Shed floor suggestions?

15x8 (code sqft restriction) shed just about done. Plywood flooring. What would you put down on top?

Depends on what you are storing inside.

Plastic sheeting

Tools, lawn equipment, some garden stuff.

I would glue down some of that newer interlocking vinyl flooring that is 100% waterproof. It's thin, waterproof, tough, nonslip when wet, easy to cut and install and economical. Plus you can get it at Home Depot and it looks good.

I paint the ply wood with floor paint and leave it as is. Even bare plywood lasts for years. Anything more gives one more spot for ants or whatever to get under and do their stuff or to trap water from condensation or if it ever gets wet.

I am however thinking of putting drip edge around the sides of the plywood to keep them dry. For now I've put several coats of paint on them to seal them a bit better then being bare.

Anything other than paint or wood preservative is going to hold moisture under it and the floor will rot out in no time.

Did you use a high quality plywood for the floor? Given the choice I'd probably use a marine plywood for the floor but as long as you used real plywood and not wafer board you should be fine. The thicker the better. Is the floor raised off the ground by a few inches? If you are in a dry climate I'm not sure I'd put anything on the floor. Maybe deck stain or something like that. Sheds usually get a lot of dirt and debris on the floor so I don't think I'd put anything else down unless it is supposed to be a really neat and tidy garden shed. Our garden shed uses 1 x 6 flooring with a nail gap between each board so dirt and water can get out.

i have been planning a lean to type of shed to attach to the side of the garage to store "stuff" in.
i am considering using seasoned 1x6's or something close for the floor, and painting the bottoms and edges with used motor oil until the wood doesn't soak any more in.

Good plywood, shed is raised 6in. We've got a moderate climate - decent rain in winter. I want something I can clean - so maybe stain with polyurethane??

I just use a decent porch and stair paint.

I would think about doing a 4" concrete pad. By the time you buy lumber and anything to paint or cover it with you will have exceeded the cost of doing concrete.

IF you want to go concrete route a big shed we have is built on patio stones and has never been a problem and it's 50 years old now or older. The shed is falling apart but the floor is still level and good.
For the one I just built the area is sloped and it was quicker to frame it out.

I bought a 14x8 thats been on 2b stone in 2015. The day it was delivered, I installed a nice, waterproof, self adhesive backed vinyl flooring tile. 12"×24", it took me an hour start to finish. Was out $200. Still looks great, easy to clean ( I keep all of our yard and seasonal equipment in there and it gets dirty!) And has never "held water" or caused the floor to rot. My advice is dont do what I did. Its a fartin' shed. As people suggested previously, really good paint or stain. Thats the least expensive route, and when the time comes to repaint the shed, if you don't like the color of the floor, pick another color.

Just as an aside to this, I put an 8x10 pad/patio against my house 4 years ago. 2.5 cubic (yards?) Metered concrete ALONE was $335.00...

That didn't include any of the re bar or wire or materials to frame or the stone or the labor to help out.
( pad is 4" thick)

12x18 ,over 20 yrs old on 10" 3B, 6" air space,used for JD garden tractor,pressure washer,gardening tools ,car parts and a host of other stuff,original 3/4 plywood floor as nice as when new,never treated with anything.

I put the standard 5/8" plywood floor down on top of 2" X 6"s treated screwed and bolted 12' X 24' floor. Painted the 5/8" plywood with floor and porch enamel. Then I laid another 3/8" finished plywood floor on top of it in an opposite pattern and then sealed and painted it with the enamel. Wanted the floor as strong and sealed as possible. Have three 440 engines on engine stands in it now. Added two 4'X12' lofts on each end and an 8'X12' loft in the center. These are photos before external trim and still in primer. My young son and I built it but it sure didn't take the "can be built in a weekend" timeline they make you believe it can be done in

I think we're going to build another 12'X12' of the same model right next to it and use it just for lawn and garden equipment and keep this one for car and motorcycle stuff. Then it's on to a 32'X64' workshop/garage boat and car storage building......we're going to need some help with that project.............................or get the Amish to "can be built in a weekend"

MikeR

NOw that's a nice shed.

[i][/i]I used garage floor paint on mine. I got a gallon of Rustoluem brand at Pep Boys for about $50. I got the kind with the flecks in it. I made sure to put some in the seem between the floor and the sill to create a "seal" so nothing could get under there and cause rot. I also painted up the side of the sill so the whole thing is sealed. I wasn't sure if it would work on plywood since it's designed for concrete but it's been on for over 15 years and it still looks great and isn't peeling or chipping anywhere.

I occasionally put my mower away wet and the floor has seen plenty of oil and gas from leaks and spills. I would highly recommend this method. NOTE: I applied this when the shed was brand new.

Ed