In comparison with unforgiving concrete, a wooden ground makes a store far more pleasant to the physique. It additionally provides insulation and heat, and is way much less more likely to injury dropped instruments. Right here’s a straightforward technique to set up a high-performance wooden ground over concrete—one which’s stable sufficient to help heavy, rolling equipment. It should work in most retailers, however you may have to trim your doorways on the backside in the event that they open inward.

Putting in this wooden ground is as straightforward as making lasagna. Begin with a layer of heavy plastic to forestall moisture from wicking up from the porous slab. Screw down handled 2x4s on their faces, putting them 2 ft. aside on middle so the plywood seams will land on them appropriately; place cross-members to do the identical. Fill the areas between the 2x4s with inflexible foamboard insulation, after which glue and screw down thick tongue-and- groove plywood sub flooring, which would be the new store ground.

A wide range of finishes will work, however I went with two coats of powerful paint, designed for porches, mixing in sand so as to add traction, an necessary security characteristic.

Putting in the ground provided an opportunity to maintain energy cords out from underfoot. I did this by leaving gaps in a few of the 2x4s to permit wiring to go by, after which putting in outlet packing containers within the plywood. My new wooden ground makes the store a a lot hotter and extra welcoming place to be.

—MICHAEL RICCO, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Superb Woodworking situation #307