The Sewing Place

Tools of the Trade => Sewing Spaces and Furniture => Topic started by: Mamashep on June 10, 2017, 19:03:31 PM

Title: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Mamashep on June 10, 2017, 19:03:31 PM
I need new flooring in my sewing room. MY computer is in there as well, and I have 2 wheeled chairs, which have destroyed the laminate I have at present. I do not want carpet, and do not want laminate again. I am looking for suggestions for flooring that will work with wheeled chairs, and is easy to clean.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Jo on June 10, 2017, 19:40:26 PM
I have ceramic floor tiles. They look great, super easy to clean and work well with caster wheels.
We have floor heating, but if you don't, they tend to be rather cold in winter.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: SkoutSews on June 10, 2017, 20:43:22 PM
I have carpet, which was in the room already, so was the cheap and easy option. I had been thinking of laminate, but your experience goes against that.
What is the actual floor? Is it concrete, or floorboards, or what? Although it's not fashionable, vinyl floor covering comes in many different guises and is very practical. Alternatively there are a lot of the amtico types, not all as expensive as the market leader.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: BrendaP on June 10, 2017, 21:12:12 PM
My sewing room has carpet which has been down for yonks and although a hard floor would be practical for sweeping up all the bits of thread and snippets of fabric I'm not sure that it would work.

The spare bedroom, which with one bed pushed underneath the other one gives me the biggest area of floor space available in the house, has a laminate floor but just walking across it sounds downstairs.  I think moving a chair on casters would sound awful and lead to more than a few disgruntled words from Terry.

The ideal would be a downstairs sewing room with ceramic tiles on the floor.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Ploshkin on June 10, 2017, 22:21:48 PM
We have laminate floor throughout the house (because we have underfloor heating) except where it is tiled.  When the house was done the builder recommended getting a laminate with a commercial guarantee rather than just domestic.  It's tough as old boots and it doesn't get marked at all by wheelie chairs or stuff being dragged around.  I find it useful in my sewing room because I can hear when a pin or needle falls on the floor.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: elephun on June 10, 2017, 22:34:37 PM
I put flor Fedora (https://www.flor.com/fedora1111) down as an area rug in the sewing room on top of the polished concrete flooring, thinking the carpet would keep pins and things from bouncing too far away when they fell, and that the extremely low pile it would be easy to keep clean. My flooring combination looks something like the photo below that I pulled off of the flor website, except my flor is a gray-blue that appears to be discontinued now.

(https://www.flor.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/610x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/1/21-1019-06-7_2.jpg)

The flor Fedora carpet is easy to see pins on, so there's no real danger of stepping on sharp things, which is great. This carpet does not offer much of a cushion, but it's better than standing on the concrete floor alone. It's easier to glide chairs and tables on than a plush carpet.

The carpet collects threads snips and fuzz like crazy. It's like velcro for some of those bits. I use one of those giant lint rollers on it, but I probably should have been religious about rolling it after each sewing day from the beginning in order to have kept the carpet pristine. As it is, my carpet is now a darker hue than it started out because of all the dark fibers I use. Fibers get nestled into the grooves between the individual carpet tiles.

All-in-all, I prefer having the flor carpet to just having the concrete floor, it's just not as neat and clean as I want it to look.

I suppose I could start over with the charcoal color, and a promise to de-lint every session  :loveit:
(https://www.flor.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/610x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/1/21-1019-03-1_1.jpg)

Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Mama likes to make on June 10, 2017, 23:19:47 PM
I agree with ploshkin about commercial laminate flooring. We did the kids bedroom in it last year and honestly it still looks as good as the day it went down. There is furniture dragged around the room (they like re arranging!) and at least once a day someone is building trains or playing cars and rolling them ⎌around on it.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Ploshkin on June 11, 2017, 06:31:42 AM
Our laminate has been down for 6 years and is as good as new.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Swisslass on June 11, 2017, 09:28:08 AM
I would look at laminate again, I've got it in my sewing room, it's extremely practical, and easy to install. It's been down a few years and still looks good, it would look even better if i stop the chair castors gumming up with thread!
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Surest1tch on June 11, 2017, 10:47:59 AM
Cushion floor, in hindsight I wish I'd put that down in my sewing room instead of carpet but I was thinking of trying to keep the noise down instead of the practical side.  I've got cushion floor in my kitchen and it's a dream to keep clean despite having a muck magnet labrador and it's warm underfoot.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Hachi on June 11, 2017, 13:44:43 PM
I don't know if Pergo is popular in the U.K., but it's a brand of laminate flooring, and it's pretty durable and scratch resistant. It's not as high-valued as hardwood flooring but considered better (and valued higher) than other laminate flooring in the U.S.

I had tiled floor too. It was also durable but may not be as easy to clean as hardwood or laminate because if you mop it, the grout gets dirty over time, and you may have to re-seal it in the future.

I also had engineered wood floor too (though not in my sewing room). The modern surface finish allows less fussy cleaning than required for old fashion hardwood floor; no waxing or special cleaning solution needed(I just mopped mine with a bit of vinegar).

