Oil Proof Mat for garage floor

[lathiat]

Hi Folks,

I'm hoping to find something I can put down in the garage to save the ground from oil. No matter what I do, I always seem to get oil from something on the floor when working on vehicles (talking engine/transmission removal, etc).

Is anyone aware of any good products, or things I can use for this? Most things I've thought of or tried are either porous, or get tears/holes in them -- which actually makes the problem worse, as the oil gets caught under it and soaks in before you realise it's there.


Something strong enough to work on, walk on, drive on.


Thanks!

[Brett_J]

Plastic garden sheeting then bang some carpet over it. Or get yourself some of the big oil pad thingies, use to have them in my workshop, awesome for soaking up oil.

My garage is painted with concrete paint, so even when I spill shit on it, just a simple wipe and she's good :)

[S85FI]

Same. . Garage floor painted in two pack... stuff just wipes off...
cheap enough to do.

[Intercpt]

Same. . Garage floor painted in two pack... stuff just wipes off...
cheap enough to do.
Totally better than carpet.
Have that currently and always spill shit on the exposed places!
FML

[millzy_88]

I had big ass tarps down whenever doing work in rentals (added benefit of making it real easy to slide gearboxes around if you put an old towel or rag under them). However, once I've settled into the new place I will be concrete painting the floor as suggested above for sure as seeing other peoples, it is definitely the way to go.

[c.rusli]

I use those vinyl carpeting that you use for the house

work a treat for me, its thick and durable.

[S85FI]

Totally better than carpet.
Have that currently and always spill shit on the exposed places!
FML

My garage is just short or 60sqm. I even painted under the benches. . Not a spot of uncovered concrete. ... best thing I did.

[heavyduty1340]

Gonna do the garage of the new house in this stuff prior to moving in - see it a few times and looks good in the speckled colour.

[Intercpt]

Yeah that speckled look is shit hot!

[[Jacek]]

Recommendations on Paint type? Where to purchase etc?

[S85FI]

Gonna do the garage of the new house in this stuff prior to moving in - see it a few times and looks good in the speckled colour.

The speckled looks awesome. Like any paint work prep is the key.
After 3 years the paint has come off in patches where the wheels rest consistently.
Next year will high pressure blast the worn patches and re coat. Paint has withheld brake Fluid so happy days.

You don't want to work in the garage once painted but eventually. ... you live with the chips and scratches. ..

[Brett_J]

Also can use a Trafficable Membrane, I use it on a lot of peoples balconies etc.
Whack as many coats as you want, plus you can recoat worn areas easily.

[Byah!]

http://www.cementaid.com/pdf/Colour_ROKITE.pdf

use it on my garage and works really well!

only been down for 3 years but no wear and the oil just rubs off.

[Brute]

http://www.cementaid.com/pdf/Colour_ROKITE.pdf

use it on my garage and works really well!

only been down for 3 years but no wear and the oil just rubs off.

Rokite is a great product. I use it a lot at work. The best thing about it is if the colour does start to wear the sealer is still there.

[WAS12A]

Have a look around here...

http://www.epoxysupplies.com.au/

[lathiat]

Unfortunately my garage floor is the "textured" concrete, rather than flat. Does paint work on that?

[sensei_]

Anyone know if polishing the concrete (terrazzo) would be a better alternative to epoxy?

[S85FI]

I think at the end of the day you're trying to seal the floor regardless of texture.

[Brute]

Unfortunately my garage floor is the "textured" concrete, rather than flat. Does paint work on that?

It does. But you can also hire floor grinders from kennards etc to smooth it out.

[Brute]

Anyone know if polishing the concrete (terrazzo) would be a better alternative to epoxy?

You would still need to seal it otherwise you've just pissed your money away.

[rgvlee]

I have an epoxy/polyurea coating on my garage and workshop floors. I had a company do about 100m2, it was a few grand which included expansion joint filling, floor grinding and coating. I opted for a fleck finish to hide the filling done on the expansion joints in both slabs. Having now seen it done it's a relatively easy job and I'd consider having a go DIY if doing it again.

My advice if going along this path would be;

If the slab isn't down spec out the expansion joints and get a smooth finish. If you have expansion joints and opt to fill them depending on the colour/finish you choose you'll still see them even after grinding them flat. Most companies I spoke too advised not to fill them but I've had mine down for years like this and no issues at all. I had a smooth finish though I am sure if you had textured you'd just grind it down until it was smooth.

The fleck coatings visually look great, the garage looks like another room essentially, but very hard to see anything on the floor. From nuts and bolts to water that you've dragged in when the car is wet. I am sure some of this is due to the colours I chose but I wouldn't do fleck again.

Contrary to what people say it isn't difficult to damage the hard coatings. They are billed as tough as nails though I had some subbies on site who managed to test and disprove that theory.

Liquids will pool on the surface, this is great in theory but in reality when it's been raining and you drive the car in the water hangs around until it evaporates. For a workshop this wouldn't be an issue for the main garage it's a pain in the ass.

Other than that the room seems to maintain it's temperature better, sort of acts like an insulator, is easy to clean and car tyres won't damage it.

I've had painted concrete in the past aswell. I did the job myself, proper prep etc, after a while tyres and dropped tools etc take their toll and it requires a repaint. Some stains just don't come out which again requires a repaint to remedy.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do at the next place. Both paint and epoxy have their pro's and cons. I am probably leaning towards DIY epoxy just to avoid the PITA factor of pulling the workshop apart when it comes to repainting concrete. May look at a self levelling product for that ultimate smooth finish.