DRICORE....as a floor. Not a subfloor

[Df1k1]

So like most people I have a two garage floor made of concrete. I have tried mats, better shoes, I’ve tried all sorts of stuff. But it’s time to make a change. I was thinking a lot about a rubber floor but due to heavy machines and indentations etc. it just didn’t seem worth it.
So it got me thinking.... what about DRICORE just as a floor itself. I know it’s not the best looking floor in the world but right now I’m about comfort and cost. And it looks like if I need to park and occasional car on it I can get away with it. According to the rep online at a big box anyway. Thinking two coats of a very strong polyurethane over it and it may do the trick. Wondering if anyone had any experience with this.

 

[Bob D.]

So like most people I have a two garage floor made of concrete. I have tried mats, better shoes, I’ve tried all sorts of stuff. But it’s time to make a change. I was thinking a lot about a rubber floor but due to heavy machines and indentations etc. it just didn’t seem worth it.
So it got me thinking.... what about DRICORE just as a floor itself. I know it’s not the best looking floor in the world but right now I’m about comfort and cost. And it looks like if I need to park and occasional car on it I can get away with it. According to the rep online at a big box anyway. Thinking two coats of a very strong polyurethane over it and it may do the trick. Wondering if anyone had any experience with this.

"According to the rep online at a big box anyway."

I don't think I would ever accept and answer from one of the 'online reps' or even the 'in-store reps' to give me a answer I would put this much trust in.

I prefer to ask the manufacturer and a quick Google search turned up this straight from the horses mouth.
https://dricore.com/faqs/can-dricore-subfloor-panels-be-installed-in-a-garage/

 

[Bob D.]

Your question got me thinking. I am in the process of reconfiguring an area of my 24x24 shop. This space is dedicated to shop use, I don't have to share it with a vehicle.

I am thinking that this might be the time to do what you are asking about and get myself off that hard concrete floor.

Right now I have one corner of the shop cleared out of everything. Took everything off the walls too so I could put up some better shelving and paint the walls white. It's the perfect time to start the transition to a warmer and more comfortable floor.

I was going to start putting everything back together today but now I may be making a trip to Lowes for some Dricore panels.

 

[Df1k1]

So like most people I have a two garage floor made of concrete. I have tried mats, better shoes, I’ve tried all sorts of stuff. But it’s time to make a change. I was thinking a lot about a rubber floor but due to heavy machines and indentations etc. it just didn’t seem worth it.
So it got me thinking.... what about DRICORE just as a floor itself. I know it’s not the best looking floor in the world but right now I’m about comfort and cost. And it looks like if I need to park and occasional car on it I can get away with it. According to the rep online at a big box anyway. Thinking two coats of a very strong polyurethane over it and it may do the trick. Wondering if anyone had any experience with this.

"According to the rep online at a big box anyway."

I don't think I would ever accept and answer from one of the 'online reps' or even the 'in-store reps' to give me a answer I would put this much trust in.

I prefer to ask the manufacturer and a quick Google search turned up this straight from the horses mouth.
https://dricore.com/faqs/can-dricore-subfloor-panels-be-installed-in-a-garage/

I should have been more specific. It was a DRICORE rep who stated that a car could be parked on it.  Although I have no intention on doing that but occasionally.

 

[rvieceli]

I'm a very big fan of horse stall flooring of some kind in a shop. there are several configurations and products available. The stuff is designed to provide a non slip cushioned easy to clean environment for horses. If they good enough for high end show horses and thorobreds they should be good enough for me. If you have big stationary machines you can just floor around them not under.

Here is a vendor to show some examples.
https://www.rammfence.com/barn/horse-barn-flooring

Ron

 

[Df1k1]

I'm a very big fan of horse stall flooring of some kind in a shop. there are several configurations and products available. The stuff is designed to provide a non slip cushioned easy to clean environment for horses. If they good enough for high end show horses and thorobreds they should be good enough for me. If you have big stationary machines you can just floor around them not under.

Here is a vendor to show some examples.
https://www.rammfence.com/barn/horse-barn-flooring

Ron

Thanks Ron! I will have to move a car in occasionally. I live in Florida and it’s an older car that my wife absolutely loves so any potential storms I’m going to have to park on it. Do you know if it can withstand the weight of a small car for a day or two? I obviously don’t want a floor that’s going to have indentations all over it. I don’t see myself moving a lot of machinery especially my saw stop an out feed table will probably never move so I would work around them. In my last shop I think I move my saw stop once 

 

[Joelm]

I did Dricore R+ in my garage over the winter.  Installation was a breeze. Having small 2x2 boards have me a lot of flexibility with moving my tools around while I worked. The Dricore itself made a huge difference in temperature and comfort.
I did end up going a bit overboard and installed a floating cork floor on top. Not recessary but it made my shop even more comfy and inviting. Here is a link to my shop build including flooring.https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/workshops-and-mobile-vehicle-based-shops/new-12'x19'-shop/30/

 

[Cheese]

