Workshop Flooring Help

So I’m in the process of making my hay mow in my barn into a workshop-garage-man cave. The floor has some imperfections from where the oats bins where and in the drive area the floor is double layer and very uneven. Cracks and uneven planks. Thinking of doing a over lay with 3/4” plywood and some sealer. Floor is sloped to door in the first 12 feet so if snow melts off Jeep should run to overhead. Might not use it for daily garage any way. Will be doing some woodworking to so. Don’t want something to slippery with sawdust on it. Would like to stay under a 1 inch lift.

Any ideas on plywood, sealer, paint, or other options. Thanks all.

Got any pics?
Could you pressure wash it then seal it.
The imperfections could look cool

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Got any pics?
Could you pressure wash it then seal it.
The imperfections could look cool

I like that idea, even hitting it with a big grinder with a sand paper wheel, then staining and sealing.

Here’s some pics of old free pallets I turned into a table top. (The polycrylic is still wet, just put it on)

Each piece was stained individually, but still it would look sweet on an old plank floor if it was all the same color.

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Wanting plywood or something to add strength after I pull up the top layer of planks. I roll my boat in other part of barn and it really bows the boards.

Throw in some pics. It’s also about 900 square feet.

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Oh Man!
That sure would be cool if you could shore it up from underneath and use that existing floor.
Badass!

That my friend is the ultimate man cave you got going!

As a floor guy my whole life, I want nothing to do with that floor.

As a wood guy I agree, I bet those boards would look seriously bada$$. With that said wonder how much money you could sell those boards for. Then just start over with another floor system.

Yeah dude, I agree

Shore that stuff up under a heavy load and refinish it.

The grinder is crazy fast, 20-30 seconds a square foot. You could grind that whole thing down in 8 hours with plenty of beer breaks

Shore from bottom is not really a option. I park truck and tractor underneath floor and the beams are not going to bend back. Pulling the floor is out to cuz the nails are stuck in to timbers so well you split boards trying.

So I’m back to plywood overlay and shim the sag with plywood and shingles.

What’s the best plywood for job and finish on top of that. Thinking 3/4 “ t&g one side sanded plywood.Stain, paint, linseed oil? Thanks all.

Some of the salvage yards around here have reclaimed 1″ thick maple flooring that comes out of warehouses. Could lay that perpendicular, with some major shimming here and there. Would be quite labor intensive, and not cheap but an option.

Clear finished plywood has a pretty cool look to it!

Where are you located? I’d like to see it before I made any recommendations but from what I see covering with anything will be difficult.
With that said, if you’re going to park vehicles on it you will need to go with an exterior grade material.

NE Iowa. Probably just use straight board or string line and level from high spot to high spot. Shot with a grade laser and it’s inch and a half different from side to side. Not going to try to level that out. Still not bad for a 100 year old barn. Almost 100.