[Vicegrip]

One example. Not a recommendation just an example of one company that offers true full industrial floor coating work.

http://hooverwells.com/Capabilities.aspx

A description of the kinds of systems, their pros and cons, where they might be employed and why.

http://hooverwells.com/rezstone/Gene...on/General.pdf

The silica and quartz high build broadcast systems are no excuse, no BS, forklift warehouse grade tough. Coatings and broadcast systems are not the same thing but for thickness.
Note where it states "Coatings work well for both new and old concrete, but are better suited for off-aisle areas and where the concrete has nominal oil saturation. If a concrete surface can be damaged, the same damage will occur to these systems". This is a company that offers the noted systems and is only pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the system not a breathless sales pitch of a better chemical. This is where you need to go into the broadcast systems to get into the "Drop hard and or heavy things without damaging the floor" realm. Some companies have flake based high build systems. They offer more than the standard roll on coatings do but not quite the impact resistance of the silica or quartz based systems.

[cmartin]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

That said a coated concrete floor is worlds above raw concrete and even the home owner installed systems improve things. Dust and dirt reduction and fluid cleanup improvement from even the most basic coating. Baring systemic failures some chipping and the odd tire pull here and there are cosmetic issues. The floor in my home shop was coated using the least expensive 2 part coating you can get. It has many dings and scars but is still easy to sweep up and mop after 10 years of almost daily wear. It is utilitarian in nature and desired performance and I can't give any recommendations on which polish to use.

Great point. I work in my garage and the easy cleanup was key. I've worked in enough places with black, stained concrete to know what a pain it is to find a dropped fastener or clip on a dirty floor. Not the end of the world but something I prefer to work around. My initial plan was to seal the floor and not worry about epoxy. After construction my floor needed some work and knowing how I think I couldnt deal with seeing the patches in a clear sealer for years.

After I looked into this more I saw the coating thickness was key too. The water based epoxy at the lower price point is completely different than the smelly, chemical stuff at x5 the starting price. At the end of the day everyone has different priorities, I'm glad there are options.

[ruffyz]

Has anyone considered polished concrete as an alternative to sealing or painting?

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by ruffyz

Has anyone considered polished concrete as an alternative to sealing or painting?

Yes, people have. Surf around on Garage Journal.

For me personally I would go with a penetrating sealer like a silane or siloxane instead, even though it would not be as broom-friendly as a system that forms a surface film.

[N0tt0N]

I seriously considered it. Some of the stained/acid-etched and polished floors are amazing.

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by N0tt0N

I seriously considered it. Some of the stained/acid-etched and polished floors are amazing.

Agree on the polished flooring and the artistic looking things you can do. Living with polished concrete on the other hand not so much. Slick when dusty or wet and vulnerable to chemical damage and staining unless properly seal/coated.

[edevinney]

I would love a fancy polymer floor but am leery of anything I could afford I drop stuff, I grind and weld, and I really, really don't want to risk a coating failure.

We'll have polished and sealed concrete floors in the house, but the garage will have a hard troweled finish and as Dave suggested, a silane-siloxane sealer. There are a couple of hydrophobic types that should resist oil stains.

[mlytle]

anyone used this stuff? local company installs it.

https://www.hpspartacote.com/polyasp...ating-systems/

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by mlytle

anyone used this stuff? local company installs it.

https://www.hpspartacote.com/polyasp...ating-systems/

Which one? There are 7 different coating systems shown there.

Laticrete is a well-known manufacturer in the commercial world for products that can be incorporated into floor tile systems, including setting beds. I have not seen one of their coating systems before, though. Their products tend to be available through building supply houses vs controlled distribution to 'certified' installers. Not sure if that is the case of not for their floor coating systems though.

One of the nice things about that company is you can call and talk to a tech rep and get recommendations for the specific system configuration/ layers that would work best for the intended application. Whatever you do, don't base decisions on the specific system selection/ composition on what a few guys on a local car forum guess would be the best.

[mlytle]

lol....what? everyone on the interwebs isn't an expert?

sorry, it was the spartacote flex system. there is local company with good reviews that is sparta certified installer. going out to talk with them on saturday.