New Workshop...

[David C]

Sprung water resistant flooring grade chipboard in the T&G smaller size makes an excellent floor but I regret not painting mine (with proper floor paint) in the beginning like wot Robert Ingham did.

If 18 mm battens are used (+ insulation between) you can use a double layer of cb to make solid support for machines and bench.

Less dust and much much smarter in photos, though this may not be an issue for you.

best wishes,
David

 

[mailee]

You obviously haven't noticed my avatar have you digit? That IS my workshop, built with my own fair hands.

 

[Digit]

That's the way to do it Mailee, looks nice!

 

[llangatwgnedd]

Nice to see you back on the forums HM.

 

[PaulO]

Cheers all for your suggestions. I think there is a main solution of firring strips/battens with insulation in between plus 3/4 ply on top, finished off with sealer/varnish. I think this is what I will do.

MR flooring chipboard is much cheaper, and the 8x2 sections are easier to lay than 8x4 sheet, as well as the T&G giving a better join.

I would say a proper floor paint will be much more durable than varnish, that will easily scratch/flake off. I bought my two pack epoxy from these guys, applied with a roller, which are so cheap that they are disposable.:
http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/t/TOREPXFP/

very easy to keep clean, but it is not at all slippery, but you know that because I said it in my last post.

 

[Shadowfax]

I think you will find that the battens are not necessary - assuming your floor is relatively flat. Just lay MR chipboard over some solid insulation (I won't recommend polystyrene because I have a distinct aversion to the stuff!!) and you will have a solid floor if you glue the joints. It comes in T&G boards that fit together really well.
This is what I did with my workshop floor and it has had no further attention at all. No varnish, no oil, no sealer, nothing! It repels liquid that might be spilt on it and it sweeps easilly without being slippery. It's made for the job and it does it well.
Save your hard-earned and buy something useful (then you can drop it on your new floor without damaging the edge!).
Cheers.

SF

 

[Orcamesh]

I know some of you like to view other people's workshops so here are my old ones and the latest one (still in the making) below :

This is a link to WS1 (I started woodwork as a hobby in 98, we moved out of this house & workshop in 2005 to where I am now) :
http://www.twango.com/media/Hawkmoth.public/Hawkmoth.10229

This is the single garage (WS2) in the new house which was planned to be rebuilt. It has taken me two years to go through planning to get to the next two photos :
http://www.twango.com/media/Hawkmoth.public/Hawkmoth.10230

This is WS3 still being built, showing mainly the machine shop area (~5x2.8m, roughly size of a single garage) :
http://www.twango.com/media/Hawkmoth.public/Hawkmoth.10227

This is WS3 store room on the 1st floor (~11x2m). Intended for storage of tools and more importantly timber stock, and for preparation for projects :
http://www.twango.com/media/Hawkmoth.public/Hawkmoth.10228

WS3 overall is a double length garage, with added store room on first floor (you can stand in the centre but not at the sides). For me this is a dream workshop, however, should anyone want to use it for anything else (i.e. future house owners), there is a self contained room at the rear (~2.6x2.8m) which I am using as a hand tool/workbench room, but could equally be for someone who wishes to work from home! Then the front part can be used for parking or whatever.

Hope you enjoy taking a look!

cheers
HM

 

[Philly]

HM
Looks great! The upper floor will be a boon.
Cheers
Philly

 

[AdrianM]

Strange! We are woodworkers aren't we? Doesn't anybody out there have a timber workshop?

I do! Started off as 6m x 4m and I extended it to 13m x 4m a couple of years ago.

Four inches of insulation in the roof and walls is great for keeping it warm in winter and cool in the summer. Not to mention keeping the noise contained.

For flooring I would recommend 18mm plywood covered with 6mm MDF and then painted in garage floor paint. I find that combination wears well, offers good grip but is still very easy to sweep at the end of the day.

I'd love an upper floor. There's never enough room to store the timber for the next project.

 

[Digit]

covered with 6mm MDF and then painted in garage floor paint. I find that combination wears well, offers good grip but is still very easy to sweep at the end of the day.

How durable has this been Adrian?

 

[AdrianM]

How durable has this been Adrian?

It's been down for two years in the new part of the workshop and five years in the old part with no parts worn through yet.

I did one coat over the whole of each sheet before it was laid and then two more on top once it was down.

 

[Digit]

Thanks Adrian, I'll be following that up.