Man cave spruce up.

Mr Gazza · 02-07-2022, 06:09 PM

Man caves seem to be a popular topic on here at the moment and I have a question.

My chipboard floor has been down for over thirty years and looking sad.
The most recent occupant has been a bit incontinent at times and the floor is spotted with numerous oil spills and looks terrible.
So I was wondering if there is a way to soak out the oil? maybe with cement dust or cat litter or something?
I'm also thinking it would be nice to put some floor paint down, but not sure if it will be any good over the oil spots though? Is there a paint that will cover?

Cheers.

02-07-2022, 07:32 PM

How about the interlocking tile Gazza? , Halfords have them on offer from time to time, like below, not mine by the way

CC0D8456-393A-4CA0-9E34-3A7548844545 by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

Pedro · 02-07-2022, 07:51 PM

No paint will stick to anything oily pointless trying.

If the chipboard is sound, then cheap laminate flooring works well. I have it in my workshop, it’s spill resistant (petrol, coolant, oil and a few other nastys) if you mop up promptly, easy to keep clean and paddock stands roll around easily.

Jez900ie · 02-07-2022, 08:19 PM

Chipboard? Can you turn it over so the other side is paintable?

Jam911 · 02-07-2022, 08:39 PM

I would put some cardboard box on the oil patches and leave it to soak in ...then paint over with Screwfix floor paint that is oil based and that should sort it all out

utopia · 02-07-2022, 09:50 PM

On the interlocking tiles ....
There may be different types available but I have experience of the ones which are made of dense foam.
I was given some of these and put them down in my bike garage.
They are too soft and the weight of the bikes caused them to compress dramatically under the contact point of both the tyres and the sidestands (and also any paddock stands etc).
They did kinda recover but only very slowly and not completely.
I ended up covering them over with sheets of hardwood-faced plywood (not particularly by choice but because I had a couple of 8x4 sheets hanging around.
Maybe there are denser, more rigid versions to be had though.

mickj · 03-07-2022, 08:14 AM

I used screwfix floor paint on my garage floor, I put two coats on it ant it's lasting quite well so far.

Mr Gazza · 03-07-2022, 08:51 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not into nailing anything else on top especially plastic.
It's moisture resistant interlocking caber floor, nailed onto double floor joists, so aint coming up or turning over anytime soon.

I might try some cement powder and then give it a wash. The Screwfix paint was my first thoughts, so might splash some of that on... How hard can it be??

slob · 03-07-2022, 09:20 AM

we used cat litter in the first shop i worked in.

remember to work back TOWARDS THE DOOR when painting!

Mr Gazza · 03-07-2022, 09:48 AM

Doh! I never thought of that!

350TSS · 03-07-2022, 01:03 PM

Do not be tempted by the brand that says "it does what it says on the tin" with a banner on the tin "Diamond Hard". I was and regretted paying top dollar for something which despite sealing the concrete base first lasted less than 6 months.
The most painful part of the job is clearing everything out first then putting it all back again.
I am slowly refinishing the floor in patches as I clear 2 sq metres at a time. I used Leyland Paints floor paint which seems to work quite well and has retained adhesion and finish, unlike the original.
PS the brushes have to be regarded as consumable

02-07-2022, 06:09 PM	#1
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,790	Man cave spruce up. Man caves seem to be a popular topic on here at the moment and I have a question. My chipboard floor has been down for over thirty years and looking sad. The most recent occupant has been a bit incontinent at times and the floor is spotted with numerous oil spills and looks terrible. So I was wondering if there is a way to soak out the oil? maybe with cement dust or cat litter or something? I'm also thinking it would be nice to put some floor paint down, but not sure if it will be any good over the oil spots though? Is there a paint that will cover? Cheers. __________________

02-07-2022, 07:51 PM	#3
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	No paint will stick to anything oily pointless trying. If the chipboard is sound, then cheap laminate flooring works well. I have it in my workshop, it’s spill resistant (petrol, coolant, oil and a few other nastys) if you mop up promptly, easy to keep clean and paddock stands roll around easily. __________________ M900 - 1993! Monster 1200R!

02-07-2022, 08:19 PM	#4
Jez900ie Pleasantly surprised! Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Stoke on Trent Bike: M900ie Posts: 780	Chipboard? Can you turn it over so the other side is paintable? __________________ Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed

03-07-2022, 08:14 AM	#7
mickj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Clevedon Bike: M1200s Posts: 552	I used screwfix floor paint on my garage floor, I put two coats on it ant it's lasting quite well so far. __________________ Keep the rubber side down. Mick

03-07-2022, 08:51 AM	#8
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,790	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not into nailing anything else on top especially plastic. It's moisture resistant interlocking caber floor, nailed onto double floor joists, so aint coming up or turning over anytime soon. I might try some cement powder and then give it a wash. The Screwfix paint was my first thoughts, so might splash some of that on... How hard can it be?? __________________

02-07-2022, 07:32 PM	#2
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	How about the interlocking tile Gazza? , Halfords have them on offer from time to time, like below, not mine by the way CC0D8456-393A-4CA0-9E34-3A7548844545 by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

02-07-2022, 08:39 PM	#5
Jam911 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Stratford Upon Avon Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 288	I would put some cardboard box on the oil patches and leave it to soak in ...then paint over with Screwfix floor paint that is oil based and that should sort it all out

02-07-2022, 09:50 PM	#6
utopia No turn left unstoned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: leicester Bike: M750 Posts: 4,545	On the interlocking tiles .... There may be different types available but I have experience of the ones which are made of dense foam. I was given some of these and put them down in my bike garage. They are too soft and the weight of the bikes caused them to compress dramatically under the contact point of both the tyres and the sidestands (and also any paddock stands etc). They did kinda recover but only very slowly and not completely. I ended up covering them over with sheets of hardwood-faced plywood (not particularly by choice but because I had a couple of 8x4 sheets hanging around. Maybe there are denser, more rigid versions to be had though.

03-07-2022, 09:20 AM	#9
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,707	we used cat litter in the first shop i worked in. remember to work back TOWARDS THE DOOR when painting!

03-07-2022, 09:48 AM	#10
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,790	Doh! I never thought of that! __________________ Last edited by Mr Gazza; 03-07-2022 at 09:50 AM..

03-07-2022, 01:03 PM	#11
350TSS Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Shipbourne Bike: M900 Posts: 1,419	Do not be tempted by the brand that says "it does what it says on the tin" with a banner on the tin "Diamond Hard". I was and regretted paying top dollar for something which despite sealing the concrete base first lasted less than 6 months. The most painful part of the job is clearing everything out first then putting it all back again. I am slowly refinishing the floor in patches as I clear 2 sq metres at a time. I used Leyland Paints floor paint which seems to work quite well and has retained adhesion and finish, unlike the original. PS the brushes have to be regarded as consumable

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