Alright folks, today’s project kinda grabbed me by surprise – decided to finally tackle the shed floor. Been staring at those cracked concrete slabs forever, and those weekend woodworking sessions? Yeah, my back was screaming after standing on that mess. Timber sports flooring – basically just tough wood planks for heavy stuff – seemed like the answer. Let’s roll up our sleeves.
First things first, had to clear the whole dang space. Dragged out the old workbench, piles of half-finished projects, bins of who-knows-what – all of it. Felt like moving a mountain. Then came the nasty part: scraping up all the old, crumbling adhesive and leveling the concrete. Used a scraper attachment on my drill, sounded like a cat fight. Dust? Everywhere. Had to wear a mask like a bandit.
Planning & Prep Panic
Measured the shed floor space ten times. Then measured again just in case. Needed treated timber planks – specifically chose something sturdy and weather-resistant since it’s a shed, y’know? Grabbed a bunch of 2×6 treated lumber and some thick plywood for the subfloor base layer at the hardware store. Also piled into the cart:
- A giant box of exterior grade screws (rust is the enemy!)
- Plastic sheeting for a moisture barrier (ground dampness ain’t fun)
- Concrete screws and a brand new masonry bit (those old concrete anchors were shot)
- A decent circular saw (mine’s seen better days, but it works)
Already felt lighter in the wallet.
Laying the Foundation… Literally
Rolled out that plastic sheeting first, covering every inch of the cleared concrete. Taped the seams like a mad surgeon – gotta keep the moisture out. Next was the plywood subfloor. Started in one corner, sweating like crazy. Used those concrete screws drilled straight through the ply and plastic into the concrete below. Tedious? You bet. Had to predrill every single hole for the ply. My drill got hot enough to fry an egg.
Timber Time (and Mistakes)
Finally, the good stuff! Started laying those heavy 2×6 planks perpendicular to the shed door. Left a small gap between them and the walls – wood expands, learned that the hard way with a deck years ago. Staggered the end joints like bricks. Measured each plank, marked the cut line, took it outside to the saw horses. Zzzzzzzzzzzzt! Cut it with the circular saw, hauled it back in. Got cocky on the fourth plank, cut it too short. Muttered some words my grandma wouldn’t approve of. Measured again and cut a fresh one. This time it fit. Screwed every plank down firmly into the plywood below with two screws per joist. Slow going.
Halfway through, my old circular saw blade started binding, smoking like a chimney. Nearly had a heart attack. Killed the power. Turns out the blade was duller than a butter knife after cutting treated wood all morning. Swapped it out for a fresh one – instant difference. Lesson learned.
The Home Stretch
Cutting the last plank to fit snugly against the back wall felt like a victory lap. Sweaty, sawdust in places sawdust shouldn’t be, but happy. Made sure every screw head was sunk just below the surface – don’t want trip hazards. Gave the whole floor a quick sweep, admiring the sea of timber planks. Looks solid! Doesn’t feel like a frozen sidewalk anymore.
Stood in the middle of it, bouncing a little. Rock solid. No creaks, no groans. That backache? Already forgotten (mostly). Definitely got some aches from the build itself, but knowing I won’t be standing on cracked concrete anymore? Worth every bit of the sweat and sore muscles. Next project: building a decent workbench on this new floor!
