Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Sep 25, 2007 07:13pm | #1

   Don't take this as the definitive last word, but this is what I would do:

   1) Clean the floor well. (If the finish is deteriorating at all, then it's probably going to get worse when you cover it up with the shop floor.)

   2) Lay down heavyweight polyethylene sheeting (6 mil or so). Overlap and tape the joints.

   3) Lay down sheets of 1/2" thick extruded polystyrene foam insulation. Tape the joints.

   4) Lay down sheets of 1/2" plywood, butting the joints.

   5) Lay down a second layer of 1/2" plywood, staggering the joints from the first layer.

   6) Screw the plywood layers together with McFeely's #8 x 1-1/8" ProMax flat head screws on 12" x 12" centers. (The reason for the special screws is that they have cutting tips and unthreaded shanks, which means that you won't need to drill clearance holes, and you won't get any bridging that would tend to lift the top sheets as you screw them together.)

   Also, don't forget that you won't be able to open any inward-opening doors over the new floor!

   -Steve

    

2. 
   Brewgonia | Sep 25, 2007 08:56pm | #2

   I think you have to resign yourself to the fact that "some" level of damage will be done to at least the finish. That being said the polyethelene will be great to keep fine dust from working its way through. Also may want to lay down some of that blue thin foam underlayment material used for wood floors as an added layer of protection.

    

   
   

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   Edited 9/25/2007 1:57 pm ET by Brewgonia

1. 
   dougmeyer | Sep 26, 2007 04:18am | #3

   look for a product called Homasot. It is a paper product (grey) that comes in 1/2" sheets. (4 by 8. and others) hard to find but you can find it if you look. This product has several uses, one being sound deading. The other is a lot of peaple doing work on houses put it down on the floor to protect wood floor. Takes a heck of a beating.

   If it was me I would put this down one way and glue 1/2 plywood down the other way (glue the plywood to the homasot) I think this would (if cut to fit) hold together well. When it was time to move pry the plywood off the homasot (the glue will take off the top layer or homasot but will pull free).

   This is my 2 cents worth.

   Doug Meyer