Garage flooring options

[Phil_D]

ive got a garage workshop which is the size of a double garage. Originally it was a single with a lean to but the PO built it into a double.

It’s got a pretty rough concrete floor, and the original single garage floor is dusty. No matter how much I sweep it just makes never ending clouds of dust.

Here’s a picture of the seam between the dusty original single garage floor (right) and the non dusty original outside floor (left).

What are the options here to make it flat, smooth and non dusty?

 

[Cobbler]

My garage floor is concrete & used to dust badly. I treated with International concrete sealer & then International floor paint. I fixed a paint roller on a broom handle & used that. If I was to do it again I think I would pay out & get epoxy floor paint, but what I used has lasted well. I know it doesn't smooth the floor, but it has made it much nicer to work on, concrete dust is horrible, I had to do something as when I did the car exhaust I was coughing for ages.

 

[frank horton]

if ur not gonna beat it to death (the floor), I'd first put down floor leveling compound, needs to be free of loose bits and remove any oil and grease..........it's not expensive , the last lot I bought u got a sack of powder and a gallon jug of liquid.....once mixed thoroughly, I used a drill and a good paint stirer, u just pour it on.....hardley any troweling....get a mate involved it's to much on yer own........there are a couple of types..... the one I used is only good for thicknes up to 6mm......there is another for deeoer holes and or differing heights........if u had a deep'ish hole part fill it with the 6mm stuff...let it dry and then build it up if ness or just pour the whole floor. in one go.......it's temp sensitive so no frost.........when dry, vac it clean and paint with 2 pack floor paint thats about £50 a gall.........dear but u'll never regret it.......normal floor paint is POO.......
thats what I'd do but u may get better answer's........
Frank

 

[Rocketman]

Get some concrete hardener, I think there is a couple of different types of how the chemicals work but the end result is a dust free hard concrete finish.

 

[Ashley Burton]

I bought Rubber Floor tiles for mine, Cost around £200 for a single garage, But couldn't be bothered with painting the floor on a regular basis due to wear & tear. + I could take them with me if I were to move in the future!

 

[Rig Pig]

Whatever you do don't use Ronseal 'diamond hard' floor paint, even electrical tape pulls it up!

 

[postie jon]

stable matting, 8x4 £40 ,very comfy on the feet.

 

[Shedendman]

Seal it and paint,thats your cheapest option,if you can afford it get a Polyurethane base paint,dont buy the water base stuff its cack

 

[Rocketman]

If it's caulking too bad or just plain soft you won't be able to seal it or the paint won't last long. So in that case you have to turn to concrete hardener.

2k paint if you want the finish to last a long time.

 

[Phil_D]

Wow thanks for all the replies!

The floor is not going to take a battering, worst will be jacking cars up and banging on a workbench with a hammer.

Would it be possible to use a levelling compound and then a concrete hardener on that? Gold standard would be a smooth hard finish.

If not I’ll just stick the hardener down and live with the rough floor

 

[GavinL]

Mine was like that. Brushed up the worst of the dust gently, then hoovered it to get rid of the rest of the loose dust, then two coats of Leyland floor paint from Toolstation applied with a roller. Worked a treat, now when I lie on the floor to work on the car I'm not surrounded by a cloud of dust

 

[Phil_D]

I bought Rubber Floor tiles for mine, Cost around £200 for a single garage, But couldn't be bothered with painting the floor on a regular basis due to wear & tear. + I could take them with me if I were to move in the future!

Where did you get them from? Could also be a much simpler solution.

The only thing that would worry me is if water tracks underneath somehow.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Where did you get them from? Could also be a much simpler solution.

The only thing that would worry me is if water tracks underneath somehow.

I bought them off eBay from a seller called Bernards Bins. They are 10mm thick, So also help to keep your feet warm in the colder months!

 

[Burdekin]

I used Cementone Cempolay Ultra Strong Self Levelling Floor Compound, it's good stuff.

 

[addjunkie]

Rubber matting for stables is nice underfoot but makes an awful smell when you try to weld steel and it melts it.

Hoovered mine then just waterproof pva two thin coats stopped the dust. But it looks awful...not smooth shiney grey like I initially visualised.

 

[Phil_D]

I used Cementone Cempolay Ultra Strong Self Levelling Floor Compound, it's good stuff.

Im a little confused, is this not just a self levelling screed to lay a floor finish over? surely it wouldn't stand up to garage wear and tear as is?

Rubber matting for stables is nice underfoot but makes an awful smell when you try to weld steel and it melts it.

Hoovered mine then just waterproof pva two thin coats stopped the dust. But it looks awful...not smooth shiney grey like I initially visualised.

My old mans got stables full of rubber matting and no horses any more. Would be nice...

 

[Burdekin]

Yes it can be used as a final covering. My floor was in a bad way, very uneven and quite a slope. No issues with having car, lathe, workbench etc on it.

 

[Phil_D]

sounds like it could be the one. In your opinion is it acheivable for someone with no experience with concrete and levelling compounds to get a good finish?

 

[Burdekin]

sounds like it could be the one. In your opinion is it acheivable for someone with no experience with concrete and levelling compounds to get a good finish?

Yep, if the floor is already flat then it's easy to do. My mate mixed it in a big tub with a drill stirrer attachment and then I levelled it out. My floor is on a slope so made it more difficult to get flat but was much better than it was.

Some before and after pics painted with epoxy.