I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor.
I can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

On 9/5/2010 11:50 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

OSB floor? Is this a kit shed sitting on blocks or something? Will you
be able to keep the floor dry? (On both sides)

OSB is a lousy material for the wear layer on a floor. If this OSB is
above dirt, you don't want anything on top that will trap moisture in
there, like paint or anything. But being a wood shop, anything with hole
will of course clog up with sawdust.

I'd probably go with a layer of sleepers, and some sort of plywood or
other decking, with air slots around the edges. I'd also make it in
sections, so I can pull it up easily for repairs to both layers. If that
would be a budget-breaker, I'd hunt around for some used industrial
matting, the kind with the holes, to lay over the main traffic paths, to
slow down the OSB turning back into sawdust and wood chips.

Now if this is an area that will always be dry, I'd just deck it over
with real plywood (even the thin stuff kitchen floor installers use to
even things out) or whatever is cheap, assuming that would not get you
too close to the load limit for the floor once you move your tools in.
Laminate, if you can find a closeout sale, is pretty durable, and not
that heavy, but the look of it would irritate me every time I went in
there. I'd rather lay a vinyl remnant out like a carpet.

You're not the guy who was moving his shop into the 'bonus room' over
the garage, are you?

--
aem sends...

On Sep 5, 10:50*am, Jeff Thies wrote:
* *I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

* *It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor.
I can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

* *Suggestions?

* *Jeff

Hard to beat plain vinyl flooring, either tile or sheet goods. Plywood
would be a better subfloor choice in many cases. It could stand the
weight of a Powermatic cabinet saw a lot better, for example.

Joe

On Sep 5, 8:50*am, Jeff Thies wrote:
* *I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

* *It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor.
I can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

* *Suggestions?

* *Jeff

OSB alone (either painted or stained) isn't a great wear surface for a
floor.

How hardcore is your wood shop? Small / medium sized machinery or
some wood working monsters?

Per APA (American Plywood Association ) plywood & OSB (apples to
apples products) are meant to perform equally.
Years ago I wasn't a huge OSB fan but the stuff has performed very
well in all applications I've used it in.
It doesn't have the real world water resistance that plywood has but
interior wood isn't supposed to get flooded.

What is spacing on your floor joists? Don't skimp on the OSB
thickness.

To address your original question, I would suggest covering the OSB
with the cheapest thickest solid hardwood you can find via Lumber
Liquidators or Craigslist.
A rough sand & a sealer / strain and you've got a durable working
floor.

May not be the prettiest solution but it will definitely do the the
job.

cheers
Bob

"Jeff Thies" wrote in message
...
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

I'd go with the laminate at that price. OSB, no matter what paint you use,
is not going to clean up as easily as a smooth surface.

On 9/5/2010 12:48 PM, aemeijers wrote:

On 9/5/2010 11:50 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

OSB floor? Is this a kit shed sitting on blocks or something? Will you
be able to keep the floor dry? (On both sides)

OSB is a lousy material for the wear layer on a floor. If this OSB is
above dirt, you don't want anything on top that will trap moisture in
there, like paint or anything. But being a wood shop, anything with hole
will of course clog up with sawdust.

To all, I haven't built this yet, so adjustments are possible.

This would be built like a deck on deck blocks with joists on 16"
centers, red clay underneath. The main tool I have is a RAS.

The deck will be 8' x 16' with about a 6' concrete slab on one side (14'
x 16' total). Roof is steel, two of the walls are the house walls and
one is cedar I put up long ago. The remaining wall will have to be
built. It may wind up being something like Suntuf polycarbonate with a
flap to pass out long lumber or plywood. The room will breath but be
sheltered.

What I thought I would do is staple 6 mil plastic on the joists (or
perhaps on the ground) and lay the OSB on that. If I were to do the
laminate (as it's cheap and flat) I think I would need a vapor barrier
between that and the 3/4" OSB.

I'd probably go with a layer of sleepers, and some sort of plywood or
other decking, with air slots around the edges. I'd also make it in
sections, so I can pull it up easily for repairs to both layers.


That make sense.
If that
would be a budget-breaker, I'd hunt around for some used industrial
matting, the kind with the holes, to lay over the main traffic paths, to
slow down the OSB turning back into sawdust and wood chips.

Now if this is an area that will always be dry, I'd just deck it over
with real plywood (even the thin stuff kitchen floor installers use to
even things out)

I've been looking for that. How do they level that out, lay it on shims?
I bought some 3/8' AC that wound up being CDX when I got it home. I
think I have some recycled 1/4" birch. I'm redoing the kitchen, a friend
has fixed the plaster, I thought I would level the floor where the
fridge is and when I built the "pedestal" the base cabinets sit on, I
would cut that so the cabinets were level. I see some base cabinets
(IKEA) have screw legs for the toe kick, how do they keep from getting
crap under them?


or whatever is cheap, assuming that would not get you
too close to the load limit for the floor once you move your tools in.
Laminate, if you can find a closeout sale, is pretty durable, and not
that heavy, but the look of it would irritate me every time I went in
there. I'd rather lay a vinyl remnant out like a carpet.

