Wooden Floor?

[Corins]

Okay this isn't so much for a garage I guess, more of a large shed. I'm thinking about a 20x20 shed to store my toys in to get them out of the garage for more room for my car. I was originally thinking concrete floor, but now I'm thinking maybe wooden would be a bad idea to save cash.

It will be to hold 2 motorcycles, my snowmobile and my quad, along with a few other odds and ends. I want a heater in it and a light or two, won't be used as a shop, purely storage. I'm not even 100% sure about running electricity to it yet, as I'm not sure if there is a point to bother with it. Sled and quad will be in the garage during the winter (easier access when needed), and bikes will be in garage during summer.

Anyway, what are your guys thoughts?

 

[white500xl]

Wooden floors are suitable for what you are using the building for. However, if you plan to store any motorized vehicle in the building, you need to consider that sooner or later one of the vehicles will leak oil or gas.The wooden floor will soak it up and become discolored all too quickly. I would suggest going to a carpet store and inquire about some kitchen floor vinyl rug one piece remanent, to lay over the wood to protect it. If it tears from wear, just glue it down. After so long, if it gets too bad, just rip it up and replace it! I had a 12x15 wooden building with that type of floor covering, and it lasted for several years of motorcycles, sleds, wheel barrows, tillers, ect. I occasionally got into a cleaning mood and wet mopped it out! Looked like a nice clean kitchen floor till I pulled my 1971 900 KZ back in on it! Hope that helps!
Jerry.

 

[shrapnel]

When I'm finaly in a position to build my big shed , it will have a wooden floor.
I work all day on concrete floors and at this time of year (we're just into winter here) my legs are screaming at me by days end. I then come home and usually do another couple of hours in room2, on wooden floors and my legs are fine.

Shrapnel

 

[ADaughen]

I wasn't a big fan of wood floors until I did a floor in a barn for work.

3x? rough hewn planks hold up for years.

 

[carhunter]

AD, I'd love to hear more about that floor if you could share. We've been discussing doing a wood floor in our 40x54 to give it a vintage feel.

Corins, have you thought about how you'd lay your floor - ie planks over sleepers/joists, directly over packed gravel, etc?

 

[Corins]

I was thinking 4x4 in staggered concrete blocks, with 2x6 on top of that, then 3/4" or 5/8" plywood. My yard is pretty level.

 

[JohnK007]

I built my 8 X 12 shed on 2X6 floor joists with 3/4" treated plywood for a floor. I store my quad plus assorted garden tools, lawn mower, snowblower, outboard motor and junk. The floor has held up well and yes, dripping oil and gas does stain it but it's a shed. For a 20 X 20 I'd suggest 2X8's for floor joists instead of 2X6's. The floor vinyl suggestion isn't a bad idea. You can always add it later if you can't afford it right away. No need for concrete unless you really want it. Besides, the concrete will stain too if one of your toys drips on it.

 

[RivennHewn]

I'd look into bigfoot footings, and not use CMU blocks.
http://www.bigfootsystems.com/

Be sure to address ventilation under the floor, but not leave access for unwanted critters to find a home.

Spend a few extra bucks, and go 12" centers on your floor joist.

Be sure to use pressure treated material rated for ground contact for anything that touches the ground or rest on top of concrete.

Nothing under 3/4" plywood will hold up to your toys.

 

[Corins]

Only reason I'm really considering it is due to cost, concrete was my first choice but at over $250 a square yard its a bit much for what it is going to be used for.

My old man had a shed probably 12x12 with wooden floor, framed out the floor with 2x4 on the concrete blocks, it held 2 sleds and random other yard junk and held up okay other then being that the shed itself was one of those tin sheds on a built floor. It will store a few toys and my lawn mower, maybe a few other odds and ends. Right now my garage is 18x26 and trying to fit my toys and my summer car takes some rearranging each time I want a certain thing. If I wanted to take my quad out now I would have to move my car and 1 bike to get it out, bit of a tight squeeze.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Seal that floor with a good urethane sealer to keep fuels and oils from soaking into the wood later on.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I agree with Legacy Industrial. A good aliphatic urethane would be a great way to seal the floor. Another option would be SpeckDeck or Garage Floor Mats, but those options may be a little expensive for your shed.