Looking for opinions on what to put on my floor. I've got a nice start to my layout room in my basement. Walls are drywalled and painted, and I just finished the grid ceiling and flat panel LED lighting. Floor now is unpainted concrete, w/ suplimental infloor hot water heat (I'm in Michigan).
I'm leaning towards commercial carpet squares. Do any of you guys use them? We have them in our office at work, and they are holding up very well.
Also, I have just begun helping a friend wire his layout. I've got about 10 hours into crawling around on his painted concrete floor, which has convinced me that I do not want a hard surface....
Re: carpet squares. I've heard some say there are two kind if basements, 1 those that have flooded and those that haven't flooded yet. My last basement got wet and it was carpeted - ripped it out and I installed tile.
Personally I would put in something that can tolerate water and if you want something easy on the feet, throw something on top.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Short of several pipes breaking, I don't see how my basement could flood. And it has floor drains that the floor slopes towards. Floor drain in the garage, too, so when the cars are wet, or have snow and ice on them, it all just drains to the middle and most of the floor stays dry. I'm on top of a hill. If my basement floods, I better have an ark parked in the back yard.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
There's an outfit that sells random 2' x 2' squares. You can find them at some of the big box stores:
IMG_8469_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
I should have put them down sooner! I've had them maybe five years or so. They're great if you don't mind the random pattern.
IMG_7719 by Edmund, on Flickr
About a dollar a square foot! Perfect. Rubber backed. I sprayed a little extra 3M #80, contact cement just to give them a little extra grip. They come with short tabs of double stick tape that's OK but not great. Some tiles are thicker than others. I put the thinner ones mostly out of the traffic pattern.
I had a good coat of epoxy paint on the floor for years and it was still pretty solid before I put the tiles down. IF I were in your situation I would still paint a concrete sealer or epoxy floor paint and let it cure a good month or so before carpeting.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Versatile-Assorted-Commercial-Pattern-24-in-x-24-in-Carpet-Tile-10-Tiles-Case-NCVT002/204594243
Shop carefully, some places have something similar but they're only 16" squares.
Good Luck, Ed
rrinker Short of several pipes breaking, I don't see how my basement could flood. And it has floor drains that the floor slopes towards. Floor drain in the garage, too, so when the cars are wet, or have snow and ice on them, it all just drains to the middle and most of the floor stays dry. I'm on top of a hill. If my basement floods, I better have an ark parked in the back yard. --Randy
Funny you mention pipes, I have a co-worker that happened to. I had a water heater fail in my last home, yep, water on the floor, which was cement at the time as we hadn't tiled it yet. Besides, you arent the OP. Anyway don't shoot the messenger, just passing on food for thought I picked up from other basement owners. It's common enough people would be wise to consider the possibility. Famous last words and all that.
My concrete floor was dusty. I don't know if that was a function of the quality of the concrete or not, but I painted mine.
Isn't Kambach carpeted in squares? It's not quite the look I want. There are carpets that are close to $1/sqft. It's not a high traffic area.
My house is an island. When we get a storm that dumps 7 or 8 inches of rain, my sump pump runs almost constantly. So far we have not lost power on those storms.
When the clothes washer upstairs, dies on the fill cycle, a sump pump doesn't help in the basement.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I live in Phoenix. I don't have a basement.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
bearman I live in Phoenix. I don't have a basement.
No rain either.
On flat lots, most basements are big holes with 4 concrete walls. To keep the water table from seeping through, they line the outside of the basement with gravel and drainage tile and funnel the water to a sump pump which pumps the water up and out through a pipe. In really really hard rains, the sump pump might not keep up. Sump pumps may also fail causing the water to seep up through the pit. Most basement flooding in these types of basements are due to sump pump issues.
Floor coverings: I use those square vinyl/foam mats made for aerobic workouts. They come in 2x2 squares and link together. Soft on the foot and washable, won't be harmed by water. You only need them where you walk/stand. Not every square inch of the floor.
- Douglas
What ever you end up using, make sure it's a covering that you can crawl around on, and look for tiny parts, as some WILL end up there, no matter how careful you are.
I have some indoor/outdoor stuff on part of floor, part is bare concrete.
IIRC, Mr. Lone Wolf, who built the building for his huge layout, also used the squares like Ed used.
I could see the individual squares, in case you need to replace a square or two.
If I were starting over, I'd stick with the indoor/outdoor stuff, getting wet won't completely ruin it, and it can be taken up, and put out side to dry.
I also don't have a problem with bare concrete, and a few mats here and there on areas where your going to be doing lots of standing.
Lots of options and ideas.
Mike.
