Floor protection

[Shane Jimerfield]

Hello,

I'm likely moving into a new space soon. It will create a split shop situation for me. Machines in the garage, and hand tools and work bench in the studio. I mostly use hand tools, so this is ideal for me. I might bring the band saw into the studio as well - so I don't get lonely. Anyway, the studio has nice, fairly new oak flooring that I want to protect. I'll use some cushy mats throughout, but I'm thinking I should probably have a thinner, sturdier rubber like layer between the bench and floor (let's call it the sub-mat) to prevent skidding, and sliding of the bench. I would not want the sub-mat to stick excessively, or embed itself into the oak flooring (my bench is heavy, and receives a lot of shear force). Any ideas for such a product?

Here's a picture of the studio, so you can share in my excitement.

[Coop]

Dang dude! I forgot what the orig question was. You’re obviously not married ! Nice space. 

[Shane Jimerfield]

21 minutes ago, K Cooper said:

Dang dude! I forgot what the orig question was. You’re obviously not married ! Nice space. 

Nailed it - freshly single. ;-)

[Coop]

Now I have to show the wife and let her know what her options are! Nah, I’d probably be typing my next post from Motel 6. 

[lewisc]

Maybe something like this?  https://www.bunnings.com.au/ultimate-flooring-1200-x-1800-x-5mm-rubber-ute-mat_p6100432 

I imagine you could find something similar in the US.

[drzaius]

Interlocking rubber tiles would be great in that space. Run them right from wall to wall. The ones I'm thinking of are solid rubber & not too squishy so that heavy bench would be no problem.

[pkinneb]

5 hours ago, drzaius said:

Interlocking rubber tiles would be great in that space. Run them right from wall to wall. The ones I'm thinking of are solid rubber & not too squishy so that heavy bench would be no problem.

https://www.rubberflooringinc.com/interlocking-tile/8mm-strong-rubber-tile.html I have these in my shop. I don't have any equipment sitting on them but my roubo does and as you can see after more then a year no noticeable dent. FYI make sure you use a coupon code if you go this route they have 28% off a lot.

[G Ragatz]

5 hours ago, drzaius said:

Interlocking rubber tiles would be great in that space. Run them right from wall to wall. The ones I'm thinking of are solid rubber & not too squishy so that heavy bench would be no problem.

I see that type of flooring a lot in the weight room in gyms.  They stand up to some pretty heavy equipment with steel legs/feet, so I imagine it would work well in the studio.  Also will have a little bit of "give" to it, so might be easy on your back.

[Tom King]

Put brown "builders paper" down on a clean floor, then put whatever you want for flooring on top of that.  Whenever you take it up, the floor will be just like new.

We use it all the time in houses I work on.  Normally, we use Masonite type hardboard for a working surface, to protect whatever is underneath.

The important thing is to clean the floor good first.  Tape the paper joints together with cheap masking tape, but make sure to not let the masking tape stick to the floor underneath.  We just overlap the paper some, then tape.   Tape is not absolutely necessary, but it makes it easier to take it up without letting any dirt or dust go through to the floor.

If we are plastering, we'll put the paper down, then a layer of plastic, and then the hardboard on top.  That keeps any spilled water from going down to the floor.

You can buy the paper in the painting section at Lowes or Home Depot.

[Shane Jimerfield]

8 hours ago, pkinneb said:

https://www.rubberflooringinc.com/interlocking-tile/8mm-strong-rubber-tile.html I have these in my shop. I don't have any equipment sitting on them but my roubo does and as you can see after more then a year no noticeable dent. FYI make sure you use a coupon code if you go this route they have 28% off a lot.

 

 

Looks promising. How's the off gassing? I'm kind of sensitive to smells. I can't even go into a tire store, or Walmart for too long before I get nauseous.

[Shane Jimerfield]

BTW, they accepted my offer. We open escrow tomorrow. This is gonna be a nice shop space. I feel all giddy. 

I'll be able to work in the winter too and not have to worry so much about humidity messing with my projects!

[drzaius]

17 hours ago, Tom King said:

Put brown "builders paper" down on a clean floor, then put whatever you want for flooring on top of that.  Whenever you take it up, the floor will be just like new.

This would be a very good idea under that rubber. You never know if staining might transfer to the flooring over time.

[pkinneb]

15 hours ago, Shane Jimerfield said:

Looks promising. How's the off gassing? I'm kind of sensitive to smells. I can't even go into a tire store, or Walmart for too long before I get nauseous.

They definitely had a smell when I took them out of the box but it dissipated very quickly. The TSC rubber mats I recently cut up for my basement project smelled much worse but again dissipated within a week or so.

[AceHoleInOne]

15 hours ago, Shane Jimerfield said:

 How's the off gassing? I'm kind of sensitive to smells. 

Yea, I'm at that point in the relationship with the new girlfriend and an occasional off gas happens,  she must be sensitive to smells too. 

 

-Ace-

[wdwerker]

I'm convinced the women are just better at holding it in and waiting to go somewhere else. My horse stall mats took almost a month before the tire store smell dissipated.

[Pwk5017]

I’d look out for a gym or fitness center remodeling. The good quality rubber flooring is crazy expensive. I covered my basement using a few big 4’ rolls of it from a gym that was relocating. it’s 3/8-1/2” thick and very durable. I moved heavy machines all over it during my reorganization without ripping or tearing it. I think the felder is barely compressing it and that machine weighs 1500-1600lbs. Actually, probably closer to 1700lbs with the feeder on it. 

 

Would be a a shame to cover your entire floor though. I like the look of my rubber floor, but it doesn’t hold a candle to nicely finished hardwood. Awesome workspace. 

[Shane Jimerfield]

2 hours ago, Pwk5017 said:

I’d look out for a gym or fitness center remodeling. The good quality rubber flooring is crazy expensive. I covered my basement using a few big 4’ rolls of it from a gym that was relocating. it’s 3/8-1/2” thick and very durable. I moved heavy machines all over it during my reorganization without ripping or tearing it. I think the felder is barely compressing it and that machine weighs 1500-1600lbs. Actually, probably closer to 1700lbs with the feeder on it. 

Would be a a shame to cover your entire floor though. I like the look of my rubber floor, but it doesn’t hold a candle to nicely finished hardwood. Awesome workspace. 

Interesting idea, but I'm not sure if there are enough gyms within 200 miles to warrant that strategy, and I wouldn't even know how to monitor for such a thing.

Yes, i'd really rather not cover the floor, but seems prudent. I may just do under and around the bench. Not sure yet, I'll have to spend some time in there before I settle on just where things will go permanently.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks - I think I've got a good idea of what I should do.