Thread: New worksop floor required....some ideas and comments if you would please

Bret have you considered ripping it all up and laying concrete or new floor totally? What a lift it would give to the place

A couple of years ago I considered that Ray, but it would substantially more expensive and somewhat difficult to achieve with a barn full of stuff that would all have to come out at once. I would prefer to work with what I have the beginnings of already if I can

Another GtG could resolve that in a day

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

A couple of years ago I considered that Ray, but it would substantially more expensive and somewhat difficult to achieve with a barn full of stuff that would all have to come out at once. I would prefer to work with what I have the beginnings of already if I can

As much as I sympathies with your thinking, it is false economy.
Bite the bullet, strip it out and concrete it.

Yairrss, well that thought had seen some oxygen.....

In fact, the day before the last one I was looking forward seeing to no less than 50 competent forearms - all at my place at the same time.....

rw, the thing is that I'm not sure how long I'll be here for (rental property).

Perhaps with void filling concrete, cement sheet and then MDF it's a bit of overkill - the bench/thicky aren't that heavy.

Maybe just a single sheet of thicker MDF (25 or 32mm)with plastic under it, and forget the concrete/cement?

What about moving everything to one side and laying down a sheet or two yellow tongue flooring right over the existing mdf etc (maybe similar width strips of plastic first), then put all your stuff on top of those sheets and lay the rest ? Saves moving everything out.

Flooring chipboard is good because it comes in long lengths, is fairly cheap and the tongue & groove should provide a smooth transition over the joints. I think there's commerical grade chip board flooring around 32mm thick that would support your bench well. People often apply a finish to it and say it looks like a cork floor.

Maybe we need more shots of your shed to decide *cough sticky beak cough*

Sam

Plenty of shots of Brett's shed in other posts. this one for starters https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/s...chappy-157779/

I agree with Sam, in a rental, rip up the old flooring and replace it with yellow tongue. Cheap, strong and should last till you move out. If you are worried about it supporting the machines, do two layers. I'm not sure about plastic directly under the flooring as that would retain moisture against the floor. You may be better off leaving it out but we need advice from someone who actually knows what they're talking about

Brett, Brett, Brett,
You had the perfect opportunity......
My recommendation would be to lay down the plastic sheet straight on top of what is there then yellow tongue on top of that. As you say you are renting so to go to a lot of trouble and expense is counter productive. May be run a straight edge over the floor to see just how flat it is first. You could always check to see how level it is but it seemed OK when we were there but the straight edge would give you an idea where to pack. (May only need 3mm MDF here and there. They can sometimes be got from the timber supplier as packing sheets)
By doing it that way you will have sufficient support for what ever you get up to in your studio/shed.
Alternatively we could have a whip around for you and see how much can be raised for a new but transportable shed that will go to where ever your next address is.
Key thoughts.... conserve $$$ and conserve effort.
(Different strategy when its on your own place)

Thank you all for your replies chaps.

The idea of laying another bunch of sheets onto existing is pretty appealing actually. I've just checked a couple of spots where I know damn well there are variations. Rod, you were suggesting 3mm MDF packing. Don't make me laugh - there is a 10mm drop within 700m in front of the main bench

Of course, I can pack it all up to get it fairly uniform. Just might need something a little thicker than 3mm, and step it up with not to large a space between the steps (so that the new layer has enough support.

For checking larger lengths of flatness, how do you reckon one of these would go, remembering that it's only a floor. Cheap enough, and after all, it is what's used for concreting (assuming pretty flat).

Tony, I think I would be inclined to lay down plastic sheets because if moisture can get underneath the top layer then surely that little bit can get back out the way it came?

Sam, with the yellow tongue flooring, how does it go for abrasion as I slide things around on it? Just thinking about it doing the usual chipboard thing of falling apart if I look at it crossly.

Brett, the green tongue (cheaper than yellow tongue) I have in my garden shed has been down about two years and so far so good. It's appears to be either more tightly packed or higher grade than run of the mill chipboard. The gouge factor will be similar to the mdf you already have.

Do I need to declare I have no affiliation with any color tongue flooring company although I'm open to offers.......

Sam

Brett

As this is a rental property I would just consider the yellow tongue option right over the top of existing flooring and once it get scuffed up replace it.

Being a rental property, the option is yellow tongue flooring straight over the top.

Have a look at this Demtech Australia | Floor Leveller (SG40 / HT50)


Level the floor, then put your sheet flooring down and seal with a good resin coating

Ah Brett, the 3mm can be .....stacked to get to the necessary height. Straight edge.....you only need a piece of say 75 X 25 timber that could be "nearly straight" .
remember key thoughts....conserve $$$ conserve
effort.
I would identify the low areas and then, only roughly, cut appropriate shapes from the 3mm until you get to reasonably level. Remember the 22mm yellow tongue wil easily span some hollows. The surface is highly compacted and the glue they use has a guarantee of being able to stand the elements for 3 months. Think you will be happy with the way the yellow tongue performs.