Need to “build” a cheap and temporary floor in my basement over carpeting so my kids can do their dance classes online (damn you Covid).
I started with four 4x8 sheets of half inch MDF which was perfect - except the off gassing/formaldehyde smell is too much for my wife.
I am thinking plywood is my next attempt, but since we are in full lockdown, I can’t go see any in person.
I need something that is smooth enough to slide around on without getting splinters (think contemporary dance, or old skool breakdancing).
Would sanded plywood work? Do i need some kind of veneer? This is low budget and hopefully temporary so don’t want to rip up the carpet and do laminate or hardwood.
Currently “low budget†and “plywood†do not belong in the same sentence.
Although more labour intensive your best bet is likely 99cent/SQF cheap 8mm laminate flooring. Not as good as vinyl but your not doing anything else for a buck a square.
Since splinters are a concern, can you get regular plywood and then buy some cheap laminate flooring to put on it? It would be easy enough to disassemble when things clear up and the cost of laminate is fairly low.
A finish grade plywood isn’t cheap. The cheap stuff is CDX (C & D grade eXterior) and it’s rough. A grade plywood is finish grade and usually has a flawless face.
Sanded plywood is smooth, but not smooth enough to do any kind of breakdancing on. Does your wife have a really sensitive sense of smell? I’ve used MDF for quite a few projects and I can’t recall ever being offended by any kind of smell (I’m gonna have to go into the garage and sniff it, 'cos I couldn’t even tell you what it smells like!).
If it’s just for a temporary project, why not get some OSB plywood and put some 5mm bead board panels over them (flip it over so that the smooth side is facing up) or get the 3/4 melamine sheets (4 x 8)?
Sanded plywood is smooth, but not smooth enough to do any kind of breakdancing on. Does your wife have a really sensitive sense of smell? I’ve used MDF for quite a few projects and I can’t recall ever being offended by any kind of smell (I’m gonna have to go into the garage and sniff it, 'cos I couldn’t even tell you what it smells like!).
If it’s just for a temporary project, why not get some OSB plywood and put some 5mm bead board panels over them (flip it over so that the smooth side is facing up) or get the 3/4 melamine sheets (4 x 8)?
Yeah does she ever! That said, the basement is poorly ventilated, so it does make my eyes itch if I am down there too long working out. I thought about sealing it, but then figured my wife would complain about the smell of the sealant…
Currently “low budget†and “plywood†do not belong in the same sentence.
Although more labour intensive your best bet is likely 99cent/SQF cheap 8mm laminate flooring. Not as good as vinyl but your not doing anything else for a buck a square.
2c
Maurice
Since I don’t want to pull up my carpet, can I “click” this together over (very low pile) carpet, and will it be “rigid” enough? or will it flex, come apart, etc.?
I would imagine the cheap laminate flooring would be fine, assuming you don’t have some super plush thick carpet. It does “click together”.
The other option you might consider is some cheap sheet vinyl flooring. You could just unroll it, put something heavy on it in a few places near the corners to hold it down and steady and then roll it up when dance is done.
Are they taking tap? I could see how the vinyl might be a pain for tap, but ballet and contemporary/jazz would be fine. My daughter takes tap, and when we were doing dance at home she did tap in the garage. It worked great.
Currently “low budget†and “plywood†do not belong in the same sentence.
Although more labour intensive your best bet is likely 99cent/SQF cheap 8mm laminate flooring. Not as good as vinyl but your not doing anything else for a buck a square.
2c
Maurice
Since I don’t want to pull up my carpet, can I “click” this together over (very low pile) carpet, and will it be “rigid” enough? or will it flex, come apart, etc.?
Thanks.
I think this is your answer.
Floating interlocking laminate is usually installed over a thin layer of foam so if you carpet is low pile you might be fine for the duration you need it.
Can you just get an air purifier and call it good. I could not get over the difference mine made during our forest fire season this year. Sounds like it would help the basement in general.
I would go with the OSB and then linoleum flooring over top. That would be the quickest and easiest. Using vinyl flooring would work but it does have the potential to unclip and move around if you aren’t anchors in some way.
Since you’re on carpet, the constant up and down can work the joints apart.
The Linoleum would also help with the dancing aspect as well. A lot of the dance studios have a cheap linoleum stick down tiles.
Not sure what kind of MDF you purchased. I have never had an issue with off gassing of MDF.
I would be concerned with most of the solutions here, if the off gassing of MDF was an issue.
A bit more, but you could get sheets of melamine coated mdf, or ply.
Still really confused about the off gassing of the MDF. How many days later was the smell still present?
I won’t deny that the MDF still has a chemical smell a month later. However, as to whether any regular person would care about it? That is a different question entirely. 20 years ago I used to argue this sort of thing with my wife. I have now just accepted that she either has the nose of a bloodhound, or is nuts. Probably both, but she puts up with all my bikes and related irritations, so it’s a fair trade.