Shop Floor Overhaul

[wsmm]

I have a cement floor in my pole barn that I park and work on my vehicles in. The problem is that the concerete didn't hold up well and parts of it have scaled off leaving it rough and pitted. I don't want to pour a new floor or add a 2" surface pour as I need all the height I have. My barn only has an 8' ceiling. Is there a good reasonable product out therre that I could use to resurface the bad spots? As is my creeper tends to stop real quick on the rough spots.

Thanks..
Bill

[bud16415]

Hey Bill welcome to LTS

It depends on a couple things. One how deep is the damaged area how much of the total area is damaged is the floor below the damaged area solid how clean is the surfaces to be repaired and the biggie how much do you want to spend. And how nice will you require the repair to look. Epoxy coatings are great and they have some self leveling stuffs out there. When you are done the floor looks great is smooth cleans up easy. Down side the floor has to be really clean to apply and cost is high. If it’s a small spot it can be cut out and redone down to the base. There are also patching compounds that cane be used that may or may not adhere based on how clean and sound the material is below.

Ant chance you can post a few pictures to give us an idea.

Bud

[wyldman]

Welcome to the site.

I'm no concrete expert,just stating my past experience.

I had a similar problem at one of our old shops.I had it patched several times,but nothing held.One day I had an older Italian customer in the shop,who said he could fix it up better than new.I said go ahead,no one else could.He mixed up some portland cement,and added a quart of white glue.He also smeared a layer of white glue on the floor before he applied it.That repair held up better than the rest of the floor.I think the glue had something to do with it.

[atgreene]

An old timer around here that retired from the state bridge crew said that they would mix liseed oil and diesel and spread it on the bridge to protect it. Enviromental laws caused them to do away with it over water etc.... I saw a floor done with it and it seemed to hold up extremely well. I plan to do some of my concrete with it to try it.

[TLS]

Buy a BONE creeper. The 5" diameter and 1-1/2" wide wheels easily glide over a bumpy floor. They go over air hoses and extension cords well too.

May save you some money.

[JCurtis]

I believe that was a bonding agent. I can't recall the specific name of it, but I have used it from time to time... Guess my memory is going from being without LTS for so long ( see Jay's Post in My name is snowplowjay and I have a problem)

I have a two car garage under my house, floor is pitted and needs resurfacing. I was actually considering checking with the zoning board and seeing if I could build a two /three care garage on my property and convert the existing garage to office or living space. Right now, no cars go in it, and iut just is a storage space. Besides, I would really love to install a post lift if I build a new garage.

[SIPLOWGUY]

You need an "old Italian guy to do "Conacreta"". My Grandpa was a "real" fur dyer by trade but was unaccelled at his concrete work. He passed on in 1973 but our old house in Brooklyn still has his work there without a crack or any scaling. He always mixed it by hand and never had any significant debris left over. He would bust up the old concrete into gravel and use it for the base. We had a 75 ft long driveway. Soon after my parents bought the house in 1959 Grandpa replaced ALL the concrete block by block. After he was done he would repair broken concrete for the neighbors. They would come home from work to find Grandpa sitting there to ensure no one would write in it. The biggest insult to him was if they offered to pay him. I hung out with him all day when I was a kid and still miss him dearly. He was 80 when I was born and lived to be 93. He worked hard all day and enjoyed his garden and his "Italian Stinkers" (Denobole cigars).. He finally slowed down after he turned 90.

[ICEMANFAN]

Hello,
I usually ready the Chevy Truck Portion of this site daily and have a major carb. issue but I don't know where to start explaining that one (Will Need Help From Wyldman & Chuck) but this is a topic that I do know something about.
What you want to do is clean the affected areas and use a driveway cleaner made just for oil spots if they are that bad.
Then for the patching a few products I would recommend:
Quickrete: VINYL CONCRETE PATCH
Amstone: Top-N-Bond (Usually you can find at any lumber/home center that carries SAKRETE Products. (Actually Made by Sakrete)
These products already have a Bonding agent already in it. All you need to do is mix it very well and patch away. You can never use too much bonding agent so if you want you can buy liquid bonding agent and paint the affected area first and then some brands will tell you that you can add the bonding agent in place of the water. Both of the above products are awesome for this type of repair. Can be feathered out to 1/64" and remain strong & intact. As always follow the manufactures directions to a "T" because they don't print them on the package for fun.
Ps. Watch when patching big repairs this way. If I am correct they don't like a patch to be more than an 1" thick. If you are deeper than that, patch once let dry, recoat w/bonding agent and put a second layer.
I HOPE THIS HELPS...............
P.S.S. I have heard of using glue as a bonding agent some of the old timers that I have dealt with say that..... must be some truth to that theory.