The Den - Flooring advice

[Snakes]

So I am finally getting around to having a conservatory (man cave) built. Will be mainly wooden with a mostly glass front (sides, roof and floor will be wooden). Purpose will be for relaxing with a cigar and whisky, I've also purchased a solid oak extendable 10 seater table and chairs to go in there for when it's built. Will be used for playing poker as well as when doing BBQs.

So given the versatility of this room, the chances of cigar ash being dropped, alcohol being dropped, food being dropped, tables and chairs being dragged along the floor, people coming into it from the garden etc... My question is what type of flooring should I be looking to put on top of the wooden floor/base?

My dad advises hardwearing paint. I was considering sheet vinyl but not sure if it would withstand cigar ash being dropped onto it? Any better suggestions out there?

Thought I would reach out to you on here who are more experienced at building a cigar den than me for some advice regarding the flooring. In case it helps the size will be 2.4m (depth) x 4.7m (length)

[ShaazK]

Sounds like an awesome project!


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[Simon Bolivar]

Very interesting & large project, table for ten! Wish you all the best with it, sure everyone would like lots of pic's as you go along.

I had a summer house built last Dec & it's main purpose is to allow warm & dry enviroment to enjoy my vintage cigars, when half the yr it too cold, windy, wet or all three to really taste & enjoy the softer but delightful flav's of these sticks. Also hoping I would get some visitors to share this time with (hoping for guests this leave BTW).

When I looked at the model in the show garden, I liked the look of the laminate floor they had fitted but turned out to be an extra £800! So I ended up using an oil that I had used outside. Whilst it's fine outside, it did leave the floor tacky for quiet a while so I wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. My only experience with paint suitable for floors, is the one my wife used on our wooden stairs, supposedly up to the job but with just the two of us, she frequently has to touch it up so IMHO not really up to high use areas.

One thing I would say is cigar ash isn't that hot, when it falls, so if you look at recommended paints for summerhouses should be up to the job. I would think moving & scrapping the chairs around the table will morel likely be a problem with paint/ The one recommended by my manufacturer was rather expensive but looked good. Here's a pic of the painted showroom example.

[Midas]

Vinyl has come a long way in the last few years.

Check this site out, I used them earlier this year for a rental properties open plan kitchen/dining area. They only supply but it’s pretty easy to fit yourself.

https://www.flooringsuperstore.com/vinyl-flooring

Cover the subfloor in 6mm ply, order a roll that’s just larger than the size you need so there will be no joins, stick it down and run a fine bead of silicone round the perimeter. If you’re worried about it tearing, stick those felt coaster things to the bottoms of each chair leg but it’s very hard wearing.

I would avoid painting it. I painted my stairs in lockdown, black treads, white risers. Looked amazing for about 3 days.

If you’d consider painting it you might consider rubber flooring. The interlocking stuff you use in garages or home gyms. That will withstand the biggest beating but isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing.

Sounds like it’s going to be a great space regardless, looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[Snakes]

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciating it!

It's my dad's cousin who is building it thankfully, to call my DIY skills a disaster would be a compliment. I'm far better off in front of a computer screen.

Painting the floor is definitely my least preferred option. Would much rather have proper flooring.

Simon Bolivar I remember seeing your posts on here about building your summer house that's what gave me the confidence to ask about mine. I have to be honest last night as I continued to research this I did begin to lean towards laminate flooring and even did a quote via Carpet Right for some Oak Laminate flooring (and the table I have purchased is an Oak table from Oak Furniture Land) came to about £560 including delivery and fitting which I am happy with (though admittedly it's currently on sale and the price will probably go up by the time it's built).

Midas Yeah what I liked about about the Vinyl Sheets is they are much easier to fit and can probably be done ourselves. Also liked that it's one complete big sheet so no joins and is smooth to move things across but I have heard that Vinyl Sheets can fade in sunlight and can get slippery whereas Laminate is a lot less slippery. So this all had me questioning my original intentions of Vinyl Sheets and maybe thinking I should do Laminate. I definitely agree regarding avoiding painting, that really isn't an option I want to do.


