Shop flooring/mat recommendations?

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alankulwicki7

alankulwicki7

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Joined
Jul 28, 2010
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Location
Vadnais Heights, MN
Hey all,
I'm looking for some recommendations for some mats or rubber tiles for my shop floor.
Currently the floor is old vinyl tile from the 60's. It can get slippery when there's saw dust and shavings on it so I'd like something with more traction. I'd also like it to be removable since I sometimes move my equipment around to clean behind it.

I was at Menard's yesterday and they have a few options. They had a couple of rubber tiles and a larger rubber mat.
Has anyone tried them? Or anything you'd recommend?

Thanks!
Doug
 
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Don't have a Menards near here, but I've bought rubber matts at both Lowes and Harbor Freight that I find to be very comfortable for both my darkroom and my shop. Both applications are in the basement where the floor is concrete; standing on concrete for extended periods is tough on your knees.

In both instances the mats come in 2' squares, four to a package, and are 3/8 - 1/2" thick. The edges are designed to interlock. The HF version has a removable strip along the edge so that you don't have to expose the 'perforation' if you don't want to - that counts for something in the shop because its hard to clear sawdust out of a perforated edge. HF is only available in black; Lowes comes in both black and colors (the colors are intended to play areas for kids).

Around here, availability at Lowes is sporadic (and they tend to move them around the store so that they are hard to find), but HF usually has them in stock, and often on sale.
 
Costco used to carry a real nice thick one. I have 2 of them in my shop and they work really well.
Lin
 
Sam's Club or Walmart have 2 ft interlocking mats in the toy department. Watch for sales.Nice thing about these typy mats, is that you configure them in a varity of ways. L shape, T shape, aisle runner, or in a large square. They come with end strips in order to make a finished edge. I have had mine for many years with no signs of ware. Jim S
 
Rubber interlocking mats on my concrete shop floor was the way to go. Easy on the knees, movable for reconfiguration and easy clean up with vac. for all the chips and dust.
_________________________________________
Everyday I'm vertical is a great day
 
up side for the locking rubber mats, tools bounce instead of breaking, downside is bouncing tools and parts (just try finding that trim ring that could now be in a 5 foot radius instead of a 1 foot radius!)

ps...the "kids mats" are usually a lot cheaper and are black on the back if you want a "plain" floor
 
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I'm sure I've seen these in Menards, but I had better luck finding them on Lowes website. This is what I use on the floor in my shop. They're thick enough to help the feet when you've been in the shop a long time. and because they're in interlocking squares, you can disassemble and reassemble as you move equipment around, add more, etc.

Shop 2-ft W x 2-ft L Linking Mat at Lowes.com
 
I have the interlocking mat squares from Harbor Freight too. I just bought another set. I like them.
 
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