[sdbob]

I'm FINALLY $$$$ putting in new concrete floor in my new 30x60 garage. I'm using 4000 psi non air concrete with fibre. I'm letting it cure 28 days,been hosing it down with water. Now the question my 2 engine cranes I built welded 55 yrs ago heavy duty from hd tubing.ive picked up diesel engines with the one, the wheels are steel 4" should I replace them with rubber or some other material. Or I'm I just thinking to much about floor damage? Concrete from very good source. Tech very good as I was the inspector there for 15 yrs. No price break for me.

[tempest1964]

I know the forklifts that were used in my 48 years of factory work all had steel wheels with bonded rubber. I can’t see why rubber bonded steel wheels would hurt anything. And it would definitely add to the longevity of your new concrete!

[steve25]

Use rubber or nylon bonded.

The edges of even wide steel wheels will impart very small cracks over time when moving the wheels due to steering motions.
That then is the start of bigger cracks and gouges.


Best to avoid it all together even if after 5 years you need to replace the wheels again.

McMaster Carr has about the best selection of wheels and rollers you will find.

[sdbob]

Thanks guys. Now it's my floor I started worrying. About the 'cracking'. I've used my cranes on others floors and where we use to live on an 1950s concrete floor. Thanks again guys. Finishing and concrete, for 32 yds about 10k. I use to finish concrete only when I needed too at 78 I cant. I can eat and drink though and !!!! So I'm ok with that.

[ponjohn]

For lifts etc the spec is 6" thick with rebar and 4000 lb.

[sdbob]

Challenger in their recommendations said 4 " of 3500 psi. Mine is 'exactly' 5 " ASTM approved stone subbase compacted. 4000 psi (stone is around LA abrasion 19) with fibre. Tire shop I hang out at just put in12000 2 post lift for bigger 1 ton trucks new floor was 5" thick recommended by Challenger. No problems.

[67Lemons]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

For lifts etc the spec is 6" thick with rebar and 4000 lb.

Rotary Lift spec is 4-1/4” with the recommended Hilti Kwik bolts, 5” with the old Hilti Kwik and epoxy. Most installers are comfortable with 4-1/2”-5” of old concrete and 4-1/4 of new reinforced concrete.

[grivera]

I went 6” 4k psi with rebar for my Weaver 2 post lift.

[sdbob]

I talked to a Portland cement engineer years ago when we had a problem with concrete. He said if you could make the underneath as smooth as the top you would have less chance of cracks. My point we put wire and rods(old school) in our concrete. Now I'm thinking the fibre is as good . The other thought is if you do not get the wire or rods centered properly, use stands, and solidly around the steel there can be voids underneath
that can promote cracking.

[NeighborsComplaint]

You need to change the wheels to rubber or urethane.

While the fibermesh admixture sounds good on paper, It imparts a more porous texture to the concrete surface as water rises through evaporation during curing and tufts of fiber accumulate right under the surface. Some floors will take on the appearance of "whiskers" from the fibermesh tufts standing on-wnd at the surface.

Under concentrate hard-wheeled loads, the concrete surface spalls prematurely. I learned this after retrofitting an existing building that had fibermesh floors. We had to go to softer durometer load wheels on our narrow aisle trucks to reduce the spalling at the expense of more frequent wheel replacement.

I used to build Industrial warehouses (2.5Million square foot over my 10 year career) that used extensive storage racking and narrow aisle (double reach) forklift eguipment. The forklifts utilized outriggers for counterbalance with small 3" diameter caster wheels that placed heavy concentrated loads on the floor.. The floors were all 6" thickness, 4,000psi Concrete (6 bag mix and low slump) with welded wire reinforcement and rebar at all construction joints. I also treated the floors with a silicate hardener (Lapidilith) following curing in lieu of a sealer.

Lapidith is absorbed into the concrete and self-polishes to a high-gloss from wheeled traffic. It makes the surface so dense fluids do not penetrate and just bead up. Your BIgBox retailers have all adopted the same system. You never have to strip and reseal, which cannot be done in a food warehouse (fumes) or a retail setting.