Is using a plastic floor protector under your chair an option?
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Jo on June 11, 2017, 13:46:09 PM
Just wanted to mention that there are also casters made for wood/laminate floors. They are rubber or silicone coated and don't destroy your floors :)
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: QuiltySisty on June 11, 2017, 19:21:40 PM
I've got bamboo flooring in my sewing room. It looked lovely when we moved into the house (although with a few scratches as it was the kid's playroom before we moved in) but the casters on my Wheely chairs have made denty bits in it. I don't want it to get any worse so I'll look into getting the special casters! Thanks for the tip Jo!

We've just had amtico style vinyl tiles put down in the hall and I think they'd work really well for a sewing room - super easy to clean, not as chilly on the feet as tiles and nowhere for the pins to hide!
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Gernella on June 14, 2017, 10:47:54 AM
Whatever you do go with flat.  I wanted laminate but the floor upstairs was not level on one point (pillar underneath that got a bit too high).  Levelling would have added to the cost so I went with carpet, which looks great, when it is clean, but more often than not is covered with bits of thread, cat litter, fabric scraps and sometimes pins.  A flat surface would have meant it was cleared out every time I left.  The kitchen has laminate, that never looks untidy and DH brings half a field in every time he comes in, it is just so easy to clean as is any flat surface.

I had cushion floor in the kitchen but it got wear points, however the conservatory flooring just looks the same as when it was installed 30 years ago (thank goodness I  went with  all white and a slight pattern) so you should have no problems in a sewing  room.

Enjoy spending the money. <3
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Ohsewsimple on June 14, 2017, 12:18:41 PM
I have laminate in my room and had no problem with the wheely chair.  My son put it down when he was at uni.  He's 32 now so it's done well.  I can hear when I knock something off including pins.  I was forever trying to get pins out of the carpet before.  I am liking the idea of special castors as the only problem I have is rolling across the floor when I don't want to! :o :)
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: crooknees on June 14, 2017, 18:17:48 PM
I can't offer advice on the flooring for your sewing room as mine has a type of concrete, popular in 17th.-18th. century.
It has endured centuries of waxing and is very shiny. It  also slopes towards the centre. I use anti slip plastic under my wheelie chair and the foot pedals of my machines. It is cheap and works a treat 0_0
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Mamashep on June 27, 2017, 22:52:05 PM
I have carpet, which was in the room already, so was the cheap and easy option. I had been thinking of laminate, but your experience goes against that.
What is the actual floor? Is it concrete, or floorboards, or what? Although it's not fashionable, vinyl floor covering comes in many different guises and is very practical. Alternatively there are a lot of the amtico types, not all as expensive as the market leader.

I have floorboards, rather uneven ones as it is an old house. I have been looking around and it seems that I'm going for the amtico type flooring.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Mamashep on June 27, 2017, 22:54:32 PM
My sewing room has carpet which has been down for yonks and although a hard floor would be practical for sweeping up all the bits of thread and snippets of fabric I'm not sure that it would work.

The spare bedroom, which with one bed pushed underneath the other one gives me the biggest area of floor space available in the house, has a laminate floor but just walking across it sounds downstairs.  I think moving a chair on casters would sound awful and lead to more than a few disgruntled words from Terry.

The ideal would be a downstairs sewing room with ceramic tiles on the floor.
I have a downstairs sewing room, but ceramic tiles would not work in it
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Lizzy777 on June 27, 2017, 23:19:09 PM
I have floorboards, rather uneven ones as it is an old house. I have been looking around and it seems that I'm going for the amtico type flooring.

Have a look at Polyflor . You can have it as tiles, strips or in one piece.
I have ordered Polyflor in nine different rooms (different properties) and some have been down for more than 15 years and still look like new. Easy to clean, non slip and the colour ranges are tremendous. Cheaper than Karndean too.

With both Karndean and Polyflor you will need to have plywood put down over the floorboards first to even out the floor. The company supplying and fitting your polyflor will arrange for the plywood to be put down. It will last forever and always look good. It's warm too underfoot.

I looked at both Karndean versus Polyflor initially and Polyflor seemed the better one to me in terms of colour choices, ranges and prices.