This may be an option for you, it's used for flooring in motorcycle & snowmobile trailers. It's also used in some large car haulers. An HDPE overlay on both sides of the material. I'm sure it's not as cheap as Dricore but you're dealing with larger sheets rather than 2' x 2' panels.
I also noticed that Dricore rates their standard subfloor product at supporting 6642 pounds per square foot.
https://www.nudo.com/p_nupoly_quadfloor_transportation.php?crumb=<a+href%3D%27l_transportation_panels.php%3Fitem%3Dproduct%27%3ETransportation+Panels%3C%2Fa%3E

 

[thudchkr]

I am currently in the process of putting down Dri-Core in my shop.  It has enough give in it, as I walk across it, that I would be hesitant to drive a vehicle atop it.  Might be fine but I plan on leaving enough room in the center of my area to be able to bring a vehicle in and park it atop my floor drain.  I plan on installing the Dri-Core along each side of my shop, skirting the open area in the center.

I plan on putting down something to spread out the weight of my heavier tools that rest on a small area, such as my Laguna Shaper that rests on casters, to avoid the possibility of dented/depressed areas.  Most of my tools, however have a larger base that they rest upon and shouldn't be to much of an issue. 

I'm happy with how it is has gone together so far and it is much easier on a body than the concrete it is covering.  Knowing it will keep my stuff up off the floor and dry, (had water run in earlier this year and freeze across the floor), was a major factor in the decision to install it.  Still haven't decided what to install on top of it, but with the OSB being only around 1/2" thick, should install something.  If anyone has suggestions, would like to hear your thoughts.

In answer to the OP's original question, I don't plan on leaving it as the "only" floor, and will use it as a subfloor, and therefore would recommend the same to others.

 

[Df1k1]

I did Dricore R+ in my garage over the winter.  Installation was a breeze. Having small 2x2 boards have me a lot of flexibility with moving my tools around while I worked. The Dricore itself made a huge difference in temperature and comfort.
I did end up going a bit overboard and installed a floating cork floor on top. Not recessary but it made my shop even more comfy and inviting. Here is a link to my shop build including flooring.https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/workshops-and-mobile-vehicle-based-shops/new-12'x19'-shop/30/

Wow your shop looks awesome. That’s kind of what I like about the dricore. I can always put a floor over it if I get tired of the look.

 

[Df1k1]

This may be an option for you, it's used for flooring in motorcycle & snowmobile trailers. It's also used in some large car haulers. An HDPE overlay on both sides of the material. I'm sure it's not as cheap as Dricore but you're dealing with larger sheets rather than 2' x 2' panels.
I also noticed that Dricore rates their standard subfloor product at supporting 6642 pounds per square foot.
https://www.nudo.com/p_nupoly_quadfloor_transportation.php?crumb=<a+href%3D%27l_transportation_panels.php%3Fitem%3Dproduct%27%3ETransportation+Panels%3C%2Fa%3E

I like the look but unfortunately significantly more. Almost $200 a sheet. And I think I would have to get involved with stringers etc. to use which I’m really trying to avoid. Dricore recommends tap cons in the outer perimeter and that’s it. So if I ever have to take the floor up for resale value it would be pretty quick and easy I would assume

 

[Df1k1]

I am currently in the process of putting down Dri-Core in my shop.  It has enough give in it, as I walk across it, that I would be hesitant to drive a vehicle atop it.  Might be fine but I plan on leaving enough room in the center of my area to be able to bring a vehicle in and park it atop my floor drain.  I plan on installing the Dri-Core along each side of my shop, skirting the open area in the center.

I plan on putting down something to spread out the weight of my heavier tools that rest on a small area, such as my Laguna Shaper that rests on casters, to avoid the possibility of dented/depressed areas.  Most of my tools, however have a larger base that they rest upon and shouldn't be to much of an issue. 

I'm happy with how it is has gone together so far and it is much easier on a body than the concrete it is covering.  Knowing it will keep my stuff up off the floor and dry, (had water run in earlier this year and freeze across the floor), was a major factor in the decision to install it.  Still haven't decided what to install on top of it, but with the OSB being only around 1/2" thick, should install something.  If anyone has suggestions, would like to hear your thoughts.

In answer to the OP's original question, I don't plan on leaving it as the "only" floor, and will use it as a subfloor, and therefore would recommend the same to others.

Thanks for the information. The website listed it at three-quarter inch but I’m assuming you’re just talking about the OSB part at a half an inch. And the car is under the weight of what the product can hold but like you I’m a little concerned. However I just don’t see many other options that suit my needs out there. What I like about the dricore as I can always go over it later if I need to with just about anything. There doesn’t seem to be a downside from what everyone has mentioned to at least trying it as a standalone floor

 

[martin felder]

I put down Dri Core in my shop over 18 years ago.  Still looks great.  I believe it was mentioned in Fine Woodworking magazine at the time.  I floated it, and it came with plastic shims.  2 x 2 ft tongue and groove.  Very simple.  They polyurethane.  Very heavy machinery goes across it or sits on top of it, no problem. 

