Hi,
I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
table saw and the band saw.
On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:43:00 -0600, "TP" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
>do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
>instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
>not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
>table saw and the band saw.
If your floor joists are adequate that will make a very good floor. I
would personally rather have a wood floor than a concrete one in my
shop, just because the wood is, like, 10,000 times easier to stand on
for long periods of time. All I'd recommend is that you put a couple
of coats of a good floor paint on it before moving stuff in.
An added bonus may be that you can get the wood floor level more
easily than you can a concrete one. The concrete in my garage/shop is
not very level. The contractor saved some money by doing it himself
rather than having a concrete finisher do the floor. "It's only a
garage, after all."
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
Sounds good, watch the rot factor. Wood floors make it easy to run a
dust system under the floor instead of above if you have one.
chuck
On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:43:00 -0600, "TP" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
>do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
>instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
>not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
>table saw and the band saw.
>
TP wrote:
> Hi,
> I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
> do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
> instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
> not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
> table saw and the band saw.
WHat's the plan for rot control?
Moisture penetration?
If I were building a dedicated wood shop I would opt for a slab under a
wood floor with moisture barrier.
--
Mark
N.E. Ohio
Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)
When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)
I built a 12x16 on 2x6s @ 12" centers. That sits upon 3 lengths of RR
ties. The actual flooring is 1 layer of 3/4" T&G plywood. I've a new
Rigid jointer in there and several other tools and the floor doesn't
even *think* of giving. Consider 12" centers and one layer of plywood.
It'll be even cheaper but quite sturdy. Oh, and I used a bead of
liquid nails on top of the 2x6s to prevent squeeking.
TP wrote:
> Hi,
> I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
> do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
> instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
> not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
> table saw and the band saw.
>
>
TP wrote:
> Thanks for all replies. I guess plywood floor on 12'' centers is strong
> enough. I plan to have plastic sheets underneath the plywood for moisture
> barrier. I could save $1800 of the concrete slab for more tools.
I say go for wood too. I have a wood floor, and I like standing on it
better than any concrete slabs I've had to stand on professionally.
Rot is a real concern though. Build a real foundation under it, with a real
vapor barrier and real ventillation. Make sure the wood is high enough off
the ground that it won't invite termites.
My shop meets none of the above suggestions, and it's only a matter of time
before it falls down. It's rotting badly, and I have severe termite
problems.
I didn't build it, incidentally.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
You asked this as I was sitting here trying to draw up my shop. The 3/4" floor
should be adequate, but take into consideration the spans of the floor joists.
If they are 12' you really should move up to a 2x10. You mentioned a
contractor was building the shop so I would hope he would do this. I worked in
a shop with 2x8 joists 16" OC over spans of 9 feet or so (every 4th joist was
doubled) with 1 layer of 3/4 ply and it was fine. Fine to the tune of about
2,000 lbs of shop iron in concentrated areas. PS- Use 3/4 inch PLY!!! Don't
let the guy tell you that you'll save money by using T&G Advantech (or
similiar) flooring.
danh wrote:
> florida room style, rather than a block foundation. The substructure is
> pressure treated. The floor is insulated with a vapor barrier, and the
Feh. My termites like the green salt on all the pressure-treated snacks
they're eating. :)
I guess the moisture (it has been perpetually wet for most of this year) has
leached out most of the poison or something.
> underneath is skinned with 1/4 inch exterior grade, ext stained plywood,
> with vents installed. It will hold up longer than I plan on living there.
I plan on living here until I die. Hopefully at the age of 115 or so. I
want to live to see the '80s again.
I may rip off some of your suggestions though. I'm planning to try to dig
the low side out and see what I can do about repairing it this spring. Get
rid of the leaky doors and maybe put in one human-sized, tight-fitting door
instead. I'd like a bigger building, but I really don't have any other
place to put one, and I don't want to be shopless while I'm building the
new one. Seems like trying to prop this thing back up for a few more years
is the way to go.
Maybe re-work it and put on some kind of addition while I'm at it, though
it's hard to build onto something that has a roof that comes all the way
down to within 4' of the ground.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
That looks like a deck setup. What are the dimensions?
