What’s best for a workshop floor in a standalone barn/shed structure: 3/4″ plywood, 3/4″ osb, 3/4″ Advantech, other?
I’ve not used Advantech, or seen it in the places I’ve been, but some here swear by it. Leary of OSB because of the way it can swell if wet and chip from wear and tear. Saw that HD (where the contractor will probably get some/all of the materials despite its reputation here <g>) has a t&g subfloor that’s called Home Advantage that looks a lot smoother and less prone to chipping. That better or worse than the alternatives? Sound similar to Advantech?
Lastly, prints I have mention cedar siding. Contractor wrote estimate with T-111. Any seat of pants guesses on up-charge for cedar vs T-111?
Replies
Cloud Hidden,
Go by a sawmill and buy whatever hardwood was ordered but never picked up.. I can get that locally for 15 cents a bd.ft. Normally it's sold to pallet mills . That amounts to $4.80 for a 4x8 foot area.. so you wind up with a one inch thick floor for less than a 1/5 of the price of plywood..
If it's stained, turned grey etc. you can run it thru a planer if you want shiney new looking wood, if not just clean it up with TSP and paint it!
You can do something similar with siding.. for a tiny fraction of the cost of T111
That's not in the cards for this, Frenchy. I'm trying for LESS work, not more.###For others:Are there generic equivalents to Advantech, or is that the only one with its characteristics?
I've only heard of Advantech, but it's certainly worth my money.
Forrest
Cloud Hidden,
I'm sorry. It's my nature to look for the absolute cheapest way possible and to heck with the work involved.. I figure that money I don't spend on things like this I can use where I think they are real important. Plus I like dodging taxes by working for myself.. I don't charge myself income taxes, workmans comp insurance, or unemployment taxes..
I've found that I wind up with a superior product at a lower cost. Last time I bought flooring I got a deal on some 5/4 ash for 15 cents. Run it thru the planner and still wind up over an inch thick of nice ash.
I can usually run a thousand board feet thru the planner and joint and shape both edges in a saturday and I'm fat old and out of shape.. Young guy like yourself should be able to do 2000 bd.ft. in a day!
But use whatever you'd like.. that's what's great about America! Freedom to do whatever you want!
>look for the absolute cheapest way possible and to heck with the work involvedI'm not as willing to trade time for money. Can always earn more....can't usually get time back. Rather spend it with my daughter. Plus, after all the years building the other house, not so interested in doing the building of this myself. Gonna stick with smaller projects, like turning 800 bf of rough cherry into shelves. That's more my current speed (for construction).
Bevelled cedar lap is approx $210 per square here in southern IL.T1-11 is surely what $7-$8 a sheet?I have seen osb upside down...smooth side up, with garage epoxy type paint, make a good looking floor, but it may be a little... um... trailer park?A medium to large guy named Alan, not an ambiguous female....NOT that there is anything wrong with that.
Thanks!
>Are there generic equivalents to Advantech, or is that the only one with its characteristics?
I'm pretty sure the Home Advantage that HD sells is supposed to be a competitor to Advantech. It's made by one of the big guys - GP I think. I've got a couple 4'x4' pieces sitting in the garage that I picked up cheap from the cull rack -thought it would work well to replace the particleboard table on my radial arm saw that got wet.
I used Advantech on the upper floor of the 2-story garage I'm (still) building. I knew I needed something that would hold up to the weather. It was basically exposed for a year (Had a tarp over it for part of that, which kept rain & snow from dripping through, but also held moisture).
I did slap a coat of paint on it, but I'm sure regular OSB would have disintegrated and plywood may or may not have held up well without warping or bubbling.
There was a thread on this or one of the other forums I read before I did mine, in which a couple people had tried the Advantech competitors and didn't think they were as good.
Don
U know how much I love to disagree with you ...
I'm 100% in agreement!
was thinking very much the same thing when I read the first post.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
What about a layer of 3/4 ply or advantech, with a layer of 1/4" luan stapled on top for a smoother replaceable surface?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
For several theatrical scenery shop floors in my past we used 3/4" T&G ply over a 1x sleeper system (when over concrete) to give some flex. We'd skin that with a layer of 1/4" Masonite hardboard, slick side up, and paint that with an epoxy to prevent swelling and eliminate slipperiness. Same technique was used for stage floors. Lots of abuse with good wear and easy replacement. If over concrete my next shop will have something similar.