Woodworking in the garage has many challenges, space and lack of airflow are two at the top of my list. Another is cleanup. There’s not too much that can be done about space, and I’m stuck with the airflow situation. But cleanup is something that I’m finally getting under control. For example, all the large power tools are mobile, as is the workbench and tool storage. That allows for the garage floor to be swept from one end to the other.
The floor is divided into four sections due the expansion joints, so although not the worst of problems, it is annoying when the debris gets into the cracks. So usually each section swept individually. Not a huge deal, been doing it for a very long time, but it is an annoyance.
One day at work, I noticed the maintenance department using Sikaflex self-leveling sealant on the expansion joints on the shop floor area of a new building we recently acquired. They used quite a lot, since it’s a 30k ft. space, but it installed easily enough and the cost is not unreasonable. I thought I would give it try.
Home Depot has the product in two sizes and two colors. A couple large tubes and one small tube of the grey was needed to complete the floor in this two car garage. The installation was simple, as previously mentioned, but there are a couple precautions. First, make sure the joints are completely cleaned out. A screwdriver and vacuum were used, the driver needed to dislodge dirt and old sawdust that was stuck deep down where the broom was not reaching. And although this product comes in a tube that looks like caulk, it’s not. It comes out much runnier, more like syrup, which is necessary for the self-leveling to work.
Fast-forward a few months: It does indeed make sweeping out the garage much easier and a bonus is that the mobile tools and workbench roll around easier too.
Here are a couple “after” shot, the cars tires and tools seem to have no effect at all. We’ll see what a winter of snow, water and salt do to it.