Len Lopez wrote:

I am building a new house. The rough in for the shop (450 sq ft) is 3/4
ply glued and screwed to 12 inch TGI joists. I have been looking for
material for the floor. One thought is "car siding". If you turn it
over it is a flat surface. However, underneath, the joints have a thin
spot where the tongue and groove meet.

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I am skeptical of this ...

Why? It's supported and only 1/8" or so...

...plus the fact that the wood is pine and may be a
bit soft for a shop.

That's an advantage, actually, imo. It isn't that soft other than a
few dents and dings and things that invariably get dropped aren't nearly
so badly damaged...

...My only other alternative seems to be a #2 or #3
oak plank flooring. The remainder of the house will be oak F&S.

Why is that the only other alternative? There are all kinds of siding
and flooring in many other profiles.

I'd consider 6" ship-lap as one alternative. It can be had in fir,
white or yellow pine, cypress, ... For such application, I'm partial to
the yellow pine as being a little harder than white yet reasonably
inexpensive.


Has anybody out there used something different with success (that
doesn't break the bank).

See above...or, of course, many simply use the ply for a shop.