http://www.polyflor.com/jh/products.nsf/products
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Ohsewsimple on June 28, 2017, 12:04:41 PM
We have Karndean in our downstairs loo and shower room.  Really like it. 
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Efemera on June 28, 2017, 12:39:13 PM
I must be in the minority... I don't like laminate flooring, we had it in one bedroom and couldn't wait to take it up, it's noisy and collects dust bunnies. I have Karndean in the kitchen which I love and just had it laid in the hall which I'm not too keen on now it's down. The sewing/ craft room has cheap carpet tiles which I can swap around if they get marked with paint etc.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: wrenkins on June 28, 2017, 13:53:50 PM
collects dust bunnies
As the housekeeper of two dogs I find that to be a good thing. You wait till they all gather in the corner, then pick them up and put them in the bin. You only have to clean the corner and not the whole floor!  ;)
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Jo on June 28, 2017, 17:50:57 PM
Lucky you! As the housekeeper of one dog and three cats, I have dust bunnies all over the place. And just when I thought I've picked up the last one, another one comes flying about  :angry:
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: wrenkins on June 28, 2017, 18:43:38 PM
You need to practice patience Jo. You have to wait till they gather. It can take weeks!!!!!  0_0
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Lowena on June 28, 2017, 18:47:41 PM
I don't like laminate flooring either.
We recently had the whole of our upstairs recarpetted and one of the bedroom ex-carpets went into the sewing room.It fits surprisingly well.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Hachi on June 28, 2017, 21:44:00 PM
Sorry to be slightly off topic, but as a housekeeper of 2 dogs that shed year around, I get tumble weeds, rather than a cute dust bunny :woof:
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Gernella on July 04, 2017, 11:34:35 AM
Have a look at Polyflor . You can have it as tiles, strips or in one piece.
I have ordered Polyflor in nine different rooms (different properties) and some have been down for more than 15 years and still look like new. Easy to clean, non slip and the colour ranges are tremendous. Cheaper than Karndean too.

With both Karndean and Polyflor you will need to have plywood put down over the floorboards first to even out the floor. The company supplying and fitting your polyflor will arrange for the plywood to be put down. It will last forever and always look good. It's warm too underfoot.

I looked at both Karndean versus Polyflor initially and Polyflor seemed the better one to me in terms of colour choices, ranges and prices.





http://www.polyflor.com/jh/products.nsf/products

Never heard of this before, sounds interesting but I don't see any indication of guarantees on the website.  We've had Armstrong Rhino floor in the kitchen before but they no longer sell in the UK.  It lasted well apart from near the back door and it wore the pattern off at one point (although can't remember how many years it took).  Laminate is fine, until somebody drops a fork or knife or the dishwasher connection leaks and you don't notice for weeks!
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Roger on August 08, 2017, 19:32:16 PM
We have 2 kids (fortunately they don't shed too badly) my partner and I both work from home with wheely office chairs, and my other half loves rebounding (small trampoline exercise) so our floor takes a hammering... we went for vinyl sheet, in 2 different types one looks like tiles for the kitchen, and the corridor and lounge were done in wood, I think the make is Tarkett, it's thick so very slightly yields to the touch, has no gaps or seams, which is fantastic for spills and lost pins, and is grained/textured, so the wood feels about right.

It seems to survive really well!

Can't knock it really
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: HenriettaMaria on August 22, 2017, 18:53:05 PM
I have Karndean in the kitchen and downstairs hall.  It has a 25 year guaranteed life in heavy use before the pattern is likely to wear off.  I was recommended it by a buddy who fits kitchens for a living.  On the other hand, do not be tempted by bamboo flooring for anything but the lightest traffic.  It's not wood, it's grass, and the strands have to be glued together to make the boards.  Under heavy wear (eg your chair castors) they will shred.  My kitchen fitter buddy laid some for a lady who was absolutely determined to have it.  Six months later he was back stripping it out and replacing it with Karndean or Amtico (they're much the same and I can't recall now which - quality vinyl anyway) because it was coming apart around the kitchen door.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Sewbee on September 20, 2017, 20:34:10 PM
I have carpet, which was in the room already, so was the cheap and easy option. I had been thinking of laminate, but your experience goes against that.
What is the actual floor? Is it concrete, or floorboards, or what? Although it's not fashionable, vinyl floor covering comes in many different guises and is very practical. Alternatively there are a lot of the amtico types, not all as expensive as the market leader.

I recently asked the same thing in one of the forums and rubber castors were suggested with laminate.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Sewbee on September 20, 2017, 20:43:44 PM
collects dust bunnies
As the housekeeper of two dogs I find that to be a good thing. You wait till they all gather in the corner, then pick them up and put them in the bin. You only have to clean the corner and not the whole floor!  ;)

I have mostly laminate flooring with two dogs and a cat. I get dust bunnies - or rather floating clumps of fur - so I vacuum with my Miele twice a week. The good/bad thing about a hard floor is that you can see it as soon as there is something on the floor instead of it getting buried in carpet.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: Bodgeitandscarper on September 20, 2017, 20:53:33 PM
I soon have to decide on sewing room flooring, now we (or rather, I) have decided the "office" in the new extension will actually be my sewing room - I'm a carpet lover, I get such cold feet on bare floors!  I think I'll be looking for something with a hard dense pile.
Title: Re: Sewing room flooring
Post by: LeilaMay on September 30, 2017, 15:56:26 PM
Iminei asked me to post a picture of my workroom floor in the new house - not because it's hugely hardwearing or will really add anything to this conversation, but because she thought it a funky idea I think LOL
We pulled up the skanky carpet, covered the floor in hardboard sheets - my OH did that bit. And then I crawled a round for several days piecing vintage OS maps, with Glastonbury in the middle of the room, so I would get a real feel and understanding of where I live now. Once the glue was thoroughly dry I varnished it with floor varnish several times.

It wasn't perfect, and because we 'thought' we were having several different houses before this sale finally went ahead the maps I had didn't go to the edges in all directions - but I like it  :)