Best flooring in fishroom/Rec room

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Wow, so many cool ideas! You guys have some great looking rooms that your tanks are in. I feel my fishroom/lounge looks so - er - unrefined comparatively

Heretik said:
This! Your already have the best floor for the tanks just nee to spice it up. I used to be a cement finisher by trade, acid stain and epoxy coating were very popular with my clients for indoor applications. Wish i had some pictures on my phone for reference but like mentioned a quick google search will bring you to where you need to be.


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I am really interested in stain, but I am curious - can I stain over paint? The poured concrete floor has been painted - a couple different colors actually (its a 70 year old house), and I think it would be a ton of work to get the paint off. Also, is there a possibility that I could stain the room in pieces? I don't really want to move my big tanks that are already in place, but could I do the staining around them, but save the extra stain to get underneath them at a later time?
 
Quo Vadis said:
Wow, so many cool ideas! You guys have some great looking rooms that your tanks are in. I feel my fishroom/lounge looks so - er - unrefined comparatively




I am really interested in stain, but I am curious - can I stain over paint? The poured concrete floor has been painted - a couple different colors actually (its a 70 year old house), and I think it would be a ton of work to get the paint off. Also, is there a possibility that I could stain the room in pieces? I don't really want to move my big tanks that are already in place, but could I do the staining around them, but save the extra stain to get underneath them at a later time?
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You can, and should rent a concrete grinder for a floor that old if you plan on doing anything besides putting more paint on. It is like a floor polisher, but with a diamond pad. Makes for a nice smooth floor that will go beyond any stains.
 
Quo Vadis said:
Wow, so many cool ideas! You guys have some great looking rooms that your tanks are in. I feel my fishroom/lounge looks so - er - unrefined comparatively




I am really interested in stain, but I am curious - can I stain over paint? The poured concrete floor has been painted - a couple different colors actually (its a 70 year old house), and I think it would be a ton of work to get the paint off. Also, is there a possibility that I could stain the room in pieces? I don't really want to move my big tanks that are already in place, but could I do the staining around them, but save the extra stain to get underneath them at a later time?
Click to expand...

The problem with acid stain is that the paint is very opaque and needs a very clean surface when applying. It is unfortunate that your concrete is painted....your looking at two options imho. Either you rent a concrete scaler or at best get a 9inch angle grinder with a concrete diamond blade to grind down the surface.

Method one is a machine that you push and it grinds the surface at a set depth. Problem with this method is the concrete usually turns out rough, thus requiring a thin layer of self leveling mortar to even out the surface. The mortar can easily be applied with a floor squeegee. This would be my preferred method as it is more efficient time wise and allows me to work on a level surface.

Method two would require the grinder and some real knee pads, as well as a good respirator. You will want to look into getting a duster on top of the grinder to prevent silica dust buildup. Believe me this stuff accumulates fast and is very bad for your lungs when inhaled(concrete dust hardens in your lungs and remains there due to moisture etc). The duster attaches to a vacuum to prevent this. The grinder if polished correctly and evenly will produce an exposed aggregate look which i like a lot.

You can do the room in sections but keep in mind the whole floor will need to be sealed with a concrete sealer in order to protect the paint.

All in all since its painted, you are probably going to end up doing a lot more than you would like. Imho, your better off tiling. Its very easy to do just watch a couple you tube videos and you'll be able to do it.


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Be careful grinding a basement in a house that old It may be painted because it was water proofed. You grind of that asphalt like coating and your dry basement may become a new aquarium.
 
I'm looking into a rubber/vinyl interlocking tile that will let the spilled water drain off. After having my foundation crack and having to remove carpet and wood flooring, along with drywall. Plus with the tanks down their I cannot remove the old adhesive w/o evacuating my home this looks to be the ticket. Something similar too:

http://www.swisstrax.com/ribtrax-garage-tile.php
 
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