Highly recommended for a shop.  Should be no problem if you ever want to remove it some day.

 

[Bob D.]

I went and got some this morning and started putting it down today. Will have to do in sections and move all the machines and benches around but it's doable. Works out to about $1.48/sf. My walls sit on two courses of block so I covered the interior faces of the block too, leaving a gap to the floor.

 

[Packard]

When I had my picture framing business I used horse mat tiles for flooring in the workshop.  This was done to make the floor easier on my feet, but it also provided insulation keeping my feet warmer in the winter. 

Interlocking tiles are about $2.00 per square foot and it is denser than the other tiles so that it can stand up to equine foot traffic.
https://www.greatmats.com/horse-sta...MIrYGH58ac8AIVSzizAB0HAQmWEAAYASAAEgLVwvD_BwE

So more expensive than your dricore, but might make sense for areas where you stand for long periods of time.  It is 3/4" thick.  You could stack  it on the dricore in select areas.

 

[Df1k1]

I went and got some this morning and started putting it down today. Will have to do in sections and move all the machines and benches around but it's doable. Works out to about $1.48/sf. My walls sit on two courses of block so I covered the interior faces of the block too, leaving a gap to the floor.

Can you post some pics after you make some headway?

 

[Df1k1]

I put down Dri Core in my shop over 18 years ago.  Still looks great.  I believe it was mentioned in Fine Woodworking magazine at the time.  I floated it, and it came with plastic shims.  2 x 2 ft tongue and groove.  Very simple.  They polyurethane.  Very heavy machinery goes across it or sits on top of it, no problem. 

Highly recommended for a shop.  Should be no problem if you ever want to remove it some day.

Perfect. That’s what I’ve been hoping to hear

 

[CeeJay]

Well let’s do some math here.

Average horse say 1300lb

Average car say 5000lb

Contact area of 3 shod hooves (1 raised while walking) is say 24 sq inches eg 8 sq inches per hoof. So 54 psi.

Contact area of 4 average tires is say 120 sq inches eg 30 sq inches per tire. So 42 psi.

So, assuming it’s a solid sub-floor, eg structurally can take the weight, then I would say if a horse can walk on it a car can drive on it. [emoji846]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Michael Kellough]

“ Dricore rates their standard subfloor product at supporting 6642 pounds per square foot”

Pretty sure they find this by neatly stacking bricks or bags of sand on a panel until the plastic substrate collapses. Then they divide the total weight by 4 to get the “square foot” capacity.

But cars, horses, and machine tools don’t have square feet let alone 12”x12” square feet. You really want to know the point load capacity, basically the puncture resistance of the panel.

A 500# machine sitting on four leveling feet will be applying about 125# on each of four particular square inches. 12”x12”=144@125#per=18,000#. You could put something under the feet to spread the load but what about when you’re rolling the machine on casters?

We don’t really know from that 6642#square foot rating how it would fair under a small hard wheel under a heavy machine but since Martin fielder says it works with the very heavy machines in his shop...  [cool]

 

[Bob D.]

Can you post some pics after you make some headway?

In no particular order. This is a little over half of what I got done today. I got 32 panels down. That includes moving everything and unloading/reloading in cabinets as required. Those cabinets have a plywood benchtop spread across them and all of it will be replaced this Summer once I get the floor done. With everything in the shop this will require multiple moves and shuffling of equipment.

I used TapCon 5/16 x 1-3/4 FH screws to secure the panels to the wall and the floor.

I decided to do the floor because I had the cabinet moved out and everything off the wall so I could insulate and drywall. Then I figured why all that stuff is out of the way why not get this corner of the floor done.

Now it's one giant snowball.

Moving the bench won't be difficult, but it is anchored to the floor with Hilti drop-in anchors and 5/16" rod. Finding those anchors again after they are covered with the Dricore won't be easy.

The Drill press was not difficult I just walked it back, put down a couple panels, then moved it back in position. It too was anchored to the floor. Don't know if I will do that again as I am thinking of replacing it this year so may wait and see before I punch a couple more holes in the Dricore.

My bandsaw is also anchored to the floor with 3/8" Hilti drop-ins, then shimmed level and bolted down with 3/8" rod.

The Unisaw, router table, and accessory cabinet are all one piece and at ~900 pounds I plan to crib up to the same level as the floor then while protecting the edge of the floor panels with some scraps roll it onto the new floor. The mobile base for the Unisaw which supports the saw, router table, and a cabinet of drawers with jigs, blades, some bits, and other accessories for the saw and router rests on four 2 inch diameter feet when stationary.

At 46.125# per square inch (6642/144) those 2 inch diameter feet combined could (on paper) support 579.6 pounds, so I will look at adding a 1/4" steel plate 2.5"x2.5" under each foot to spread the load. I have never moved the saw in 10 years so I don't see this as a problem. A 2.5" square plate gets me to 1153 pounds which gives me a little margin.