Shop Flooring Materials

[architect]

Anyone finish their workshop (garage/auxiliary/basement) floors in any particular ways other than bare concrete?

What were your thoughts or motivation to do something a bit extra, like sealing the concrete or even finishing with vinyl/wood tile in case of basement?

In particular, anyone use rubber floor tiles like these from PA? https://www.princessauto.com/en/6-pk-utility-interlocking-rubber-floor-tiles/product/PA0008656746

Trying to decide what to do with some of my own spaces.

 

[djberta]

I use the rubber floor tiles it helps with fatigue. But only in the working spaces around machines.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I have these perforated rubber mats from PA in front of my machines, but If I had more space, I'd go with duck boards. WAY more comfortable to stand on.... I would be hesitant to get too fancy with flooring in my shop, as it get's harder to pull up and clean. The individual mats are easy to pull up and sweep under. I think the rubber floor tiles would be harder to do so. I also prefer the perforated ones, so that chips fall through the holes, and leave you standing on rubber. Solid rubber Horse mats can embed with chips, or the chips stay on top, and embed into the soles of your boots.

 

[ChazzC]

I have these perforated rubber mats from PA in front of my machines, but If I had more space, I'd go with duck boards. WAY more comfortable to stand on.... I would be hesitant to get too fancy with flooring in my shop, as it get's harder to pull up and clean. The individual mats are easy to pull up and sweep under. I think the rubber floor tiles would be harder to do so. I also prefer the perforated ones, so that chips fall through the holes, and leave you standing on rubber. Solid rubber Horse mats can embed with chips, or the chips stay on top, and embed into the soles of your boots.

I had these in front of machines 20 years ago: they are chip/dirt/you name it catchers and are a pain to pick up so you can sweep up under them (can’t vacuum everything out during to the construction.

I now use these:

Crown Mats Beveled-Edge Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat - 2' x 5' - Pebble | Woodcraft

Buy the Beveled-Edge Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat - 2' x 5' - Pebble for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!

www.woodcraft.com

But these are similar and currently on sale:

WoodRiver Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat - 2' x 5' | Woodcraft

Buy the Anti-Fatigue Floor Mat - 2' x 5' for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!

www.woodcraft.com

They are easy on the feet and the surface sweeps & vacuums well.

 

[Ironman]

As I do welding in my shop, I'm happy with concrete. In the machine shop, wood is easy to sweep up the swarf on it.

 

[Elektrishun]

Anyone finish their workshop (garage/auxiliary/basement) floors in any particular ways other than bare concrete?

What were your thoughts or motivation to do something a bit extra, like sealing the concrete or even finishing with vinyl/wood tile in case of basement?

In particular, anyone use rubber floor tiles like these from PA? https://www.princessauto.com/en/6-pk-utility-interlocking-rubber-floor-tiles/product/PA0008656746

Trying to decide what to do with some of my own spaces.

For a basement my only concern about using those interlocking rubber mats over a large area is the possibility of moisture getting trapped beneath and the development of mold.

 

[architect]

For a basement my only concern about using those interlocking rubber mats over a large area is the possibility of moisture getting trapped beneath and the development of mold.

I have a finished floor in the basement with cheap engineering hardwood. Been getting lots of scartches and dents using the larger room as my workshop, so thought about maybe layering down some rubber (mostly because of family complaints).

 

[Hruul]

if your covering existing flooring, would the construction floor saver (ram board comes to mind) work for you?

 

[TorontoBuilder]

For a basement my only concern about using those interlocking rubber mats over a large area is the possibility of moisture getting trapped beneath and the development of mold.

Float a floor that has air gap, install rubber antifatigue matting above. leave gap at perimeter.

Now there are many choices for floating floor system. I like SM backed OSB board where the foam is grooved to allow airflow under the floor.

Standing on concrete sucks.

My friend with a wood shop elevated his floor so he could run hydronic heating and dust extraction both under the floor. But he can't install a heavy mill or lathe on it without a redesign

 

[whydontu]

I'm really, really cheap. Crappy dollar store 24"x24" EVA foam floor tiles, in bright collars. Eighteen for $24 at Amazon. Soft enough to stand on for hours, hot chips melt in to them and stay there, easy to remove to vacuum up sawdust, and when they wear out I go buy new ones. Also good in the kitchen for SWMBO for when she's doing heavy-duty baking, greatly reduces the strain on her back from standing on a hard floor for hours.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

I'm really, really cheap. Crappy dollar store 24"x24" EVA foam floor tiles, in bright collars. Eighteen for $24 at Amazon. Soft enough to stand on for hours, hot chips melt in to them and stay there, easy to remove to vacuum up sawdust, and when they wear out I go buy new ones. Also good in the kitchen for SWMBO for when she's doing heavy-duty baking, greatly reduces the strain on her back from standing on a hard floor for hours.

View attachment 58840

swarf cuts right into those and become embedded so badly it is hard to extract it. Ask me how I know..

 

[whydontu]

swarf cuts right into those and become embedded so badly it is hard to extract it. Ask me how I know..

Agreed. But in my shop, they last a couple of years before I'm annoyed enough to replace them. Small, low HP machines and mostly work in aluminum or cast iron, so soft or fine swarf. YMMV.

Used to work with an old-school machinist who used duck boards. Shop was in a shed at a low-end shipyard near the Fraser River. Had a dirt floor under the duck boards. And feral cats who scrambled into his shop when he had the shop doors open. Heady aroma of cigarette smoke, hot steel, rancid cutting oil, sweat, and gallons of cat poop imbedded in the duck boards. I actually like the aroma, except maybe the cat poop aspect.

 

[thestelster]

I used https://www.princessauto.com/en/sea...Nrpp=50&Rdm=128&searchType=simple&type=search

It works great. But it started to curl at the ends, so I ended up crazy gluing the ends down. Right onto the concrete! Who knew?? I also made a small portable wooden platform to stand on when working on the lathe.

 

[Megar arc 5040dd]

I have vinyl tile on my shop floor got it all on clearance from Rona when I was building the shop. My shop floor is wood so I wanted something to protect the plywood. Only issue I have is I think they sold me the wrong glue. I have had many tile where the glue just let go and the tile popped out. Now those ones are held down with gravity. Also in front of all the machines and work bench I have thick rubber mats from Costco. they are great for the back but heavy and awkward to pick up to clean around. The lathe and mill share a rubber mat with holes in it. It's a bit more cushy to stand on but wow does it ever collect chips and dirt fast.

 

[Lucky7]

Duck boards in front of machines. 3/8” thick cork tiles in front of workbench. Easy cleanup, nice for the back and knees, and best of all, free. Well, for me at least- previous neighbor covered her entire driveway with these instead of fixing or replacing the concrete. New neighbor used most for his workshop, but still plenty left over for me. Yup, he’s a good neighbor!

 

[Greywynd]

Have concrete in mine, and in front of the mill where I do most of my standing, I have a chunk of used conveyor belt, likely about 3x5’. At the last place I also had some of the OSB ‘tiles’ with SM on the bottom. Helped take the chill off of a cold concrete floor, the wood mostly resisted chips, and it was leftovers from a house reno, so free. They just didn’t make the move in the end.