My You Tube
In my finished basement I put down a commercial tile floor, with anti fatigue mats in the aisles. Much easier to sweep the floor after doing a scenery project. By the way my water heater crapped out after 16 years in my work shop, all I had to do was mop up a little water. Not a problem with a tile floor.
Thanks for the input guys. I have no concerns with flooding. My house is on a sandy hill, and when I built it I installed 2 sump crocks and pumps with an overflow pipe between them, backed up by a generator. After living in the house for a few years I decided to open the crocks to check on the pumps. Nothing but dust and cobwebs in both of them!
GM, did you install yours after the layout was built? I was actually thinking about building benchwork first, to get the carpet past the sawdust phase. I figure I could remove and reinstall 1 leg at a time during the install. And wrap my head with bubble-wrap while working under the benches.
Sparky Rail Thanks for the input guys. I have no concerns with flooding. My house is on a sandy hill, and when I built it I installed 2 sump crocks and pumps with an overflow pipe between them, backed up by a generator. After living in the house for a few years I decided to open the crocks to check on the pumps. Nothing but dust and cobwebs in both of them!
A friend of mine was proud of the fact that during heavy rains his sump pump never turned on. Thought his house was built on a geographical/topographical miracle.
Then one evening he came home to an entirely flooded basement.
Turned out that all of those years his drainage tiles were plugged full of sediment and no water ever made it to the pump.
His house was 40 years old. Of course your situation could be different.....
Sparky RailGM, did you install yours after the layout was built?
Yes. In several places I could slightly jack up the leg just enough to slip the tile underneath. Two other legs I could unbolt and then replace once the carpet was down. In two places I notched the carpet to fit around a leg.
I had various patchwork of carpeting in the basement for several years, tossing the stuff out as I found better. I brought home quite a bit of commercial carpet remnants from work. That was fine for many years but I'm glad I have the tightly-fitted carpet tiles now.
I have a roll around scooter that I use for under bench work and it rolls beautifully over the tight weave tiles.
Scooter_x1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers! Ed
I used random carpet tiles because they were the cheapest (0.49/sq ft) floor solution I could find that was better for walking/crawling than concrete. I also 'sealed' the concrete floor with Trulock B4 concrete sealer/hardener before installing the carpet squares to try to reduce the concrete dust.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
The B4 looks like a good product. Did you also place a vapor barrier under the slab?
Retired cement finisher, just curious.
What a timely topic! I too have a concrete floor in the train room that got painted when we finished that room.
What about interlocking rubber mats (used in gyms, classrooms, etc.)? Anyone have them and offer suggestions on the following: do you put them under the layout legs or around them, what thickness, etc.
Your help greatly benefits the OP, myself, and others in a similar situation.
I have the interlocking rubber mats. Got them at Menards. Put them in the aisles, my plan is to use carpet squares later. They are good when u drop something and gives your feet some extra padding and is seems a bit warmer.
CGW121 I have the interlocking rubber mats. Got them at Menards. Put them in the aisles, my plan is to use carpet squares later. They are good when u drop something and gives your feet some extra padding and is seems a bit warmer.
I have a bunch of interlocking rubber mats I picked up cheap from charity shops in the area, however, I am still planning to put tile down so the room is finished for the day the house gets put on the market (sweat equity), hopefully not for some years.
I've been using some of them to make it easier on my knee's while I'm finishing the basement and as pointed out, will be good to have them on the floor in case rolling stock falls.
My trainroom is on the second floor of my garage. The building was built solely for this purpose....trains on second floor and cars and tools on first floor. My comments here are intended to be “food for thought” when I hear of a basement layout. First off I would never paint concrete. My basement and foundation of the house are painted with oil base paint and require constant maintenance and touch up to keep it looking good. I have been through two floods and a burst water heater, therefore I am paranoid about water. Over development and useless politicians have put us in this spot. Significant investment in the property and age have negated moving at this point. Since your layout is in the basement and we all know the amount of work and money that goes into these projects...consider these things. Are you near any creeks or streams? Is development causing a change in storm water runoff? If so, can you block rising water and secure any possible entrance from rising water? Do you have adequate floor drains to accommodate a burst water tank if you are out for the evening? I put T nuts in the legs of my benchwork and carriage bolts for adjustment purposes but that may give you an edge in a water situation. I would seal the floor and use carpet runners to accent the walkways and leave it at that. I have gone to extremes to prevent water damage including solid concrete flood walls, ample supply of sandbags, plastic sheeting and duct tape. Thirty years ago these factors where not in the picture. Plan for worst case scenario and hope for the best. If water issues are of no concern, then carpet squares would be a nice option as opposed to painting. Best of luck in your final decision!
kasskaboose What a timely topic! I too have a concrete floor in the train room that got painted when we finished that room. What about interlocking rubber mats (used in gyms, classrooms, etc.)? Anyone have them and offer suggestions on the following: do you put them under the layout legs or around them, what thickness, etc. Your help greatly benefits the OP, myself, and others in a similar situation.
