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We are finishing a shop and need suggestions for the flooring material. It is a woodworking shop and will be installed over 3/4″ plywood with radiant heat on the underside (over a basement). We are thinking of tongue and groove pine. Any suggestions for material and installation techniques? Many thanks!
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Mike, Mary: Ahhhhh my acheing back likes the idea already. I have given this much thought as someday I hope to build a shop with exactly that same design. I can't think of a better use for the rustic grade red oak flooring that lumber liquidators sells. Although full of knots and wane etc., at .89 cents per Sq. Ft. it can't be beat. I think Pine would be too soft for a shop floor, especially if you are moving heavy equipment around on casters.
*Thanks Rich! Any suggestions for finish?
*End grain blocks make for a very durable surface and have held up in many New England mills for over a hundred years of industrial use. Rather time consuming to put down they can be installed like tiles either tight to each other or with a "grout spacing". The old finish was the oil that they soaked up from the mill machinery. (One reason the old mills burn so well) To keep the end grain stable poly will do nicely -- and it will soak up triple the usual amount for the first coat.
*I am with Rich Mike, pine is great wood but too soft for a shop. Go with the oak, install it just as you would regular wood flooring stain it if you wish then give it coats of the toughest best poly you can find. Wood is a lot easier on the back than concrete or other materials. I would still get some of the mats to stand on where you work. Be very carefull when and where you nail it you don't want to hit the radiant tubing.C
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We are finishing a shop and need suggestions for the flooring material. It is a woodworking shop and will be installed over 3/4" plywood with radiant heat on the underside (over a basement). We are thinking of tongue and groove pine. Any suggestions for material and installation techniques? Many thanks!