Protecting shop floor:

speeder · speeder's Garage

So this is the situation; my current shop space for working on cars is in a downtown loft that was once purely industrial but is now in the world of art galleries and exercise studios. I managed to snaggle the space but had to promise not to wreck the floor. It's old cement, pretty smooth but not polished.

It's not a problem rolling vehicles and floor jacks around but I'd like to do a couple of drivetrain swaps and need to figure out some way to protect the floor from engine hoist wheels and oil drips, etc. Something like plastic sheeting but strong enough not to tear from hoist wheels.

Any bright ideas?

stevej37 · 01-09-2017, 03:27 PM

maybe something like this..https://www.garageflooringinc.com/rolls/coin-nitro-rolls.html
Cleans up easily and it's durable

speeder · speeder's Garage

That's intriguing but not sure how much you get for $1600?

I was thinking something more in the $20-30 range.

stevej37 · 01-09-2017, 03:37 PM

7.5 ft X 20 ft is $227.00

stevej37 · 01-09-2017, 03:40 PM

I use it in one stall of my garage to keep winter sand and salt off my floor. It cleans up easily and in the spring I pull the entire thing out the door and hose it off. You can order any size...drop down the meas. box for prices

javadog · 01-09-2017, 03:41 PM

6 mil visqueen, over a very clean floor?

JR

rusnak · 01-09-2017, 03:51 PM

9 mil comes in 40x100' rolls. If you only need 20 feet wide, you can get maybe up to 12 mil.

javadog · 01-09-2017, 03:59 PM

Thicker is better, if you can find it in you area.

JR

rusnak · 01-09-2017, 05:42 PM

Yeah, I think the 40x100s are around $200-ish, and the 20x80 ones are maybe $150. White Cap has them for sure. And do not as for visqueen. That stuff is expensive. Just ask for black or clear poly film.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

I have the stuff Steve posted in my toyhauler protecting the flooring. It works great....

DanielDudley · 01-10-2017, 01:13 AM

1/4 inch masonite.

1990C4S · 01-10-2017, 04:24 AM

I would put down vapour barrier and then used carpet on top.

MRM · 01-10-2017, 04:43 AM

Can you go to a floor cover store and get remnants of sheet vinyl Linoleum?

stevej37 · 01-10-2017, 05:30 AM

I'm not sure if a loaded engine hoist will roll on vizqueen or used carpet.
The linoleum remnant idea sounds good though...if you could get big enough pieces.

stomachmonkey · 01-10-2017, 06:53 AM

Anything thick will have to be dense / solid / not deform under weight.

Visqueen or similar pliable coverings may be a problem rolling over unless it's been glued down.

The material will push in front of the wheels of anything heavy. Doubt you could easily roll a standard floor jack around on it.

You could always build a form, line it with a barrier and pour a new floor on top. Pouring it over the liner will make it removable, maybe not easily but can be broken up and hauled out.

Evans, Marv · 01-10-2017, 07:03 AM

I painted my garage floor with an epoxy coating. It's a light color which makes it easy to see things I drop or put down. I didn't care about a super professional, mirror like surface & just wanted a good work surface. If you don't like the idea of a colored coating, they make clear coatings. You don't have to paint the whole thing if you don't want so just doing the section you want to work in might work. My coating is chemical resistant and fairly tough. It will scratch if I drag a piece of steel across it, but it's a work surface so I don't care. But I have to say after going on eight years, it's in really good shape.

stomachmonkey · 01-10-2017, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I painted my garage floor with an epoxy coating. It's a light color which makes it easy to see things I drop or put down. I didn't care about a super professional, mirror like surface & just wanted a good work surface. If you don't like the idea of a colored coating, they make clear coatings. You don't have to paint the whole thing if you don't want so just doing the section you want to work in might work. My coating is chemical resistant and fairly tough. It will scratch if I drag a piece of steel across it, but it's a work surface so I don't care. But I have to say after going on eight years, it's in really good shape.

I don't think he can paint it.

Landlord wants to keep the "industrial" look of bare concrete.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Thanks for the replies. I cannot paint the floor or pour cement over it, the whole point is that I need to protect it from any changes. I think that MRM's linoleum idea has potential but it was nice to learn about the other products.

Thanks again.

rusnak · 01-10-2017, 08:18 AM

We roll vehicles and pallet jacks over sheet poly. Linoleum would have to be of the smooth, thin and very hard variety in order for a floor jack to be able to turn on it.

Baz · Baz's Garage

I'd lay down plywood over the entire floor area - wall to wall - no gaps.

Thinking 1/4" would do the trick - but the thicker you go the better protection and wear and tear you get.

I have had 1/4" plywood on the floor of my landscape trailer (over the old 1" x 6''s) for about 2 years now and it has lasted pretty good --- and it stays outside too.