--
If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving
"danh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It can be done without a real foundation. You just have to do it
correctly.
> I just put an addition on my house. I built it with my dad. We did it
> florida room style, rather than a block foundation. The substructure is
> pressure treated. The floor is insulated with a vapor barrier, and the
> underneath is skinned with 1/4 inch exterior grade, ext stained plywood,
> with vents installed. It will hold up longer than I plan on living there.
>
> See how the project unfolded here:
>
http://www.holoski.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album01&op=modload&name=Home-Addition&file=index&include=view_album.php
>
>
> "Silvan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > TP wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks for all replies. I guess plywood floor on 12'' centers is
strong
> > > enough. I plan to have plastic sheets underneath the plywood for
> moisture
> > > barrier. I could save $1800 of the concrete slab for more tools.
> >
> > I say go for wood too. I have a wood floor, and I like standing on it
> > better than any concrete slabs I've had to stand on professionally.
> >
> > Rot is a real concern though. Build a real foundation under it, with a
> real
> > vapor barrier and real ventillation. Make sure the wood is high enough
> off
> > the ground that it won't invite termites.
> >
> > My shop meets none of the above suggestions, and it's only a matter of
> time
> > before it falls down. It's rotting badly, and I have severe termite
> > problems.
> >
> > I didn't build it, incidentally.
> >
> > --
> > Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
> > Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
> > http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
> >
>
>
On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 11:43:00 -0600, TP wrote:
> Hi,
> I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
> do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
> instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
> not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
> table saw and the band saw.
Pour a concrete slab and seal it.
It can be done without a real foundation. You just have to do it correctly.
I just put an addition on my house. I built it with my dad. We did it
florida room style, rather than a block foundation. The substructure is
pressure treated. The floor is insulated with a vapor barrier, and the
underneath is skinned with 1/4 inch exterior grade, ext stained plywood,
with vents installed. It will hold up longer than I plan on living there.
See how the project unfolded here:
http://www.holoski.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album01&op=modload&name=Home-Addition&file=index&include=view_album.php
"Silvan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> TP wrote:
>
> > Thanks for all replies. I guess plywood floor on 12'' centers is strong
> > enough. I plan to have plastic sheets underneath the plywood for
moisture
> > barrier. I could save $1800 of the concrete slab for more tools.
>
> I say go for wood too. I have a wood floor, and I like standing on it
> better than any concrete slabs I've had to stand on professionally.
>
> Rot is a real concern though. Build a real foundation under it, with a
real
> vapor barrier and real ventillation. Make sure the wood is high enough
off
> the ground that it won't invite termites.
>
> My shop meets none of the above suggestions, and it's only a matter of
time
> before it falls down. It's rotting badly, and I have severe termite
> problems.
>
> I didn't build it, incidentally.
>
> --
> Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
> Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
>
On Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:43:00 -0600, "TP" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
>do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
>instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
>not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
>table saw and the band saw.
>
Wood is better than concrete. A concrete floor is better than dirt.
I have a concrete floor.
"TP" <[email protected]> writes:
> Hi,
> I plan to build a 12x24 workshop in the backyard. The builder said he can
> do a 2 layers of 3/4'' plywood on a 16'' center base to save me some money
> instead of a concrete slab. Is it sturdy enough for a small woodshop? I'm
> not a professional, just a hobbiest. The 2 heaviest tools I have are the
> table saw and the band saw.
In my fathers workshop we just have beams (probably 5 by 10 or 15 cm)
on the floor, with a plastic foil below that and just the raw earth
with a few bricks to lay the beams on as a "foundation". On top of the
beams 2cm thick boards are nailed.
This stands now sice 25 years with no noticeable deterioration, is
nice to walk on, stable enopugh for TS, Jointer/Planer/Thicknesser
combi, DP, and workbench.
BTW: The walls of the shop are mixed round and square posts screwed to
angle irons set into small point concrete foundations (each the size
of a bucket), with boards nailed on on the inside and corrugated fiber
cement (Eternit) boards on the outside and on the roof. This outer
part stands now since 45 years without problems.
--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
mailto:[email protected] Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23