Thanks again both for all the advice, really appreciate it. I'll definitely share pictures once it's built.

This is the table and chairs I have purchased https://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/f...t/1016692.html thankfully I can keep delaying the delivery until the den is built. I'm also looking to buy this to keep some whisky and glasses in https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C6QQ2LCN/ and probably put a TV on top of it

[Midas]

If you’re getting family discount maybe consider having the floor tiled, will outlast any laminate or vinyl alternative.


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[Snakes]

If you’re getting family discount maybe consider having the floor tiled, will outlast any laminate or vinyl alternative.


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So I spoke to a tiling company and they said I shouldn't lay tiles on top of plywood as it expands and contracts with the temperature which will cause the layers to delaminate and the tiles to fail

[BullittBoy]

I can recommend Karndean wood effect flooring which we have and has survived dogs, young children and everything in between so far! Stays cool in the summer too! I understand it needs to be professionally fitted as it needs a base layer, but should be very resistant afterwards! What an awesome project though - very best of luck!

[Midas]

So I spoke to a tiling company and they said I shouldn't lay tiles on top of plywood as it expands and contracts with the temperature which will cause the layers to delaminate and the tiles to fail

You would either screed over the ply or lay tile backer boards instead of ply and tile on to those.


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[Tomm783]

The durability (and aesthetic) on vinyls have come a long way in the last decade and I wouldn’t be worried about dropping ash on them. You have a number of options:

Sheet - goes in more easily and quickly, pain in the arse to fix if you damage it

Adhered planks - bonded to the substrate, almost always play in commercial offices that we do. You could remove one with some effort if it got damaged and replace it.

Loose lay - it’s a thicker version of the adhered types and bonded using tackifier so it lifts up easily if required. Again laid on ply

After the ply is fixed down, it’s usual to apply a very thin ardex self levelling compound to make sure everything is perfectly level be fore laying.

Tackett
Jared an
Moduleo
IVC

Loads of vinyl brands out there.

Good luck!


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[Smoothsmoke]

Karndean is good. Looks like wood with a choice of patterns. It's been in our kitchen for 3 years with no problems. Clean with a damp (not wet) mop or vacuum. But does need a special base. One day for the self levelling base to set and then one day for the Karndean.

[Kickback]

If you use the special adhesive for wood floors this stays flexible and will allow movement.

[Snakes]

Hey All thanks for the great advice.

Wheels are in motion and looking like it's going to be built over the 2 weekends, 15th/16th and 22nd/23rd July so will share pictures when it's done. Initial stage is building it. Then I'll need to paint it at a later stage and then sort the flooring out. Then I'll finish kitting it out.

My next bit of excitement is getting the doors. I've purchased French patio doors 1800mm x 2100mm problem is the company doesn't deliver. They are however only a 3minute walk away from mine. The door frame and the glass will be separate and there shouldn't be any issues getting the glass to mine but getting the door frame might prove to be more exciting. The door factory are only open mon-friday and the den is being built at the weekend so my dad's cousin will only be here with his van over the weekend (and he's not local) so currently in the process of making plans to get the door frame from the factory to mine. Once that is sorted I can sit back, relax and just wait to enjoy the den after it's built!

P.S. anybody in the South London area with a transit van or bigger that would be interested in giving a hand to get the door frame to mine from the factory (1minute drive) please let me know I'll of course be extremely grateful and happy to pay! I'm also currently looking at hiring a panel trolley as another option for getting the door to mine. Alternatively, open to any suggestions on the easiest way to transport this door frame.

[Scott 81]

Normal laminate is very hard wearing, you can pay as little or as much as you want regarding your finish.

I built my own bunker at the end of the last lockdown, it’s an office/ drum room. The wife now shares the office space so it can’t be used for smoking unfortunately…

[Scott 81]

Few pics, can do anything with the help of YouTube