![\"wood](\"https:\/\/www.rpwoodwork.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_3492_edited-2.jpg\")
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If you are working in a shop with a concrete floor, such as in a basement, consider installing a wood floor<\/strong>. It may be easier than you think.<\/p>\n If you are working in the garage, consider coming indoors and using your hard-earned living space for what really matters to you. For example, banish the TV set to an obscure corner somewhere.<\/p>\n A wood floor<\/strong> is easier on your feet and back. It is also much kinder to a dropped tool, especially an edge tool. The wood floor dampens sound so it’s easier on your ears, and it certainly is a whole lot easier on your eyes. You’ll feel better<\/strong> in a shop with a wood floor and enjoy your time there more. Take it from someone who spent too long here:<\/p>\n Consider a floating installation of engineered flooring.<\/strong> The material is basically plywood topped with a thick ply of beautiful hardwood<\/strong> of your choice, pre-finished with a very heavy duty finish. It comes in strips about 5″ to 7 1\/2″ wide, which can contain multiple sections across the width, as seen in my floor in the top photo.\u00a0The planks are attached to each other but not to the floor below, upon which they simply sit. The planks connect to each other with tongue and groove plus glue, or with a super easy “click lock” connection without glue.<\/p>\n Not tough enough<\/strong> for a workshop? I can tell you my experience. Twelve years ago, I installed an engineered floating red oak floor over concrete in my workshop, which is a few feet below grade. It has held up very well, including no cracks and no separation of the planks, with 600-pound machinery rolling over it, big planks of hardwoods dragged over it, sawdust, dropped tools, and so forth.<\/p>\n I do note that the finish of the particular brand that I installed was later assessed to be more susceptible to denting but it is minor, and the floor still looks great. I also find the finish rather slippery, though this has diminished over time, so I would also keep that issue in mind when choosing material. Ask the experts, let them know you are putting the floor in your workshop, and consider the denting and slippery issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n Installation<\/strong> involves first, a simple moisture test. Then the concrete floor will probably need to be leveled with leveling compound. Next, a heavy poly plastic sheet is laid down and a thin foam sheet goes on top of that. Then the floor is laid down. Finally, molding and thresholds are installed. The biggest issues are strategies to facilitate laying the flooring, such as starting from the correct side of the room, baseboard heating appliances, and so forth.<\/p>\n![\"concrete](\"https:\/\/www.rpwoodwork.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/old-shop-floor.jpg\")
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