Flooring options for a motorcycle shed

My winter project has been turning a 10x16 shed on my property into a nice motorcycle shed.

I enlarged a window opening, built a ramp and a custom door. Now it's ready to park my baby inside.

The flooring is typical shed flooring (3/4 plywood). It does have something nailed over the ply that the shed company sold us. Can't remember what they called it, but it's a smooth laminate a little like the surface of a counter top, but softer.

I'm wondering if I should put something else down on the floor, especially under the bike. If I drip oil or brake fluid on the floor I don't want to ruin it and I don't want it to be a big PITA to clean up.

I thought about some of those stick down linoleum tiles you can get at the home store, but I don't know how well that would work.

I also don't want the center stand to tear up whatever I put down.

Any suggestions?

Harbor freight has 4 pc. snap together rubber garage pads. or check out a carpet store in your area for the 24 in carpet square tiles. Cheap on close out or small odd lots and if damaged just replace the one you ruin. these tiles are only taped at corners so easy to work with.

When I bring my bike into the basement to work on it I lay down a 4x8 piece of medium density fiberboard. It works well; oil wipes off but does stain it as you can see in the picture below. The first link below shows the fiberboard product. The second link shows a product that might work even better. It’s the same size, but it has a melamine surface. I haven’t used it before, but I suspect oil would wipe off without staining. Both of these panels are ¾” thick.

One really nice feature of using a thick panel is the fact that you can use it to help secure the bike if you remove the front wheel or fork. When I did my front end, I used a tie-down strap similar to those in the 3rd link to secure the bike. I put the bike on the centerstand and using a bottle jack under the front of the engine I lifted the front of the bike until the rear tire rested on the panel. Then I ran the strap through the swingarm near the hub and snagged both hooks under the rear edge of the fiberboard panel. Once I tightened the strap the rear tire was firmly planted against the board forming a triangle between it and the 2 centerstand feet. This made the bike very stable as I removed the front fork and replace the steering stem bearings. Ed



www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1v/R-...d=10051#.USAPaVfjBXt

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1v/R-...d=10051#.USAPMlfjBXt

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1003512...d=10051#.USASQlfjBXt

I think the MDF is your best bet , melamine is too slippery and wouldn't hold up as well

The tapestry is a nice touch Ed

JD

I think the stuff on the floor now looks like that melamine. I like the MDF idea.

But I was thinking about something like this:

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1006717...er+mat&storeId=10051

Put some of that green indoor/outdoor carpet down on there

Topper wrote: I think the stuff on the floor now looks like that melamine. I like the MDF idea.

But I was thinking about something like this:

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1006717...er+mat&storeId=10051

You would need to see if the center stand would wear through it. Ed

Topper wrote: But I was thinking about something like this:

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1006717...er+mat&storeId=10051

won't ship to VI

Street Fighter LTD wrote: Harbor freight has 4 pc. snap together rubber garage pads. or check out a carpet store in your area for the 24 in carpet square tiles. Cheap on close out or small odd lots and if damaged just replace the one you ruin. these tiles are only taped at corners so easy to work with.

Similar concept form HF, self adhesive rubber tiles

bluej58 wrote:

Topper wrote: But I was thinking about something like this:

www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1006717...er+mat&storeId=10051

won't ship to VI

That's OK. I'm in VA!

MDF wouldn't do well with moisture/dampness, I would think. Could be wrong.

DoubleDub wrote: MDF wouldn't do well with moisture/dampness, I would think. Could be wrong.

You are right, they tried to make an exterior grade product called MDX but if you didn't seal it real good on all six sides it turned into oat meal.

In a dry shed on an existing floor I think it should be OK