Screed floor suitable in a workshop?

[dobbslc]

Quick question is a 75mm screed a suitable finish for a workshop floor?
I've just got my drawings through for the house extension and workshop and they've specified a mesh reinforced 6" concrete slab with DPM then a 75mm screed on top. I said it would be used for heavy machinery lathes etc when the engineer came round. Does this sound ok?
I've always had a solid concrete floor in my old garage.
Thanks.

 

[chris pruteanu]

Best to go with reinforced concrete, screed will eventually crack and it’s not as hard wearing surface as concrete...

 

[God mode restorations]

For a workshop floor you can't get much better than a concrete floor that's been power floated

 

[chris pruteanu]

Then-after it’s fully dry- paint it with some floor paint for that glossy finish which is easy to clean and mop up any spillages !

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks lads! Thats what i thought.
I was also thinking about putting some Celotex / Kingspan type insulation down under the concrete to help keep it warm in there over winter but had a bad experience with screed over insulation in my old house where the screed just fell apart as it was flexing!
I reckon 50mm insulation then 6" concrete over it will keep me warm

 

[chris pruteanu]

I don’t know how long concrete over kings pan will last without cracking but I believe you can get some decent floor heating but then I wouldn’t drill in the floor for fear of bursting a pipe ! I would keep it simple though...time will tell if you done the right choice ! I would look for urethane based insulation as it has less give than celotex/kingspan stuff- longer lasting in the long run ! The blue type...

 

[brightspark]

if a subfloor has a layer of dolomite compacted then blinded by sharp sand level then dpc membrane then celotex and 6 inch of concrete ITS going nowhere

 

[God mode restorations]

A good traditional reinforced concrete pad that is 6 to 8 inches thick and power floated will be perfectly fine. Keeping it warm with insulation is better spent on the unit that sits on top

 

[Shox Dr]

Whatever thickness you go for get it power floated.

 

[chris pruteanu]

A good traditional reinforced concrete pad that is 6 to 8 inches thick and power floated will be perfectly fine. Keeping it warm with insulation is better spent on the unit that sits on top

I think that is the best advice given herein! Spend your money towards a better roof with proper insulation and cavity ealls that will keep whatever heat you produce inside! Do not overloon the windows as well, more windows mean more natural light and less energy bills as you could work in daylight for longer...

 

[brightspark]

Whatever thickness you go for get it power floated.

and if you don't it wants trowelling = rubbing up 3 times to get the hardened finish on it most just do it twice

 

[Bobo]

Oh ok.. That's how you get nice smooth concrete, I've always wondered that, just had a look at a you tube video... It's also very handy for rolling trolley jacks across nice and smoothly.

 

[God mode restorations]

Also worth mentioning is if you got a good 6 to 8 inches of concrete a poker will help. If you can't handle the power float then get an easy float.

 

[Shox Dr]

and if you don't it wants trowelling = rubbing up 3 times to get the hardened finish on it most just do it twice

True, but you’ll never get it as hard as a power float. Took me about 4hrs to polish my 4.8x8m workshop floor.
Well worth it though.

And since we are talking slab thickness. I put down 5" of kingspan and 5" of concrete with 8mm mesh.

 

[Shox Dr]

All I used was a concrete rake, shovel, laser level. Hand balled 4.8cube in. Used the rake with a go-no-go marker on the handle for the level to strike. Hand float something like, then power floated once it had gone off, and you could get on it.

We laid 24cube in two different locations that day, both power floated. Thats only 8yrs ago, I couldnt do a faction of that now

 

[God mode restorations]

All I used was a concrete rake, shovel, laser level. Hand balled 4.8cube in. Used the rake with a go-no-go marker on the handle for the level to strike. Hand float something like, then power floated once it had gone off, and you could get on it.

We laid 24cube in two different locations that day, both power floated. Thats only 8yrs ago, I couldnt do a faction of that now

I no what you mean. I retired from ground work a out 8 years ago. Couldn't do a quarter of what I use to do.

 

[dobbslc]

Would a power float fit in a workshop?
Not sure it will go to the edges or does it get floated before the walls go up?

 

[God mode restorations]

Would a power float fit in a workshop?
Not sure it will go to the edges or does it get floated before the walls go up?

It gets power floated before the walls go up. A power float comes with a pan. You use that first. Then when it's ready you take the pan off and use the blades. It's all about timing with power floats