Replies

1. 
   MCelona | May 05, 2003 05:16am | #1

   Jeff, go with the planks. Your use for this space may change, and if it does, you'll be ready for it. Good luck.

2. 
   nannie4annie | May 05, 2003 05:44am | #2

   Use 3/4" tongue and groove plywood and then use screws that can be removed later for a make over.

1. 
   RoyinMD | May 05, 2003 06:13am | #3

   I gotta vote plywood too, smooth surface makes all the difference in the world. No cracks for dust/dirt and no fumbles for casters. Solid wood is not as structurally sound inch by inch. Plywood and seal/paint it.

   Congrats on the new square footage! Everything helps, big time.

   Enjoy, Roy

3. 
   mrles | May 05, 2003 07:59am | #4

   Jeff

   I would use the solid wood, plywood has a habit of the top layer peeling up and you got a bad case of the uglies and it keeps on peeling. I had a shop built several years ago and the builder used 3/4" plywood on the floor. I overlaid it with 1X6" yellow pine V groove siding (V down of course). It's the best floor I've ever worked on. My shop now is concrete and when I do have the opportunity to be there over 6 hours my back tells me about it.

   Gods Peace

   les

1. 
   Jeff | May 05, 2003 03:39pm | #5

   OK

   So far vote is 2 plywood, 1 plank, 1 v groove.

   Hmmm, maybe we need more votes, opinions, and ideas.

   I have another week or 2 to decide what to order.

   Let's keep the ideas coming.

   Jeff

1. 
   forestgirl | May 05, 2003 06:08pm | #6

   Any of the above, with the interlocking rubber mats I've been raving about laid over the top.  I know, I know it's obsessive!!!  Sorry, couldn't resist.  They're just sooooo comfortable and sooooo inexpensive.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 02:06am | #8

   FG

   Right now I'm using some carpet on the floor.

   Got it free from a renovation (almost new and real plush).

   When it gone (or messed up real bad) I want to replace it with those

   mats we talked about.

   For now, the plywood votes are highest.

   Jeff

1. 
   forestgirl | May 06, 2003 05:12am | #11

   My mats reside on top of a 9'x12' area rug that's been in the shop for 3 or 4 years now (since before it actually became a shop).  That da^* thing was so hard to clean up sawdust and shavings from!!  The mats -- just wave the big vac hose over them and presto!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   mrles | May 06, 2003 04:51am | #10

   Jeff

   The most extreme floor I have ever seen was end grain 2"X4"'s. Back when newspapers used lead type the compositors (printers) had to stand to do all of their work, a 10 to 12 hour day was normal. A few of the larger shops around the country tried this, with good results. Blocks of 2"x4" standing on ends and I suppose glued in place made up the floor. I believe the Fort Worth Star Telegram in Fort Worth Texas was one of them. I worked for a small newspaper in East Texas we had 1" pine 12" to 14"wide loose in front of our stone (printer jargon for workbench), it helped. Our feet aren't too compatible with concrete for any length of time.

   Gods Peace

   les 

   Edited 5/6/2003 12:28:01 AM ET by les

1. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 03:37pm | #15

   Les

   They used to make Basketball courts that way.

   I don't think I want to go to that much trouble.

   Thanks

   Jeff

2. 
   SCFrankland | May 05, 2003 07:34pm | #7

   My buddy just finished building a dream shop that had a basement in the back and a crawl space in the front half.  The basement was used to store his DC and compressor and other tools that did not need to be seen to be used.  He laid 2x6 v-groove pine down groove up.  In his mind it would of made it look nicer????  Anyway once it was all finished it was a work of art until the first time he got sawdust on it and had to sweep it up.  Also the mobile bases very a pain in the a$$ to move around. 

   With that story told I have worked on 3/4" ply and have never had a problem with it.  It has never came apart like other people have mentioned.  My buddy is also planning to sheet over his shop with the stuff to fix the "made it look nicer" problem.Scott C. Frankland

1. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 02:08am | #9

   Scott

   So far the plywood vote is the highest.

   That's the way I'm leaning unless I get enough other ideas.

   Jeff

1. 
   PnCbWshp | May 06, 2003 05:29am | #13

   One more idea thats even better than plywood but with all the same benefits: its called Advantec tung and grove subflooring. Its 3/4 inch thick, tough as nails, water proof, stain resistant, non skid, looks natural, no laminations to come lose and costs about $20 per 4' x 8' sheet.

   I put it down over concrete in my 30' x 40' shop and did not even nail it together-just fit the tung and grove tight. I had in mind taking it up someday for who knows why. Its been a great floor, easy on the feet and I've never marred it dragging heavy machines over it.

   I got it at my local lumber yard and have seen it at home centers. Never more than $20 per sheet. How does that compare to 3/4" tung and grove plywood?

1. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 03:40pm | #16

   Mike

   Now that sounds interesting.

   Price sounds good also.

   I'll have to see if it's available up here.

   Thanks

   jeff

2. 
   mrles | May 06, 2003 05:19am | #12

   Scott

   I like stories like your V groove story, I have had a few of them myself. There is an old saying " sometime duck sometimes feathers" I've had my share of feathers in my mouth before.

   Gods Peace

   les 

1. 
   SCFrankland | May 06, 2003 05:38am | #14

   Les my buddy built a log home and the floor was pine with the v-groove facing down for the ceiling below.  But his plans for the ceiling call for another material to be used so he installed the v-groove up.  So with the left over material he built his shop also with the v-groove side up.  Now that he has two kids in the house there toys going over the v-groove to makes a noise that travels through out the house.  So far he is zero out of two on the flooring.Scott C. Frankland

1. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 03:43pm | #17

   Scott and all

   I think the plywood is leading the pack so far.

   The Advantic sheet is a good idea.

   No one seems to like my Planks.

   The T&G flooring seems second, but not as popular.

   Now were getting somewhere.

   Votes anyone?

   Jeff

2. 
   jc21 | May 06, 2003 04:06pm | #18

   A vote for pine planks installed with screws and plugs and Waterlox finish. Easy on the knees and back and will look great. If you had existing concrete I'd go for les' mill style floor.

3. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 09:42pm | #19

   JC

   I priced (in general) the cost to lay a concrete floor vs a wood floor (planks).

   The wood floor was half the cost for concrete.

   Then I planned to cover part of concrete with wood and part with carpet (have alot extra around) or mats and part with cabinets.

   The cost for wood won, as only a little will actually show.

   Now I only need opinions from the crew out there of which wood is best.

   Thanks

   Jeff