Yes. See my post above. I stole them from my wife after I realized, of course, she no longer used them for her workouts (we sold the eliptical).
I like them a lot. Washable too.
I have/will an around the room shelf layout, so just a string of 2x2 mats interlocked along the walking path.
I don't think I'd want carpet in my layout room, as it wouldn't likely last too long when I'm cutting large styrene sheets on the floor there - the only area big enough to do that work.I've never understood the complaints about walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete....understandable if you're in bare feet or socks, I suppose, but doesn't anybody have decent footwear? At work, most of the floors were either concrete or heavy steel plate, and I walked on it, up to several miles, many days, without issue.If you're having foot problems from walking on hard surfaces, skip the carpet and try...
Wayne
EMDSD40My comments here are intended to be “food for thought” when I hear of a basement layout. First off I would never paint concrete. My basement and foundation of the house are painted with oil base paint and require constant maintenance and touch up to keep it looking good.
Good point. Even at the office where I work, there is a large basement painted with what look like epoxy paint. Yep, some areas chipping and peeling up and I would think epoxy or whatever they are using is more durable.
I have been through two floods and a burst water heater, therefore I am paranoid about water.
As am I. Being complacent often gives rise to regret. But some here appear supremely confident they don't need to be worried, so as my wife would say, "crack-on".
Over development and useless politicians have put us in this spot.
Uh oh!
Since your layout is in the basement and we all know the amount of work and money that goes into these projects...
Finding this out first hand as I spend money and do sweat equity work.
consider these things. Are you near any creeks or streams? Is development causing a change in storm water runoff? If so, can you block rising water and secure any possible entrance from rising water? Do you have adequate floor drains to accommodate a burst water tank if you are out for the evening?
My last home was the highest in elevation in a row of townhouses but a parking lot to the side was higher still and run-off during heavy storms caused the sump pump to cycle frequently until they were past. And ... it failed during a storm and 3/4 of the basement floors did get wet, and all the carpet and laminate flooring got ripped out down to cement.
We did get minor leaks through cracks in the poured concrete wall on the side of the elevated parking lot. We had a company come in and dig down to the basement foundation and install a membrane outside of two vertical cracks.
In addition, wife and I dug a french drain (hard work) and installed perforated pipe with a sleeve around it along that same side of the house to capture run-off and direct it down grade to the back of the property. Whoever bought the place got it in better shape than we did.
I put T nuts in the legs of my benchwork and carriage bolts for adjustment purposes but that may give you an edge in a water situation.
I did that as well, just to lift the layout legs above minor water issues.
I would seal the floor and use carpet runners to accent the walkways and leave it at that.
Since my basement is intended to be "finished", I am putting in a tile floor, but for comfort, runners of some type is a good way to go.
I have gone to extremes to prevent water damage including solid concrete flood walls, ample supply of sandbags, plastic sheeting and duct tape. Thirty years ago these factors where not in the picture. Plan for worst case scenario and hope for the best. If water issues are of no concern, then carpet squares would be a nice option as opposed to painting. Best of luck in your final decision!
All good food for thought above. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
I've gotta try those Fluxopedics! I've heard notin but great things about'em. I'm gonna show'em off to my poe diatris, he'll be amazd! well, atleast amusd.
I use those foam squares, they tend to build up a static charge, esp. when new. This could be a problem if you have DCC.
azrail I use those foam squares, they tend to build up a static charge, esp. when new. This could be a problem if you have DCC.
In AZ. right?
In central Georgia the humidity is a constant 90%. Maybe 65% in January.
Standing on hard surfaces for extended periods of time is right out for me. I have bad knees and flat feet. There needs to be some cushioning.
We have a local store here that sells the random carpet squares by the box full, for very cheap. So this is kikely what I will be using. There already is carpet in my basement, from whent he previous owners finished it, but it is extremely dirty - not damp or mildewy though, which is good. It has to go. Plus there are interior walls I am ripping out which would leave gaps in the carpet anyway. The cheap carpet tiles seem like the idea solution - cheap (always a plus) and if you should damage one by dropping something on it, you cna just pull out that one square and pop another back in. The interlocking rubber mats are nice too, more expensive, but maybe even more cushion, and hardly anything damages them - had them at every machine in the shop back when I worked in a machine shop.
mbinsewi The B4 looks like a good product. Did you also place a vapor barrier under the slab? Retired cement finisher, just curious. Mike
Mike
Yes, a vapor barrier was installed undered the garage/workshop slab.