You're not the guy who was moving his shop into the 'bonus room' over
the garage, are you?

Nope. I'm moving out of a similar sized poured concrete basement room
with 6' headroom, I'm 6'6".

Thanks to all. Still thinking this through...

Jeff

On 9/6/2010 12:08 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
On 9/5/2010 12:48 PM, aemeijers wrote:

On 9/5/2010 11:50 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

OSB floor? Is this a kit shed sitting on blocks or something? Will you
be able to keep the floor dry? (On both sides)

OSB is a lousy material for the wear layer on a floor. If this OSB is
above dirt, you don't want anything on top that will trap moisture in
there, like paint or anything. But being a wood shop, anything with hole
will of course clog up with sawdust.

To all, I haven't built this yet, so adjustments are possible.

This would be built like a deck on deck blocks with joists on 16"
centers, red clay underneath. The main tool I have is a RAS.

The deck will be 8' x 16' with about a 6' concrete slab on one side (14'
x 16' total).

Just for giggles, I'd price out the cost of extending the slab. May be
cheaper than you think, especially if you do the prep work and dig the
footers.

--
aem sends...

aemeijers wrote:

On 9/6/2010 12:08 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
-snip

The deck will be 8' x 16' with about a 6' concrete slab on one side (14'
x 16' total).

Just for giggles, I'd price out the cost of extending the slab. May be
cheaper than you think, especially if you do the prep work and dig the
footers.

Amen! Make the whole floor a single floating slab and use rubber
mats where you'll be standing.

Jim

On 9/6/2010 5:06 AM, aemeijers wrote:
On 9/6/2010 12:08 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
On 9/5/2010 12:48 PM, aemeijers wrote:

On 9/5/2010 11:50 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

OSB floor? Is this a kit shed sitting on blocks or something? Will you
be able to keep the floor dry? (On both sides)

OSB is a lousy material for the wear layer on a floor. If this OSB is
above dirt, you don't want anything on top that will trap moisture in
there, like paint or anything. But being a wood shop, anything with hole
will of course clog up with sawdust.

To all, I haven't built this yet, so adjustments are possible.

This would be built like a deck on deck blocks with joists on 16"
centers, red clay underneath. The main tool I have is a RAS.

The deck will be 8' x 16' with about a 6' concrete slab on one side (14'
x 16' total).

Just for giggles, I'd price out the cost of extending the slab. May be
cheaper than you think, especially if you do the prep work and dig the
footers.

I have someone that wants to do it. I really want a level surface and
don't think he is up to leveling the slab, the existing slab isn't level
anyways.

Got access to a small mixer and it could just be mixed Jamaican style
on the existing walkway/slab.

Jeff

On 9/6/2010 8:00 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
On 9/6/2010 5:06 AM, aemeijers wrote:
On 9/6/2010 12:08 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
On 9/5/2010 12:48 PM, aemeijers wrote:

On 9/5/2010 11:50 AM, Jeff Thies wrote:
I'm moving my "wood shop" into a new covered space. The floor will be
OSB.

It seems to me that I have options on the treatment of the OSB
floor. I
can stain/paint it or cover it with something else. Some laminates are
very cheap.

http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/s44108417.html

Suggestions?

Jeff

OSB floor? Is this a kit shed sitting on blocks or something? Will you
be able to keep the floor dry? (On both sides)

OSB is a lousy material for the wear layer on a floor. If this OSB is
above dirt, you don't want anything on top that will trap moisture in
there, like paint or anything. But being a wood shop, anything with
hole
will of course clog up with sawdust.

To all, I haven't built this yet, so adjustments are possible.

This would be built like a deck on deck blocks with joists on 16"
centers, red clay underneath. The main tool I have is a RAS.

The deck will be 8' x 16' with about a 6' concrete slab on one side (14'
x 16' total).

Just for giggles, I'd price out the cost of extending the slab. May be
cheaper than you think, especially if you do the prep work and dig the
footers.

I have someone that wants to do it. I really want a level surface and
don't think he is up to leveling the slab, the existing slab isn't level
anyways.

Got access to a small mixer and it could just be mixed Jamaican style on
the existing walkway/slab.

Jeff

Leveling is easy, as long as you can put a level board at 2 of the edges
to drag a screed across, and use a light hand with the float. For hand
mixing, I'd do 4x4 tiles, checkerboard style, so you have a dry place to
stand. Pour the first four, let them set up a couple days, pull out the
form boards that you used as screed guides, then fill in the holes. For
a patio-thickness slab, the forms don't need to be real strong- stakes
at the inside corners of the blank holes, and a couple toenails, will
keep the boards in place. Expansion strips may be called for if you live
in frost country.

No floor is perfectly level, by the way, at least not for long. That is
why equipment (and even kitchen appliances) comes with adjustable feet.
Existing slab was probably sloped for rain runoff, if it didn't always
have a roof over it.

--
aem sends...