workshop floor material

[davec]

I'm going to have the chance to expand and do some improvements in my workshop.  I'm currently in a unfinished basement room, and have the chance to expand into the unused part of the garage next to it, frame the walls and add some insulation, and put in more electrical outlets, a ceiling and better lights.

 

I'm looking on advice for floor material.  I currently have the unfinished concrete slab, and would like to put a floor in.  Biggest issue is that there is a narrow space all the way around where the slab meets the foundation, which is a magnet for small parts that fall of the bench.  I'm looking for a few things:

 

1)  Ease of keeping clean

2) Stain resistant

3) durable - unlikely to scratch when I rearrange my tools

4) color where it is easy to find parts that have dropped

 

Any suggestions? Contractors have suggested laminate and epoxy.  I'm not familiar with epoxy coating on floors.

 

thanks!
 

Dave

[ChrisLBren]

Hey Dave,

I think thats what I have in my workshop - it was already here when we bought the house - its gray concrete slab with an epoxy coating on the floor - its semi gloss and moving my tools are easy (most tools have stands or are on tables with rollers).  So far its been easy to clean and parts show up easily.  

[thibaultron]

Epoxy finishes are the standard for garages. Mix two parts and spread like paint. That would be my choice. The problem I can see with laminates is moisture buildup between the floor and the laminate. I doubt that there is a vapor barrier under the garage floor. Under the house proper they generally do have one.

[Haliburton]

If you are applying epoxy in your basement, be cautious about ventilation when applying and possible sources of ignition (water heater/furnace).

[davec]

Many thanks for all your responses - this is very helpful. 

 

Dave

[Nirvana]

Depending on what you are to be doing besides modeling in the basement, linoleum carpet could be another option. Like scandinavian birch imitation.