a vinyl covering (lay out
like a carpet) or one of the exp oxy finishes. Obviously, non-slip is
a prime concern. Table sawing on ice skates does not sound like a
repeatable endeavor.

Has anyone done this? Any thoughts/product names appreciated.

Regards.

Tom
What color or your walls? concrete is already reasonably light in color
in it's natural state.

Dave

Probably wants something with a "sheen" on it to reflect light back up. It
can definately help to brighten a room.

Walls are putatively white but mostly covered with cabinets (natural
ply with a 20 year patina) and "hanging things" of most any color you
can name. In other words, minimal reflection from walls, but not much
option.


What color or your walls? concrete is already reasonably light in color
in it's natural state.

Dave

I'm going to do the epoxy stuff in a month or so when things warm up.
I'd go for more light, as a first step. Those "shop" flourescent lights
throw lots of light, and are not expensive.

Tom Banes wrote:
Considering putting something on the concrete floor of the double car
garage that serves as my shop on weekends. My main intent is to
lighten up the gray concrete to increase the perceived light level
(old eyes like lots of light). I've repainted the ceiling, that
helped, now considering the floor.

The floor is smooth concrete, a couple of minor surface cracks, but
otherwise pretty clean. Looking at either a vinyl covering (lay out
like a carpet) or one of the exp oxy finishes. Obviously, non-slip is
a prime concern. Table sawing on ice skates does not sound like a
repeatable endeavor.
Tom

Shiny equals slippery and the floor is not where you want the light.
(Except when hunting for that dropped screw)
I'd recommend that you spend the money on improved lighting.
Fred

hi tom
I have had epoxy on the floor in my shop for three years, there is a vast
color selection form light to dark. if you put the small chips on the
surface then its none slip and makes clean up easier(soothes out the
concrete)and depending on the color it will ether lighten or darken the
shop.
Now my shop is 22x24 and has six banks of florescent lites and two spots and
two floods. the floor is light tan and the walls are white. the room is
plenty bright for me . If you do the epoxy, cleaning the floor is key to the
job


Len

I put Rustoleum EpoxyShield on my garage floor. Been there five years and
still wearing well. They include a citric acid based cleaner and etcher in
the kit. It is non corrosive. Of course, I hosed out the garage to clean
it up. I would think that you could hose/squeegee this stuff off your
basement floor and clean it up with a mop and bucket... As mentioned in
another post, a clean floor is essential for the epoxy to stick. You can
buy a can of stuff at Lowes to add to the paint to provide a grippy surface
and limit the slip factor. I did not do this (didn't know about it) and
regret it - the floor is slippery when wet. I plan to put another coat down
this year with the anti-slip stuff.


"Larry Kraus" wrote in message
...
"leonard" wrote:

If you do the epoxy, cleaning the floor is key to the
job

This is the part that is stopping me from using epoxy on my shop
floor. All the directions I've found insist on using muriatic acid to
prep the concrete. I can't figure out how to do this in my basement or
shop, neither of which have floor drains for rinsing the acid off the
floor. I've also read that fumes from the acid tend to cause instant
rust on any steel or iron in the vicinity. Can somebody tell me I'm
making a mountain out of a molehill here? Is there a way to deal with
this?

Larry,

Just mop well it worked for me.(used a rental and changed water a few times)


len

I also am wanting to coat my shop floor. My circumstances are a little
different. Poured slab 6 years ago. The shop shell is now built. "Currently"
doing the wiring. The slab was exposed to the weather all that time so it
has a non-smooth texture to it. Has anyone used the Rustoleum product on a
slab like that. Any suggestions appreciated . . .

Steve

"Steve DeMars" writes:

I also am wanting to coat my shop floor. My circumstances are a little
different. Poured slab 6 years ago. The shop shell is now built. "Currently"
doing the wiring. The slab was exposed to the weather all that time so it
has a non-smooth texture to it. Has anyone used the Rustoleum product on a
slab like that. Any suggestions appreciated . . .

You can rent a machine that has some grinding stones that will smooth the
concrete somewhat. I think it cost me around $50 to rent plus the cost of
the stones that I had to buy.

I don't have any idea how much this thing can take off. My floor just had
a few ridges here and there because the builder didn't have the concrete
guys make the floor real level. The assumption is the floor will just be
covered up so it doesn't matter.

Brian Elfert